Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Now Registering for Winter Offerings from JCC University

JCC University: WINTER OFFERINGS

WHEN: Jan. 30 – Feb. 27, Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm.
WHERE: Kaplen JCC, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly
FEE: Cost for 3 Thursdays is $95 for JCC members/$115 public; Cost for single Thursday is $36 JCC members, $44 public. First 10 participants to register for the full JCC U series will receive Congressman Steve Israel’s book Big Guns. For more information, visit jccotp.org/jccu or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

JCC University at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now taking enrollment for its three-session winter term, where people can connect, find new interests, and stay involved in current developments that shape our world. Top professors and experts will present on topics that include science, literature, film, politics, psychology, art and more, creating platforms that allow people to listen, learn, and get answers, while meeting people and making new friends.

January 30

JCC U Special Event with Former US Congressman Steve Israel

Congressman Steve Israel was the US Representative for NY’s third congressional district from 2001 to 2017. He left Capitol Hill, as he says “unindicted and undefeated” to pursue his writing career and currently heads the Cornell University Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. He’s kicking off JCC U’s winter term to talk politics, lobbying and his latest novel Big Guns, a satire of the firearms industry.

MSNBC Legal Analyst Unpacks the Legal Issues in the News

Lawyer, producer and on air analyst Lisa Green will break down the mountain of legal questions that pile up by the day. With a president that has an appetite for legal combat, this administration has a host of legal battles to navigate. The sheer volume of litigation is unprecedented. No point in naming them here, because they change by the minute!

February 13

Medical Ethics: What Would You Do?

Dr. Jacob Appel, physician, attorney, bioethicist, and attending psychiatrist at Mount Sinai will present some of the most challenging and unsettling ethics controversies of our time. As a society, we often see things in black and white terms; these issues defy easy answers and will undoubtedly stimulate thought and discussion.

Art and Architecture of Venice: From its Early Medieval Roots to the Great Basilica of San Marco

Born in adversity in 400 AD, the City of Venice has come a long way in 1700 years. Beloved art history professor Seth Gopin will explore the architecture from early medieval times to the city’s greatest structure, the basilica dedicated to St. Marks. We’ll discover both its architecture and remarkable golden mosaics. With Venice in the news, now is a good time to study the wonders of this unique city.

February 27

Winston Churchill—Britain’s Incomparable Leader

Columbia Law School lecturer Jess Velona returns to JCC U to tell the full story of Churchill’s meteoric rise to British political power, the setbacks he faced in World War I and then his prescient diagnosis of Hitler’s threat which propelled his resurgence and set the stage for his unparalleled leadership of Britain during World War II and beyond.

Drive Though Dreams—A Journey through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom

Many of us harbor a fast food guilty pleasure. Author Adam Chandler will explore the relationship between fast food and American life over the past century. We often vilify it, yet for most of us, fast food is full of nostalgia. We will hear the industry’s history through captivating anecdotes, fascinating trivia and engaging interviews with fans, executives and workers.

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Now Registering for Fall Offerings from JCC University

JCC University

WHEN: Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm.
WHERE: Kaplen JCC, 411 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly
TUITION: Cost for 3 Thursdays is $95 for JCC members/$115 public; Cost for single Thursday is $36 JCC members, $44 public. First 10 participants to register for the full JCC U series will receive Julie Salamon’s book An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer.
For more information, visit jccotp.org/jccu or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

JCC University at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now taking enrollment for its three-session fall term, where people can connect, find new interests and stay involved in current developments that shape our world. Top professors and experts will present on topics that include science, literature, film, politics, psychology, art and more, creating platforms that allow people to listen, learn and get answers while meeting people and making new friends.

October 3

An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer

In 1985, four Palestinian terrorists hijacked the Achille Lauro. Wheelchair-bound passenger Leon Klinghoffer was shot and thrown overboard. For her book, author and journalist Julie Salamon meticulously researched this story, interviewing almost all the living participants. She will present a full understanding of Klinghoffer’s murder in the larger geopolitical context.

Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro: An Intense Collaboration

Martin Scorsese defined a genre in filmmaking with his dark, gritty, violent portrayals of urban life. His searing and unsparing collaborations with method actor Robert De Niro on such films as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull retain their emotional and artistic impact decades later. Film historian Max Alvarez will offer a compelling overview.

October 17

Genetic Engineering: A Look at How Technology is Changing the Way We Create Babies

Dr. Robert Klitzman, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University, and director of the Masters of Bioethics Program will discuss his book Designing Babies and examine the complex ethical, social, and policy concerns surrounding new assistive reproductive technologies. The newest gene-editing technology allows for even more direct manipulation of embryos’ genes. How far is too far?

From Mickey Mouse to Star Wars and Beyond: How the Walt Disney Company Conquered Entertainment

Over the last nine decades, Disney has transformed every facet of the entertainment business—from the creation of feature length cartoons, to television programming, from theme parks that span the globe to Broadway musicals. Fordham professor Brian Rose will examine how Disney became the most powerful force in worldwide entertainment.

October 31

The Accusation: Blood Libel in an American Town

In an upstate New York town in 1928, a child strayed into the woods and went missing. A rumor started that Jews had kidnapped and killed her. The rumor caught on and suddenly the allegation of ritual murder, known as blood libel, took hold. NYU history professor Edward Berenson will discuss the history and response to this all too common accusation.

Contemporary Chinese Art

The Cultural Revolution’s effects on contemporary Chinese art created a common national experience that binds Chinese artists from diverse backgrounds. Professor Thomas Germano will introduce and discuss the work of well-known Chinese artists, as well as infamous dissidents such as Ai Weiwei and lesser known artists featured in the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Now Registering for the Winter Offerings from JCC University

JCC University
WHEN: Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm.
WHERE: Kaplen JCC, 411 Clinton Ave., Tenafly
COST: for 3 Thursdays is $95 JCC members/$115 public; Cost for individual session is $35 JCC members, $42 public. First 10 participants to register for the full JCC U series will receive free copy of Jamie Bernstein’s book. For more information, visit jccotp.org/jccu or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

JCC University at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades is now taking enrollment for a three-session winter term, where people can rekindle past passions, ignite new interests, meet new people, and stay involved in the developments that shape today’s world. Top professors and experts present on topics including science, literature, film, economics, psychology, architecture and politics, creating an engaging platform where people can listen and discover, ask questions, get answers, meet people, and make friends.

January 24

What the Holocaust Can Teach Us about Ethics

While it is tempting to blame the Holocaust on a small cadre of monsters who used military force, violence, and repression to gain control and push their maniacal plan of genocide, the reality is that the leaders of civil society in Germany largely embraced Nazi policies. Professor Thorin Tritter will explore their actions and suggest implications for American doctors and businessmen today.

Jamie Bernstein: Famous Father Girl

Jamie Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein’s daughter, will present a rare look at her father on the centennial of his birth. Her recent book, Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein, takes us into her family’s fascinating private world with its cast of famous characters. Jamie is a writer, broadcaster, and filmmaker who travels the world as a concert narrator. This event I co-sponsored with the James H. Grossmann Memorial Jewish Book Month Endowment Fund.

February 7

US/China Relations Today

SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Tom Grunfeld will first give an overview of the history of the relationship between China and the US, which has grown in complexity over time. Then he will talk about the significant changes in that relationship since the advent of the Trump administration and the ramifications for the future.

Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again

Janine DeFeo, a Whitney Museum Teaching Fellow, will introduce us to the Whitney’s current Warhol exhibit. Building on a wealth of new material, research and scholarship that has emerged since the artist’s untimely death in 1987, this exhibition reveals new complexities about the Warhol we think we know, and introduces a Warhol for the 21st century.

February 21

The Drama of Celebrity

Columbia professor Sharon Marcus will trace the roots of modern celebrity and seek to explain why people find celebrity culture so alluring. Departing from the common view that celebrities and fans alike are dupes of an all-powerful culture industry, Marcus argues that celebrity culture is an evenly pitched struggle in which media workers, publics, and celebrities all vie to define stars.

Unconditional Love: A Guide to Navigating the Joys and Challenges of Being a Grandparent Today

Former editor and author Jane Isay, who last presented at JCC U on her riveting book Secrets and Lies, will talk to us about the complications of the grandparent relationship. Using personal experience as well as extensive psychology research, she explores the life cycles of many three-generation families as she presents problems and solutions. This event is co-sponsored with the James H Grossmann Memorial Jewish Book Month Endowment Fund.

KAPLEN JCC ON THE PALISADES NOW REGISTERING FOR FALL OFFERINGS FROM JCC UNIVERSITY

JCC UNIVERSITY

JCC University offers the opportunity for people to rekindle past passions, ignite new interests, meet new people and stay involved in the developments that shape today’s world. Top professors and experts present on topics including science, literature, film, economics, psychology, architecture and politics. The JCC is now taking enrollment for a four-session fall term.

WHEN: Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm.
WHERE: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Avenue, Tenafly
FEE: Fee for four sessions is $115 JCC members, $145 non-members; individual sessions $35 JCC members,$42 public per event. To register, visit www.jccotp.org or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

WHEN: September 14

How Propaganda Works

Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley will explore how propaganda influences the way we think and feel about public issues. Not reserved for totalitarian regimes of the past, propaganda affects ideology today. We will look at examples of how, over time, propaganda has driven opinion and impacted policy. Sponsored by the Berit and Martin Bernstein Open Forum Endowment Fund and the Edwin S Soforenko Foundation.

For This We Left Egypt?

Original Saturday Night Live writer and five time Emmy Award winner Alan Zweibel will take us on a journey through the last 40 years of his prolific comedy writing career including his work on SNL, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. He will also talk about his new book, a parody of the Passover Haggadah.

September 28

Our National Identity

Who are we as Americans? Join history professor Ian Reifowitz for an exploration of our national identity. We will consider how Obama’s multi-cultural rhetoric was an attempt to be inclusive of all Americans and then look at how recent events illustrate the divide in how we as Americans see ourselves. What does this means for our national identity in the future?

Art from the Romanovs to the Russian Revolution

From Catherine the Great, who built Russia’s vast collection of European Old Masters, to the tumultuous events that shook St. Petersburg and the world just a century ago, Dr. Seth Gopin will show us the art of two greatly different eras. Discover Russian art in its historical context. Witness the Revolution in film clips and through the prism of painting, sculpture and decorative arts.

October 19

When Will The Civil War Be Over?

The Civil War was fought to preserve the Union, and to destroy the system of slavery. Despite abolition, the legacy of the Civil War persists. Professor Robert Carey will explore how the politics of race have continued to roil the waters of American life from Reconstruction to the present day. What can we do to move past the continuing conflict?

The Great German Romantics

Artistic Director of Music Talks Elad Kabilio and pianist Ben Laude will treat us to a celebration of the works by German composers Schumann and Mendelssohn. This program will include music for cello and piano that highlight milestone creations in the Romantic music vocabulary and explore the fantasy and passion in works such as Songs Without Words and Fantasy Pieces.

November 2

Memory and Aging

Dr. Michal Beeri will explain what memory entails and how it works. She will provide an overview of normal cognition and explain the distinction between typical forgetfulness and that which is concerning. There will be a discussion of the risks for Alzheimer’s disease and advice for brain maintenance and protection.

The Dinner Party by Artist Judy Chicago

Professor Thomas Germano will present on this first epic feminist work of art. With 39 elaborate place settings arranged for 39 mythical and historical women, The Dinner Party is a symbolic history of women in Western civilization. Viewed by 15 million around the world, it is on permanent exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. (The JCC is offering a trip to the Brooklyn Museum on November 9^th)

KAPLEN JCC ON THE PALISADES NOW REGISTERING FOR SPRING TERM @ JCC UNIVERSITY

 

Taub Campus
411 East Clinton Avenue
Tenafly, New Jersey 07670
Phone: 201.408.1409

 

 

Spring Term Offerings from JCC University

JCC University offers the opportunity for people to rekindle past passions, ignite new interests, meet new people and stay involved in the developments that shape today’s world. Top professors and experts present on topics including science, literature, film, economics, psychology, architecture and politics. The JCC is now taking enrollment for a two-event spring term.

JCC U takes place on Thursdays with coffee and conversation beginning at 10:30 am. Morning presentation runs from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch (buy or bring your own) from 12-12:45 pm; and afternoon presentation from 12:45-2:00 pm. Price for both days is $65 JCC members, $80 public; $34 JCC members,$42 public per event. To register, visit www.jccotp.org or call Kathy Graff at 201.408.1454.

WHEN: May 18

A New World—Global Politics in the Age of Trump

Dr. Ralph Buult Jens, leading foreign affairs analyst and professor at NYU and Cambridge will talk about the challenges America faces as the early activities of the Trump administration suggest an attempt to transform world politics. Will old alliances change? What will the impact be on key areas like the Middle East, China and Europe? The renowned Professor Buultjens will provide his commentary on these and other current affairs.

 

An Introduction to African Art

Heinrich Schweizer, former Sotheby’s head of African and Oceanic Art, will discuss the aesthetics and iconography of African art. He will explain how African art arrived in Europe and the US and influenced modern artists. He will also cover the evolution of the African art market, its entrance into private collections and museums and its establishment.

 

 

 

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WHEN: June 15

The Rise of Hate

WNYC’s Peabody Award winning reporter Matt Katz returns to JCC U to discuss how anti-Semites and xenophobes have become emboldened in the current political environment. He has reported extensively on the uptick in incidents and will speak on the administration’s response. Katz was last here presenting his book American Governor: Chris Christie’s Bridge to Redemption.

 

 

Comedy Greats: George Carlin, Joan Rivers and Woody Allen

Veteran stand-up comedian and teacher David Labarca will deconstruct works of stand-up legends George Carlin, Joan Rivers, and Woody Allen. He will analyze how Carlin combined silliness with social commentary; how Rivers maintained stage presence even when not on stage; and how Allen laid the groundwork for his iconic movie career. He will also analyze how and why their brands of comedy have succeeded.

JCC U. NOW REGISTERING FOR FALL TERM @ KAPLEN JCC ON THE PALISADES

JCC UNIVERSITY

WHEN: Kick-off event Thursday, October 1, thereafter October 15 – November 12*
WHERE: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E. Clinton St., Tenafly
FEE: four sessions $110 JCC members, $140 non-members; individual sessions are $32 for JCC members; $40 non-members. Couples fees also available.
For more information, costs and to register, call Kathy at 201.408.1454 or email kgraff@jccotp.org or Esther at 201.408.1456; emazor@jccotp.org.

*Each Thursday begins with coffee and conversation at 10:30 am, followed by a morning presentation from 10:45 am-12 pm; lunch with classmates (bring or buy) from 12-1 pm; and an afternoon presentation from 1-2:15 pm. Registration is available for single Thursdays or for the whole term. Registration for this term is now taking place.

Now that the kids are back to school, adults with a passion for learning can also return to school and expand their horizons at JCC University. The upcoming fall term will feature one of its most diverse array of topics to date. The four-session term, taught by top professors and experts in their fields, will present the perfect mix of current hot topics and historical perspectives.

On the slate of presenters for the opening day is Professor Ronald Brown, who is returning to JCC U to kick off the term on Thursday, October 1, with his morning talk: How to Become President of the USA: Political Campaigns from General Washington to Today. Baby kissing, hand shaking, debates, fireworks, stump speeches, and bumper stickers are all part of the “president making industry” and Dr. Brown will wow the crowd as he talks about our fascinating system for electing our presidents – just as the excitement for our new upcoming election process begins.

In the afternoon David Leopold, curator of the New York Historical Society’s current exhibit The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld and the author of the companion book, will discuss the life of this famous prolific artist and share insights into his instantly recognizable celebrity drawings. As an expert on Hirschfeld, Leopold will talk about how Hirschfeld’s art (example top) defined New York popular culture and tips for finding the hidden “Nina’s” in his work.

Subsequent classes will run for three Thursdays:

Oct 15: The United States and China: Friends or Enemies?

SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Tom Grunfeld will present on the relations between China and the US which have alternated between warm and warlike. A debate continues in US policy circles over how to view China: as a potential ally or as the next superpower rival. This talk explores the history and the future of this relationship.

Just Kids from the Bronx: Telling It the Way It Was

Award winning photographer, author and wife of actor Alan Alda, Arlene Alda comes to JCC University to talk about the oral histories of people who went on to become influencers in just about every field. This collection draws a film-like portrait of the Bronx from the early twentieth century until today.

Oct 29: Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA

Roberta Kaplan, litigation partner at Paul Weiss, describes her strategy and shares her insights into her dramatic oral argument before the Supreme Court justices. Her book depicts the unfolding of the case that became US v. Windsor and the historic political ride and ultimate victory for gay civil rights. She will also share her own difficult coming out journey and its connection to this monumental case.

How the Internet Changed Newspapers, Music, and Television

Fordham professor Brian Rose will examine the many ways the internet has transformed the “old” media. He will trace how this revolution took place in such a short period of time to raise the questions: will printed newspapers continue to exist? Will movie theatres continue in their current form? What will happen to bookstores? Will primetime TV vanish?

Nov 12: The Bus on Jaffa Road: A Story of Middle East Terrorism and the Search for Justice

Bergen Record journalist Mike Kelly comes to JCC U to discuss how the parents of two New Jersey teenagers who were killed in a bus bombing in Jerusalem fought for justice by bringing a case against Hamas and Iran. He will talk about the obstacles in the White House and the State Department that these brave parents encountered on their way to a decision in their favor.

Frank Sinatra in Film

To commemorate the Sinatra Centennial, performing arts expert Marc Courtade will take a look at his films and their backstories. This talk will examine his career in films, from his MGM musicals of the 1940’s to his comeback dramatic portrayals in the 1950’s to his Rat Pack persona of the 1960’s. Join us and remember how entertaining Sinatra was in a wide variety of roles and genres.

JCC U is designed to encourage participants to rekindle old passions, ignite new ones and stay involved in developments that shape today’s world. It is also a place to ask questions, get answers, meet people and make friends.