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
Upcoming Speakers
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, April 7
Snapshots of the Jewish East Bay 1860 to the Present with Frederick Isaac
Frederick Isaac, author of Jews of Oakland and Berkeley, which includes a section on the founding of Temple Isaiah, will talk about his research in preparation for the publication of this book. Fred is a knowledgeable historian and librarian.
Wednesday, May 5
My Story: From Lancaster, PA to the Streets of San Francisco with Stu Klitsner
Actor Stu Klitsner, a popular community theater actor in central Contra Costa, has had a varied career ranging from a stint in The Fantastics in New York to Streets of San Francisco on TV and acting in The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith. He’ll share many of his theater adventures with us.
In the Recent Past…
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.