PORTRAITS OF
RESILIENCE Chabad provided an array of Zoom classes and guest speakers, including Portraits of Resilience (created by the BICEP Chabad Collaborative), Israeli actor and screenwriter Lior Raz best known for Fauda, and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and Penn alumnus, Ron Dermer.
Addressing the current pandemic lockdown, Dr.
Dr. Edith Eger Finding Focus Amidst a World in Turmoil
Dr. Edith Eger, known as the Ballerina of Auschwitz, was forced to dance to survive by Joseph Mengele, but she was free in her mind. Born to Hungarian Jewish parents before the Holocaust, she still practices psychology at the age of 93. As a survivor, she specializes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Her memoir, entitled The Choice: Embrace the Possible, published in 2017, became an international best-seller. She has appeared on CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show and is an inspiration all over the world. Eger shared with the students—who Zoomed in from across the country—her journey through the Holocaust and how she came to the realization that one does not need to remain damaged by the past—we all have the power to choose not to be victims. “While we cannot choose our circumstances, we can choose how we react to them,” she said. “As Jews, we know that life has its clouds, but we know how to ride the storm and find the blue sky that was always there, just hidden from view.” she reflected. “Our ancestors wandered in the desert for forty years but never gave up. We, too, should never give up hope.”
Addressing the current pandemic lockdown, Dr.
Eger told the students, “It’s not what happens—it’s what you do with it. It is okay to be alone—use
the time to do the things you always wanted to but never had the time.” Her positive attitude and em-
powering message formed a refreshing paradigm shift for the students during this difficult time.
Nissim Black Black & Jewish: A Raw Conversation
Nissim Black, a former rapper and current hip hop star, converted to Judaism and currently
lives in Jerusalem. Black, quite
the anomaly, talked about inter-
sectionality from his unique vantage point.
When asked about how to bring
different cultures closer together, he discussed the importance of
empathy and open dialogue to break down walls between eth-
nic groups. He said, “If someone is crying out, it’s because they are feeling pain. We need to acknowledge that.”
He also talked about how much the black and
