What’s Happening

FRIDAY, OCT. 13

Worcester – Friday Night Live: 4-Course Shabbat Dinner at home of Rabbi Mendel and Chanie Fogelman, 53 Midland St., RSVP: Rabbi@CentralMassChabad.com. *Every Friday night; Walk-ins welcome.

SUNDAY, OCT. 15

Amherst – “Essential Teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov,” with Rabbi Nancy Flam, part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 2-4 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160.

Holyoke – Apple picking with Sons of Zion, 11 a.m., meet at Olesiul Farm, 10 Pearl Lane in South Hadley, (413) 534-3369.

Lenox – “No Easy Answers in the Middle East,” a talk by Middle East Update with American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Scholar Kenneth M. Pollack, 7:30 p.m., at Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Co., 70 Kemble St., (413) 442-4360, ext. 10 or www.jewishberkshires.org.

Westborough – Mini Minyan Playgroup, a PJ Library program, 9:30-11 a.m., Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 45 Oak St., Register: www.bethtikvahsynagogue.org.

Worcester – 2-Day introductory Hebrew Marathon Course with Rabbi Valerie Cohen, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel Sinai Library, 661 Salisbury St., Register: (508) 755-1257 or office@emanuelsinai.org. $25 materials fee ALSO: Oct. 22

Worcester – Jewish War Veterans Free Brunch Meeting with guest speaker, 11 a.m., Jewish Health Care Auditorium, RSVP: (508) 831-4229 or (508) 757-8423.

Worcester – Young @ Heart Chorus performance honoring the late Toby Richmond, 3 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., tickets: (508) 752-0888 or barossman@gmail.com.

MONDAY, OCT. 16

Pittsfield – Jewish Federation of Berkshires Connecting with Community program, “BerkShares: A Local Currency for the Berkshire Region,” with Rachel Moriarty, director of operations at the Schumacher Center for New Economics; with hot kosher lunch, 10:45 a.m.-noon, Congregation Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Road, RSVP for lunch by 9 a.m. morning of program, (413) 442-4200; $2/suggested lunch donation for adults over 60 years of age; $7/all others.

TUESDAY, OCT. 17

Amherst – Pirkei Avot: The Ethics of the Fathers,” class led by Rabbi Benjamin Weiner, part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 7-8:30 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160. ALSO Oct. 24 & 31; and Nov. 7

Springfield – Improve Your Balance with Lydia Smith, group exercise coordinator and trainer at JCC, 10:30 -11:30 a.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., Pre-register: (413) 739-4715. FREE/JCC members; $15/general public.

Springfield – Information session for March of the Living: Western Mass. Teen Trip (April 8-22, 2018), 7 p.m. at the JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., (413) 739-4715, ext. 332 or SWilk@springfieldjcc.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18

Amherst – Intermediate Modern Hebrew with Henia Lewin, part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 5:45-7:15 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160. ALSO Oct. 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29; and Dec. 6, 13.

Holyoke – Rodphey Sholom Sisterhood Membership Tea, with entertainment by the Golden Blue Ribbon Singers, 1 p.m., 1800 Northampton St., (413) 534-5262. Please bring a canned good for food drive.

Northampton – “Jewish Family Jam” with Felicia Sloin, for young children and their parents/caretakers, sing, drum, dance and explore musical play, 10:30-11:15 a.m., LGA Library, 257 Prospect St., r.torrey@jfswm.org. One time registration fee: $25. ALSO Oct. 25, Nov. 4.

Northampton – Information session for March of the Living: Western Mass. Teen Trip (April 8-22, 2018), 7 p.m. at LGA, 257 Prospect St., (413) 739-4715, ext. 332 or SWilk@springfieldjcc.org.

THURSDAY, OCT. 19

Amherst – Last meeting of People of Book group at UMass, with guest discussion leader Prof. Illan Stavans, who will read in English and Spanish from his collection of poems of Pablo Neruda, “All the Odes,” 7-8:30 p.m., Amherst Room, Jones Library.

Pittsfield – Jewish Federation of Berkshires Connecting with Community program, “What Makes Jewish Humor Humorous,” with Rabbi Jon Haddon, spiritual leaser of Temple Shearith Israel in Ridgefield, Conn; with hot kosher lunch, 10:45 a.m.-noon, Congregation Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Road, RSVP for lunch by 9 a.m. morning of program, (413) 442-4200. $2/suggested lunch donation for adults over 60 years of age; $7/all others.

Worcester – Kosher Take-out at Central Mass. Chabad, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 22 Newton Ave., (508) 579-1852. *Takes place every Thursday evening.

SATURDAY, OCT. 21

Westborough – Bingo FUNdraiser Night at Beth Tikvah Synagogue, concession food for purchase, 6 p.m., 45 Oak St. $10/person ($50 family cap); free raffle ticket (1 per family) with an advance paid registration by Oct. 19. Register:bethtikvahsynagogue.org/event/bingo3.html.

SUNDAY, OCT. 22

Northampton – Rosh Hodesh, a monthly group for 8th- and 9th-grade girls (8th grade: 2:30-4:30 p.m.; 9th grade: 5-7 p.m.), Congregation B’nai Israel, 253 Prospect St., RSVP: jfswm.org/rosh-hodesh.

Westborough – Talk by Holocaust survivor Thea Aschkenase for 7th graders to adults, 9:30 a.m., Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 45 Oak St., Register: https://www.bethtikvahsynagogue.org/event/holocaust-speaker—-thea-ascdhkensase.html. Please bring a canned good for the local food pantry.

Worcester – 2-Day introductory Hebrew Marathon Course with Rabbi Valerie Cohen, 12:30-4:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel Sinai library, 661 Salisbury St., Register: (508) 755-1257 or office@emanuelsinai.org. $25 materials fee. ALSO: Oct. 15

Worcester – PJOW – PJ Our Way for tweens event, “Building Strength, Building Community,” at Ultimate Obstacles, 4-6 p.m., 121 Shrine Ave., West Boylston, mhall@jfcm.org. Tickets: www.jewishcentralmass.org/ultimateobstacles. $18/per child + book for book drive

MONDAY, OCT. 23

Northampton – “Jewish Genealogy: Naming Patterns and the Value of Jewish Cemetery Records,” with Nolan Altman, vice president of JewishGen, 7 p.m., Congregation B’nai Israel Library, 253 Prospect St., genealogy@podolsky.cc.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

Westborough – En-CHANT-ment Circle, a monthly musical meditation group with Hebrew chanting, no musical background needed. 7:30, Congregation B’nai Shalom, 117 E. Main St., (508) 212-9460 or eafriedner@verizon.net.

THURSDAY, OCT. 26

Amherst – “One State vs. Two States: History of a Debate,” with Aaron Berman, part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 7-8:30 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160. ALSO Nov. 2, 9, 16.

FRIDAY, OCT. 27

Great Barrington – Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Knosh & Knowledge: “Norman Rockwell and the Four Freedoms,” with Tom Daly, curator of education at the Norman Rockwell Museum; 10:45 a.m. – noon, Hevreh, 270 State Road, Advance lunch reservation required by 10/26 noon: (413) 442-4360, ext. 10 or federation@jewishberkshires.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 28

Holyoke – Festive luncheon in celebration of Dr. Steve Levine, president of the Sons of Zion board for 20 years following Shabbat services, Sons of Zion, 378 Maple St., (413) 534-3369.

Springfield – Melton Foundations of Jewish Family Living, for parents of school-age children, 4:30-6 p.m., Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St., Register: (413) 733-4149. $75/person; $45 for textbook. ALSO Nov. 18, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, May 20, and June 9.

SUNDAY, OCT. 29

Westborough – “Exploring the Dignity of Difference,” a 7-session adult education class led by Rabbi Michael Swarttz, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 45 Oak St., Register: www.bethtikvahsynagogue.org by Oct. 8. ALSO Nov. 15, Dec. 17, Han. 24, Feb. 11, March 21 and April 29 (check times).

Worcerster – Super Sunday, Jewish Federation of Central Mass., 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., JFCM board room, 633 Salisbury St., (508) 756-1543.

TUESDAY, OCT. 31

Springfield – Literatour: Rachel Korazim, author of The Silver Platter: The Story behind an Iconic Israeli Poem, 7 p.m., Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St.

Worcester – The Story of Beit Singer Children’s Home in Afula-Gilboa, 7:30 p.m., at the Willows, RSVP by Oct. 20: (508) 756-1543.

THURSDAY, NOV. 2

Northampton – “The Making of the Balfour Declaration,” with guest speaker Prof. Jonathan Schneer, 3-4:30 p.m., Congregation B’nai Israel, 253 Prospect St., mordchai.kamel@gmail.com or (413) 387-8362.

SATURDAY, NOV. 4

Worcester – Dinner with Chaverim; family style dinner at Bauhania, 7 p.m., 271 Grafton St., mhall@jfcm.org. $25 & cash bar.

SUNDAY, NOV. 5

Amherst – “Seeking Justice in Healthcare: A Forum on Medicare for All,” with Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Dr. Gerald Friedman,, 2-4 p.m. Jewish Community of Amherst.

Northampton – “Challenges and Opportunities for the Negev Bedouin,” with Dr. Safa Abu-Rabia, 11 a.m., Congregation B’nai Israel, 253 Prospect St., mordechai.kamel@gmail.com; FREE & open to the public

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8

Holyoke – Celebrate Jewish Book Month at Rodphey Sholom with “Interesting Jewish Literature,” led by Suzanne Chorowski, 10 a.m., 1800 Northampton St., (413) 534-5262.

SATURDAY, NOV. 11

Holyoke – Kiddish luncheon in honor of all veterans, following Shabbat services, Sons of Zion, 378 Maple St., (413) 534-3369.

SUNDAY, NOV. 12

Amherst – Jewish Culture through Film: “Ushpizin,” part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 2 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160.

Worcester – PJOW – PJ Our Way for tweens event, “Setting the Stage for Hanukkah,” 4-6 p.m., Worcester JCC Senior Lounge.

TUESDAY, NOV. 14

Amherst – Israeli Dancing with Randi Stein, part of Jewish Community of Amherst Adult Education program, 7-8:15 p.m., JCA 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160. ALSO, Dec. 5 & 12.

THURSDAY, NOV. 16

Springfield – Literatour: Anna Solomon, author of Leaving Lucy Pear, 7 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., RSVP encouraged: (413) 739-4715 or front desk FREE/JCC members; $5/general public.

SATURDAY, NOV. 18

Worcester – 28th annual Torathon, “Our Legacy of Jewish Values,” 5:15 – 10 p.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesway Drive, tickets and classes: jewishcentralmass.org/torathon.

SUNDAY, NOV. 19

Worcester – PJ Library’s Bagel and Books, bagels, story-time, friend, a craft, and more for parents and their children ages 6 and under, 10-11:30 a.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, RSVP: mhall@jfcm.org or (508) 756-1543. FREE & open to the community.