Campus Tour December 6

Five Wednesdays at 10:00am:  Nov. 6, Dec 4,  Jan. 8, March 5, May 7

In reading history we learn about events. In reading historical fiction we learn how people lived through them: How they were affected, what they thought and felt. In this study group we will read four books. The first will be Table for Two by Amor Towles. Because of the broad interest in this beloved author’s latest book – and because it comprises six short stories and one novella – we will spend the first two meetings (Nov. 6 and Dec 4) – each 1.5 hours – discussing the book. During the first meeting we will also vote on the three other books we will read. These remaining meetings will each be one hour.

UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

Led by: Rita Stulin

Starting up again this fall is the BNC Banned Book study group.  Join us virtually every month for

a discussion of a book chosen from the challenged book list.  BNC President Merle Carrus, P’12, has picked a variety of books and will lead the monthly book discussion. Your one-time registration will sign you up for monthly discussions beginning in October.  Sign up online for the year of reading banned books.

 NOTE: THIS GROUP IS FROM THE BNC ONLINE CHAPTER. Use the link below to register.

THE STUDY GROUPS BELOW ARE OPEN TO CURRENT MEMBERS.  NEW MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO ONE FREE STUDY GROUP (DOES NOT APPLY TO CANASTA OR MAH JONGG).

COST IS $20 FOR ONE GROUP; $36 FOR TWO OR MORE GROUPS.  NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE THROUGH THE YEAR EXCEPT FOR CANASTA AND MAH JONGG.  

ALL CHECKS MADE PAYABLE TO: BNC GREATER BOSTON

NOTE: THE BNC ONLINE CHAPTER IS SEPARATE. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND THE PRICE TO JOIN.

Thursdays 1:00-4:00pm beginning Sept. 12

Calling all Mah Jongg players - new and experienced. Come play for the afternoon, or beginners can learn Mah Jongg. We will teach you the basics of the game, help you with strategy, then be available for questions as you continue playing. Cost for this group is $50 from September to January. 

UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

Led by Karen Rubin and Robin Shecter

1st Thursday each moth begins Nov. 7 11:00am

Over twenty-five years before his ascension to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis first made a national reputation by making the first attempt to spell out a legal “right to privacy.” Courts have been struggling ever since with the task of defining how far our rights to privacy go.

This study group is intended to allow us to discuss our own attempts to decide what the boundaries of the privacy right ought to be. Each of the six case studies is based upon an actual dispute, and each boasts the kind of fact pattern that we hope will be interesting and provocative enough to encourage careful thinking and robust debate. 

UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

Led by Merle Carrus

Canasta Play and Instruction

Mondays 1:00 - 4:00  Begins September 9

Please join us on Monday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 for open play and instruction. We will place experienced players in groups and introduce new players to the rules and strategy of the game. Invite your friends to join us. 

UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

$50 Sept - Jan

Led by Leslie Pearlstein and Audree Dyson

 3rd Wednesday each month  11:00AM  Begins September 18

Attention all mystery detective readers... We are gearing up for another year of unraveling the mysterious circumstances hidden in mystery novels both new and old. Come join our group of intrepid puzzle solvers as we decipher the clues and uncover the whodunits. Don’t miss out on our first book of the year for an unusual start....America’s first great organized crime lord was a lady—a nice Jewish mother named Mrs. Mandelbaum. The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss by Margalit Fox

UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

(occasionally on Zoom)

Led by Merle Carrus

4th Wednesday each month 10:30am  Begins September 25

Each month, a member of the group chooses a story and leads the discussion. We will continue using Here I Am, Contemporary Jewish Stories from Around the World Edited by Marsha Lee Berkman and Elaine Marcus Starkman. This year we will add Frankly Feminist, Short Stories by Jewish Women from Lilith Magazine Edited by Susan Weidman Schneider and Yona Zeldis McDonough. Both are available on Amazon.

We will begin meeting on Zoom, then decide whether to meet in person. 

Once registered, you will be notified of the first story to read.

Led by Audree Dyson

1st Tuesday each month - 10:30am  Begins October 1

Come join us for another season of great movies! They will be chosen from Netflix, Amazon

Prime, and On Demand, as well as movies currently in the theater. Discussions will remain on

Zoom. We will let you know the first movie in advance. Bring your own popcorn.

Led by: Marilyn Howard and Nancy Grodin

3rd Wednesday each month - 10:00 - 11:00am   Begins October 16

Join us for a chance to discuss the many issues of the day, be they local, national or international. Being an election year, there should certainly be much to talk about and we welcome all opinions. Please note the day change from the 2nd to the 3rd Wednesday of each month. We meet at Mt. Ida/UMass Campus in the dining hall.

Led by: Abby Raelin and Joie Feinberg

2nd Tuesday at 11 AM.  Begins October 8

Meets at Sylvia Goodman's home in Newton.

Each month we will discuss a fiction story from the New Yorker.  Come join the discussion even if you don't have a subscription!  The New Yorker is available in your library and most stories can be found online as well.  You will be notified of our first story a few weeks before the first meeting..  Feel free to contact Sylvia with any questions. 

Led by: Sylvia Goodman

Two Sessions Thursdays December 12th and 19th 11:00-12:15

Please join us as we learn about two important poets who are part of our culture.

Session 1 - Mary Oliver was an American poet who won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. She was inspired for her work by taking solitary walks in the wild and in 2007 was declared the country’s best selling poet.

Session 2 - Kahlil Gibran was a Lebanese American writer, poet and artist. He was also considered a philosopher. His most famous work “The Prophet” has been translated into 100 languages. We will discuss many excerpts from the book in our discussion. 

Meets on Zoom.

Led by: Ruth Bender