WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18

Worcester – Celebrate a Sweet New Year – 5780! — with the Jewish Healthcare Center Auxiliary, with luncheon, raffles, sweets and ice cream bar; 12 noon, at Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive; RSVP: by Sept. 9, (508) 798-8653, ext. 2140; $50

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19

Longmeadow — JGS Lifecare Dinner and Discussion on “Caring for Someone with Alzheimer’s Disease,” with expert panel Dr. Stuart Anfang; Heather Jagodowski of Alzheimer’s Association of Western Mass.; Madeline Presz,  Spectrum Home Health & Hospice; and Darlene Francis, Ruth’s House, 5-7 p.m., Gloth Auditorium, Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home, 770 Converse St., FREE & open to the public; Register: Lori Payson at (413) 567-6212, ext. 3105.

Springfield – Author Leslea Newman speaks on her book Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story and about writing, a program of JFS of Western Mass., 2-4 p.m., light refreshments served, JFS Community Room, 1160 Dickinson St., Free and open to the public

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

Great Barrington – Knosh & Knowledge program with Helene Berger, author of the memoir, “Choosing Joy: Alzheimer’s A Book of Hope,” 10:45 a.m.,  at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road,  (a program of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires), followed by catered lunch. Prepaid lunch reservations required in advance:  Email federation@jewishberkshires.org, or call (413) 442-4360, ext. 10, to RSVP.

Springfield – Temple Beth El Tot Shabbat Service and Dinner for families with children 5 and younger, dinner at 5:15 p.m., and service filled with song, prayer, dance and stories from 6-6:30 p.m., 979 Dickinson St., RSVP: sklc@tbespringfield.org FREE

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. *Every Friday morning

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, SEPT. 21

Holyoke – Selichot at Congregation Sons of Zion, with meet and greet at 8:30 p.m., and service at 9 p.m., 378 Maple St., (use Cabot Street entrance), (413) 534-3369.

Springfield – Selichot at Temple Beth El, with 7:30 p.m. dessert reception, Havdalah, and at 8 p.m., a discussion of Simon Wiesenthal’s book, The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness, 979 Dickinson St.,

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22

Great Barrington – “The Road to Ready: Getting in Gear for the New Year,” two sessions with Rabbi Barbara Cohen exploring the liturgy, themes and spiritual entrances to experiencing the High Holidays, and practicing the melodies and texts of the High Holidays to make them more accessible, 7 p.m., 10 a.m., Congregation Ahavath Sholom, 15 North St., (413) 528-4197 or casoffice15@gmail.com; 

Worcester – Rosh Hashana Farmers Market; hands-on experience learning new recipes and techniques, 2:30-4 p.m., Central Mass Chabad, 22 Newton Ave., RSVP: (508) 579-1852. Open to all Jewish families

SUNDAY, SEPT. 29

Worcester – Annual Jewish Federation YAD (Young Adult Division) First Night Holiday Dinner, 6:30 p.m., RSVP: mhall@jfcm.org

MONDAY, SEPT. 30

Worcester – Annual Jewish Federation YAD (Young Adult Division) Second Night Holiday Dinner, 6:30 p.m., RSVP: mhall@jfcm.org

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2

Springfield – Life Lessons: “Recovery & Resilience,” Boston Marathon survivor Amy O’Neill will talk about overcoming perceived adversity, reducing stress and thriving in the workplace or in life, and will share her own journey through the 4 R’s (redefine, reconstruct, rebuild and re-emerge) as a marathon survivor and how they work for any moment in life when you face an identity crisis due to change, 7 p.m., Mills Theatre, Carr Hall at Bay Path University; Register: (413) 739-4715 or bnadler@springfieldjcc.org

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

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: Nov. 1, Dec. 6.

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

Amherst – Literatour Book Festival: Sue Macy, author of The Book Rescuer: How a Mensch from Massachusetts Saved Yiddish Literature for Generations, 2 p.m., Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West St., Register: arts@springfieldjcc.org or (413) 739-4715, ext. 308. FREE

MONDAY, OCT. 7

Pittsfield – “The Public Health Crisis of Gun Violence in America and How You Can Help Save Lives,” with Jonathan Perloe,  director of Programs and Communications at CT Against Gun Violence; 10:45 a.m., Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Road, in Pittsfield;  part of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshire’s Connecting With Community series; (413) 442-4360, ext. 10. The program precedes a kosher lunch at noon ($2 suggested donation for adults over 60 years of age, $7 for all others). Advance reservations required for lunch and can be made by calling (413) 442-2200 before 9 a.m. on the day of the program.

SUNDAY, OCT. 13

Holyoke – Decorate the Sons of Zion sukkah at 4 p.m., followed by Sukkot Potluck in the sukkah (dairy and pareve), more info: (413) 534-3369

Springfield – “A Match Made in Heaven: Uncovering A Jewish Immigrant’s Love Story,” a Western Massachusetts Jewish Genealogical Society (WMJGS) program with Keren Weiner, 1 p.m., WMJGS’s annual business meeting at 3 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St.; Pre-register: (413) 739-4715; Open to members and non-members

WEDNESDAY, OCT 16

Longmeadow -LYA Presents Pizza in LYA’s Hut; pizza, soup and salad supper served in the LYA Sukkah followed by Sukkot activities, 5:30 p.m., 1148 Converse St., Reservations: (413) 567-8665 or
info@lya.org. $6/per child; $9/adult; $34/family rate, no charge for Sukkot activities (proceeds will benefit LYA Israel
Experience 2021)

Springfield – Author and Longmeadow native Andrew Lam discusses his new book, Repentance, 7 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., Register: (413) 739-4715 or bnadler@springfieldjcc.org

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

Springfield – “Back in Balance,” one-hour session with static and dynamic balance exercises, focusing on practicing neutral spine position to improve posture, led by Kelly Perla, J’s Group Exercise Coordinator and a Personal Trainer, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., at Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., Register: (413) 739-4715 or bnadler@springfieldjcc.org; FREE for JCC members; $10/general public

SUNDAY, OCT. 20

Springfield – Opening reception of the Sadie & Eli Gurvitch Memorial Art Exhibit, held each fall for adults 50-plus in Pioneer Valley, 2-3:30 p.m., (to submit art contact arts@springfieldjcc.org) at Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St.; Exhibit runs Oct. 20-Nov. 15.

MONDAY, OCT. 21

Holyoke – Simchat Torah Potluck at Sons of Zion, 5:30 p.m., service at 6:15 p.m., followed by ice cream provided by SOZ, 378 Maple St., (use Cabot Street entrance), more info: (413) 534-3369

Springfield – Literatour Book Festival: Karen Zilberstein author of Parents Under Pressure: Struggling to Raise Children in an Unequal America, 7 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., Register: arts@springfieldjcc.org or (413) 739-4715, ext. 308. FREE

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

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.

THURSDAY, NOV. 7

Springfield – Literatour Book Festival: Karen Treiger, author of My Soul Is Filled with Joy: A Holocaust Story, 7 p.m., Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson St., Register: arts@springfieldjcc.org or (413) 739-4715, ext. 308; FREE for JCC and TBE members; $7/general public

SUNDAY, NOV. 10

Springfield – “DAVE-A-PALOOZA!” an event honoring Dave Ratner, with hors d’oevres, drinks, music and comedy, 4-6 p.m., Beth El Temple, 979 Dickinson St.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13

Springfield – Life Lessons “Less is More: Using KonMari to Clear Your Home and Mind,” Stephanie Baird will discuss her year-long process of decluttering while using the KonMari method as outlined in the bestselling book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, 7 p.m., Springfield JCC, 1160 Dickinson St., Register: (413) 739-4715 or bnadler@springfieldjcc.org; FREE for JCC members and Bay Path students and faculty; $10/general public

SATURDAY, NOV. 16

Worcester – Torathon, the 31st community-wide adult learning event, with 25 classes on the theme, “Jewish Heroes in Our Lives,” over three hours led by area rabbis, cantors, educators and community leaders, at Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive; jewishcentralmass.org/torathon.

TUESDAY, NOV. 19

Springfield – Temple Beth El and Greater Springfield Chapter of Hadassah Israel Film Series, screening of “Senior Moments,” 7 p.m., at TBE, 979 Dickinson St., $5/ donation; open to the public