Scholar-in-Residence

The North Peninsula Jewish Community Presents
2025 North Peninsula Scholar in Residence Anat Hoffman
Advocate for Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights in Israel

We are pleased to offer a weekend of compelling insights with Anat Hoffman, Immediate Past Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), a leading organization dedicated to advancing justice and equality in Israeli society. A third-generation Israeli, Anat has advocated for women, Arab Israeli citizens, LGBTQ individuals, and egalitarian expressions of Jewish religion. She will delve into Israel’s pressing social issues from the proposed national judicial reform to the challenges she addressed during her 14 years on Jerusalem’s City Council, showing how thoughtful activism can drive both public awareness and lasting legal change. Join us to honor the courage and vision that Anat has stewarded in championing our shared values of a vibrant, democratic, and pluralistic Israel.

Thursday, January 9 – Sunday, January 12, 2025

Join us for a thought-provoking weekend featuring Anat Hoffman, immediate past Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) and a champion for justice and equality in Israeli society. Anat will share her inspiring journey and insights, addressing critical issues in Israel through the lens of activism, legal reform, and cultural transformation.

Schedule of Events

Thursday, January 9

• Kickoff Lecture
  6:30 PM Reception | 7:30 PM | Wornick Jewish Day School
  Bridging Generations: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future of Israel
  Through her family’s story, Anat will explore the evolution of Israel’s Jewish values, from her grandparents’ pioneering days to her own perspective as a grandmother today.

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Friday, January 10

• Services and Presentation
  6:30 PM | Peninsula Temple Sholom
  Followed by a Reception
  A 36-Year Chronology of Women of the Wall
  Trace the inspiring journey of Women of the Wall, from its early struggles for religious freedom to its impact on gender equality in Israel.

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Saturday, January 11

• Morning Presentation
  9:30 AM Services | 12:00 PM Lunch | 12:45 PM Presentation | Peninsula Sinai Congregation
  The landscape of Liberal Judaism in Israel
  Anat will delve into internal societal challenges, including religious pluralism, women’s rights, and struggles for freedom of conscience.
• Evening Lecture and Havdalah Dessert Reception
  7:00 PM | Congregation Beth Jacob
  Supreme Court Cases: Triumphs and Setbacks in Social Justice
  Anat will share impactful stories from her advocacy before the Israeli Supreme Court, highlighting victories and ongoing challenges.

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Sunday, January 12

• Services and Lunch with Presentation
  9:30 AM Bagels | 10:00 AM | Peninsula Temple Beth El, San Mateo The Struggles Within: Conflicts That Shape Israel’s Identity
  Discover the growth of Reform and Conservative movements in Israel and their influence on pluralism and Jewish education.

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Supported by the North Peninsula Jewish Community Partners:
Congregation Beth Jacob, Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Peninsula Temple Beth El, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, and PJCC.

All events are free to attend. Donations are welcome at pjcc.org/donate.

Funded primarily by the Koret Foundation and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture.

Funded in part by Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Peninsula Temple Beth El, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Congregation Beth Jacob, Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School, and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.