Join the Men’s Club for Monday Night Football as the Eagles take on the Packers! We’ll have the game up on the big screens and the grill fired up with plenty of kosher wings and snacks. Bring your own kosher beer or seltzer, settle in with friends, and enjoy a relaxed night of football, food, and community.
This event is open to the entire congregation — all are welcome, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just coming for the company.
Doors open at 7:30 PM Kickoff at 8:15 PM
Come cheer, hang out, and enjoy the game together. Fly Eagles Fly.
Author Todd Diamond shares his provocative and heartfelt memoir, Pass the Trauma, Please, a story that confronts generational trauma with honesty, humor, and love. From his father’s Holocaust survival to his own search for meaning, Diamond’s voice reminds us of the enduring power of memory and resilience.
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About the Book
PASS THE TRAUMA, PLEASE is a comedy-drama memoir that presents the most brutal moment of Jewish history in an unorthodox manner. It honors the life lessons of a Holocaust survivor who reveals long-buried truths about surviving as an orphan and soldier who fought for Israeli independence. His scandalous secrets are disclosed to his son during an unforgettable Sunday night dinner in a Chinese restaurant.
But it’s not just stories that were passed down from a survivor to his children. Genetically Inherited Holocaust Trauma hitches a ride, resulting in his son’s dysfunctional relationships and dubious behaviors. Like many books about the Holocaust, PASS THE TRAUMA, PLEASE addresses loss. But there’s also drug smuggling, attempts to reverse a circumcision, brothels, kibbutz ambushes, divorce, death camp visits, decadent nights at Studio 54, and tales of lost virginity. Despite his own insecurities as a writer, plus deep concerns that other genocides might soon eclipse the Holocaust, a catalyst that drives the author is… will he finish the book while his father, one of the last Holocaust survivors, is still alive?
Another motivation for the book’s unique structure and irreverent tone is the challenge thrown down by Todd Diamond’s father who said, “Do me a favor, son. No long-winded descriptions of the smells in the Ghetto, the corpses. Everyone knows this already. Elie Wiesel, Primo Levy, Anne Frank, that guy who wrote the comic book about the mouse, they all covered it. Don’t be afraid to slip in a few jokes. What do you call it again… that bullshit you always say… oh yeah, write something poster-punk.” He meant to say, post-punk. Todd’s father concluded his appeal by saying, “And besides, you’re no Elie Wiesel.”
So, while PASS THE TRAUMA, PLEASE probes the darkness of humanity, you’ll also find an equal amount of irreverence and humor that distinguishes it from most holocaust memoirs. The unrelenting ripple effect of a unique trauma that echoes through children raised in the long shadow of tragedy. He writes his story and the story of his parents and his extended family who perished in the Holocaust in a provocative and irreverent style to hopeful appeal and educate a broader readership. To that end, Todd finds light and humor amidst the wreckage, a real testament to the power of memory.
About the Author
Born in Queens, New York, Todd delivers narratives that are unapologetically raw and darkly humorous—a reflection of the borough that raised him. Whether it’s sordid tales from his advertising career or stories about his family’s Holocaust experiences, he resonates with those who prefer their prose served with a healthy dose of cynicism and unsweetened insight.
Friday, November 14 | 9:15–11:00 AM | Har Zion Temple Kitchen
Join us for a special hands-on Shabbat baking workshop with renowned Israeli Chef Haim Dimri!
After preschool drop-off, stay and enjoy a fun, interactive morning where you’ll learn how to make fresh challah and delicious Shabbat cookies alongside Chef Haim. You’ll get to mix, shape, and bake — and take home your own creations to share for Shabbat!
This unique experience is open to NCCECE parents and offers a wonderful way to connect with our community, learn something new, and start your Friday with the sweet aromas of Shabbat baking.
This program is free of charge, made possible through the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Partnership2Gether program and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Join the Sisterhood for a special hands-on culinary experience with Chef Haim Dimri, an Israeli chef known for his soulful Shabbat cuisine infused with the rich flavors of the Middle East.
In this interactive workshop, Chef Haim will guide participants through a cooking demonstration featuring some of his favorite Shabbat dishes — blending tradition, creativity, and authentic Israeli flair. You’ll get to taste, learn, and take home new recipes and techniques to elevate your own Shabbat table.
As part of the experience, some of the dishes prepared will also be featured at our Joy of Shabbat Dinner that evening, allowing you to see (and taste!) how your work comes to life for the larger Har Zion community.
Space is limited — sign up now to reserve your spot in this unique Sisterhood event!
This program is provided by Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Partnership 2Gether program and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Pam Jenoff discusses Last Twilight in Paris, a gripping new novel of love, loss, and courage inspired by true events. Set between postwar London and Nazi-occupied Paris, the story follows Louise, a former Red Cross worker, as she unravels the mystery behind a long-lost necklace, a friend’s death, and a once-glamorous Parisian department store that became a Nazi prison.
Drawing on her background as a diplomat and Holocaust expert, Jenoff weaves historical fact and emotional truth into a powerful tale of resistance and redemption, exploring how love endures even in humanity’s darkest hours.
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About the Book
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
“A fast-paced and vibrant wartime tale of holding on to love against the odds and learning to fight for the truth.” –Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Daughter
A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff
London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before, when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war.
Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France.
Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours. Journalist and author Jane Eisner places King’s life in historical and cultural context, revealing details of her humble beginnings in Jewish Brooklyn, the roots of her musical genius, her four marriages, and her anguish about public life. Drawing on numerous interviews as well as historical and contemporary sources, this book brings to life King’s professional accomplishments, her personal challenges, and her lasting contributions to the great American songbook.
About the Author
Pam Jenoff, born in Maryland and raised near Philadelphia, holds a master’s in history from Cambridge University and served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army, contributing to significant operations like the Pan Am Flight 103 memorial. She later worked at the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland, developing expertise in Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust. After earning a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, she practiced as a labor and employment attorney and now teaches at Rutgers Law School. A New York Times bestselling author, her novels include Code Name Sapphire and The Lost Girls of Paris. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family and pets.
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Haaz spoke about tears that flow not from pain, but from compassion. Now, as we witness the miraculous reunions of hostages with their families, we find ourselves entering Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah — the very days on which the attacks began two years ago — with hearts full of both remembrance and renewed hope.
This year, more than ever, we are called to come together in joy. Rabbi Haaz invites you to join our Simhat Torah celebration tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM as we sing, dance, and lift our spirits as one Har Zion family — celebrating life, community, and the blessing of reunion.
For the full schedule of Shemini Atzeret and Yizkor services, click here.
Join us for a joyful and relaxing Shabbat evening at Har Zion! Enjoy meaningful prayer, great food, and community. Portions of dinner will be provided by our Chef in Residence: Haim Dimri and our volunteers.
All ages welcome! BYOB – unopened, Kosher beverages
A Talk with Yair Agmon, Author of One Day in October
Lunch & Learn
Join us for a moving and meaningful conversation with Yair Agmon, co-author of One Day in October, Israel’s bestselling book chronicling stories of courage and humanity from October 7.
In this special talk, Meeting Heroes Behind the Scenes, Yair shares emotional, surprising, and sometimes even humorous moments from his interviews with survivors and rescuers—offering a rare glimpse into what it means to bear witness to heroism. Through these behind-the-scenes stories, he reveals the complex emotional landscape of those conversations and the quiet, transformative power of human connection.
Open to the entire community • Free of charge A light kosher lunch will follow the program.
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About the Book
“Magnificent. This is the book to read about the day that changed Israel and the Jewish people.“—Yossi Klein Halevi, author, Like Dreamers, winner of the Jewish Book Council’s Everett Book of the Year Award
“That one day in October was a dramatic inflection point in our history, and this book touches it with tenderness, purity, and a compassionate gaze that illuminates countless moments of beauty. I have no doubt that these forty heroes will stay with me for a long time to come.“—Makor Rishon
Shaylee put her little finger in her newborn baby’s mouth to keep her quiet. Shlomo sat on the couch and pretended to be asleep. Nasreen removed the laces from her children’s shoes. Mickey demanded that the terrorist keep his promise. Amit comforted the last patient in the clinic. Aner threw seven live grenades out of the public shelter. Emanuel made sure that a fallen soldier’s love letter would reach its destination. And it all happened on a single day, one day in October.
October 7th, 2023, was the most tragic day in Israeli history. Hamas terrorist forces attacked and ravaged the Gaza border area, killing 1200 and taking 250 hostage. Hamas murdered and brutalized young and old, Jew and non-Jew, civilian and soldier. And in response, from every strand of Israeli society, heroes stepped forward to save lives and defend their humanity.
One Day in Octoberintroduces us to forty real-life Israeli heroes from that day, in their own words. All forty stories take place within the same twenty-four-hour period, in the same patch of beautiful, broken, blood-soaked land. These heroes are unforgettable, their stories inconceivable. Emerging from the pain and sorrow inflicted on that day, these first-person accounts offer consolation and hope.
About the Author
Yair Agmon is an acclaimed Israeli author, playwright, and screenwriter as well as a columnist for Makor Rishon. He was the recipient of the Hebrew Writers Prize in 2022. One Day in October is his seventh book.
Dan Slater discusses his book The Incorruptibles: A True Story of Kingpins, Crime Busters, and the Birth of the American Underworld, a riveting account of early 20th-century New York’s immigrant Jewish underworld, notorious gangsters like Arnold Rothstein, and the secret Jewish vice squad formed to combat vice and corruption. He dives into the themes of crime and redemption, antisemitism’s role in fueling reform efforts, and the unintended rise of organized crime that shaped modern America.
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About the Book
This harrowing tale of early twentieth century New York reveals the true stories of an immigrant underworld, a secret vice squad, and the rise of organized crime.
In the early 1900s, prior to World War I, New York City was a vortex of vice and corruption. On the Lower East Side, then the most crowded ghetto on earth, Eastern European Jews formed a dense web of crime syndicates. Gangs of horse poisoners and casino owners, pimps and prostitutes, thieves and thugs, jockeyed for dominance while their family members and neighbors toiled in the unregulated garment industry.
But when the notorious murder of a gambler attracted global attention, a coterie of affluent German-Jewish uptowners decided to take matters into their own hands. Worried about the anti-immigration lobby and the uncertain future of Jewish Americans, the uptowners marshalled a strictly off-the-books vice squad led by an ambitious young reformer.
The squad, known as the Incorruptibles, took the fight to the heart of crime in the city, waging war on the sin they saw as threatening the future of their community. Their efforts, however, led to unforeseen consequences in the form of a new mobster class who realized, in the country’s burgeoning reform efforts, unprecedented opportunities to amass power.
In this mesmerizing and atmospheric account, drawn from never-before-seen sources and peopled with unforgettable characters, Dan Slater tells an epic and often brutal saga of crime and redemption, exhuming a buried history that shaped our modern world. Journalist and author Jane Eisner places King’s life in historical and cultural context, revealing details of her humble beginnings in Jewish Brooklyn, the roots of her musical genius, her four marriages, and her anguish about public life. Drawing on numerous interviews as well as historical and contemporary sources, this book brings to life King’s professional accomplishments, her personal challenges, and her lasting contributions to the great American songbook.
About the Author
Dan Slater has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, New York, Fast Company, Texas Monthly, Men’s Health, and GQ. His last book, Wolf Boys, was voted a Best Book of 2016 by the Chicago Public Library and is soon to be a major motion picture from Sony and Antoine Fuqua. The Officer & the Entrepreneur is in development for a TV series from Oscar-winning producer Cathy Schulman. For more information, visit @bydanslater at Twitter or www.bydanslater.com.
The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation invites you to a night of comedy, connection, and impact!
Featuring Joel Chasnoff – comedian, author, and former IDF lone soldier whose razor-sharp wit and heartfelt stories will have you laughing, thinking, and cheering. It’s stand-up with soul.
Enjoy tasty bites, belly laughs, and the unbeatable feeling of doing good. Every ticket helps provide critical support to Israel’s lone soldiers—those brave young men and women serving without family by their side.
