The 2026-2027 Arnie Sweet Scholar-In-Residence Lecture Series
Congregation Anshai Torah is honored to announce that Rachel Goldberg-Polin will be our 2026-2027 Arnie Sweet Lecture Series Scholar-In-Residence.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin is the New York Times bestselling author of When We See You Again, and one of the most visible voices of the hostage crisis after October 7, 2023, when her son, Hersh, was stolen by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival.
Meet Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Rachel Goldberg-Polin is an American-Israeli Jewish educator and the New York Times bestselling author of When We See You Again, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief in the wake of unthinkable tragedy. Rachel became one of the most visible voices of the hostage crisis after October 7, 2023, when her son, Hersh, was stolen by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival. In the months that followed, she and her husband, Jon Polin, became full-time advocates, speaking around the world about Hersh’s abduction and working tirelessly - in public and behind the scenes - for the release of all those taken captive.
Almost a year later, on Day 330, the IDF announced that Hersh had been murdered by Hamas in a tunnel in Gaza, along with five other young people later known as the Beautiful Six. Despite the devastating loss of their son, Rachel and Jon continued their advocacy on behalf of the remaining hostages and their families. Their efforts continued until the last hostage was recovered on January 26, 2026, Day 843.
Rachel was born and raised in Chicago and lives in Jerusalem. She and her husband Jon are the parents of three children.
About the Arnie Sweet Scholar-in-Residence Lecture Series
Now in its 18th year, the Arnie Sweet Scholar-In-Residence program at Anshai Torah is held in memory of Arnie Sweet, who was a greatly admired leader of the Dallas Jewish community for many years.
In January 2026, Rabbi David Wolpe was our Arnie Sweet Lecture Series Scholar-in-Residence. The author of eight books and a widely published commentator on Jewish life, Rabbi Wolpe spoke on “The Challenges and Promises of American Jewry.” Previous scholars include Matti Friedman, Rabbi Bradley Artson, Daniel Gordis, Yossi Klein Halevi, Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Rabbi Ed Feinstein, Rabbi Donniel Hartman, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, David Makovsky, Rabbi Naomi Levy, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Yehuda Kurtzer, and Rabbi Dr. Jonathan K. Crane.
We thank his family, Janice & Art Weinberg, Cindy & Mitch Moskowitz, Cathy & Joel Brook, for their generous support of the program as the Presenting Sponsors.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Thank you to our 2026-2027 Sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Cathy Sweet Brook and Joel Brook
Cindy Sweet Moskowitz and Mitch Moskowitz
Janice Sweet Weinberg and Art Weinberg
GOLD SPONSORS
Susan and Allyn Kramer
Alisa & Jason Makler
Sarah Sasson-Vasquez and Haim Vasquez
Kim and Rob Velevis
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Debbie and Manuel Rajunov
SUPPORTER SPONSORS
The Balis Family
Elaine and Richard Berry
Suzanne and Eric Fine
Rachel and David Friedman
HAZAK - Anshai Torah Senior Auxiliary
Marcy and Jeffrey Kahn
Kathryn and Seth Kaplan
Debbie and Bruce Katz
Gloria and Irwin Kerber
Pam and Matt Kurtzman
Elaine and Jeff Levitt
Mark Mullaney and Dr. Jonathan Palant
Andi and Stuart Rosenfield
Ilene and David Sporkin
Carol and Mark Wigder
Marni Wise and Jeffrey Itscovitch
Past Scholars List:
SIR 2026 Scholar: Rabbi David Wolpe
Israel-Perception and Reality, Then And Now
February 7-9, 2025
SIR 2025 Scholar: Matti Friedman
Israel-Perception and Reality, Then And Now
February 7-9, 2025
SIR 2024 Scholar: Dr. Laura Shaw Frank
Jewish Resilience
January 26-27, 2024
SIR 2023 Scholar: Rabbi Dr. Jonathan K. Crane
Jewish Ethics in a Dynamic Era
January 27-29, 2023
SIR 2022 Scholar: Yehuda Kurtzer
A Free People in Our Land: Jewish in America, 2022
February 6-7, 2022
SIR 2021 Scholar: Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Shehechiyanu-The Secrets of an Ever-Renewing People
January 28-30, 2021
SIR 2020 Scholar: Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Together and Apart: Nurturing Unity In An Era of Increasing Polarization
January 31-February 2, 2020
SIR 2019 Scholar: Rabbi Naomi Levy
A Shabbat of Soul
January 25-26, 2019
SIR 2018 Scholar: David Makovsky
Israel at 70: Promise or Peril?
January 26-27, 2018
SIR 2017 Scholar: Dr. Deborah Lipstadt
Anti-Semitism: Then and Now
February 10-11, 2017
SIR 2016 Scholar: Rabbi Sharon Brous
EXCAVATE. REANIMATE. RADIATE: Pathways to the Jewish Future
January 29-30, 2016
SIR 2015 Scholar: Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman
Who Are The Jews An Ever Changing Story
February 6-7, 2015
SIR 2014 Scholar: Rabbi Ed Feinstein
A Weekend with Rabbi Feinstein
January 24-26, 2014
SIR 2013 Scholar: Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
Judaism for the Next Millennium
January 18-19, 2013
SIR 2012 Scholar: Yossi Klein Halevi
Israel at the Crossroads
February 10-12, 2012
SIR 2011 Scholar: Dr. Daniel Gordis
The Promise of Israel
January 28-29, 2011
SIR 2010 Scholar: Rabbi Bradley Artson
Passing Life’s Tests
January 29-31, 2010