Two New Adult Education Programs at Temple Israel in Athol
After the High Holy Days, Temple Israel will offer two new Adult Education programs to the community:
“Jewish Hollywood”: 1929 - 1969
Temple Israel in Athol is offering a five-week adult education class on the role of Jews in establishing Hollywood as the center of the International Film Industry. Professor David Neigher, instructor of film at American International College in Springfield, MA, will present the series of classes on “Jewish Hollywood”, which will include facilitated discussion as well as the screening of documentary films and dramatizations. The class will cover the period from the 1929 – 1959, which marks the developmental phase of Hollywood.
Dates: October 3, 17, and 31
November 7 and 21, 2010
Time: Sunday afternoons 2:30 to 6:30 P.M.
Location: Temple Israel Athol
107 Walnut St.: Athol, MA
Cost: $35 Temple members $75 All others
A minimum of ten students is needed for the class. Pre-registration required. Fee payable on or before September 26.
I am interested in participating in this class:
Name:______________________________________________
Phone:_____________________________________________
E-mail Address:______________________________________
For more information call 978 – 249 – 9481 or e-mail info@templeisraelathol.org
Jewish Hollywood: 1929 – 1969: Program and Schedule
All seminars will take place from 2:30 to 6:30 P.M. Refreshments provided.
Sunday afternoon, October 3, 2010: “Hollywood in the Transition from Silent to Sound Cinema”
Jewish filmmakers played a prominent role in introducing sound into movies. A documentary film about early sound films as well as “The Jazz Singer” featuring the legendary Al Jolson will be screened.
Sunday afternoon, October 17, 2010: “Hollywood and the Jewish Exiles from Nazi Germany”
The 1935 Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship and brought many of Germany’s prominent artists, including filmmakers, to Hollywood. A documentary film on “The Exiles” and Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” with music by Franz Waxman will be screened in this seminar.
Sunday afternoon, October 31, 2010: “The Central Role of Hollywood’s Jews in Comedy”
Many of America’s most prominent comedians and humorists were Jewish. This seminar will focus on comedians such as the Marx Brothers, Eddie Cantor, George Burns, Ethel Merman, Fanny Brice and the role they played in shapingAmerican comedy. A documentary film as well as “Duck Soup” featuring the Marx Brothers will be screened.
Sunday afternoon, November 7, 2010: “Hollywood and Anti-Semitism”
While Jews were well represented in every part of Hollywood’s film industry, many downplayed or tried to hide their Jewishness due to fear of anti-Semitism in America. This seminar will focus on fear of anti-Semitism and its effect on Hollywood’s Jews. A documentary film as well as the film “Gentleman’s Agreement” will be screened.
Sunday afternoon, November 21, 2010: “Jewish Hollywood and Musicals”
Jews played prominent roles in writing and producing many of the well-known Hollywood musicals. This last program will feature a documentary film on some of the Jews who were involved in Hollywood's musical industry. Paul Robeson, the prominent African American singer and actor, was close to many of Hollywood's Jews and will be featured in both documentary and the original musical "Showboat".
Jewish Book Club at Temple Israel
Please join us at Temple Israel for a new Jewish Book Club. The club will meet one Saturday a month starting in the fall 2010.
The subject matter will be about Jewish life in the Yiddish and Sephardic worlds, the Jewish immigrant experience in America, the Holocaust, Zionism, and life in Israel at various periods. The books will be both serious and humorous and written during the Modern Period or during the Late 19th or 20th Century.
Dates: October 16, November 20, December 18, January 29, February 26, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18
Time: Saturday mornings, 10:30 A.M.
Location: Temple Israel Athol or Private Homes
Cost: $5 per session for Temple Israel members and $10 for all others to cover written handouts.
A minimum of ten people is required for the Jewish Book Club.
I am interested in participating in the Jewish Book Club:
Name:________________________________________________
Phone Number:________________________________________
E-mail Address:________________________________________
For more information call 978 – 249 – 9481 or e-mail info@templeisraelathol.org
Participants are required to purchase their own books. Used copies can be purchased at a discount from Amazon.com, ABEBooks, or any other website as well as through your local bookstores.
Jewish Book Club Program and Schedule
Saturday October 16: The Tevye Stories by Sholom Aleichem
Humorous stories about Jewish family life in the oppressive villages of Czarist Russia and the conflicts generated by the rise of Zionism and Socialism.
Saturday November 20: The Things We Used to Say by Natalia Ginzburg
The story of a family during the rise of Fascism, World War II, and its aftermath which introduces readers to the cultural and religious traditions of Italian Jews.
Saturday December 18: Jews Without Money by Michael Gold
A humorous and serious literary memoir that illustrates how Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side of New York coped with poverty and discrimination.
Saturday January 29: First Day and Other Stories by Dvora Baron
Stories written by the first female to write in Modern Hebrew; also the first to write about Jewish life in Eastern Europe and Israel from a female perspective.
Saturday February 26: The Pillar of Salt by Albert Memmi
The coming of age story of a Tunisian Jew during the French Colonial period in Tunisia; cultural and religious life among Jews in Tunisia is introduced.
Saturday March 19: My Mother’s Sabbath Days by Chaim Grade
A literary memoir about Jewish life in Vilna before the Holocaust; dramatizes the struggle of survivors with faith and the meaning of their survival.
Saturday April 16: The Shawl: Rosa by Cynthia Ozick
The poignant story of two women who survived the Holocaust and settled as refugees in the United States after the war.
Saturday May 21: Only Yesterday by S.Y. Agnon
Classic novel about the Jews who immigrated to Israel at the turn of the Twentieth Century as well as those who had lived there before the Zionist period.
Saturday June 18: Call It Sleep by Henry Roth
A classic of American Jewish literature centered on the story of a Jewish immigrant family in New York City and their struggle to Americanize.
Temple Israel Celebrated its First Adult Bat Mitzvah
Saturday morning, May 22 will be a special occasion for the Temple Israel Athol community. Ann Marie Meltzer will be the first person in our community to celebrate her bat mitzvah as an adult.
Ann Marie will be joined by her children, her grandchildren, many members of her extended family, close personal friends, and the entire Temple Israel community.
Ann Marie, who is a well known dancer, dance instructor, and social activist in the North Quabbin region, has been preparing for her bat mitzvah for over two years. She will integrate some of her own special gifts and talents as well as some unique personal experiences that have marked her life into the bat mitzvah service. There will be meditation, chanting, and inspiring original perspectives on various parts of the prayer service. Ann Marie will also perform all of the traditional rituals that mark the occasion of a bat mitzvah. She will be called to the Torah for the Maftir Aliyah. She will read her portion from the scroll. She will read her Haftorah and chant the traditional blessings. She will also lead many parts of the Shabbat morning service. This bat mitzvah service promises to be a unique and spiritually enlightening experience for all who attend.
Following the service, there will be a special Kiddush luncheon to celebrate this spiritual passage.
A heartfelt "Mazel Tov!" to Ann Marie and to her family! Khazak V'Ematz! May she grow from strength to strength and be a source of blessing and inspiration for all of us who know her.
It is hoped that Ann Marie will only be the first adult to celebrate bar and bat mitzvah in our community. We encourage every adult who is interested in bar and bat mitzvah training to contact Rabbi Bob by e-mailing us at info-@templeisrael.org or by telephoning the synagogue at 978 - 249 - 9481..
Posted: Sat, Apr 10, 2010 01:40 PM
Updated Mon, Aug 16, 2010 12:00 AM