HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2025 LECTURE

Sponsored by Connie Spear Birnbaum Foundation, AJC New England, Temple Beth Shalom CJP, JCRC, and ADL New England And 40 co-sponsoring synagogues and organizations

Photo by David Stollar

The 22nd annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture. held on June 24 at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, was a product of necessity and good fortune. The necessity is that we speak to the mounting harm resulting from spiraling antisemitism. The good fortune was that, in this moment of great challenge, an exceptional leader, AJC CEO Ted Deutch, was scheduled to be the featured speaker at the 2025 Birnbaum Lecture. This confluence of events gave voice to the concerns of our community, while sustaining many of the unique features of the Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture program.

Photo by Alan Shepro

The evening began with a warm welcome from Rabbis Jay Perlman & Elyse Pincus Abrahams who brought greetings on behalf of Temple Beth Shalom to the 700+ people in attendance, both in person and online. Their remarks concluded with a communal prayer, ending with these meaningful words:

Holy One... Help us as individuals and as a community become agents of understanding, sowing the seeds that we pray may one day lead to stronger ties that bind neighbor to neighbor, faith to faith, and nation to nation. And may we, in the face of rising antisemitism in our country and around the world, resolve to find inspiration together through the vitality of our Jewish community and in allyship with others. May we so be blessed, may we so embrace hope, and may we thereby be both inspire, and experience, peace. Amen.

Listen to the opening welcome from our host rabbis

Our Vision for Jewish Unity, As Inspired by Connie

“Sarah and Yaron were thrust on to our radars not by their exemplary service to the Israeli Embassy or by the bridges they were committed to building, rather by the bullets of a cold-blooded murderer. May we leave here inspired by how they lived, rather than allowing those who wish us harm to weaken our Jewish identities by defining them by how they died.”

Listen to Dr. Birnbaum’s moving remarks

Photo by Larry Sandberg

Photo by Larry Sandberg

It Could Have Been Any of Us

Laura Epstein, a friend of the young couple murdered at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, spoke from her heart and with great love about her relationship with Sarah, in particular.

“I only got to be Sarah Milgrim’s friend for a short time, but every interaction left an imprint. Sarah reminds us that our words matter. Our actions matter. That seemingly small moments can have a deep and lasting impact. Sarah reminds us that 26-year-olds aren’t just “going” to change the world someday – they already are.”

Hear Laura’s emotional, heartfelt sentiments

Finding Our Voice in the Fight Against Antisemitism

“Now is not the time to retreat! We will not rest until we make antisemitism socially and politically unacceptable. Every day I see the power of people like you who care about this community and who know that confronting hate is an urgent priority. Together we are building our capacity to mobilize to engage more people in this critical work because every one of us has a role to play. And I know that’s why you are here tonight.”

Check out Marc’s inspirational words

Photo by Larry Sandberg

Photo by Alan Shepro

The Jewish Community Is Not Alone

“Our history, it’s not just something we celebrate, it’s what to live up to. Ordinary people making a difference, believing in self-governance and fundamental freedoms. Those aren’t just words. People risked life and limb, ordinary farmers and merchants. That’s what started the birthplace of this country and today we’ve got to fight like heck to preserve it and remind ourselves, especially during times of pain and trauma, that speaking up, speaking out, standing up loudly and strongly. is the only way we move forward. Know that you have a friend, a partner, an ally, as you move forward.”

Listen to our Lt. Governor’s resolve that the Jewish community is not alone.

The Fight We Didn’t Want: Combating Antisemitism in 2025

Our featured speaker, Ted Deutch, a lifelong Jewish and pro-Israel activist, assumed the role of CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC) on October 1, 2022. He joined AJC following more than 12 years of service in the United States House of Representatives, representing Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida. We are so appreciative that Mr. Deutch took time out of his very busy schedule to join the Boston Jewish community in solidarity and unity, fighting the rise of Antisemitism in Massachusetts, the United States, and beyond. “As we know, dangerous rhetoric has led to violence. We must now loudly and clearly call out antisemitism no matter where it comes from. This is the moment for courage. It’s a moment where we need leadership. We need everyone to stand up and say enough. We will not stand for this type of incitement. History has taught us that what happens when hatred is allowed to fester can happen again.”

Listen to Mr. Deutch’s powerful address

Photo by David Stollar

Moments to Remember: Harmonious Interludes

Boyhood Buddies... Alan Teperow, Lecture Co-founder and Executive Director, poses for a photo with Alan Nelson, conductor of the Zachor Choral Ensemble.

Photo by Alan Shepro

Sarah Dinin (flute), Dr. Lisa Wong (viola)

Photo by Alan Shepro

Dr. Suzanne Hanser Teperow (piano)

Photo by Alan Shepro

Zachor Choral Ensemble performing Debbie Friedman’s T’fillat Haderech with new arrangement by Alan Nelson

Photo by Larry Sandberg

We Thank Our Generous Donors


Patrons - $100.00-249.00

Michael & Joyce Bohnen

Barry & Judith Freedman Caplan

Rabbi Oksana Chapman

Claire & David Fisher

Joseph & Rae Gann Charitable Foundation

Mark Hecht

Rebecca Hecht

Ron & Debby Iken

John & Randi Lapidus

Phillip & Robin Levy

Tsion Levy & Nina Teperow-Levy

Murray & Barbara Miller

Jeremy Nussbaum

Marvin & Judy Packer

Adrienne Ruch

Jay & Daphnah Sage

Arielle & Solly Silverman

Jonathan Stone

Paul Tatelman

Temple Beth Elohim

Stephen Thompson

Ken & Carol Turkewitz

Pillars - $250.00+

Herbert Birnbau

Nathan & Robin Birnbaum

Renee & Jonathan Delatizky

Bruce & Mady Donoff

Ilanna & Noam Heller

Robert Kerwin

Andy & Myra Majewski

Scott & Joan Merlis

Brian & Judy Miller

Rabbi Dan & Ruth Pernick

Janet Rhodes

Jill & Larry Sandberg

Jerry & Erica Silverman

Michael Strunk & Fiza Singh

Alan Teperow & Suzanne Hanser

Jon & Ruth Tepper

Sponsors - $54.00-$99.00

Solomon Friedberg & Karen Siller

Debbie & Bernard Friedland

Dina Goldman

Payson & Janyce Greene

Josh & Ronda Jacobson

Sally Kaitz

Rami & Ursula Mangoubi

Lockie Milner

Alan & Eva Radding

Andy & Rachel Schwartz

Rachel & Mark Seliber

Elliot & Adrianne Sternthal

David & Carol Stollar

Matthew & Maxine Zizmor

Friends - $36.00-$53.00

Steven & Renee Bellin

Ida & Steve Colchamiro

Patricia Cristafaro

Roselyn Garber

Carol & David Greenfield

Mike & Rissy Hirsh

Robert Karasov & Hanna Bloomfield

Juliette Landesman

Naomi & Carl Lopkin

Robert & Lesley Perlman