wcw DEC 2021

happening this month
THE EDUCATION CENTER AT TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL
offers more than 175 non-credit courses,
workshops, and events for adults through April
There’s still time to
register for the fall
term at the Education
Center at Temple Beth
Israel, which runs
through December 23. Throughout
the year, more than 175 classes and
workshops cover a rich diversity of
topics, including art, music, literature
and film appreciation, health and
wellbeing, theology, philosophy,
cooking and travel.
Special programs and events include
birding, nature walks, concerts,
meditation, yoga, book groups and
more. Classes are offered in-person
on the Temple Beth Israel campus
and online via the Zoom platform.
Proof of recent negative COVID test
or voluntary proof of vaccination and
masks are required for in-person
programs. Class sizes are limited to
enable social distancing.
Susan Goldfarb, the program director
at Temple Beth Israel, previously
served as the executive director of the
Longboat Key Education Center which
was located at The Centre Shops. She
explains that the popular center, which
had existed for 35 years, officially
dissolved in June 2021 due to financial
distress brought on by the pandemic.
“My students, staff and I are
extremely grateful to Isaac Azerad,
executive director of Temple Beth
Israel, who had the vision to offer
this opportunity to us and to the
community. His big picture reimagining
of Temple Beth Israel included a
state-of-the-art education center that
keeps the arts, culture, education,
and recreation alive and thriving
on Longboat Key. It’s a win-win for
absolutely everyone.”
Goldfarb says the new education
center offers many of the same
programs she created for the Longboat
Key Education Center, along with
exciting new ones. “The Education
Center at Temple Beth Israel will
strive to provide stimulating and
diverse programs that keep the mind
and body active and the spirit young,
while providing a beautiful facility to
enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded
individuals says Goldfarb. “Lifelong
learning is the key to staying vibrant and
engaged in our family life, friendships,
communities, and the world.”
Both Goldfarb and Azerad emphasize
that the Education Center will remain
a secular organization and will feature
approximately 175 offerings throughout
the season, which runs from November
through April. “We’re using the slogan
Susan created for the former Longboat
Key Education Center, ‘Like College
Only Better!’” says Azerad. “It is a great
slogan. We’re thrilled she’s leading this
effort and grateful for the continued
support and loyalty of people who want
to sustain the legacy of the Longboat
Key Education Center by becoming
members of the Education Center at
Temple Beth Israel. Likewise, many
TBI members have generously donated
additional membership upgrades to
support the education center.”
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Highlights of the Fall
Term include:
Monday Film Club: with Gus
Mollasis. View a full-length movie
followed by a stimulating discussion
with popular movie critic Gus
Mollasis. He has an impressive repertoire
of hidden gems; quality films
that you probably have never heard
of, much less seen. Freshly popped
popcorn always adds to the movie
watching experience.
The Glory That Was Greece with
Baila Miller. This fascinating survey
course, with stunning visuals, will
make it clear how the Greek world
became the cradle of Western civilization.
You will see how this ancient
civilization emerged and how
it spread its ideas throughout the
world.
Functional Fitness with Brandi
Johnson. Move with improved ease,
strength, and balance. This fitness
course focuses on exercises and
movement techniques that improve
the way our muscles and joints function
during everyday activities.
■ Saturday Fall Workshop: Origami
Delight! with Kuniko Yamamoto.
Experience the joy of paper folding
as you learn how to create elegant
paper sculptures. This hands-on
workshop is open to all levels
offering a variety of origami models
to fold, from easy to advanced
designs.
Highlights of the Winter
Term include:
(January 3-February 28, 2022)
■ The World’s Greatest Short Stories
with Edward J. Dwyer, Ph.D. This
course focuses on the greatest short
stores ever written, including works
by Edgar Allan Poe, Kurt Vonnegut,
T.C. Boyle, and Ursula Le Guin.
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America In Peril with Robert
Gary. This series examines the
growing threat to democracy from
armed militias, white supremacy,
and the proliferation of conspiracy
theories to the impact of the media
on the polarization of Americans.
Guided Autobiography with Melissa
Kotler Schwartz. Your stories are
the fabric of your life. This course
helps individuals organize their life
stories with themes and priming
questions that evoke memories of
events once known but filed away
and seemingly forgotten.
Let’s Go Birding! with Kathy
Doddridge. Learn how to identify
regional birds in their natural
habitats. The first meeting is at the
school and covers birding basics.
Over the next three weeks students
will continue learning about birds
while in the field.
Ballet Superstars — From the Past
to the Present with Robert de Warren.
In this two-part series Robert
de Warren traces the roots of classical
ballet, starting with the Italian
courts in the 15th and 16th centuries
Isaac Azerad and Susan Goldfarb
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and then moving to the 19th, 20th
and 21st centuries.
Explore The Fascinating World
Of Islamic Art with Jean Joseph
Renoux. Explore the difference
between Western art and Islamic
art, which spans 1,400 years, covers
many lands and populations, was
created by both Muslims and non-
Muslims, religious and secular, and
includes a range of artistic fields,
including architecture, calligraphy,
painting, glass, ceramics, and
textiles among others.
About the
Education Center at
Temple Beth Israel
The Education Center at Temple
Beth Israel provides enrichment
programming and lifelong learning
for all adult regardless of residence
or educational background. To
register, visit www.tbi-lbk.org or call
941-383-8222. Temple Beth Israel
is located at 567 Bay Isles Road,
Longboat Key.
PAID ADVERTORIAL
DECEMBER 2021 WEST COAST WOMAN 11