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Religious Education
Council for Interfaith Engagement

2016 Jewish Latter-day Saint Dialogue

2nd Dialogue Series

December 2016 - Los Angeles, California

Participants -- Mark Diamond (LMU), Tamar Frankiel (AJR-CA), Joshua Garroway (HUC), David Kaufman (HUC), Holli Levitsky (LMU), Ilana Schwartzman (Kol Ami, SLC), Marvin Sweeney (AJR-CA; Claremont), and Steven Windmueller (HUC)

Richard Holzapfel (BYU), Shon Hopkin (BYU), Barbara Morgan Gardner (BYU), Andrew Reed (BYU), Jacob Rennaker (USC), and Fred Woods (BYU)

Academic dialogues: 

  • Covenants in the Jewish and LDS Traditions: Presenters – Dr. Marvin Sweeney (AJR-CA; Claremont) and Dr. Jacob Rennaker (John A. Widtsoe Foundation, USB); Held at AJR-CA; Friday, December 9
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Opening Session at AJR-CA, December 9: Covenants in the Jewish & LDS Traditions; Starting back left & circling clockwise – Shon Hopkin, Steven Windmueller, Jacob Rennaker, Marvin Sweeney, Tamar Frankiel, Ilana Schwartzman, Richard Holzapfel

Images of Mormons and Jews in American Literature: Presenters – Dr. Holli Levitsky (LMU) and Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardiner (BYU); Held at AJR-CA; Friday, December 9

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Liturgical Development in the LDS and Jewish Traditions: Presenters – Dr. Tamar Frankiel (AJR-CA) and Dr. Shon Hopkin (BYU; held at AJR-CA; Sunday, December 11

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End of 1st day at AJR-CA, December 9; Left to right – Richard Holzapfel, Fred Woods, Ilana Schwartzman, Andrew Reed, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Mark Diamond, Shon Hopkin, Tamar Frankiel, Steven Windmueller, Holli Levitsky, Jacob Rennaker, Joshua Garroway

Public dialogues & Presentations:

  • Political Trends in the Mormon and Jewish Communities: Presenters – Dr. Steven Windmueller (HUC) and Dr. Fred Woods (BYU); held at Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge, CA; Friday, December 9
  • Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask About the Mormon Church: Presenters – Dr. Shon Hopkin (BYU) and Dr. Barb Morgan Gardner (BYU); held at Adat Ari El, Valley Village, CA, Saturday, December 10
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Shabbat Torah Sermon on Genesis 28:10—32:3: Speaker – Dr. Richard Holzapfel (BYU); held at Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles; Saturday, December 10

Questions You've Always Wanted to Ask About the Mormon Church: Presenters – Dr. Richard Holzapfel (BYU) and Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman (Kol Ami, SLC); held at Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles; Saturday, December 10

Images of Jews and Mormons in Hollywood: Presenters – Dr. David Kaufman (HUC) and Dr. Andrew Reed (BYU); held with students at Academy for Jewish Religion-CA; Sunday, December 11

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Public presentation at AJR-CA, December 11: Images of Jews & Mormons in Hollywood; Left to right: Andrew Reed, David Kaufman

Sunday Fireside—The LDS-Jewish Academic Dialogue Project: Presenters – Rabbi Mark Diamond (LMU), Dr. Andrew Reed (BYU), Shon Hopkin (BYU), Dr. Larry Eastland (Widtsoe Foundation, USC), Elder Gary Wilde (LDS Church Area Authority); Roundtable Participants – Mark Diamond (LMU), Tamar Frankiel (AJR-CA), Steven Windmueller (HUC), Shon Hopkin (BYU), Andrew Reed (BYU), Barb Morgan Gardner (BYU), Jacob Rennaker (Widtsoe Foundation, USC); held at LDS Santa Monica Stake Center, Los Angeles, CA; Sunday, December 11

Joint Learning & Worship Experiences:

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  • Shabbat dinner; Hosted by Lois and Mark Diamond
  • Shabbat evening service; Temple Ramat Zion, Northridge, CA; Friday, December 9
  • Shabbat morning service & Kiddush luncheon; Adat Ari El, Valley Village, CA; Saturday, December 10
  • Shabbat morning service; Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles, CA; Saturday, December 10
  • Private tour of Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA; Saturday, December 10
  •  Musical Program “Songs of Light” with AJR-CA cantorial students; held at AJR-CA; Sunday, December 11

Donors: With grateful recognition of all the generous donors to this project, particularly: Irwin & Helgard Field, Ken & Wendy Ruby, Alan Sieroty, Naomi Vanek, Roy Christensen, Brent & Jill Bishop, Helen Leon, Dave & Bianca Lisonbee, Bruce Winn, George & Joyce Hill, and Michael & Margie Draper

1st Dialogue Series

March 2016 - Provo, Utah

Participants -- Mark Diamond (LMU), Tamar Frankiel (AJR-CA), Ilana Schwartzman (Kol Ami, SLC), and Steven Windmueller (HUC)

Richard Holzapfel (BYU), Shon Hopkin (BYU), Barbara Morgan Gardner (BYU), Jared Ludlow (BYU), Andrew Reed (BYU), Brent Top (BYU)

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Academic dialogues:

  • What Jews Can Learn From Mormons: Presenter – Mark Diamond (LMU), Respondent – Andrew Reed (BYU); held at BYU-Provo, Wednesday, March 30
  • Ancient Foundations of a Modern Tradition: Latter-day Saints and the Bible: Presenter – Shon Hopkin (BYU), Respondent – Tamar Frankiel (AJR-CA); held at BYU-Provo, Thursday, March 31
  • Reflections on Interreligious Dialogue: Presenter – Steven Windmueller (HUC), Respondent – Brent Top (BYU)

Public dialogue:

  • Building Bridges of Understanding: Jews and Mormons in Conversation: Moderator – Richard Holzapfel (BYU), Presenters – Mark Diamond (LMU) and Shon Hopkin (BYU); Panel Participants for Q&A – All participants in the dialogue series (above); held at BYU-Provo, Thursday, March 31
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