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Learning is a lifelong journey at our Saltzman Foundation Lifelong Learning Institute and the cornerstone of the Katz JCC’s Adult Department. Our diverse selection of adult education courses offered each month ensures there is something for everyone to discover the joy in learning. We offer morning, afternoon and evening classes, both in person and virtually, to fit your lifestyle. This program is made up of three key components, each offering classes meant to engage you.
Open to members and non-members.
Looking for more information or need help registering for a class? Contact Hanna DiMassimo hdimassimo@jfedsnj.org and Sarah Sellers ssellers@jfedsnj.org
World War II: The True Story of A Bridge Too Far
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
Often called the war’s largest airborne assault—and its greatest intelligence failure—this program reveals the true story behind A Bridge Too Far, made famous by Cornelius Ryan’s 1974 book and Richard Attenborough’s 1977 film.
Monday, January 5
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
The Story of an American Military Hero: General George S. Patton
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
“A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood!” General George S. Patton was one of America’s most dynamic and complex military leaders. Over a 35-year career, Patton invented the Patton Sword, chased Pancho Villa in Mexico, was wounded in World War I, and became a legendary 4-Star General in World War II. His story is one of perseverance, innovation, and fierce leadership that shaped the course of modern warfare.
Monday, January 12
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
How Politics Works: Navigating Politics in Relationships & Global Political Structures
Instructor: Bill Rosenberg
Join Dr. Bill Rosenberg as we discuss some of the most important political issues facing the U.S. and the world today.
January 5
The Impact of Political Views on Relationships
January 12
Government in Practice: Democracy, Autocracy, Oligarchy
2 Mondays • 1:30PM – 2:45PM • January 5 and 12
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Creative Approaches to Joseph and His Brothers
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson
In this interactive discussion class, we will delve deeply into this fascinating story, exploring themes of sibling rivalry, the potential for individuals to grow into better people, the importance of forgiveness, and the concept of free will.
4 Tuesdays • 10:30AM – 11:45AM • January 6, 13, 20, and 27
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
The Romantic Revolution: Sounds of Italy, France, Russia, Hungary, America & Beyond
Instructor: Jeffry Kirschen
Step into the sweeping emotion and grandeur of the Romantic and PostRomantic eras (1850–1899) and discover the world of Giuseppe Verdi, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Antonin Dvořák, and others who redefined the sound of 19th-century Europe. Continue your journey into European Nationalism (1900–1920) as composers drew inspiration from their homelands to create works that captured the voice of their nations.
2 Wednesdays • 10:00AM – 11:00AM • January 14 and 21
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Funny Pictures of the Recent Past
Instructor: Irv Slifkin
Take a cinematic survey of a diverse group of funny films that made an impact from the 1960s and 1970s.
January 7:
The Graduate (1967) w/ Dustin Hoffman. Katharine Ross, Anne Bancroft
January 14:
The Party (1968) w/ Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet
January 21:
What’s Up Doc? (1973) w/ Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, Madeline Kahn
January 28:
Paper Moon (1973) w/ Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal, Madeline Kahn
4 Wednesdays • 1:00PM – 3:15PM • January 7, 14, 21, and 28
JCC Member: $10/per film | Guest/JPATH: $15/per film
Introduction to Bridge 1
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
Bridge is a classic game of skill, strategy, and fun! Whether you’re starting from scratch or brushing up on early skills, this beginner-friendly class will walk you through the essentials.
4 Thursdays • 10:30AM – 12:30PM • January 8, 15, 22 and 29
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Introduction to Mah Jongg
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
If you are either a total beginner or have a bit of Mah Jongg knowledge but need more supervised practice, this class is for you!
4 Thursdays • 1:00PM – 3:00PM • January 8, 15, 22 and 29
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Life & Legacy of Robert Redford
Instructor: Leila Joffe
In this course, we will look back at the life and legacy of Robert Redford. We will watch clips from some of his greatest films and learn what made him one of the greatest Hollywood stars of all time!
2 Thursdays • 1:30PM – 2:45PM • January 22 and 29
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Road Trip: Northern California and the Cascade Mountains
Instructor: Judy Okun
We will combine history and geography as we explore historic Russian forts and Spanish settlements, tectonic junctions, earthquake zones, mysterious coastlines, collapsed volcanoes, dense forests, alpine lakes, scenic national parks, such as Crater Lake and Lassen Volcanic, an Alfred Hitchcock filming location, and more in this journey to one of the most dramatic and spectacular parts of the US.
2 Fridays • 10:00AM – 11:15AM • January 23 and 30
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
History’s Mysteries of American Presidents
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
From elementary school through college, we learn about America’s presidents—but much of what we know is folklore or myth. Many presidential “facts” are political creations, long kept secret or distorted to make history more entertaining. This program uncovers the truth behind these legends, exploring secret operations, attempted assassinations, and the myths that shaped public perception.
2 Mondays • 10:30AM – 11:45AM • February 2 and 9
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
How Politics Works: Executive Orders & 2028 Presidential Election Uncertainty
Instructor: Bill Rosenberg
Join Dr. Bill Rosenberg as we discuss some of the most important political issues facing the U.S. and the world today.
February 2
The Mechanics of Executive Orders
February 23
Exploring the Possibilities of No 2028 Presidential Election
2 Mondays • 1:30PM – 2:45PM • February 2 and 23
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
The Philosophy of Justice
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson
In this interactive discussion class, we will explore the concept of justice from a variety of angles. What does the Bible have to say about justice? And the secular philosophies of libertarianism, utilitarianism, and Immanuel Kant? We will use concrete examples to wrestle with this important philosophical concept.
3 Tuesdays • 10:30AM – 11:45AM • February 3, 10, and 17
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson
With Purim coming up, it’s time to look at Queen Esther from a new angle. Why was the story of Esther an inspiration to the artist Rembrandt’s Christian community in the Netherlands in the 17th century? Why was the story an inspiration to their neighbors in the Jewish community? And what kinds of art were created depicting the story of Esther? Note: this class is based on an exhibit held last year at the Jewish Museum in New York.
Tuesday, February 24
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
The Modern Age — From Broadway to the Silver Screen
Instructor: Jeffry Kirschen
The early 20th century ushered in dazzling innovation and bold new sounds. Experience the Roaring Twenties and Broadway brilliance of George Gershwin, the revolutionary ballets of Igor Stravinsky, and the powerful voices of Prokofiev and Shostakovich in Russia. Then, explore Post-War America and Europe, when composers like Aaron Copland and Ruth Crawford Seeger shaped an American sound, while Max Steiner, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and Franz Waxman scored the Golden Age of Hollywood.
2 Wednesdays • 10:00AM – 11:00AM • February 11 and 18
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
More Funny Pictures of the Recent Past
Instructor: Irv Slifkin
The comedic stylings continue, spanning from the 1970s into the 1990s, in the second part of the fun film series, featuring host Irv Slifkin.
February 4:
Blazing Saddles (1975) w/ Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn
February 11:
Lost in America (1985) w/ Albert Brooks, Julie Hagerty, Garry Marshall
February 18:
Quick Change (1990) w/ Bill Murray, Geena Davis, Randy Quaid
February 25:
The First Wives Club (1996) w/ Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn
4 Wednesdays • 1:00PM – 3:15PM • February 4, 11, 18, and 25
JCC Member: $10/per film | Guest/JPATH: $15/per film
Introduction to Bridge 2
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
Bridge is a classic game of skill, strategy, and fun! Whether you’re starting from scratch or brushing up on early skills, this beginner-friendly class will walk you through the essentials.
4 Thursdays • 10:30AM – 12:30PM • February 12, 19, 26, and March 5
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Mah Jongg Strategies
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
Do you already play Mah Jongg and want to up your game? Each week, we will play Mah Jongg and take time to discuss strategies such as picking your hand, evaluating, and finding connections on the card, defensive playing, and more.
3 Thursdays • 1:00PM – 3:00PM • February 12, 19, and 26
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
The Ballad Collection: Classics You Know, and a Few You Don’t
Instructor: Leila Joffe
In this course, we will listen to and learn some of the greatest ballads written for the Broadway stage, film, and radio. We will explore hit ballads from Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Lerner and Loewe, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, and other great composers. We will also hear beautiful ballads you might not have heard before!
3 Thursdays • 1:30PM – 2:45PM • February 5, 12, and 19
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Seeking Shortcuts: Explorers and the Northwest Passage
Instructor: Judy Okun
Cartier, Verrazano, Hudson, Cook, Vancouver—these are some of the many explorers who set out to find a shortcut through the Americas that would connect the Atlantic and the Pacific during the Age of Exploration. We will examine the origins of the Northwest Passage myth, the European powers who were involved in this search, and the effect on North American exploration and settlement.
2 Fridays • 10:00AM – 11:15AM • February 20 and 27
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Founding Mothers: The Women of the American Revolution
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
When teaching the American Revolution, we often focus on the “Founding Fathers,” overlooking the vital contributions of women. This program highlights the courageous and selfless women who played key roles in the War for Independence and explores the origins of Mother’s Day, which began through the efforts of a Philadelphia woman. From organizing the Daughters of Liberty to raising funds, supplying troops, tending to the wounded, and even serving as spies, women were essential to the revolutionary cause.
Monday, March 9
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
Eyewitness to War: Intriguing Women of the Civil War
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
In 1861, the Civil War challenged traditional expectations of American women, who were long seen as caretakers of the home. With the outbreak of war, women turned their attention outward, taking on new and vital roles. Thousands served as nurses, worked in munitions factories, or acted as spies, marking the first time women played a significant role in a U.S. war effort.
Monday, March 16
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
Our Forgotten Heroes: American Women in World War II
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
After Pearl Harbor, thousands of men enlisted, and Eleanor Roosevelt declared, “Women are a weapon waiting to be used.” Before the war, society confined women to the domestic sphere as wives, mothers, and homemakers. With men off to fight, women stepped into the workforce and military, challenging long-held norms and answering a patriotic call to serve. Beyond the iconic image of “Rosie the Riveter,” women worked as nurses, pilots, truck drivers, code breakers, radar operators, and spies, taking on roles vital to the war effort.
Monday, March 23
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
The Struggle for Women’s Rights
Instructor: Herb Kaufman
The “Victorian Age,” spanning Queen Victoria’s 64-year reign, was a period of remarkable cultural, social, and technological change. While history often emphasizes 19th-century innovations, the vital contributions of women are frequently overlooked. During this era, women stepped beyond traditional domestic roles to lead movements for social and political change. They fought for the abolition of slavery, better wages, financial independence, access to education, and women’s suffrage—a struggle that lasted 42 years.
Monday, March 30
10:30AM – 11:45AM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
How Politics Works: Women of the Supreme Court and Congress
Instructor: Bill Rosenberg
Join Dr. Bill Rosenberg as we discuss some of the most important political issues facing the U.S. and the world today.
March 9
Women of the Supreme Court
March 16
Women of the US Congress
2 Mondays • 1:30pm-2:45pm • March 9 and 16
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Mary Cassatt with Pastel Workshop
Instructor: Leeannwyn Stoner
Celebrate Women’s History Month with American artist Mary Cassatt. We will learn about her use of pastel, with the work, “Two Sisters”. Then make your own pastel drawing with the still life object, a fan, a feature in the work. All materials provided and all artistic levels are welcome.
Tuesday, March 24
10:00AM – 12:00PM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest/JPATH: $23
Ethics in Modern Life: AI, Conscientious Objections, and NDAs
Instructor: Sarah Rosenson
Join instructor Sarah Rosenson for an engaging discussion that delves into important ethical questions relevant to today’s society.
March 10
The Moral Dilemma of AI Reanimation
March 17
Navigating Personal Beliefs in Patient Care
March 24
The Moral Complexity of NDAs
3 Tuesdays • 10:30AM – 11:45AM • March 10, 17, and 24
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Women, Vision, and Voice — Celebrating a Century of Change
Instructor: Jeffry Kirschen
In honor of Women’s History Month, this series shines a light on the extraordinary contributions of women in music from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries. Discover the works of Marianna Martines, Fanny Mendelssohn, Florence Price, Ethel Smyth, and the Boulanger sisters, alongside influential composers like Elgar, Milhaud, Poulenc, and Schoenberg. The series concludes with the brilliance of Amy Beach, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, and the unforgettable artistry of legendary vocalists Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, Deborah Voigt, and Renée Fleming.
2 Wednesdays • 10:00AM – 11:00AM • March 11 and 18
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Strong Women, Good Movies
Instructor: Irv Slifkin
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we present four memorable films that focus on the power, strength, and intelligence of women and their relationships with friends, lovers, and family members.
March 4
Walking and Talking (1996) w/ Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, Todd Field
March 11
The Kids Are All Right (2010) w/ w/Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson
March 18
20th Century Women (2016) w/ Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig
March 25
Support the Girls (2018) w/ Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, Dylan Gelula
4 Wednesdays • 1:00PM – 3:15PM • March 4, 11, 18, and 25
JCC Member: $10/per film| Guest/JPATH: $15/per film
Introduction to Bridge 3
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
Bridge is a classic game of skill, strategy, and fun! Whether you’re starting from scratch or brushing up on early skills, this beginner-friendly class will walk you through the essentials.
4 Thursdays • 10:30AM – 12:30PM • March 19 & 26, April 2 & 9
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Introduction to Canasta
Instructor: Bernadette Hennessy May
If you are either a total beginner or have a bit of Canasta knowledge but need more supervised practice, this class is for you! In this friendly and relaxed class, Bernadette will teach and improve your canasta skills while you meet other players.
3 Thursdays • 1:00PM – 3:00PM • March 12, 19, and 26
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Spotlight on Her: Celebrating Broadway’s Leading Ladies
Instructor: Leila Joffe
In honor of Women’s History Month, we will explore Broadway musical leading ladies. From unforgettable performances of legends like Ethel Merman and Judy Garland to contemporary stars such as Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Kelli O’Hara, Meagen Hilty, and Kristin Chenoweth, we will delve into their contributions to musical theater.
2 Thursdays • 1:30PM – 2:45PM • March 5 and 19
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Expedition: Siberia and the Russian Pacific
Instructor: Judy Okun
This massive region of Russia conveys images of deep freeze, forbidding forests, isolation, and a point of no return for Soviet political prisoners. In addition to these important aspects of the area, we will expand our scope of this diverse and fascinating region to investigate mammoth and human migrations during the Ice Age, the taiga and indigenous people, Lake Baikal and the active volcanoes of the Kamchatka Peninsula, early Russian exploration and conquest, the Soviet gulag era, and present day political and environmental issues.
2 Fridays • 10:00AM – 11:15AM • March 20 and 27
JCC Member: $18/per class | Guest/JPATH: $23/per class
Marc Shaw: Feel-Good Favorites Live!
Get ready for a lively, toe-tapping afternoon with Marc Shaw, a seasoned entertainer who has spent more than 24 years performing special events. Marc lights up the room with sing-along big band hits, Broadway classics, and favorite current tunes—all delivered with his signature charm! Whether you know every word or just want to tap your toes, his performances leave everyone smiling, laughing, and feeling part of the music. Don’t miss this upbeat, interactive, feel-good musical experience with Marc Shaw—where the music comes alive and the fun never stops!
Friday, February 6
1:00PM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest: $25
Magic in March with Jake Strong
Prepare to be amazed! Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of magic and mind-bending illusions with award-winning magician Jake Strong. Jake has dazzled audiences across the country — from the bright lights of Las Vegas to national television on NBC, to private performances for legendary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, who said Jake’s magic “blew his mind.” With his signature blend of humor, high-energy performance, and astonishing sleight-of-hand, Jake delivers an interactive show that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Don’t miss this captivating experience that promises laughter, wonder, and moments you’ll be talking about long after the show ends. Join us for “Magic in March” — an afternoon where the impossible feels completely real!
Friday, March 6
1:00PM
JCC Member: $18 | Guest: $25
More events coming soon!
