Those Desperate Days of Decision
Tuesday, September 18 – 10:00 a.m.
Born in Vienna, Austria, congregant Robert Norton will share with us the trials and tribulations of escaping a total dictatorship before WWII. We will hear his story of what it meant to lose everything overnight, face the bureaucracy of immigration and leave loved ones behind.

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Your Vote Matters!
Tuesday, October 16 – 10:00 A.M.
Diane Fried of the League of Women Voters will lead us in a presentation on the Jewish connection to the democratic voting process. Learn how your Jewish vote has influence and impact on issues that are significant to you. Diane will be joined by Registrar of Voters Sandy Ayala to introduce the new optical scan voting machines.

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Jewish Music Through The Ages In Story and Song
Tuesday, November 13 – 10:00 a.m.
Rayhan Pasternak, a musician and Jewish music educator, immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1994. Rayhan will perform Yiddish, Israeli, Ladino and Klezmer music. Rayhan’s husband, Igor, will accompany her on piano.

A Jewish Family Experience in Communist Hungary
Monday, December 17 – 10:00 A.M.
Agnes Vertes survived the Holocaust and was miraculously reunited with her parents only to become a victim of the communist regime that began in 1948. She will share how communism affected the Jews of Hungary and her own family. President of the Holocaust Child Survivors of Connecticut, Agnes is today a noted independent documentary filmmaker.

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Jewish Values in Popular Movies
Tuesday, January 15 – 10:00 A.M.
Popular film can both entertain and enlighten. Jewish values can be found in all types of movies, not only those with Jewish themes. Join Ira Wise as we watch and discuss clips from a few general release films through schmaltz-colored glasses!

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My Summer Vacation In Ethiopia
Tuesday, February 12 – 10:00 A.M.
Barbara Green, daughter of congregant Ruth Green, will talk about her summer trip to Ethiopia and Israel, where she had a first-hand look at the lifestyles of Ethiopian Jews. We will learn about the current reality of the Falas Mura, their experiences and final preparations prior to their exodus to Israel and the challenges they face after arriving and beginning
their new lives in Israel.

Biblical Role Models & Heroines
Tuesday, March 18 – 10:00 A.M.
March celebrates Women’s History Month. With facilitator Elaine Chetrit, we will examine the extraordinary lives of unsung biblical heroines who remain a source of inspiration and influence in our contemporary times.

Israel at 60
Tuesday, April 8 – 10:00 A.M.
Our new Israeli Emissaries, 18-year-old Tal Alalouf and Hila Spies, will tell us what Israel’s 60th Birthday means to them and what future hopes and dreams for Israel they look forward to celebrating.

The Making of a Book
Tuesday, May 13, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Carol Gursky, B’nai Israel member and recently published author, will discuss the creative and publishing processes of putting her book together, from the planning and writing of individual detective stories, to coordinating them into a delightful collection: The Porter Sisters Investigate.

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Ellis Island
Tuesday, June 3 – Full Day Trip
Our trip takes us past the Statue of Liberty and on to Ellis Island, the Museum of Immigration and Wall of Honor. We will see many other features including the Great Hall with its magnificent Guastavino vaulted ceiling and beautiful chandeliers. $50.00 per person covers bus, ferry and guided tour. Lunch is separate.

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