World Wide Wrap 2010

Gerry Shapiro, CAI's in-house expert on tefillin, assumed his usual, annual role as educator and gave a great lecture during the World Wide Wrap. The Wrap, a global event organized by the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, took place on Sunday morning, February 7th. Gerry walked Men's Club members, Hay class students and their parents through the liturgical passages pertaining to tefillin and providing reasonsings for the customs. He also provided insights on the usage of the famous phylacteries in Ashkenazi and Sephardic culture and discussed the permission of tefillin use among Jewish women.

Don't think for a moment that the recent flap over an orthodox Jewish airline traveler wearing tefillin did not come up. It did, to much laughter and consternation. Great job, Gerry! (Pictured are, from left, World Wide Wrap committee chair Harvey Hershkowitz, Gerry Shapiro and WWW committee member Ken Levitt.)

After Gerry's talk, Congregation Agudath Israel hosted Dr. Ismar Schorsch, the recent past Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Dr. Schorsch was a featured speaker in CAI's author speaker series. His new book, Canon Without Closure, was the focal point of his discussion. The book took 13 years to write but has been met with applause by clergy both in and out of the Jewish faith.

Thanks to all, especially CAI education director Susan Werk, for making the World Wide Wrap 2010 a great morning!