Zack Bodner - Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21st Century Jewish Peoplehood

Sunday, November 13, 4 P.M.

How does one live a more meaningful life? In an era that values choosing our own identities, why might we choose to identify as Jews? CEO of the Oshman Family JCC addresses these questions and others as he shifts from asking “Why Be Jewish?” to “Why do Jewish?” After presenting a compelling answer, he explains what Jewish Peoplehood is why he believes we are in the throes of an evolution to the next era. Providing a road map for how to do Jewish in the 21^st century, he insists that taking action is what matters most. Bodner proposes a creative framework based on an acronym for the Yiddish word Tachlis, which means “getting down to brass tacks.” Why Do Jewish? Takes one of our oldest wisdom traditions and provides an accessible guide for anyone searching for answers to life’s most important questions.

Zach Bodner is an accomplished speaker, including as a MOTH storyteller and TEDex presenter who writes regularly for such publications as The Forward, Times of Israel, The J Weekly, and eJewish Philanthropy. Chairman of the Oshman Family JCC for over 9 years, Bodner holds an MA in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University and a BA from Yale, where he played soccer. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the JCC Association of North America, and is on the Advisory Board of the Taube Center for Jewish Studies at Stanford University.

In-person discussion and Q&A with author