NEWS

THERE'S STILL TIME TO PROPOSE A FALL COURSE

We have some fascinating courses coming up for Fall 2024, but we can use still more!

Teaching a course is a wonderful opportunity to share a topic that interests you with other like-minded people! Courses can range from history, science, art, and literature to current events to classes looking at music of all genres, movies and plays, politics, sports, and technology. The Curriculum Committee can help you to develop your idea into a course running from five to ten weeks. 

We hope to be able to offer more classes in person at Temple Shalom in Newton. It’s a lovely facility, with plenty of room for our special lunch programs that have been so successful. The social aspect of LLAIC has always been one of our biggest attractions. So please consider offering a course in person. If that doesn’t work for you, though, Zoom will still be there. There’s full tech support for all virtual courses, with a dedicated person managing Zoom so the course leader can focus on teaching. There’s also training as needed on A/V equipment for in-person classes and on Zoom for virtual ones. 

While course leaders teach on a volunteer basis, they're rewarded with a free annual membership and may register early, tuition-free, for up to two courses in the semester they are teaching or in the following semester. So think about what you’d like to explore, and send in a course proposal form which you can find here. And if you know anyone who might be interested in teaching, let them know about us!

SPECIAL EVENTS

Available to members at no additional charge

LUNCH@LLAIC CONTINUES

TUESDAYS, MAY 14 THRU MAY 28

12:00 NOON @ TEMPLE SHALOM

Save the next three Tuesdays for exciting LUNCH@LLAIC programs. Each week we'll see a video produced by Curiosity University, and one of our members will lead us in a discussion of it. No RSVP is required, but email Jennifer Young by 11 that day if you want pizza at $3 a slice or two for $5. Or bring your lunch.

May 14: "Six Television Shows That Changed the Rules" with Alice Freedman.

Americans have been watching TV for more than three-quarters of a century, and what we see on the screen has changed a lot since the late 1940s. Usually that evolution was gradual, reflecting historical developments in society, politics, and culture. But sometimes the change was radical and sudden, thanks to important individual shows that introduced new possibilities to the medium. In this video, the Curiosity University lecturer, Professor Thompson, will examine six pivotal shows that transformed television in ways that can still be seen in the programs we watch today.  Alice Freedman will facilitate a discussion following the video.

May 21:  "The Age of Misinformation" with Karl Kelber.

On Tuesday, May 21 the video entitled "The Age of Misinformation" will inform us about how much misinformation we are fed and what we can do about it.

A substantial fraction of the public is skeptical on issues where the scientific consensus is emphatic: global climate change, evolution, and even the age of the Earth. We are awash in misinformation, and the problem is exacerbated by its rapid spread via social media. In science, the problem manifests as susceptibility to pseudoscience, superstition, and conspiracy theories. The video will be followed by a discussion led by Karl Kelber.

May 28:  "Was Alexander Hamilton Jewish? A Scholar Investigates"

with Sue Goldberg.

On May 28 we'll watch the video, "Was Hamilton Jewish?" and participate in a discussion facilitated by Sue Goldberg. Drawing on untapped sources in the West Indies, the presenter of the video makes the case for Hamilton’s Jewish ancestry and explores his ongoing relationships with Jews throughout his lifetime. Although Alexander Hamilton didn't proclaim his Jewish identity in his adulthood in the United States, he never forgot his origins. He emerged as a singular champion of American Jewry against the forces of anti-Semitism, fought for Jewish rights in the courts, collaborated with Jewish merchants, and secured a position for the first Jew on the board of an American college. Alexander Hamilton may in fact have been the Jewish Founding Father.

We hope to see you at this new LLAIC program! If you have questions, please contact Phyllis Cohen or Alice Freedman.

PLEASE JOIN LLAIC LOVES ART

ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 @ 1:30

FOR A PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION

WITH PHOENIX ART MUSEUM

MASTER DOCENT LISA WHITE:

"HISTORIC CHANGES BRING ARTIST REVOLUTIONS"

Historic events of the 19th and early 20th century changed the world forever. Wars, social unrest, industrial revolution, and scientific discovery created a modern world no longer interested in the traditional academic art. See how these historic events changed the art of the 20th century. 

Click here before noon on Tuesday, May 14, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day. For more information about the museum, visit phxart.org.

ANOTHER EARLY DINNER THEATER EVENT!

THE OUTSIDER AT THE VOKES THEATRE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 @ 2:00

This summer the Vokes Theatre in Wayland is performing a play called “The Outsider,” a political farce, appropriate for the season! The play concerns a governor who exits office in disgrace, leaving his qualified but socially and politically inept lieutenant governor to do his best in his place. As expected, things begin to go downhill fast, but help arrives from an unexpected source. According to Broadway World: “The Outsider is an insightful, witty satire about modern American politics. Funny, timely and – dare we say – entirely possible.” 

We would like to reserve a block of tickets for a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday August 3. Tickets are $20.00 each. If you would like to join the group for the play, followed by an early dinner, please send the attached reservation form with your $20 check to Andrea Teacher at the address written on the form as soon as possible. Contact Andrea with any questions.

GROUP MEETINGS

Available to members at no additional charge

CURRENT EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAY 17 @ 10:00-11:15

LED BY JERRY JACOBS

Thanks to Don Bermont for facilitating our last Current Events session!

Our upcoming Current Events discussion will focus on previous topics with ever-changing updates. The plan is to speak about the war in Israel/Gaza and President Biden's approach, including holding back delivery of promised offensive weapons. At the same time he is floating a plan to welcome Palestinian-American refugees who have been impacted by the Gaza war to America. We will review the latest outcomes of Trump's trials. Finally we will continue our discussion about the current Speaker of the House, including his win (for now) over Marjorie Taylor Greene and the implication of support from the House Democrats. Stay tuned.

Jerry

Click here before noon on Thursday, May 16, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.

MOVIE MAVENS

MINARI

FRIDAY, MAY 17 @ 2 P.M.

The Movie Mavens choice for May 17 is Minari, a 2020 American drama written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. The film follows a Korean American family who moves to Arkansas in search of the American Dream. The film explores themes of family, identity, and the immigrant experience. Reminiscent of Director Lee Isaac Chung's own experience as a first-generation Korean American, the film brims with humor, humanity, and hope. Minari won the Golden Globe award for best foreign language film and Chung was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the 93rd Academy Awards. Youn Yuh-jung also won the Academy Award for best supporting actress.

This film can be found on Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime Video.

Click here before noon on Thursday, May 16, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.

THERE ARE NO GENIUSES ON WALL STREET

MONDAY, MAY 20 @ 10:30-12:00

Are you an experienced investor, or are you new to "the market" and want to know more? We are an easygoing discussion group that deals with all market-related topics. Bring your opinions, insights, and questions. Or just listen. We are now meeting as a joint venture between LLAIC and Tufts OLLI. The next meeting after this one will be on June 24.

Click here today to request a Zoom invitation. If you have any questions about the group, contact Richard Lewis: lewisdmd@yahoo.com or 617-448-4439. 

SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP

¡Bienvenidos a La Tertulia!

MONDAY, MAY 20 @ 1:00

Our format consists of reading and discussing articles from various Spanish language media sources of general high interest. There is no homework although everyone is invited to submit articles they might find for our agendas.

The hosts for the group are Miriam Grodberg and Larry Krakauer. Contact Miriam at mgrodberg@comcast.net with any questions.