EJLCC News
Some Everett Center Speakers in the News
Amy Spitalnick, (2022 speaker) appeared on CNN 3/25/25. The following was reported online by the Jewish Council on Public Affairs:
JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick joined Anderson Cooper on CNN to discuss the ICE arrest of a Tufts University graduate student. She made clear that multiple things can be true at the same time: the Jewish community has legitimate concerns about antisemitism and the Trump administration is exploiting those real concerns as an excuse to undermine civil liberties, the rule of law, and democratic norms. Jewish safety is inextricably linked with inclusive democracy in which everyone’s fundamental rights are protected. Selectively applying these rights, including due process, based on someone’s identity or views makes Jews – and everyone – less safe.
Jonathan Boiskin, (2022 speaker), was in the news in an online report (Jan 16, 2024).
Since 2017, HIAS* has increased its budget more than sixfold and more than doubled the number of countries it operates in — a dramatic expansion poised to continue in the years to come. In response to this growth, HIAS has launched the HIAS Foundation , a separate legal entity which will build a permanent endowment for the organization.
Jonathan Boiskin is the inaugural executive director of the HIAS Foundation. Boiskin spoke to the HIAS.org about how the Foundation will use gifts of assets, sound investment, and increased fundraising to support HIAS’ current and future work to provide critical services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people around the world.
Rabbi David Saperstein (2022 speaker) was honored by the RAC (Religious Action Committee) on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
“For the past five decades, Rabbi Saperstein has contributed his brilliant mind, compassionate heart, and rich Jewish soul to build and strengthen the Religious Action Center as the Reform Jewish Movement’s hub of social justice.”
Dr Irwin Cotler (2022 speaker) in July 2025 opened the annual strategic workshop at the Irwin Cotler Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice at Tel Aviv University. The Institute is considered the culmination of Cotler’s nearly 60-year efforts to preserve and bolster Israel.
Oren Siegal (2022 speaker) testified in front of the Homeland Security Committee about the growing and dangerous anti-semitism in the United States.
Rebecca Erbelding (2023 Speaker ) is currently working on a new book, S helter on the Lake: 982 Holocaust Refugees and an American Small Town.
It will be published by Simon and Shuster 2026.
Zalmen Mlotek (2023 Speaker) was hosted by Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, New Jersey hosted on a one-of-a-kind journey through the Yiddish theater, from its European roots to Ellis Island, Second Avenue and beyond. The performance was entitled “The History of the American Yiddish Theatre: A Musical Overview.”
Ted Deutsch (2023 Speaker) is the CEO of the American Jewish Committee. He has been actively advocating against antisemitism, particularly after the deaths of two community members. He made a call for international action on issues including the return of hostages and Ukraine's sovereignty. He commented on the outcome of New York's mayoral election and he emphasized that "words have consequences" and called for holding elected officials accountable for ensuring the safety and security of the Jewish community and for condemning antisemitic rhetoric.
Jonathan Brent (2023 Speaker ) who is the director of YIVO, joined the Editorial Board of the "Jewish History Quarterly”.
Alan Kadish (2023 Speaker) who is president of Touro University was named a “Power Player in Education” by Politics NYNEWS. He was recognized for turning Touro into a leader in healthcare education, with six medical schools, eight PA programs and exciting new research partnerships.
Ilana Kaufman (2024 Speaker) is the CEO of the Jews of Color Initiative. In an OP-Ed in eJewish Philanthropy, she explored what it means to lead teams with compassion, courage, and clarity amid the ongoing communal impact of October 7th. Drawing on insights from her own leadership and conversations with Kaufman offered strategies for supporting teams with diverse perspectives during times of crisis.
Steven Windmueller (2024 Speaker) has recently published several articles including: “Revisiting centralized communal philanthropy: A deeper look at the federation model and its future”; “The rise of Mamdanism”; “Can we plan for an American Jewish future?”;
The third stage: An American Jewish revolution is upon us once more”; “Conversations that need to happen”
Mona Charen (2024 Speaker) has continued to sharply criticize Donald Trump's political maneuvers, immigration policies, and attacks on democratic norms.
On "The Mona Charen Show”, she has recently covered Trump’s
~ dangerous overreaches, lies, and anti-democratic tendencies.~ immigration policy
~ corruption, free speech erosion and foreign policy implications.
Eliot A. Cohen (2024 Speaker ) has written extensively in The Atlantic
and in his Substack/X account, analyzing the evolving dangers in global conflicts, critiquing US defense policies, and discussing Trump-era politics, urging strong support for Ukraine and warning of extensive 21st-century warfare. He has been active on social media, sharing his views on current geopolitical instability and promoting his podcast, Shield of the Republic.
Steven Leifman (2025 Speaker) was a recipient of the Alvah H. & Betty B. Chapman Humanitarian Award Recipient
David Bernstein (2025 Speaker ) has been vocal as politicians and Jewish leaders call for West Midlands Police chiefs to quit in growing crisis for force.
Yair Rosenberg (2025 Speaker) continues to be prolific at The Atlantic and in his newsletter " Deep Shtetl ," He has focused his analysis on rising antisemitism in the U.S., its links to social media, and generational divides. In interviews on NY1's "You Decide with Errol Louis" and lectures at colleges like Bowdoin, he discussed combating prejudice and distinguishing criticism of Israel from anti-Jewish hate.
Pamela Nadell (2025 Speaker) has been on an extensive book tour promoting her book: Antisemitism, an American Tradition . She recently published an article:
" Why a Historian Thinks U.S. Jews Are Living Through a High Tide of Antisemitism"
Suzanne Nossel (2025 Speaker) is now President and CEO of Freedom House, a human rights organization. She continues her work as a free speech advocate. She is the author of Dare to Speak, and is a fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, frequently commenting on democracy, human rights, and U.S. foreign policy.
David Greenberg (2025 Speaker) published an article in the New York Times called "Is American Foreign Policy Really for Sale?"
Everett Jewish Life Center - Facebook Live Stream
August 2021
Richard Moschel Memorial - Chautauqua Opera Company 2021
In collaboration with the Everett Center at Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua Opera Company remembers Richard Moschel and his life.
Performances by Jared Esguerra, Chasiti Lashay, and Yazid Gray. Music by Carol Rausch. Video Editing by Diane Machin.
August 2010
Gabriel Bach/Eli Rosenbaum (2010) at Everett Jewish Life Center
July - August 2011
Buffalo Spree Magazine
Please click on the image for a PDF of the article.
July 4, 2010
The Jerusalem Post
In New York, an artsy adult summer camp
By Stacey Morris
Last summer saw the dedication of the newly built Everett Jewish Life Center that houses meeting space for programming and community events, a library, an industrial-sized kosher kitchen and hotel-like overnight accommodations.
Click here to read the article . (This link takes you to the Jpost website)
March 9, 2010
Excitement is building at the Everett Center in anticipation of a wonderful second season. The programs planned thus far are numerous and eclectic. Our own Jewish Film Festival will be held throughout the summer with screenings and discussions held on a weekly basis. Brown bag lunches, book reviews and an array of wonderful speakers are scheduled.
Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, American historian and author of the book "Denying the Holocaust" will speak during the first week of the season. Additional speakers confirmed for this summer include Dr. Adam Chalom, Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, Rabbi Steve Gutow, Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Menachem Daum, director, producer and screenwriter, whose film, "Hiding and Seeking: Faith and Tolerance after the Holocaust" has won world wide acclaim. Dr. Andrew Bostom, author of "The Legacy of Jihad" will share his insights and information about Islam and Judaism with us and Dr. Leonard Cole, Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University and an expert on bioterrorism will be with us during Week 9.
These are just a few of the highlighted speakers and programs planned for the upcoming season. There is much more to follow, with additional speakers and a special multi-week exhibit and presentation from the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritagein Cleveland now in the final planning stages.
July 27, 2009
Nobel Laureate, writer, political activist and professor Elie Wiesel visits the Everett Jewish Life Center, July 27, 2009.
Coincident with his presentation and visit to Chautauqua, Wiesel is shown touring the new Everett Jewish Life Center in Chautauqua with Board President Edith Everett.
July 3, 2009
Cleveland Jewish News
Village voices: Chautauqua's Jews
On July 5, Chautauqua, a 19th-century Protestant-founded village in western New York, will welcome its first official Jewish community center.
By Douglas J. Guth
Senior Staff Reporter
Click to read the PDF of the article .
May 2009
Education Update
The Everett Foundation Gives a Home to New Interfaith Life Center
The new Everett Center was funded through a lead gift from Edith Everett, a long-time Chautauquan, and her family in memory of her husband, Henry Everett, and with private donations from the broader community.
By Richard Spivak
Click to read the PDF of the article .
March/April 2009
Letter from Chautauqua
The Protestant, intellectual playground founded in the 19th century is now home to a thriving Jewish community...
By Nadine Epstein
Click to read the PDF of the article .
Fall 2008
The Chautauquan
Lecture Platform | Page 10
Week Two will celebrate and honor the inauguration of the Everett JewishLife Center in Chautauqua by presenting a Jewish scholar of extraordinary renown, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of the past two decades' most widely selling book on Judaism, Jewish Literacy, the Most Important Things to Know about the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History. The week's theme will be "The Jewish Way of Being."
Click to read the PDF of the newspaper
.
September 10, 2008
EJLCC Announce House Host Couple
We are very pleased to announce that our Host Couple has been hired for the 2009 Season. They are Marcia and Jerry Pops who have been coming to Chautauqua for over 30 years and are very familiar with the Denominational House program having stayed in several over the years.
Jerry has been a professor at West Virginia University since the mid seventies, holds a degree in law and teaches public administration. He has also lectured in the Hall of Philosophy several times. Marcia is a retired probation officer with years of volunteer service to the community.
We look forward to a most wonderful relationship with them.
Spring 2008
The Chautauquan
August 22, 2007
The Jewish Daily Forward
Intellectual Enclave in Upstate New York To Open
'A Hillel for Adults'
By Claire Levenson
Click to read the article
. (This link takes you to the Jewish Daily Forward website)
Chautauqua Foundation
Jewish Life Center breaks ground today
July 9, 2007 At 12:15 p.m. today, immediately following the morning lecture, the Jewish community of Chautauqua will break ground on the Everett Jewish Life Center. It will be at the site of the future building, the lot on Massey between Cookman and Peck, next to the Oliver Archives. Funding for the center is a gift of Edith Everett and her family. Edith and her late husband, Henry, have enjoyed time at Chautauqua for almost 30 years, and she remains a dedicated Chautauquan. The center is expected to be open for the 2008 summer season. It will be a Jewish House that will have a kosher kitchen, a library and provide a variety of programs. It is our hope that the non-Jewish Chautauqua community will participate in some of the Jewish House offerings, she said. Since there is a significant Jewish population that comes to Chautauqua and they come from all kinds of backgrounds, we thought it would be a good place to get together, to feel comfortable in a Jewish environment, she said. The Hebrew Congregation has been serving the Jewish community for a long time, and we appreciate what they do, Everett added. But some Jews aren't necessarily synagogue- goers. This will be an additional place for the Jewish community, secular or observant, to gather. The idea is that it will welcome the entire spectrum of Jewish people in the community as well as visitors. The public is welcome and encouraged to join the Everett family and Chautauquas Jewish community at the groundbreaking today.