Chabad Shul Speaker Series
The Chabad-Shul Speaker Series brings powerful voices and meaningful conversations to our community throughout the year, featuring real stories that inspire, challenge, and uplift. From the emotional journey of Chaim Ben Arye, the Israeli bus driver who rescued children during the October 7 attack and later succumbed to trauma, to the eye-opening story of an acclaimed author who went “From Miniskirt to Hijab in Revolutionary Iran,” each event offers a compelling window into courage, identity, faith, and the Jewish spirit.
Chabad Centers of Aspen Hill, Potomac, Silver Spring, Upper Montgomery County, the Chabad Israeli Center, and Berman Hebrew Academy present:
“AND YOU SHALL CHOOSE LIFE”
One woman’s story of courage, loss, and unbreakable faith — honoring the life and heroism of Chaim Ben Arye
Featuring: Irit Ben Arye
In recent months, tragic reports have emerged of October 7 survivors and heroes who have taken their own lives, unable to carry the unbearable weight of trauma. Among them was Chaim Ben Arye—a devoted husband, father of eight, and beloved Israeli school bus driver known for his kindness, compassion, and quiet strength.
On October 7th, Chaim courageously drove his bus into Kibbutz Be’eri under fire to save lives. He filled his bus again and again—with children, the elderly, and terrified families fleeing for their lives—risking everything to bring others to safety. Though he saved many, the trauma he carried was immense and hidden. Weeks later, Chaim tragically died by suicide, sitting in the very bus where he had rescued so many.
Now, his wife Irit Ben Arye travels the world to honor Chaim’s story. With rare honesty and emotional strength, she gives voice to the silent wounds of trauma, the cost of heroism, and the human spirit’s fight to choose life in the face of devastating pain.
This is not just a story of tragedy—it is a story of love, courage, resilience, faith, and hope.
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Chabad Shul of Aspen Hill (Middle School Beit Midrash), 13300 Arctic Ave., Rockville, MD 20853
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Mr. Mark Halawa
FROM A KUWAITI MUSLIM TO AN ISRAELI JEW
Mark Halawa was born and raised in Kuwait to an Arab-Muslim family of Palestinian background.
All along, Mark knew his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but never thought this would make him a Jew.
In 2003, while a university student in London, Ontario Canada, Mark came across Dr Yitzchak Block, a retired professor of philosophy, who informed him that by Jewish law he is actually Jewish, effectively making Mark the very enemy he grew up learning to hate. Mark’s curiosity grew, and an impactful trip to Poland and Israel in 2009 made him fall in love with the Jewish people.
In 2010, Mark started full-time studies at Yeshiva in Jerusalem, then made Israel his home. Today, Mark and his wife live in Jerusalem with their two daughters.
Rabbi Motti Flickshtein
FROM RAPPER TO RABBI, A JOURNEY BACK HOME
Rabbi Motti shares his inspiring and entertaining story about his transformation from a secular rapper to Chabad rabbi, which began with a hug from another Chabad rabbi.
The story is one which takes any crowd on an emotional rollercoaster. At times, laughing and at times, crying. Throughout the presentation, everyone on the edge of their seats.
The story is interspersed with the rabbi’s rap and touches on the beauty of Shabbat, Ahavat Yisrael, Divine Providence, and how blessed we are to have the Torah, Mitzvot, and a relationship with G-d.
Mr. Daniel Friedmann
TORAH AND SCIENCE; THE GENESIS ONE CODE, TORAH THE BLUEPRINT OF CREATION, AND THE ORIGINS OF HUMANS
Friedmann is Chairman of Carbon Engineering, a company dedicated to removing co2 from the air to solve climate change.
He was the CEO of "Canada's largest space systems company" and the world's largest commercial communications satellite manufacturer, for 20 years, until May 2016.
He is a professional engineer and holds a master's in engineering physics. Friedmann has published papers on space industry topics and cosmology, as well as, on the correlation between Biblical teachings and scientific theory.
His work on reconciling the biblical account with scientific observation, has been widely reported. He has also spoken on his work to the general public, in schools, at the National Jewish retreat 2017 and many Chabad-Lubavitch Centers.
Rabbi Doron Kornbluth
CREMATION OR BURIAL?
Rabbi Doron Kornbluth is a bestselling author, internationally renowned speaker, and inspirational licensed Tour Guide in Israel.
His books include Why Be Jewish?, Raising Kids to LOVE Being Jewish, Why Marry Jewish?, Cremation or Burial? A Jewish View, and the recently released Inspirational Israel (all by Mosaica Press).
Doron speaks to all types of audiences on many subjects.
Join us as we explore different perspectives on after life.
Mr. Ernie Gross
NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN
Ernie Gross was born in 1929 in Turt, Romania. His father was a salesman and his mother was a Romanian language tutor. He had five brothers and two sisters.
In April 1944, when Ernie was 15 years old, the Hungarian occupiers deported him and his family to the Sevlus ghetto for several weeks into cramped and near starving conditions. Then they were deported to Auschwitz, arriving in late May of 1944.
After surviving on small pieces of bread and stolen potatoes for several months in
the horrific conditions at Auschwitz, the Nazis forced Ernie and thousands of other inmates who were still alive on a death march to the west towards Dachau and Kaufering, a network of subcamps of Dachau in Germany.
On April 29, 1945 the American army
liberated. Within that one-year internment, Ernie lost 5 members of his immediate family and an unknown number of extended family members. Only two of his brothers and one sister survived.
He spent the next several months in a displaced persons camp and in September 1947 finally immigrated to New York City and then Philadelphia to where his father’s three sisters moved.
Join us to hear Ernie’s firsthand account of his experiences and his powerful message of ‘Never Forget, Never Again’.
Mr. Myron Sugarman
THE LAST JEWISH GANGSTER
The history of the Mob and the history of Jews in America are intertwined.
Meet master storyteller, Myron Sugarma and hear about his connected life with the mob, the shocking story of the mob's impact on the American Nazi Party in the 1930s and the weapons supplied during Israel's fight for independence.
It's a story of Jewish heroism, pride, and patriotism from the perspective of the last Jewish gangster.
Rabbi Pickle
PUTTING YOU IN A (GOOD) PICKLE
DATE: April
Rabbi Pickle is Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, a teacher of kosher pickle-making who travels around teaching kosher dietary laws.
Dubbing his mission the Traveling Kosher Pickle Factory, Marcus realized that people who might not necessarily be receptive to kosher food would become more open to it in the form of a delicious treat. Even older crowds showed up for the pickles. Marcus has gone on to teach thousands how to make their own pickles.
Aside from the fun of making pickles, what Marcus represents is an expansion of Jewish thought through a savory medium.
Rabbi Pickle serves to spread the positive message of Judaism which, in this world, is always welcome. “He’s a very lively, funny type of guy. He captures people’s attentions and feelings”, said one particpant at a recent presetation.
For the Jews in the crowd, the feeling of family and appreciation one’s heritage is brought home even more when one creates an authentically Jewish pickle.
There are health benefits, too, to creating sweet pickles or sour pickles, which don’t have the preservatives of deli pickles, but they’re dare I say it may be secondary to the cultural appreciation. If pickle-making is an art, then Rabbi Shmuel Marcus is a pickle Picasso.
Mrs. Tova Mordechai
THE PERSONAL ODESSEY
DATE: May
Born Tonica Marlow, the youngest daughter of a Sephardic Jewish mother and an evangelical preaching father with his own church, Tova was raised in England without any knowledge whatsoever of her Jewish roots.
She is the author of her autobiography, "To Play With Fire", and has written and illustrated several children's books.
Thirty-five years ago Tova was given a personal blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to spread her story, and since then through her warm and vibrant personality and great humor, Tova has encouraged thousands of Jews throughout the world, of all ages and backgrounds to embrace their Jewish Heritage anew.
Tova Mordechai resides in Israel with her children and grandchildren.
Police Lieutenant Steve Riback
BLACK AND BLUE; ONE COP’S QUEST FOR BALANCE AND HEALING
DATE: June
Steve Riback was born and raised in Southern California.
He relocated to Las Vegas and attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to pursue a teaching degree. During his studies, Steve transitioned into law enforcement, joining the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
With over 22 years on the force, his assignments have included Jail Corrections, Patrol, D.A.R.E., Undercover Vice, Violent Crimes, Quality Assurance, Homicide/Sex Crimes Detail, and currently as a Patrol Lieutenant. Steve, his wife, and three children live in Las Vegas.
Ms. Jacqueline Saper
FROM MINISKIRT TO HIJAB – A GIRL IN REVOLUTINARY IRAN; A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROGH THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION OF 1979 AND ITS AFTERMATH
DATE: July
From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran" - A Personal Journey through the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and its aftermath.
Jacqueline Saper is an acclaimed author, internationally published commentator, speaker, analyst, and translator. Born and raised in Iran in a Jewish family with a Sephardi/Mizrachi Iranian father and Ashkenazi British mother, she grew up as a bridge between the East and the West. Drawing from her diverse heritage and fluent in Farsi, Saper is an expert on issues pertaining to the Iranian revolution and its aftermath, Anti-Semitism, human rights violations towards women and religious minorities, and the history of the Jews of Persia and Jews of Iran today. She is also an analyst on current U.S. – Iran affairs and how they affect America and the broader international community. She immigrated to the United States with her husband and two young children in 1987.
Jewish Indiana Jones,
Rabbi Avraham Stolik
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL CLAIM TO JERUSALEM; An archaeological refutation of the academic critics, who deny Israel’s historic connection between the Jewish people and their ancient homeland
DATE: August
Rabbi Avraham Stolik is the founder & director of the Jerusalem Uncovered Institute, as well as director of Chabad in Downtown Coral Gables, Florida.
A number of visits to the Holy Land as well as an encounter with a well known archaeologist sparked his interest in archaeology. Combining his extensive knowledge of Jewish History with his new passion, he has been lecturing on the topic of biblical archeology for close to two decades, focusing mainly on Jerusalem.
He has created a unique presentation which has received wide acclaim from his audiences, and has earned him a reputation as a biblical archaeological scholar of note.
Mrs.
Mor Greenberg
FROM FIGURE SKATER TO ALEPH-BET
DATE: September
Mor Greenberg was born in Israel and grew up in Sydney.
From a young age she competed internationally as a figure skater. A chance encounter at a Chabad House led her to expand her horizons and deepen her sense of purpose.
She now authors the popular blog sugarfreecoating.com and regularly gives uplifting candid talks. Most of the time however, she is cleaning up after her four adorable kids!
