Coffee and Kibbitz
Mondays | 11:00 AM

Join us every Monday morning for this friendly open forum and wonderful way of connecting with others. We will chat via ZOOM about what is happening in our lives, get to know each other, and build friendships. Each week a new topic will be discussed. This is a free session and open to all ages.

A Zoom link will be provided to participants a day before the event.

Please contact Marcie Blackman with any questions.

The Lessans Family Literary Series Presents: BYOB with Ron Balson, Eli’s Promise

Wednesday, January 27 | 4:00 PM | $10

In observation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Lessans Family Literary Series presents a special BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) with Ron Balson author of Eli’s Promise.

Join our first BYOB of 2021 with National Book Award-winning, bestselling author, Ron Balson. Bring questions and opinions to share with fellow book lovers and the author himself. Ron will give a short presentation on his newest book, Eli’s Promise, and then we will open it to our participants to continue the conversation.

Eli’s Promise is a masterful work of historical fiction spanning three eras—Nazi-occupied Poland, the American Zone of post-war Germany, and Chicago at the height of the Vietnam War, all tied together by a common thread. Award-winning author Ronald H. Balson explores the human cost of war, the mixed blessings of survival, and the enduring strength of family bonds. Balson’s meticulous historical detail, vivid prose, and unforgettable characters further solidify his place among the most esteemed writers of historical fiction today.

RONALD H. BALSON is an attorney, professor, and writer. His novel THE GIRL FROM BERLIN won the National Jewish Book Award and was the Illinois Reading Council’s adult fiction selection for their Illinois Reads program. He is also the author of Karolina’s Twins, The Trust, Saving Sophie, and the international bestseller, Once We Were Brothers. He has appeared on many television and radio programs and has lectured nationally and internationally on his writing. He lives in Chicago.

Eli’s Promise can be ordered through Politics & Prose, a local bookstore in Washington, DC. Books ordered through Politics & Prose will include a signed bookplate. Click here to order the book and use the Bender JCC’s 10% discount, SPECIAL10.

Passport J Presents: A Tour of the Jewish Museum of London

Wednesday, February 3 | 2:00 PM | $10

Join us for this virtual tour of The Jewish Museum London with Engagement Officer, Emma Crew, and explore British Jewish heritage, identity, and culture. Set against a spacious and modern architectural backdrop with displays across four permanent galleries, the museum brings the Jewish story to life, placing it in a wider context of British history.  Starting with a medieval mikvah telling the story of the first Jewish community in Britain, this tour covers many centuries of migration. Find out about the struggle for readmission, the growth of the Jewish East End, and the stories of children who escaped Nazi persecution.

Emma Crew, Engagement Officer, has been at the museum for three years. She works on the Jewish Museum’s informal learning program and during lockdown has been delivering tours, talks, quizzes, and family activities via Facebook Live and Zoom. Emma has an MA in Medieval Studies and is particularly interested in the Medieval Jewish Community in London, the first stop on our tour of the Jewish Museum London.

From Milton Berle to David Letterman: A History of TV Comedy

Monday, February 8, 2021 | 3:30pm | $10

From the earliest days of television, making people laugh was one of the central goals of TV programmers. Successful radio formats like the sitcom and the comedy/variety show moved to television in the late 1940s, joined a few years later by the medium’s own innovation, the late-night comedy talk show. For the next seven decades, these three formats dominated the airwaves, led by brilliant comedians such as Sid Caesar, Jackie Gleason, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Gilda Radner, and Jerry Seinfeld. This presentation will survey the extraordinary landscape of American TV comedy, examining how comedy changed from the vaudeville shtick of Milton Berle and the slapstick artistry of Lucille Ball to the social satire of Saturday Night Live and the self-reflexive absurdities of David Letterman and The Simpsons.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Brian Rose is a professor emeritus at Fordham University, where he taught for 38 years in the Department of Communication and Media Studies. He’s written several books on television history and cultural programming, and conducted more than a hundred Q&A’s with leading directors, actors, and writers for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Screen Actors Guild, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Directors Guild of America.

The Zoom link will be sent out on the morning of the program. Please check your Spam folder if you have not received it by 10am. Please be respectful of the Bender JCC and do not share the link with anyone outside of your household. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please contact Deborah Wilbur dwilbur@benderjccgw.org

CHAGALL: The Quintessential Jewish Artist of the 20th Century

Thursday, February 25 | 2:00pm | $10

Marc Chagall was a Russian-French artist who worked in a variety of media but is most renowned for his paintings. During his time, he was the foremost Jewish artist in the world and has since been referred to as “the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century”. Chagall is best known for his vibrant use of color to attract the viewer’s attention. His artworks are usually lively and imaginative and often combine Cubism and Fauvism with his folkish style. This lecture will cover his most iconic works. Back by popular demand, Ronnit Vasserman will join us to explore how the places he lived, his personal background, and current events impacted his art.

About the Presenter:

RONNIT VASSERMAN is the founder of Art Connect Group, a full-service art consulting firm located in New York. She has worked for many years for Investment Banks including Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. After a successful career in investment banking, she now dedicates her time to her favorite asset class, art. She has a degree in Fine Arts and Art History. Ronnit presents a variety of events including studio, museum, auction house, and gallery visits.

The Zoom link will be sent out on the morning of the program. Please check your Spam folder if you have not received it by 10 AM. Please be respectful of the Bender JCC and do not share the link with anyone outside of your household. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please contact Deborah Wilbur at dwilbur@benderjccgw.org

Tour of The Eldridge Street Synagogue

Monday, March 1 | 2:00pm | $10

Step inside the Museum at Eldridge Street- virtually! Join us as we explore the magnificent architecture and fascinating history of the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue, the first great house of worship by Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the United States. This National Historic Landmark has been lovingly restored and today is a touchstone of the Lower East Side immigrant experience. Museum docent Maxine Simson will guide you through the building’s tumultuous story – from its founding and heyday, to its near-collapse and its miraculous restoration.

About the Presenter:

Maxine Simson is a docent and lecturer at the Museum at Eldridge Street, a National Historic Landmark building on the Lower East Side of New York City; a lecturer with the New York City Department for Aging in the metropolitan area and in South Florida; and the owner of The Natural Resources Public Relations, a full-service PR and multi-media company.

The Zoom link will be sent out on the morning of the program. Please check your Spam folder and then contact us if you have not received it by 10 AM. Please be respectful of the Bender JCC and do not share the link with anyone outside of your household. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please contact Deborah Wilbur dwilbur@benderjccgw.org

If you require closed captioning for this program, please contact dwilbur@benderjccgw.org prior to registering.

Passport J: Tour of Moscow
Wednesday, March 10 | 3:00pm | $10

Join us as we (virtually) visit the capital of Russia, a large modern city that combines dazzling architecture with cultural riches and fascinating history. Back by popular demand, tour guide Olga Cardamone will take us to see some of the most beautiful places in Moscow. We will go inside the iconic St. Basil’s cathedral; explore crown jewels at the Moscow Kremlin; head underground to see the stunning architecture of the Moscow metro; and more!

About the Presenter:

Olga Cardamone is a licensed tour guide from St. Petersburg Russia. She grew up in St. Petersburg and has been enchanted by museums and Russia’s rich history since she was a little girl, going on field trips to the Hermitage with her class. She has been working with guests from the US visiting Russia since 2012. Olga has been conducting virtual tours of Russia since April, providing guests with an easy way to “travel” during Covid.

The Zoom link will be sent out on the morning of the program. Please check your Spam folder and then contact us if you have not received it by 10 AM. Please be respectful of the Bender JCC and do not share the link with anyone outside of your household. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please contact Deborah Wilbur dwilbur@benderjccgw.org

If you require closed captioning for this program, please contact dwilbur@benderjccgw.org prior to registering.