Friday, May 19th 
5:45 pm Kabbalat Shabbat followed by Shabbat Dinner
Sponsored by the Robert H. Spitz Foundation 
No charge for dinner - RSVP is required

Timshel: The Glory of Choice 
After Dinner Discussion - Destiny invokes the concept of faith, while free will points to curiosity and learning. This discussion will not attempt to answer the philosophical question of whether we exist in a world of destiny or free will. Rather, starting with various understandings of the biblical word timshel, we will explore the origins of our beliefs about destiny and free will and how our beliefs motivate us to make sense in our lives.
 

Saturday, May 20th 
 Services at 9:30 am followed by a Kiddush Luncheon
RSVP kindly requested

Yetzer HaTov: The Hard, Clean Question
This after-kiddush discussion will distinguish between our ideas of good (yetzer hatov), evil (yetzer harah), and happiness and pleasure. We will explore how people perceive themselves and their lives in response to what John Steinbeck called “the hard, clean question.” We will consider self-interest in a non-conventional way that can serve us as we strive to live lives of meaning and satisfaction.

 

About Dr. Ron Clavier
Dr. Ron Clavier is a celebrated neuroscientist and clinical psychologist and an acclaimed artist and student of the works of John Steinbeck. Dr. Clavier has served on the medical faculties of three major North American universities, as Senior Educational Consultant for the Canadian Council on Drug Abuse, and as external clinician to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Clavier’s research has led to improved treatment of clinical depression worldwide. He is the author of 30+ peer-reviewed research articles and the manuscript Art, Science, and the Importance of Truth. His book, Teen Brain, Teen Mind, became a 13-part series produced by Canadian Learning Television. Dr. Clavier’s artwork has been exhibited throughout Canada since 1995 and has been compared with pieces in the finest private galleries. A generous philanthropist and civic activist, Dr. Clavier has donated proceeds from the sale of his paintings to, among others, Food Banks Canada, The Wildlife Preservation Fund, Ukraine Relief Society, and The Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose University, where he also served on the Advisory Board. Dr. Clavier comes to us from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, where he enjoys life with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He is a member of Congregation B’nai Israel, the only Conservative synagogue in the Niagara Region.
Ron Clavier Studio | Artist and Brain Scientist