Welcome to the 2024-2025 Sisterhood Speaker Series! Learn more about this year’s speakers below. To register for individual programs, click here. *This series is for Beth El Sisterhood members ONLY.
Speaker in-person. Freeman Hrabowski III is a dynamic and inspirational speaker. He is best known as the legendary former president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, a position that he held from 1992 to 2022. He has been named one of America’s best leaders, one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and one of America’s 10 best college presidents.
Speaker in-person. Dr. Thomas M. Scalea is one of the world’s foremost authorities on trauma research, education, and clinical practice. He is the physician-in-chief of the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Since taking over Shock Trauma, he has elevated the center to become one of the premier trauma facilities in the world, treating 8,000 critically injured patients annually with a 96 percent survival rate for gunshot victims, head-on-crash collisions, and other trauma injuries.
Speakers in-person. Chanda Brigance has been by her husband’s side from the beginning of a very long journey. O.J. Brigance, former NFL player with the Ravens is trapped inside his own body, only able to move his eyeballs. Chanda has been the one to walk for both of them since OJ, at the age of 37, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on May 16, 2007. Chanda is the driving force behind Chanda’s Caregiver Corner, a program that promotes the mental, physical and emotional health of caregivers.
Speaker in-person. Jeffrey Kluger is currently editor-at-large at Time Magazine and author of thirteen books on diverse topics ranging from space to sibling relationships. At Time Magazine he specializes in articles covering space, climate, and science. He is the author of the book that served as the basis for the movie, Apollo 13. Jeffrey, who is also an attorney, grew up in Pikesville and currently lives in New York.
Virtual speaker. Over 25 years ago, Lee Gordon and his friend Amin Kahlaf had a vision to create a Jewish-Arab school. They co-founded Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. They currently have 6 schools and communities throughout Israel and their mission is to create a network of integrated, bilingual schools for Jewish and Arab students. They believe that partnership is the only way forward. Learn how they are coping during this turbulent time in Israel’s history.
Speaker in-person. Sara Sherbill is a writer and editor with a focus on mental health, motherhood and domestic violence. She will tell the story of growing up in a fiercely loving abusive rabbinical family in which her father, the charismatic head of a splinter Orthodox religious community, demanded unswerving loyalty, and a commitment to guarding terrible secrets. Sara is the author of the newly released book There Was Night and There was Morning.
Speaker in-person. R. Derek Black, (they/them) was raised to take over the white nationalist movement in the United States. Derek’s father, Don Black, was a former Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan. Derek is the godchild of David Duke, a white supremist, conspiracy theorist, and grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Derek’s new book, The Klansman’s Son, tells the story of how a child indoctrinated with hate can become an anti-racist adult, committed to combating antisemitism.
Speaker in-person. Sheela Murthy is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, perhaps best known as founder and president of Murthy Law Firm, based in Owings Mills with satellite offices in india. A native of India, Sheela and her husband established the MurthyNyak Foundation to channel their philanthropic contributions to nonprofits that serve the needs of women, children, and immigrants. She is recognized as a top International Corporate Immigration Lawyer and has received countless awards for her work. Sheela has been featured in The New York Times, The Daily Beast and the Story Exchange.
Speaker in-person. CJay Philip, is an actor, dancer, educator, choreographer, and Broadway veteran. At the 77th Annual Tony Awards in June of 2024, she was recognized for her impact when she won the Tony for Excellence in Theatre Education. CJay is the Founder and Creative Director of Dance & Bmore, a Baltimore based ensemble that fuses original music, movement and the spoken word with the goal of inviting and engaging the audience to celebrate life. She has directed and choreographed hundreds of musical and performance events around the world.
Monday - Thursday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:30am - 3:30pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
Copyright 2024 Beth El Congregation
