The Rabbi Israel S.
DRESNER CENTER

Jerusalem-based art historian, educator and rabbi Avi Rose will show and discuss a selection of artworks by Israeli & Palestinian artists from October 7th to today, depicting the suffering and humanity of both peoples. About the Presenter Avi initially trained as a psychologist. He shifted to a focus on Jewish arts-based learning, working for nearly two decades with the Young Judaea gap year program in Israel, where he developed courses that focused on Jewish and Israeli art. Since the terrible events of October 7th and the war that followed, Avi has lectured extensively on the emerging artistic response by both Israeli and Palestinian artists. Most recently, Avi's focus has been on the Israeli education system where he teaches at Jerusalem's High School for the Arts and heads the Visual Arts program at the Boyar International School. His art practice focuses on questions of identity, body and gender. Along with his husband, psychoanalyst Binyamin Rose, Avi is raising twin teenagers facing the challenging and often confusing realities of post October 7th Israel. Registration & Donation Information Donations: Donations to the Rabbi Israel S. Dresner Center are greatly appreciated. Registration: To register and receive Zoom link, contact Jacob Labendz at labendz@gmail.com.

For more than two decades, Sarah Aroeste has been reimagining Sephardic culture for new generations. An award-winning singer/songwriter, author, and educator, she brings Sephardic stories to life through original music, books, performances, and educational initiatives. Inspired by her family's Sephardic roots in North Macedonia and Greece, she has dedicated her career to sharing the Ladino language and Sephardic culture with audiences around the world. Ladino, the historic language of Sephardic Jews descended from those expelled from Spain in 1492, is at the heart of Aroeste's work. Rather than treating the language as a relic, she has devoted her career to demonstrating that Ladino remains a vibrant medium for contemporary artistic expression. One of the few composers writing new music in Ladino, she has developed a sound that blends traditional Sephardic melodies with influences ranging from rock and pop to jazz and world music, creating a style that is unmistakably her own.

This is a Paterson Community Event sponsored by The Israel S. Dresner Center. Each family team will build a historic building LEGO model. Program registration to follow in Spring 2027.