Explore the Divine in everyday locations through the poetry of Lea Goldberg and Yehuda Amichai, two of Israel’s most celebrated 20th-century poets. Both immigrants to Israel, their works often reflect and respond to one another, capturing faith, love, tragedy, and fleeting sightings in ordinary spaces like coffee shops. In this discussion, we’ll read and analyze selected poems (provided in Hebrew and English) to explore how these poets depicted unexpected spiritual moments. How do the sacred and ordinary intersect?   What do their different life experiences reveal about connections with and descriptions of a higher power? Join us for a rare chance to engage with their poetry in a setting that echoes their words.

Dr. Miriam Rosalyn Diamond is an educator, author, and playwright. During the COVID emergency she led a year-long international online discussion series on the poetry of Goldberg and Amichai. She also has been an Israeli music DJ with a weekly spot on WERS' Chagigah show.

Miriam has taught at universities, Jewish institutions, as well as centers for adult and community education. She has researched, presented, and published on subjects such as friendship, mattering, spirituality, role play for learning, ethical development, and communities of practice. Her books include Encountering Faith in the Classroom, Fostering Religious Literacy Across Campus, and the forthcoming Protect Your Identity, Money & Information! How to Spot and Deal with Scams. She holds a PhD in Educational Processes from Northwestern University, an MA in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University, and a BS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University.

An exhibited artist, Miriam can be found relaxing in cafés while sketching her surroundings.