FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Worcester – “TGIF: Torah Goodness It’s Friday,” weekly Torah study at the Worcester JCC, with Rabbi Aviva Fellman of Congregation Beth Israel, 10 a.m., 633 Salisbury St.; FREE & open to the public. ALSO MARCH 22 & 29.
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.
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Holyoke – Congregation Sons of Zion 115th Anniversary celebration; Shabbat services at 10 a.m., anniversary Kiddush; followed by cheering for St. Patrick road runners; 378 Maple St., (413) 534-3369.
Northampton – Shabbat Sing, a monthly gathering for those who want to sing, with repertoire of camp songs, familiar melodies and newer songs, 11:15 a.m. – noon, Lander-Grinspoon Academy, 257 Prospect St.
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
Amherst – Film: “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,” 2-3:30 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West St., (413) 256-4900. Tickets: $4-8
Worcester – PJ Library Bagels and Books, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive.
MONDAY, MARCH 18
Longmeadow – “Should I Add Cannabis to my Investment Portfolio?” with Certified Financial Planner David Fedor, 6 p.m., Ruth’s House, 780 Converse St., RSVP: (413) 567-3949, ext. 3105 or email lpayson@jgslifecare.org. FREE & open to the public.
Springfield – Federation Women’s Philanthropy event with Linda Fishbayne Joffee from Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, on dealing with anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and feminism in America today, 7 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., (413) 737-4313.
Worcester – BI Mah Jongg, learn, play or teach, 7:30 p.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, (508) 756-6204. ALSO: 3/25, 4/1, 4/8
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Amherst – Panel discussion with Bashir Bashir and Amos Goldberg, authors of The Holocaust and Nakba: A New Grammar of Trauma and History, and Leila Farsakh, UMass Boston; and Laura Jockusch, Brandeis; moderated by Alon Confino, UMass Amherst Institute for Holocaust, Genocide and Memory Studies, 5 p.m., IHGMS, 758 North Pleasant St., (413) 835-0221.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
Northampton – Valley Jewish Senior Luncheon, “Snippets from My Life as a Mohel Tales,” with Dr. Henry Simkin, hamamtashen served, costumes welcome 12:30 p.m., Congregation B’nai Israel, 253 Prospect St.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
South Hadley – “Wretched Victims of Another Kind: Gendered Violence and the Anti-Jewish Pogroms in Ukraine, 1917-1921,” a lecture and presentation by Irina Astashkevich, Tauber Insititute at Brandeis, and Photographer Diane Covert, 4 p.m., Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, 106A Gamble Auditorium, (413) 538-2233. FREE & open to the public.
Springfield – Rabbi Jeremy Master discusses “Sin and Repentance,” as part of Friends Next Door, interfaith series, 7-8:30 p.m., at Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St., Register: (413) 584-3593.
Worcester – PJ Library Playmates, informal weekly playgroup for parents
with PJ Library kids 3 and under., 9:30-10:30 a.m., at Worcester JCC, 2nd floor Game Room, RSVP: mhall@jfcm.org; * bring nut-free snack for your child.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
Great Barrington – Poetry Writing Workshop with Barbara Janoff, 2-4 p.m., Congregation Ahavath Sholom, 15 North St., Registration required : (413) 528-4197 or casoffice15@gmail.com.
Northampton – “A Hundred Acres of America: The Geography of Jewish American Literary History,” with Michael Hoberman, Fitchburg State University, 2-4 p.m., JCA, 742 Main St., *bring a non-perishable food item for Survival Center.
Worcester – Famous Brotherhood Breakfast, with guest speaker Dr. Mattie Castiel, Commissioner of Health & Human Services, 9:30 a.m. (after minyan 8:15-9:15 a.m.) Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, (508) 756-6204.
MONDAY, MARCH 25
Pittsfield – Jewish Federation of Berkshires Connecting with Community; Al Bianchi of the Berkshire County Sheriff’s office: what goes on at the House of Correction; 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 – BI Bites (BI Teen Engagement Series), taught by Rabbi Aviva Fellman helping teens in grades 9-12 deal with social pressures, 6-7 p.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, (508) 756-6204.
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
Longmeadow – “Forever Young: The Power of Food Slow Aging,” with nutritionist Nancy Dell, of the “Food for Thought” nutrition news on WWLP, 7 p.m., Congregation B’nai Torah, 2 Eunice Drive, RSVP: (413) 567-0036. FREE
Northborough – PJ Library Mom’s Night Out: “Caffeine for the Soul,” 7 p.m., at Wegman’s Dining Room.
Springfield – Springfield JCC Kosher Wine Tasting and Sale; sample more than 100 different wines, 6-8 p.m., 1160 Dickinson St., www.springfieldjcc.org
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Springfield –Informal Kosher Wine Tasting, 4:40-6:30 p.m., Springfield JCC lobby, 1160 Dickinson St., www.springfieldjcc.org.
THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Springfield –Informal Kosher Wine Tasting, 4:40-6:30 p.m., Springfield JCC lobby, 1160 Dickinson St., www.springfieldjcc.org.
FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Great Barrington – Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Knosh & Knowledge, “H.G. Adler: A Life in Many Worlds,” with presenter Peter Filkins, award-winning poet, 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road; *Advanced reservations required by Thursday, March 28 before noon: (413) 442-4360, ext., 10 or federation@jewishberkshires.org; Program only is FREE; $11 includes lunch following program.
FRIDAY, MARCH 29 – SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Springfield – Scholar-In-Residence weekend at Sinai Temple with Cantor Ellen Dreskin, “Worship with the Wires Exposed: A Closer Look at the Words, Music and Relevance of Jewish Communal Prayer”; Friday night: Middle Eastern dinner at 6 p.m., innovative Shabbat service at 7 p.m.; Saturday morning service, “What Do Our Prayers Tell Us About Who We Are and Why We Are Here?” 9 a.m.; Shabbat lunch, 11 a.m.; All-ages “Interactive Havdallah: Stories and Songs for Shabbat and the Week Ahead” preceded by pizza dinner, 5 p.m., 1100 Dickinson St., (413) 736-3619. $10/suggested donation for Friday dinner; $5/suggested donation Havdallah pizza dinner.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Worcester – SpeakEasy Gala and Silent Auction to benefit the Worcester JCC’s Camp Scholarship program; cocktail hour with Joy of Music Jazz Ensemble, full cash bar, seated dinner, Benny Goodman Entertainment; 1920s speakeasy costumes encouraged, 6 p.m., AC Hotel Worcester, 125 Front St.
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
Amherst – JCA Family Friday, welcoming Shabbat once a month with Felicia Sloin, enjoying music, blessings, stories, puppets, and more followed by a meal; for all ages & community members, friends, and families are invited, 5:30-7 p.m., 742 Main St., (413) 256-0160 *Parent/Guardian attendance is required.
Florence – Tot Shabbat & Tot Sha-Potluck, a musical hour on the first Friday of the month, celebrating Shabbat and holidays for families with kids 0-6 & their friends, led by Marlene Rachelle with Rabbi Riqi Kosovske; stay for Tot Sha-potluck vegetarian (no nuts) dinner – Cheese pizza provided, 5:15-6:30 p.m., Beit Ahavah music room & social hall, 130 Pine St., (413) 587-3770. ALSO: May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6.
Holyoke – Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Community Shabbat Dinner, 6 p.m., part of Re-Kindle Shabbat program of Harold Grinspoon Foundation, at Congregation Rodphey Sholom, 1800 Northampton St., MUST RSVP: Rabbi Helfen, (908) 447-6953 or tuvia@chabadnorthampton.com. FREE
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
Northampton – Shabbat Family Jam, an exuberant, participatory, musical service geared to kids ages 5-12 and their families, using full-voiced singing and chanting, instruments and storytelling as pathways to experience Shabbat’s beauty and the power of communal prayer, everyone is welcome; 11:15 a.m. – noon, Lander-Grinspoon Academy, 257 Prospect St.; Everyone is welcome.
Springfield – “Comedy Night” with comedian Joel Chasnoff, biannual event at Sandi Kupperman Learning Center, honoring Jan Nirenberg; cocktails from 6:30-7:30 p.m.; dinner, program and silent auction at 7:30 p.m., Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St., (413) 733-4149.
Worcester – Tot Shabbat for children and their parents to experience Shabbat through singing, storytelling, play, and puppetry, 11 a.m., Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester, (508) 756-6204.
Worcester – Temple Emanuel Sinai Religious School (Grades K-7) Open House; with an all-ages Shabbat service; kids go to and experience their peers in classroom setting; parents can meet with director, other parents, and clergy, 9 a.m. – noon, at Worcester JCC, 633 Salisbury St., Register: tmugg@emanuelsinai.org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 7
Worcester – Worcester Black-Jewish Alliance Unity Seder, celebrating the historic bonds between African-American and American Jewish communities, 6 p.m., at Tilton Hall, Higgins Center, Clark University; RSVP by March 22: (508) 756-1543 or online at jfcm.org/unityseder.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12
Springfield – Shabbat at the J, Passover program, “So Many Frogs!” for 3-6-year-olds and their families, with challah baking, holiday celebrations, songs, Shabbat rituals, activities and games, 3:30-5 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., swilk@springfieldjcc.org or (413) 739-4715. FREE