Join us for various weekly programs including discussion groups, workshops and presentations, 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 PRESENTATIONS
Join us every Tuesday at 10:30 am for a weekly presentation on various topics including arts, culture, history, religion, current events and more. Cost: $5 members and $10 non-members. Drop in. No registration required.
Frida Kahlo: Part 2
Painted Biography
Tuesday, May 12
An artistic voyage of Frida Kahlo’s life highlighted by her most important works. Kahlo’s life story includes depictions of her shattered body as a result of a horrific accident, her stormy relationship with husband, artist Diego Rivera, and her quest for motherhood. Rachel Levin, Art Educator
The Covenants We Keep
Tuesday, May 19
In keeping with the spirit of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, come explore the idea of covenant as a central pillar of Jewish life: not only as a moment at Sinai, but as an ongoing relationship shaped by commitment, responsibility, and choice. Together we’ll reflect on what it means to live a covenantal life today and why covenant continues to matter so deeply in Judaism. Rabbi Jarrod R. Grover, Senior Rabbi, Beth Tikvah Synagogue
Behind the Scenes of Artificial Intelligence
Tuesday, May 26
In this interactive session, we will explore what artificial intelligence really is, without technical jargon. Where AI already shows up in our everyday lives (phones, the internet, healthcare). Images and videos created by AI and how to tell what’s real and what’s not. Open discussion, questions, and audience participation with fun and interactive activities. Julia Kindler, Student, Master of Social Work, University of Toronto
The Posthumous Landscape: Remnants of Jewish Life in Eastern Europe
Tuesday, June 2
David Kaufman discusses The Posthumous Landscape: Remnants of Jewish Life in Eastern Europe. Learn about the stories of former Jewish neighbourhoods, synagogues and cemeteries. Following the presentation there will be book sales and signings. David Kaufman, Author
Free Will
Tuesday, June 9
Are we free agents or is free will an illusion? As I write these words, am I exercising my faculties or am I subject to earlier causes because everything about us has been predetermined? This is a tricky, infuriating and fascinating topic which will fascinate you. Nick Maes, Former High School Teacher and Instructor of Classics
How I Learned to Pee in the Forest and Other Light-Hearted Stories with Life-Changing Lessons
Tuesday, June 16
This book turns everyday chaos into clarity with a few laughs along the way. It invites readers to laugh, reflect, and grow on the quirks of everyday life. Equal parts memoir, mentorship, and mindfulness guide, this book meets readers where they are: in the middle of their messy, beautiful, ordinary life. Book will be available for purchase. Sharon Neiss Arbess, Author
Frida Kahlo: Part 3
Painted Biography: Portraits
Tuesday, June 23
An artistic voyage of Frida Kahlo’s life highlighted by her most important works. Kahlo’s life story includes depictions of her shattered body as a result of a horrific accident, her stormy relationship with husband, artist Diego Rivera, and her quest for motherhood. Rachel Levin, Art Educator
Preparing for Memory Changes: With Strength, Creativity, and Heart
Tuesday, June 30
In this engaging and uplifting talk, we explore a refreshing way to think about memory changes and aging. How we can plan to live well, for longer. Through real-life stories and practical ideas, you’ll discover how creative hobbies, gentle movement, and kindness of character can support dignity, independence, and joy at every stage of life. Julia Kindler, Student, Master of Social Work, University of Toronto
July 7
Jews and Physical Activity: A Long and Difficult Jog
History has placed many demands on the Jewish people, shaping their decisions, actions and preferences. As they spread around the world, seeking freedom and safety, their faith and the challenging realities they faced, shaped their choices about how they spent their time, both at work and in their free time. For much of 2,000 years, a glaring truth about Jewish activity was an absence from physical pursuits like sports. It was common knowledge both within and outside the community that exercise and games were low on the priority list of Jewish peoples across many nations. So much so that the preference for other pursuits was the source of humor in popular culture. Only in the 1890’s did circumstances create the need and desire for Jews to take the field without feeling like they were betraying the tenets of their faith.
Andrew Lindsay, Circles Enrichment
July 14
Leah – Uncovering a Family Secret
What happens when a family’s secret reveals a broader story of Jewish survival and loss? In Leah, a forgotten chapter of Toronto’s Jewish immigrant history comes to life. Please join author Don Granatstein as he speaks about how he found out about Leah, how determined his father and his siblings were to keep Leah a secret, how the secret was finally revealed and about other families who kept secrets and why. He will also explain how a cousin he discovered during his research played an unusual role in the Warsaw Ghetto, and how his family eventually embraced Leah and the uncovering of the family secret. Drawing on archival records, family testimony, and historically rooted storytelling, Leah explores the intersections of Jewish culture, Canadian immigration, and the misunderstood realities of mental illness in the early twentieth century. Books will be available to purchase.
Dan Granatstein, Lawyer & Author
July 21
Stronger Together, The Son of an Extraordinary Woman
July 23 is Tisha Ba’Av (the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, a fast day making the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem along with other major historical tragedies) and therefore today is a fitting day to tell Andy Reti’s story. When Andy was born in Budapest in 1942, the horrors of the Holocaust had not fully reached Hungary. However, soon after, the Jewish people of Hungary were forced to wear yellow stars and were taken to live in the ghetto, Jewish businesses were destroyed and people were taken to labour and concentration camps. Andy and his Mother were two of the lucky survivors saved by Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish Diplomat who saved thousands of Jewish lives. His book is the title of this talk.
Andy Reti, Author, Holocaust Museum Volunteer, Betel Member
July 28
Last Known Address-An Interview with Kathy Kacer
Join us for an interview with award-winning Canadian author Kathy Kacer. After publishing over 30 kids books with Holocaust themes, her newest effort, Last Known Address, dropped just before Yom ha-Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. She uses “stolpersteine”, or “stumbling stones”—over 100,000 small brass plaques set into European streets—to connect her young readers with the lives lost or disrupted during the Holocaust. Kacer showcases the last homes where Anne Frank and 12 lesser-known victims of Nazi persecution lived. Most of the book focuses on Jews, but she also broadens her storytelling to include others targeted by Hitler’s regime: a Roma couple, a gay German man and a mentally disabled brother. Several of her subjects survived, including the late Vera Katz Schiff of Toronto and Salman Schocken of Israel. Discovery her voyage of discovery while tracing the stumbling stones, and why she keeps speaking about the Holocaust to thousands of students at hundreds of schools.
Kathy Kacer, Award-winning Canadian Author
Aug 4
Reimagining Comics
As the author of four books about Jewish and Israeli comics, including Jewish Comics and Graphic Narratives (Bloomsbury) and Reenvisioning Israel through Political Cartoons, Matt will speak about his comics story and experiences in general as well as look at some recent examples.
Matt Reingold, Senior Project Lead, Rosov Consulting and Author
Aug 11
Armchair Traveller—Florence-Part 1
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of Renaissance. Florence is renowned for being an open-air museum of art, architecture, and history. Famous for the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, and Uffizi Gallery masterpieces, it offers unparalleled cultural experiences.
Rachel Levin, Art Educator
Aug 18
Empowering the Silent to Join in
As he reflects on rights-based social action and on freedom and equity, particularly for the marginalized in our society, join this special talk about the history of the Reena Foundation and learn some of the key efforts that Reena is working on and the challenges of inclusion when the competing values of care and risk collide
Bryan Keshen, CEO Reena
Aug 25
Armchair Traveller-Florence-Part 2
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of Renaissance. Florence is renowned for being an open-air museum of art, architecture, and history. Famous for the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, and Uffizi Gallery masterpieces, it offers unparalleled cultural experiences.
Rachel Levin, Art Educator
Sept 1
Armchair Traveller-Florence-Part 3
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of Renaissance. Florence is renowned for being an open-air museum of art, architecture, and history. Famous for the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, and Uffizi Gallery masterpieces, it offers unparalleled cultural experiences.
Rachel Levin, Art Educator
Sept 22
Hollywood Collects Art
Celebrities are known for their extravagant lifestyles and impressive collections; from luxury cars and designer clothing to lavish homes and exotic vacations. More recently, the collection of art has become obscenely popular.
Rachel Levin, Art Educator
Sept 29
100+ Years of Toronto
Discover the City of Toronto as we see how Toronto underwent massive, transformative improvements since the 1920’s. How did it evolve from a relatively quiet, industrial, “Anglo-Saxon” city into a top-tier, global metropolis known for its immense diversity and density. Learn about the many trials and tribulations it went through along the way culminating in the energy, disasters, fun, and enterprise that we enjoy today.
Jerry Willer, Betel Member and Presenter
LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES & OTHER PROGRAMS
Drop-ins for Lifelong Learning Courses are welcome! For more information, contact Sharon at sharonc@betelcentre.org or 416-225-2112, ext. 124.
I’m Right, You’re an Idiot! Social Life in Digital Age
This new course will discuss hyperpolarization research. People are becoming more aligned with causes and often ignore facts. This is going on everywhere with millions of voices talking over each other rather than to each other, leading to a breakdown of civil society and advancement of anger, isolation, sadness, and loss of faith and meaning. But wait! There are ways to combat this wave of internet rage, yelling, and propaganda. In this course we use scientific research to take emotion out and put logic back to work. Instructor: David Chandross, PhD
Monday, April 13 – June 8 (8 weeks)
No class May 18
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
$80 members ($12 drop-in per class)
$160 non-members ($24 drop-in per class)
Parsha Ha Shavuah: Weekly Torah Portion – New!
Discuss messages in the parshiyot and stories in the Tanach. Facilitator: Lillian Benlolo, Bible Study Teacher
Wednesday, April 15 – June 10 (9 weeks)
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Free – members only
Socrate’s Café (Democracy Café) – New!
This safe forum allows participants to share their opinions respectfully on a variety of topics. Facilitator: Barry Abramsky
Wednesday, April 15, May 13, and June 10 (3 weeks)
11:00 am – 1:00 pm 3
Free – members only
Antisemitism: The World’s Oldest Hatred
Antisemitism has recently surged to levels not seen since the rise of Nazi Germany. Since October 7th, there has been an increase in public demonstrations, polarized discourse, and spikes in antisemitism, harassment, vandalism, and assaults worldwide. Reports show substantial percentage increases in antisemitism since 2022. This course highlights the global state of antisemitism and aims to engage and educate about the sources of modern-day antisemitism. Instructor: Amnon Zohar, Middle East and Global Affairs Specialist
Monday, May 4- June 29 (8 weeks)
No class May 18
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
$88 members ($14 drop-in per class)
$176 non-members ($28 drop-in per class)
Adventures in Neuroscience
In this exciting new course we learn about the human brain and nervous system and how to optimize mental health. Did you know that social media of all types can cause changes in brain function? Did you know that we have a second “brain” in the digestive system with over 50 transmitters? Did you know that when we distrust others, our brain changes its shape and wiring on a microscopic level? What is the cause of addiction? Can you improve memory or prevent Alzheimers? We will spend 2 months together this Summer learning all about the human nervous system and ultimately, ourselves.
David Chandross, PhD.
July 7-Aug 31 (no class on Aug 3)
1:30 pm -3 pm (8 weeks)
$80 members ($12 drop-in per class)
$160 non-members ($24 drop-in per class)