This winter, City Shul is launching a new adult education series grounded in that vision. Ideas and Ideals: Jewish Conversations for an Uncertain Age is a series modelled after the classic salon: intimate, thoughtful gatherings where learning meets dialogue. Each session will feature a leading scholar in conversation with me, creating space not just to listen, but to think together.

Our opening session, which will talk about fascism and authoritarianism, will feature renowned University of Toronto professor of intellectual history Dr. Marci Shore. Together, Rabbi Crawley and Dr. Shore will explore urgent and unsettling questions: When world leaders wield power unjustly and unpredictably, what recourse do citizens have? How do authoritarian movements emerge—and reemerge—in democratic societies? And what can history and religion teach us when the world feels as though it is spinning off its axis? We will also reflect on what responsibilities Jews—and Canadians—carry in this moment, particularly after the bold speech our Prime Minister, Mark Carney, gave at the Davos Forum in Switzerland.

Ideas and Ideals Program Series - “Wisdom for a World Turned Upside Down”
Tuesday, March 17, 7 PM
Massey College, Junior Common Room, 4 Devonshire Place

 

In a moment when the world feels unsettled and institutions are being tested, thoughtful conversation matters more than ever.

On Tuesday, March 17, Massey College will host Professor Marci Shore (Professor of Intellectual History, University of Toronto) and Rabbi Stephanie Crawley, leader of Toronto’s City Shul congregation, for an evening exploring what history and religion can teach us when power is wielded unjustly, democracy feels fragile, and citizens are called to reflect on their responsibilities.

Bringing together intellectual history, faith, and lived experience, this conversation invites us to slow down, think deeply, and ask what ethical engagement looks like in uncertain times, particularly from a Canadian perspective.
We are grateful to host this timely discussion at Massey College and to welcome voices committed to clarity, care, and moral imagination.

The event is free of charge and will also be livestreamed.
Register here: https://www.masseycollege.ca/events/wisdom-for-a-world-turned-upside-down/