Join us for various weekly programs including discussion groups, workshops and lectures, led by experts in their field or university professors, about arts and culture, history, current events, religion, travel, and more.
For more details, please contact Sharon Chodirker at 416-225-2112, ext. 124 or sharonc@betelcentre.org.
Registration for classes is on a first-come-first-serve basis. To register for Lifelong Learning Courses (online and in person), call Reception at 416-225-2112 ext. 0 to register over the phone, or visit Reception during our hours of operation.
LIFELONG LEARNING LECTURES
Join us every Tuesday at 10:30 am for a weekly lecture on various topics including arts, culture, history, religion, current events and more. Cost: $5 members and $10 non-members. Drop in. No registration required.
100 Years of Zionism
Today is the 76th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel (Yom HaAtzmaut). Learn about Herzl and the First Zionist Congress, which is over 125 years old. Speaker: Dr. Shoshana ElHarar, Masters of Jewish Studies, PhD
Tuesday, May 14
Ten Tips for a Happy Life
It can be easy to fall victim to troubling issues as we age. Learn how to look out for these issues and protect yourself from them. Interesting topics discussed during this lecture include: Who is most likely to help you when you get older? When is it your turn to love yourself? When is it your turn to spend on you? Do you sometimes feel that your past is overwhelming you? What do you do when you’re just stuck? Do you really have to win all the time? Speaker: Sheldon Parker, Founding Partner of Parker & Zener LLP, Former Vice-Chair of the Bernard Betel Centre Board of Directors
Tuesday, May 21
A History of the French Riviera
Discover the history of the villages, towns, and cities that make up the French Riviera. How did Monaco start? What has Nice to offer? When did St. Tropez develop? What about Cannes? What are they like today? Lots of pictures to enjoy and more. Speaker: Jerry Willer, Betel Member and Lifelong Learning Presenter
Tuesday, May 28
Shavuot Facts and Traditions
Shavuot celebrates the revelation of the Five Books of the Torah by God to Moses and to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, 49 days (seven weeks) after the Exodus from ancient Egypt. Find out why we eat dairy on Shavuot! Speaker: Rabbi Chai Cohen
Tuesday, June 4
Mark M. Warshawsky – The Anonymous Folk Song Writer
Warshawsky’s songs became so popular, even in his life time that they were sung as if they had been around forever. We still sing his songs today, but as his friend Sholem Aleichem predicted; we will remember the songs but not the man. Come learn about the man behind some of the most popular and favourite Yiddish songs. Speaker: Janie Respitz, Yiddish Scholar and Entertainer
Tuesday, June 11
The Dark Side of Art: Art Vandalism
Vandalism of art is an intentional damage of an artwork exhibited in public or in an art institute, this is different from art destruction where the art may be destroyed, removed, stolen or looted. Speaker: Rachel Levin, Art History Lecturer
Tuesday, June 18
The Dark Side of Art: Art Forgery
Many artists like to paint or draw in the style of artists they admire. However, forgery is a type of fraud meant to mislead a potential collector by creating a false provenance or origin of the object in order to enhance its value or prestige at the expense of the buyer. Speaker: Rachel Levin, Art History Lecture
Tuesday, June 25
LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES
Drop-ins for Lifelong Learning Courses are welcome! For more information, contact Sharon at sharonc@betelcentre.org or 416-225-2112, ext. 124.
Democracy in Peril
This lecture series explores the challenges and threats faced by democracies in the contemporary world. We will examine the historical, political, social, and economic factors that contribute to the erosion of democratic institutions. By analyzing case studies from different regions, we will delve into the various forms of democratic peril and discuss potential strategies to safeguard and strengthen democratic values. Speaker Amnon Zohar, Middle East and Global Affairs Specialist
Thursday, May 2 – June 20 (8 weeks)
No class June 13
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
$80 members ($12 members drop in per class)
$160 non-members ($24 non-members drop in per class)
Great Jewish Philanthropists of the 18th and 19th Centuries
This three week course will examine the lives, impact and Influence of The Rothschild Family, Baron Maurice de Hirsch and Sir Moses Montefiore. Instructor: Janie Respitz, Yiddish Scholar and Entertainer
Wednesday, April 3, 10, 17 (3 weeks)
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
$25 members ($10 members drop in per class)
$50 non-members ($20 non-members drop in per class)
In the Beginning: Genesis
This course is held on Zoom.
Examine the text of the first book of the Torah, Genesis (Bereshith), from the point of view of secular Hebrew scholars, archaeologists, and historians. No knowledge of Hebrew required. Knowledge of the Torah Genesis recommend. Instructor: David Lipovitch, PhD
Tuesday, April 9 – June 18 (9 weeks)
No class April 23, 30
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
$90 members
$180 non-members
The Invisible History of the Universe: The Expansion of Consciousness
In this fascinating new course we explore the origins of time, space, the galaxies and early life. We will focus on the numinous quality, sometimes compared to a spiritual or deep view of creation. We will look at what thought is, what creation is in life, and at the mystical unending thread of meaning and experience that can be called the “evolution of mind”. Instructor: David Chandross, PhD
Monday, April 8 – June 17 (8 weeks)
No class April 29, May 20
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
$80 members ($12 members drop in per class)
$160 non-members ($24 non-members drop in per class)