Events and Programs by Interest
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Lecture Series
JCC Book Festival 2010
October 17-31, 2010
6 Visiting Authors From Across the US and Israel!
Timely Topics, Engaging Speakers, Delicious Food!
Book Fair! – All Featured Books and Authors + Selected Children’s Books
Special Children’s Performances!
Make your reservations and come prepared for delightful authors and a memorable time.
Our 2010 offerings include:
Sun, 10/17, 10 am – 2 pm Book Fair with outstanding children’s book and all the festival books
Sun, 10/17, 10:30 am It’s Time with Isabelle Kessler (1-5 year olds and parents)
Sun, 10/17, 1:00 pm Natalia with Loren Kahn (6 years old to adult)
Sun, 10/17, 3:00 pm Erica Brown, Confronting Scandal
Wed, 10/20, 11:30 am Tina Wasserman, Entrée to Judaism
Sun, 10/24, 3:00 pm Thanassis Cambanis, Privilege to Die
Tue, 10/26, 7:00 pm Mordecai Dzikansky, Terrorist Cop
Thu, 10/28, 11:30 am Rabbi Min Kantrowitz, Counting the Omer
Sun, 10/31, 10:00 am Hesh Kestin, Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats
Click on the links above for more information about any of the individual programs.
Confronting Scandal: How Jews Can Respond When Jews Do Bad Things by Dr. Erica Brown
Jewish Book Festival 2010
SUN, 10/17, 3pm, $10members/$15nonmemembers, WINE & CHEESE
Discomfort, shame, ethics, pride and wise judgments in an age of choice.
Whether it is Bernie Madoff or money laundering by rabbinic leaders, the Jewish community must take stock of what these breaches of civil law and Jewish ethical teachings mean for us as a people. How do we manage collective discomfort and shame? How do we explain rabbis who commit sex offenses or other crimes yet stand at the pulpit week after week offering others moral guidance? And most important, how do we restore honor and dignity to our community? Brown explores these difficult and thorny issues
offering perspective and insight.
Dr. Erica Brown, (Washington, DC) is a leading voice on subjects of current Jewish interest, consulting for Jewish federations and organizations across the country. She is author of numerous books about Jewish leadership, spirituality and issues facing the Jewish community.
Entrée to Judaism: A Culinary Exploration of the Jewish Diaspora by Tina Wasserman
Jewish Book Festival 2010
WED, 10/20, 11:30am, $20members/$25nonmembers, GOURMET LUNCHEON
Food informs who we are and where we came from.
How do you like your matzah brie? Are your matzah balls sinkers or floaters? Wherever Jews have settled, they have adapted local tastes and ingredients to meet their needs. Tina Wasserman leads a culinary journey around the world and across the ages sharing the histories, stories and recipes of the great Diaspora communities. Accessible, easy-to-follow recipes for the novice home cook and expert chef alike. Includes over 275 recipes and dozens of full-color photos.
Tina Wasserman (Dallas, TX) is an award-winning cooking instructor, specializing in contemporary kosher cuisine. Trained in nutrition and education, Tina has been the food columnist for Reform Judaism
magazine since 2003.
A Privilege to Die: Inside Hezbollah's Legions and Their Endless War Against Israel
by Thanassis Cambanis
Jewish Book Festival 2010
SUN, 10/24, 3pm, $10members/$15nonmembers, MID EASTERN TREATS
Hezbollah has emerged as the premier threat to Israel and the West. Why? Cambanis explains.
A Privilege To Die is a revelation. Cambanis, one of the most talented foreign correspondents of his generation, has traveled far into the heart of Hezbollah and his analysis needs to be read by general readers and policy-makers alike. His reporting is not only fearless but sophisticated and penetrating, providing us with a vibrant image and unprecedented understanding of this powerful and secretive Islamist force. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the Middle East.
Thanassis Cambanis (New York City) is a journalist and teacher specializing in the Middle East. He currently teaches at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and at the New School’s Graduate Program in International Affairs. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Boston Globe, and GlobalPost.com among others.
Terrorist Cop by Mordecai Dzikansky
Jewish Book Festival 2010
TUE, 10/26, 7pm, $10members/$15nonmembers, DESSERTS, COFFEE & TEA
NYPD Jewish Cop Traveled the World To Stop Terrorists.
A colorful, haunting, and graphic tale of New York City homicide detective Morty Dzikansky. Early on Dzikansky, a Yarmulke wearing cop, made a name for himself by going undercover to catch a band of Torah thieves and became lead investigator of the unique Torah Task force. Post 9/11, the NYPD sent Dzikansky to Israel to monitor suicide bombings as part of a plan to protect New York from further terror. As a result of this assignment, he became an expert on suicide bombings but paid a price: he could not prevent his own private hell as a posttraumatic stress disorder victim.
Mordecai Dzikansky (Israel and New Jersey) retired as a Detective First Grade after 25 years with the NYPD. He has appeared on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and was featured in the New York Times, the New Yorker Magazine and Esquire.
Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz
Jewish Book Festival 2010
THU, 10/28, 11:30am, $15members/$20nonmembers, SEASONAL LUNCH
Kabbalistic meditation guide explaining the significance of the forty-nine days between Passover and the celebration of Shavuot.
This guide brings meaning to the unique values of the forty-nine day period between the two holidays. Readers gain insight into the strengths of each day, leading to mediation on the mystical qualities of life and self.
Rabbi Min Kantrowitz (Albuquerque) is the Director of the Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program of Jewish Family Service of NM. She directs the Albuquerque Community Chevre Kaddisha, facilitates grief support groups, and conducts Healing Groups for Jewish survivors of domestic abuse.
The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats by Hesh Kestin
Jewish Book Festival 2010
SUN, 10/31, 10am, $10members/$15nonmembers, BAGELS & SHMEAR
A vibrant, hilarious addition to the genre of mob tragicomedy.
The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats brings into focus the New York mob scene of 1963. Russell Newhouse, a quick-witted 23 year-old scholar, skirt-chaser, and secretary of the Brooklyn Jewish Men’s Society, is “enlisted” by Shushan "Shoeshine" Cats, who is a man in need of a favor. What ensues is a classic boy-meets-mob story: part noir, part comedy, part epic. Kestin's richly layered characters are straight out of Dickens. His vivid attention to the details of place is like poetic journalism; and his snappy, concise
prose and dialogue is on par with Raymond Chandler.
Hesh Kestin, (New York City) a recovering foreign correspondent, has reported on local wars, global business and exotic mayhem in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for such publications as Forbes, Newsday, and the Jerusalem Post. He has written for magazines as diverse as Playboy and Inc.
Wonderful Wednesdays - for adults 60+
WED, Ongoing, 10am-3pm, $8 including coffee, fitness, program and lunch unless indicated otherwise
This is for adults, 60+, who enjoy stimulating programs, socializing with others, and a good meal. Contact: Phyllis Wolf 348-4500
8/18 11-1pm
Senior Short Film Festival featuring (3) 10 minute films – humorous, touching, poignant: “Plots”, “Flowers For Charlie”, “Sid Smith For Congress”. Each film will be followed by short discussion in small break out groups. We will have buffet luncheon during the program. COST for this program is $10.
9/1 10:30-12pm
Welcome Back Barbeque and Film: “Blessed is the Match” narrated by Joan Allen
9/8
No Program – Erev Rosh Hashanah
9/15
Home Instead, Aging Gracefully at Home
9/22 11-12pm
Presentation by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz followed by New Year Luncheon.
10/6 10:30-12pm
Film: “Praying For Lior”, 2008, 87 minutes
10/13
JCC ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR – many booths, testing, and FREE (lunch on own)
10/20
JCC Book Fest Author Event-Tina Wasserman, Entrée to Judaism—Gourmet Meal. There will be an additional price for this program.
Beginning Spanish Conversation
TUE & THU, 9/14–10/21 11am–12pm, $100mem/$125nm
Learn and practice Spanish conversation in a friendly, relaxed and interactive atmosphere. This course is ideal for those who want to gain a basic working knowledge of the Spanish language for travel or to better communicate with friends, employees or co-workers whose first language is Spanish. The course will focus on conversation, inflection, vocabulary, and the sentence structure used in daily conversation. No prior Spanish experience needed, but helpful. In partnership with Instituto Cervantes. Minimum of 6 students. Contact: Amy Stangel 348-4518
NOTE to Parents: There are preschool art/movement classes at the J at same time!