Havurat D’vash: A Honey of a Group for Adults 60+
Havurat D’vash is our “honey of a group” for active seniors. We meet monthly, usually on the first Wednesday of the month, for lunch and an informative speaker. There is always plenty of time for schmoozing and opportunities for interaction with our speakers. For the complete yearly schedule, see the Havurat D’vash calendar below. Sign up for all eight programs for the biggest bargain. Your participation is always welcome on a monthly basis, if you prefer to sign up for individual programs. For more information contact Mary Anne Winig, Adult Programming Coordinator at (925) 283-8575 ext. 301 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Click here to download our 2009-2010 schedule and reservation form.
11:45 Schmoozing
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Program begins
Summer Theater Party at CAL SHAKES: Mrs. Warren’s Profession
Join Anshei Isaiah and Temple Isaiah’s Adult Programs for a special afternoon at CalShakes. The program begins at 3:15 p.m. with a speakers providing invaluable insight into the show. The performance of George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession begins at 4:00 p.m. There is also a post-show opportunity to meet the cast members. Visit http://ansheiisaiah.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets online. Tickets may also be purchased by check. For more information contact Neal Modelevsky at (925) 283-1818 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information about the show visit http://www.calshakes.org/v4/ourplays/2010/mrswarrens.html.
In the Recent Past…
Wednesday, May 5
My Story: From Lancaster, Wisconsin to the Streets of San Francisco—-Flirting with Fame with Actor Stu Klitsner
Our last Havurat D’vash luncheon of this program year will feature actor Stu Klitsner discussing his career as an actor from his soliloquy in The Fantastics in New York to his movie credits, most recently with Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness (see photo). It’s a program you won’t want to miss.
Stu Klitsner was born in Milwaukee, but grew up in Lancaster, WI (population 3.000). After a stint in the Navy in World War II, He attended the University of Wisconsin, and then headed to Hollywood to become famous as a pop singer. “Although I never made it to the top, I did have a very adventurous and fulfilling life, expecially after meeting and marrying Rhoda Guttman, whom I met at U.C.L.A.,” says Stu.
Among some of the celebrities he encountered during his quest were Jimmy Durante, Gene Autrey, Art Linkletter, Celeste Holm, Les Brown, Carol Burnett, Jerry Bach, Fred Friendly, Steve McQueen, Michael Douglas, Karl Malden, Ed Asner and Will Smith. Stu will share some of the highlights of his life which he calls “Flirting with Fame” starting with growing up during the depression in a family of seven in the only Jewish family in a small Wisconsin town.
Wednesday, April 7
Snapshots of the Jewish East Bay 1860 to the Present with Frederick Isaac
Join your Havurat D’vash friends for a look at the Jewish East Bay community from its beginnings. Our speaker, Frederick J. Isaac, is the historian and archivist at Temple Sinai in Oakland. His studies for his masters degree in history prepared him to delve deeply into the history of Jewish life in the East Bay. Fred published Jews in the East Bay in 2009, a book on which includes historical data and photos on the founding of Temple Isaiah. It is available in our Temple library. Come and learn about your home East Bay community and to share your own contributions with our historian, who is constantly in search of new documentation.
Wednesday, March 3
Designated Heroes Remember: World War II Survivors with Leonard Morgenstern
Meet and hear from a few of the authors of Designated Heroes Remember: World War II Survivors, men and women who survived prisons, internment and military service. Among the nine thousand residents of Rossmoor are 60 members of the Writers Club, who meet weekly to share their writings. After an especially moving reading of World War II experiences, member Sheila Jordan commented, “These memories must be preserved in some way, or they will be lost.” That was the origin of the book, Designated Heroes Remember, a collection of pieces by Writers Club members, edited by Sheila herself and three others. The twenty contributors include not only victims of Nazi persecution, but also Germans and Americans, among whom were a bombardier who became a prisoner of war and a girl interned by the Japanese invaders of the Philippines. Two of the pieces are by members of Temple Isaiah. Frank Weinman (z"l) tells of a cousin who divorced his gentile wife to protect her from the Nazis, and Len Morgenstern, a past president of the Temple, relates the words of a cousin whose family escaped from German- to Russian-occupied Poland hours before the border closed. Books will be available for purchase after their presentation. It is also available in our Temple Isaiah library.
Wednesday, February 3
Preview of the Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival with Riva Gambert
Riva Gambert, Director of Community Programs and the Israel Center of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, will give us her expert insider’s view of the upcoming East Bay International Jewish Film Festival now in its fifteenth year. Her talk is entitled Jews in the Movies: Year 15.
As the East Bay International Jewish Film Festival (formerly the Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival) launches its 15th year of celebrating independent and international film, its director, Riva Gambert will lead a discussion of Jews in the Movies. While some viewers may prefer a steady stream of Exodus and Defiance-like films, Hollywood has presented Jews and Judaism in varied ways over the years. From the stereotypical Jewish American princess and prince films (Portnoy’s Complaint, Private Benjamin) that were especially in vogue in the 60’s and 70’s to the more matter-of-fact Jewish characters in contemporary cinema, Hollywood as well as television has broadened its portrayal of both Jews and Judaism. In the meantime, Israel’s film industry has blossomed with many movies receiving honors at international festivals, e.g., Beaufort, Ajami, Lebanon. Join us for this cinematic tour as well as an exciting sneak peak of this year’s Festival (running Feb. 20 – 26).
Wednesday, January 6
Kabbalah, Freud and You with Rabbi Shelley Waldenberg
Rabbi Shelley Waldenberg, rabbi emeritus of Temple Isaiah and popular teacher throughout the Bay Area, will present Kabbalah, Freud and You. In this enlightening, interactive discussion, Rabbi Waldenberg will discuss the “how and why” of the Kabbalah spiritual tradition in Judaism. How did the great kabbalist thinkers use Kabbalah to breathe new hope and purpose into the Jewish people’s circumstances over several hundreds of years, no matter how desperate times seemed? How can we apply these same and new insights in our twenty-first century lives to infuse new strength and continuing faith into our own Jewish experiences. You are sure to leave this luncheon meeting with not only full bellies, but minds full of new ideas and connections to your Jewish souls.
Wednesday, December 2
Innovations in Jewish Education with Rabbi Nicole Greninger
Rabbi Nicole Greninger, Religious School Director for Temple Isaiah, will share insights and exciting innovations for educating the next generation of involved Jews. Come join Rabbi Greninger as we explore Jewish Education in the 21st century. Where have we been, where are we now, and where are we going? Together we’ll explore the new Hebrew curriculum in our Religious School, our new music program (called Shira), as well as, other possibilities for engaging our children and families in Jewish education in the future. Come for intriguing conversation and hands-on learning!
Wednesday, November 4
Healthy Aging with Janice L. Corran, PhD
Come for a nutritious lunch and great friendship to our Havurat D’vash luncheon on November 4. After lunch, we’ll hear from Janice L. Corran, PhD, Executive Director of the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living. She will facilitate a discussion on healthy aging—how to maintain your good health into your 80’s and 90’s. Come with your best trade secrets and your optimistic outlook to share with us all. Reservations are due to Mary Anne Winig at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (925) 283-8575 ext. 301 no later than Friday, October 31. If you are willing to volunteer with set-up or clean up that day, please let Mary Anne know when you make your reservations.
Thursday, October 8, (Note time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Contemporary Jewish Museum Bus Trip (Note: This trip is on a Thursday)
Start out the year with this outing to San Francisco for a guided architectural tour of the Contemporary Jewish Museum designed by architect Daniel Liebeskind. You’ll learn the intricacies of his design and its Jewish significance. Lunch is on your own before our tour. There will be time to view the museum exhibits and enjoy the ambience of the Yerba Buena Gardens.