Horvitz 2025: Genesis: Archaeology and the Patriarchal Narrative
2025-02-03 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 1: Biblical Texts and Ancient Artifacts: A Dialogue

Genesis: Archaeology and the Patriarchal Narrative
Monday, February 3 | 7:30 PM
In the patriarchal narratives, we are told of Abraham’s emigration from Ur of the Chaldees to the Land of Canaan via Haran. Is there any evidence for this story? It turns out that there is, but as usual, it gets complicated.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: The Tabernacle in the Desert, the Cult Place in Shiloh and Solomon's Temple
2025-02-04 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 1: Biblical Texts and Ancient Artifacts: A Dialogue

The Tabernacle in the Desert, the Cult Place in Shiloh and Solomon’s Temple
Tuesday, February 4 | 7:30 PM
The biblical text lays out the architectural plans and the ritual equipment of the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple in great detail. These details were not made up; cultic buildings and ritual equipment like those described actually existed. The trick is to identify their sources and counterparts in the ancient world.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: How Archaeology Works and Why it Matters
2025-02-05 19:30 | Congregation Beth Yeshurun, 4525 Beechnut Street, Houston, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
COMMUNITY LECTURE
For Kehillah High Students at Congregation Beth Yeshurun

How Archaeology Works and Why it Matters
Wednesday, February 5 | 7:30 PM
In this talk, we will learn how archaeologists decide where and what to excavate, how they date things, and what they do with what they find. Then we will tackle “fake” archaeology on Netflix, “mysterious” civilizations, and of course, aliens. On a more serious note, we’ll talk about how archaeology in Israel and Palestine is political, and why it matters. Then Dr. Ilan will share the most interesting thing he found.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: Now You’re Talking! – Iron Age (1200-500 BCE) Archaeology and the Book of Kings
2025-02-06 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 1: Biblical Texts and Ancient Artifacts: A Dialogue

Now You’re Talking! – Iron Age (1200-500 BCE) Archaeology and the Book of Kings
Thursday, February 6 | 7:30 PM
While the earlier books of the Bible are partly mythological and partly a collection of hazy collective memories, the Book of Kings is historical and can be correlated to extra-biblical sources and archaeological finds… well, usually. We will look at the correspondences and divergences and discuss the biblical text’s political and theological tendencies.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: ‘’Thou Shalt Make No Graven Image:’’ An Archaeological Speculation on the Origins of the Second Commandment
2025-02-10 12:00 | Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
COMMUNITY LECTURE
Rice University Program in Jewish Studies Lecture at Rice University
‘’Thou Shalt Make No Graven Image:’’ An Archaeological Speculation on the Origins of the Second Commandment
Monday, February 10 | 12:00 PM
Why were graven images of God prohibited in Exodus 20:4? Why do portrayals of deities disappear from the archaeological record in the southern Levant in the early Iron Age, circa 1200 BCE, after being so popular in the preceding Bronze Age? Dr. Ilan thinks it may have to do with the collapse of the Bronze Age empires and the resulting international chaos.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: They Came from the North: Ramparts, Gates and Living with Dead at Tel Dan in the Bronze Age
2025-02-10 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 2: Hidden Secrets of Ancient Tel Dan, Israel

They Came from the North: Ramparts, Gates and Living with Dead at Tel Dan in the Bronze Age
Monday, February 10 | 7:30 PM
Archaeological research in 20th century Israel was heavily grounded in the biblical narrative. While located in the north of Israel, the material culture of Tel Dan was most often interpreted as being associated with the Land of Canaan and Israel to the south. But Tel Dan was always in contact with the lands of Syria and Mesopotamia. Dan is one of the few places in the southern Levant where it can be demonstrated that monumental architecture, pottery, artwork and burial practices arrived with immigrants from Syria and beyond.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: Who Were the Biblical Danites and What Were Their Origins?
2025-02-11 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 2: Hidden Secrets of Ancient Tel Dan, Israel

Who Were the Biblical Danites and What Were Their Origins?
Tuesday, February 11 | 7:30 PM
The Bible depicts the Danites as being somewhat apart, different from other tribes. Samson, for example, a Danite, is a unique, Greek-like hero. After 40 years of excavation at Tel Dan, we can now say how and why the Danites were different. They represent an amalgam of different ethnic origins: Egyptians, Cypriots, Greeks, Syrians and Canaanites.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: David Lives! The Tel Dan Inscription and Its Implications
2025-02-12 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 2: Hidden Secrets of Ancient Tel Dan, Israel

David Lives! The Tel Dan Inscription and Its Implications
Wednesday, February 12 | 7:30 PM
The Tel Dan Inscription is perhaps the only extra-biblical mention of David. It is almost too good to be true! Is it a planted fake? See how and where it was found on the site and why it is the real deal. The inscription contains lots of historical information that can be compared to the biblical text. Not everything jives, but much does. This has immense implications for biblical studies and for our understanding of biblical Israel and Aram.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: The “Israelite” Settlement of Canaan in an Age of Chaos: Joshua, Judges and... Archaeology
2025-02-13 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 3: How Ancient Israel Began

The “Israelite” Settlement of Canaan in an Age of Chaos: Joshua, Judges and… Archaeology
Thursday, February 13 | 7:30 PM
The biblical text describes the conquest of the Land of Canaan, including a detailed itinerary. Archaeologists working in the 20th century went looking for evidence of this conquest; in some places, it seemed to be confirmed but in others not (Jericho!). As a result, various hypotheses were proposed over the years to account for discrepancies and to reconstruct the actual process of settlement circa 1200-1100 BCE. We will examine another theory; it involves the Egyptians.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Archeology and the Exodus from Egypt
2025-02-16 14:00 | Congregation Beth Yeshurun, 4525 Beechnut Street, Houston, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
COMMUNITY LECTURE
Yom Limmud
Archeology and the Exodus from Egypt
Sunday, February 16
The story of the Exodus is one of the foundational stories of Jewish identity. Did the Hebrews live in Egypt for generations, eventually being enslaved? Did they build the Pyramids (no)? Did the Exodus really occur? Who was Moses? What is the evidence (or lack thereof)? There are different ways to approach the Exodus narrative, and we will dive into these.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: Who Were the Philistines?
2025-02-17 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 3: How Ancient Israel Began

Who Were the Philistines?
Monday, February 17 | 7:30 PM
In the biblical text, the Philistines are portrayed as a distinct ethnic group living in the southern coastal region of Israel and Gaza. The text also hints that they came from overseas—a place called Caphtor. What does archaeology have to say about who the Philistines were and where they came from? What’s with Goliath? What happened to the Philistines? Did they become Palestinians?
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: David, Solomon and the United Kingdom: Myth or Fact?
2025-02-18 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 3: How Ancient Israel Began

David, Solomon and the United Kingdom: Myth or Fact?
Tuesday, February 18 | 7:30 PM
Until the discovery of the Tel Dan Inscription, one school of scholarly thought held that David and Solomon were purely mythological figures. David is now considered historical, but questions remain. How much of the text is historically accurate? How large was his kingdom? What did he build? And what about Solomon, who is not mentioned anywhere outside the Bible? Did he exist? Did he build a great temple and conduct extensive international relations? Archaeology provides some answers to these questions, but it presents more conundrums.
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Horvitz 2025: The Politics of Archaeology in Israel and Palestine: Where Do We Go from Here?
2025-02-20 19:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
The 30th Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program Featuring Dr. David Ilan
NEW HORIZONS: The Incredible Story of Ancient Israel Told Through Archaeology
February 2 – 20, 2025
—–
Series 3: How Ancient Israel Began
Community Lecture Closing Night

The Politics of Archaeology in Israel and Palestine: Where Do We Go from Here?
Thursday, February 20 | 7:30 PM
Most archaeologists working in Israel or Palestine try to avoid politics, claiming that what we do is apolitical— strictly academic. Really? On this closing night, we will look at how archaeology in Israel and Palestine operates, how it is budgeted and what its agenda is. We will examine the priorities of different stakeholders and the ways in which archaeology is used to forward political and cultural narratives. On the surface, archaeology may appear to be apolitical, but it almost never is. How can archaeology negotiate our political divides and existential fears? Might it be a tool for reconciliation?
About Dr. Ilan
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. David llan was the director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem from 2003 to 2024. He has excavated at Tel Arad, Tel Malhata, Tel Yokneam and Tel Megiddo and directed the excavations at Tel Dan from 2005 to 2022. He teaches at the Hebrew Union College, has taught at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, Johns Hopkins University, and spent a sabbatical year in 2019-2020 at the Center for the Study of Origins of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Ilan specializes in mortuary archaeology, the archaeology of religion and ritual, ground stone artifacts, ceramic typology and technology, and the Chalcolithic period, the Middle Bronze Age and the early Iron Age of the southern Levant. He is the editor of the journal NGSBA Archaeology and the monograph series of the Nelson Glueck School. Dr. Ilan has published three final excavation reports and numerous articles in scholarly journals and in the popular press. His most recent articles deal with the praxis and paraphernalia of ritual action and religious belief in the ancient Near East, including the use of psychotropic substances.
Registration is FREE | Advanced Registration Requested for All Events
Dr. Leo Horvitz’s commitment to the Jewish community is legendary. The Scholar-in-Residence Program was originally established in 1989 by his wife, Bunny, to honor the memory of Dr. Horvitz who served the Houston Jewish community in many capacities. In 1995, to honor the blessed memory of Bunny Horvitz, the program was renamed the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. Due to a generous donation from Shirley and Sig Horvitz and Carol and Paul Horvitz, the series continues to reflect their dedication to excellence in Jewish education for the entire community. The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC thanks the Horvitz Family for their continued support of this program. Though registration is free, attendees are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the principal of the fund. Your contributions will help support the program’s continued growth and success.

Torah Study
2025-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Room 203, 5601 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
Weekly Torah Portion class Every Thursday
Led by Israeli Shlichim, this class is an opportunity to join a friendly class around the table.
Whether you’ve read these stories before or they’re new to you, the J’s weekly Torah Study is a space to deepen your understanding and connection. Together, we will explore the weekly Torah portion, discover its timeless themes and reflect on what it can teach us about our lives today. We will also explore the deep connections between the Parasha and modern Israel, and how ancient stories come alive in the Israeli spirit and culture.
Bring your lunch and join us for a meaningful discussion!
To sign up, please email Shir Benjamin at sbenjamin@erjcchouston.org.

17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series: Anat Ronen - Paving Her Own Path
2025-10-20 19:00 | Herzstein Foundation Multipurpose Room
The 17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series
Hebrew Culture Responding to Violence: Before and After October 7
Jewish and Hebrew culture has always reflected and responded to the turbulent and often violent history of the Jewish people, from ancient persecutions to modern conflicts. In recent years, violence has once again profoundly shaped Jewish life and identity, particularly following the events of October 7 and the ongoing aftermath. This lecture series examines how Hebrew culture has grappled with violence across different eras and contexts, from the lived experiences of contemporary artists to the collective memory embedded in literature and history. By exploring these diverse perspectives, we will consider the varied ways Hebrew culture has and continues to process, memorialize and respond to violence in its many forms.
Paving Her Own Path: A Story of an American Israeli Public Artist
In this presentation, Anat Ronen will speak about her career, before and after October 7. She will reflect on how her being Israeli has stirred up her career, how she has coped with the October 7 horrors, how she is coping today with the ongoing harassment, isolation and discrimination and how her personal experience reflects the story of all of us.
Anat Ronen is a mural artist who has been living in Houston since 2007. Her artistic career is intertwined with her immigration story. Anat is a secular Israeli who never thought too much of her Judaism or Israeli origin. Her art is not Israeli or Jewish. After Anat’s career received some attention, her background was used by some to incite campaigns against her, circulate lies and even organize protests against her and the studio complex where she co-rents a tiny unit.

17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series: Ido Telem - H.N. Bialik and the Poetry of Slaughter
2025-10-22 19:00 | Herzstein Foundation Multipurpose Room
The 17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series
Hebrew Culture Responding to Violence: Before and After October 7
Jewish and Hebrew culture has always reflected and responded to the turbulent and often violent history of the Jewish people, from ancient persecutions to modern conflicts. In recent years, violence has once again profoundly shaped Jewish life and identity, particularly following the events of October 7 and the ongoing aftermath. This lecture series examines how Hebrew culture has grappled with violence across different eras and contexts, from the lived experiences of contemporary artists to the collective memory embedded in literature and history. By exploring these diverse perspectives, we will consider the varied ways Hebrew culture has and continues to process, memorialize and respond to violence in its many forms.
H.N. Bialik and the Poetry of Slaughter: Then and Now
In April 1903, the Jewish community of the Bessarabian town of Kishinev experienced one of the worst pogroms of the time. Hayim Nahman Bialik (1873-1934), Israel’s would-be national poet, responded with two defining poems: “On the Slaughter” [‘Al ha-shḥitah], an immediate response to the massacre, and “In the City of Slaughter” [Be’ir ha-harigah] a written later that year after his visit to Kishinev as head of a delegation of Hebrew authors. The two Hebrew poems became cornerstones of the Zionist movement, galvanizing a new ethos of Jewish self-defense. More than 120 years later, the poems continue to resonate throughout Jewish and Israeli history as among the most poignant Hebrew cultural responses to violence. This talk will explore the cultural history of these poems, their continuing relevance and various appropriations and misappropriations across different moments, and what insights they may offer us about the violence of our own time. The poems will be read and discussed in English translations alongside the Hebrew originals.
Ido Telem is the Samuel W. and Goldye Marian Spain Postdoctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies at Rice University. He specializes in modern Hebrew and German literature and thought, with a focus on the cultural history of Zionism. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago, where his dissertation examined how modern Hebrew authors looked to German philosophy to guide the revival of Hebrew culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Ido’s research has been published in the Yearbook for European Jewish Literature Studies.

17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series: Adi Livny - Violence & Political Imagination
2025-10-29 19:00 | Herzstein Foundation Multipurpose Room
The 17th Annual Rice University Lecture Series
Hebrew Culture Responding to Violence: Before and After October 7
Jewish and Hebrew culture has always reflected and responded to the turbulent and often violent history of the Jewish people, from ancient persecutions to modern conflicts. In recent years, violence has once again profoundly shaped Jewish life and identity, particularly following the events of October 7 and the ongoing aftermath. This lecture series examines how Hebrew culture has grappled with violence across different eras and contexts, from the lived experiences of contemporary artists to the collective memory embedded in literature and history. By exploring these diverse perspectives, we will consider the varied ways Hebrew culture has and continues to process, memorialize and respond to violence in its many forms.
A History of Violence and Political Imagination in Israel/Palestine
This talk examines how episodes of violence have shaped the political imagination of Jews and Arabs in Israel/Palestine. From the 1929 disturbances in Mandatory Palestine to October 7, violence has repeatedly reshaped two central paradigms for the land’s future: partition (“the two-state solution”) and binationalism. By returning to their emergence in the Mandate period and tracing how subsequent waves of violence constrained, redirected and redefined them, the talk considers how October 7 has fundamentally altered current discussions around these two long-standing but persistent paradigms.
Adi Livny is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Middlebury College. She holds a Ph.D. in Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she was a fellow at the Mandel School for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Her work has appeared in Studies in Contemporary Jewry, Armed Forces & Society and Kursbuch. Her recent publications include “The State, the University, and the Budgeting Formula,” in The History of the Hebrew University, 1948–1967 (Magnes, 2024). She is currently completing her first book, Settlers, Natives, Empire, and the Making of the Hebrew University, 1918–1948.

Mezuzah Making Workshop
2026-01-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
Join us for a creative, hands-on workshop led by OLA ART. You’ll design and craft your own mezuzah using colorful epoxy resin.
Discover the beauty and meaning behind this timeless Jewish tradition while creating a modern, one-of-a-kind piece to take home. No experience is needed!
Room 202A

Tu Bishvat in the Garden
2026-02-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, 5601 S. Braeswood, Houston, TX, 77096, United States
Get your hands in the dirt as we celebrate Tu Bishvat, the Jewish birthday of the trees. Join us in planting and weeding in a local edible community garden shared and maintained by volunteers from all around Houston and learn all about this beautiful holiday!
Location will be shared with those that registered.
This event is a collaboration with Shma Koleinu Sunday School-Journey, J families and the community garden volunteers.
