Ghosts of a Holy War

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Spring Adult Ed - Ghosts of a Holy War
March 26, April 2, April 9 at 7pm
Join Rabbi Axler and Rachel Petroff Kessler for a 3-part series, inspired by the new book Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine that Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict, culminating in a visit from author Yardena Schwartz (you are also welcome to join us just for Yardena's visit on April 9).

March 26: Rachel Petroff Kessler grounds us in additional background, with particular focus on the diversity of opinions in the Jewish community leading up to the establishment of the State of Israel and the evolution of Religious Zionism.
April 2: Rabbi Axler takes us on a virtual tour of Hebron, based on his own experience visiting the city
April 9: Author Yardena Schwartz joins us, she will offer a presentation and will take questions from participants

Cost (includes a copy of the book): $25 for TI members (or $36/couple), $36 for non-members (or $45/couple); a couple includes one copy of Ghosts of a Holy War

About the Book: Long before the State of Israel was born, British Mandate Palestine was the scene of one of the worst pogroms ever perpetrated outside of Europe. The 1929 massacre of the ancient Jewish community of Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, was one of the most seminal events in the Arab-Israeli conflict — until October 7, 2023, and Hamas’s gruesome massacre of 1,200 men, women, and children, and their abduction of 250 others. One century apart, the echoes of 1929 in 2023 are key to understanding the complexities of what is, at its core, a holy war between Abraham’s children. Award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz draws on her extensive research and wide-ranging interviews with both sides to tell the story of the world’s most enduring conflict. Through the never-before-told story of a young American who moved to what was then Palestine in 1928, Yardena expertly weaves 100 years of history in the Holy Land to demonstrate how the issues today cannot be fully understood without the context of ground zero of this century-old war. Note: book contains depictions of violence against Jews.

About the Author: Yardena Schwartz is an award-winning freelance journalist and Emmy-nominated producer. Born and raised in NJ, she lived in Israel from 2013 – 2023, reporting for various publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME, The Economist, Foreign Policy, and National Geographic. She previously worked at NBC News. She now lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband and two children.

This event is being held in partnership with the Jewish Book Council

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Fri, May 2 2025 4 Iyyar 5785

12200 Scaggsville Rd., Fulton, MD 20759|301.317.1101

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