The J's Adult Learning Institute (ALI)
POZEZ JCC ADULT LEARNING INSTITUTE (ALI)
ALI is the J’s adult lifelong learning center. Its mission is to provide intellectually stimulating, enjoyable, and engaging opportunities to expand your mind and your knowledge with other adults of all backgrounds and ages.
Contact: Shari Berman, 703.537.3068, Marcia Gordon, 703.537.3066
ALI Winter–Spring 2020 Course Schedule
Register Now!
We are pleased to announce our Winter–Spring 2020 line-up of classes! Please take a moment to review the schedule below and sign up for one or more of these fabulous opportunities to continue your lifelong learning with us! Please note that all courses will be held at the Pozez JCC unless indicated otherwise.
ALI-Temple Rodef Shalom Partnership
As part of our exciting partnership with Temple Rodef Shalom (TRS), we try to offer a course each semester on its Falls Church campus.
Lunch
Please feel free to bring a dairy or parve/meatless lunch to any class. Coffee/tea will be served at all classes.
How to Register
You must be a J-Family or J-Journey member or have a J-Pass to participate in ALI classes held at the J.
-Submit completed registration form and payment to the J’s Guest Services desk;
-Mail completed registration form with payment, payable to “Pozez JCC,” to 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031;
-Call the J’s Registrar at 703.537.3043 and be prepared to give a credit card number to secure your place in the course;
-register online by searching the class code.
Courses
Thoughts on the Afterlife in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Thursdays, January 23, 30 (3 weeks)
7pm–8:30pm (enjoy a complimentary simple dairy/parve dinner, served from 6:15pm–7pm)
Location: Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church
Instructor: John Rybicki, biblical scholar and historian
Concepts of G-d… attributes and characteristics… are important in the development of thoughts on the afterlife in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The understanding of the development of Divine justice and mercy, compassion, and punishment, and how G-d balances and prioritizes these are instrumental in afterlife beliefs. In these sessions, we will review the fundamental concepts of G-d in each of the three belief structures to better understand concomitant life-and-death reward and punishment. Based on afterlife beliefs, we can ponder if the G-d of all three Monotheist religions is the same G-d.
Fee: $45
Code: #10290
Israeli Music 101
Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18 (3 weeks)
12:30pm–2pm
Instructor: Shy Ashkenazi, Pozez JCC Shaliach (Emissary)
In its essence, music expresses the local and contemporary culture of a given place. Israeli music is no different. Join our new emissary from Israel, Shy Ashkenazi, as he takes you on a journey through the music that personally impacted him to become a singer-songwriter, the protest music of Israel throughout its seven decades of existence, and the expressions of faith and religion surprisingly found in the country’s pop music. Through videos and his guitar, Shy will use music and song to open up a unique window into Israeli society.
Fee: $42 for entire series/
$15 per individual session
Code: #10291
More Adventures in Book Collecting
Tuesday, February 25 (snow date: March 3)
1pm–2:30pm
Instructor: Stuart Endick, retired attorney and avid book collector with three decades of experience collecting antiquarian books
Avid book collector Stuart Endick provides a brief overview and refresher on the ABCs of book collecting and illustrates the pleasures of the hobby by sharing some of the fun stories and books from his collection. These include a book by a celebrated “bad” Victorian poet, inscriptions that reveal stories tied to the Titanic and a forgotten American eccentric, a bookplate and markings possibly related to the founding of the United Nations, and “tipped-in” correspondence from Emily Dickinson’s colorful advisor and editor. The topics covered will include judging book condition, identifying first editions, decorative covers and fine bindings, clues to a book’s provenance and past life, and collecting childhood nostalgia.
Fee: $15
Code: #10292
Author Talk - Before and After Loss: A Neurologist’s Perspective on Loss, Grief, and Our Brain
(in collaboration with Thursday at the J and the J’s Community Engagement Department)
Thursday, February 27, 12:30pm–2pm
Presented by Lisa M. Shulman, MD, professor of neurology at the University of Maryland and author
In Before and After Loss, neurologist Dr. Lisa Shulman describes a personal story of loss and her quest to understand the science behind the mind-altering experience of grief. Part memoir and part scientific discovery, this moving book combines Shulman’s perspectives as an expert in brain science and behavior, with her experience as a clinician, caregiver, and widow. Drawing on recent studies of emotional trauma, she explains how the mind, brain, and body respond and heal following traumatic loss. The experience of loss not only applies to the death of loved ones, but also a range of difficult life experiences including a new diagnosis, a divorce, an assault, or financial instability. The “fog of confusion” after loss reflects the brain’s protective response to trauma and can be reversed by interventions (journaling, dream interpretation, mindfulness, and spiritual practices) that help us integrate difficult times into our life story. Shulman’s frank and empathetic account helps readers regain their emotional balance by navigating the passage from the disorientation of loss to healing and growth. Dr. Shulman’s book, Before and After Loss will be available for purchase at the event, and she will be happy to sign purchased copies.
Fee: $5
Code: #10293
Israeli Medical Clowning
Tuesday, March 10, 12:30pm–2pm
Instructor: Shy Ashkenazi, Pozez JCC Shaliach
Researching Ancestors from Galicia, Austria-Hungary
Thursday, March 26, 7pm–8:30pm
Presented by Michelle Tucker Chubenko, Fairfax Genealogical Society
Book Talk – Bucharest Diary: Romania’s Journey from Darkness to Light
Monday, March 30, 12:30pm–2pm
Presented by Ambassador Alfred H. Moses
Sponsored by the JBC
The JFK Assassination: Facts and Myths
Mondays, April 6, 13, 12:30pm–2pm (2 weeks)
Instructor: Donald Jeffries, author
Special Yom HaShoah Program
(In collaboration with Thursday at the J)
Tuesday, April 21, 12:30pm
Two Session Art Program
Art Appreciation: The Alphabet of Design
Gouache Painting: Portraits
Mondays, May 4, 11 (2 weeks)
10:30am–12:30pm
Instructor: Len Garon, artist
Beyond Vital Records – Additional Sources to Trace Eastern European Ancestry
Sunday, May 17, 11am–12:30pm
Presented by Lara Diamond, President, Jewish Genealogical Society of Maryland
Language Classes and Game Lessons
Please see The Voice quarterly newsletter for all dates. A minimum of 4 students is required for all language classes and game lessons. Contact Shari if you are interested.
Hebrew
Instructor: Einat Cohen
Private and semi-private lessons at all levels are available. Conversational classes need a minimum of 4 registered students. Contact Shari for more information or to express interest in taking a Hebrew class.
Fee: $50/hour private
$40/hour per person semi-private
Code: #800
Spanish
Instructor: Dr. Michael Gorman received his BA, MA, and PhD from American University and continued his studies at the National University of Mexico.
Spanish II
Wednesdays, December 4–January 29 (7 weeks; no class Dec. 25, Jan.1)
12:30pm–2pm
This continuing class is for those who have taken the Spanish I class at the J or have some knowledge of the language. You will continue to develop your skills and also review previous material. There are no tests, homework, or grades.
Fee: $105
Code: #10248
Spanish III
Wednesdays, December 4–January 29 (7 weeks; no class Dec. 25, Jan.1)
2:30pm–3:30pm
This continuing class is for those who have taken the Spanish II class at the J or equivalent experience. This is a conversational class and includes grammar. You will continue to develop your skills and also review previous material. There are no tests, homework, or grades.
Fee: $70
Code: #10249
Yiddish
Level 1
Instructor: Norman Buder
Session II
Wednesdays, November 13–January 29
(8 weeks)
1pm–2:30pm
This class is for beginners who have no to minimal knowledge of Yiddish, other than perhaps a few words or common expressions in use today. Students will be introduced to the Yiddish (Hebrew) alphabet and to the principles of reading Yiddish phonetically at an elementary level. We will also learn some rudiments of conversation, e.g. asking and answering simple questions like: "What is your name?"; "How are you?"; "Where do you live?"; "Where do you work?” etc.
Fee: $80
Code: #10342
