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Free online talk: The Marital Knot, Agunot in the Ashkenazi Realm

Wednesday, May 14, 12:30 pm ET | Online


Sandra Seltzer Silberman HBI Conversations Series Featuring Noa Shashar, author of The Marital Knot, Agunot in the Ashkenazi Realm, 1648-1850


Learn about Jewish family life during 1648-1850, in particular the agunot, literally “chained women.” Speaker: Dr. Noa Shashar, author of "The Marital Knot" (Brandeis University Press). Sponsored by the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry at Brandeis University.


REGISTER HERE 

Social event: mindfulness training

Mindfulness Training with Kelly Weisberg

Section 1: Sundays, April 27-June 15, 2025


9:30 AM - noon EDT on Zoom

$18 for BNC members


Section 2: Tuesdays, April 29-June 24, 2025. No class on June 3


9:30 AM - noon EDT on Zoom

$18 for BNC members


After teaching a popular Online Chapter class in 2024, mindfulness instructor Kelly Weisberg (BNC, Brandeis '71, PhD '76) returns with an extended series of weekly classes just for BNC members.


Mindfulness, the practice of focusing on moment-to-moment experience without self-criticism and with acceptance, teaches us techniques for stress management. Participants are guided through formal mindfulness practices, small group discussion and talks, and practices and exercises. Enrollment is limited to 12 people per class.


Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs typically cost from $395 to $725, depending on the provider. Thanks to Kelly’s generosity, this series of classes is only $18 to BNC members. The registration fee is a donation to the BNC Professorship in Engineering Science.


Register by credit card HERE.

STUDY GROUP REGISTRATION:

PLEASE CLICK ON THE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW, PRINT, FILL IT OUT WITH YOUR CHOICES, AND MAIL WITH YOUR CHECK MADE OUT TO BNC TO THE ADDRESS NOTED ON THE FORM.

BOS BNC STUDY GROUP REGISTRATION FORM (pdf)Download

Greater Boston Chapter BNC Study Groups

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.  


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.

*New* Knitting with a Cause

Every other Thursday 10:00-11:30am - rotating houses


Learn to knit or come to enjoy knitting with others. Knitting in a group is a great way to make sure you finish your project. Learn from scratch to make lapghans and shawls for Senior Living or work on your own creation.


Facilitator: Audree Dyson

Join the Group

*New* Judge Louis Brandeis and the Legal Concept of Privacy

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

Canasta Play and Instruction

Mondays 1:00 - 4:00  


Join us on Monday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 for open play.  This summer session is for experienced players. Beginning in September we will once again welcome all levels of players and those who want to learn. 


Boston Elks Lodge

1 Morell St., West Roxbury 

$30 Summer Session: July 7 - Aug 18 (Experienced players only)

Please bring a check made out to BNC Greater Boston


Led by Leslie Pearlstein and Audree Dyson

Mystery Mavens

 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. 


UMass Dining Hall on the Mt Ida campus

100 Carlson Ave.

Newton 

(occasionally on Zoom)


Led by Merle Carrus

Jewish Short Stories

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

Filmsters Cinema Group

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

Current Events

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

New Yorker Magazine Discussion Group

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

Historical Fiction

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

BNC - Online Chapter: Banned Books

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.

Join Now

ART ADVENTURES REGISTRATION:

Please CLICK ON THE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW, PRINT IT OUT, COMPLETE WITH YOUR CHOICES, AND MAIL YOUR CHECK  MADE OUT TO BNC TO THE ADDRESS NOTED ON THE FORM. 

Art Adventures Reservation Form (docx)Download

upcoming art adventures:

Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens Beverly

Friday June 6 at 11AM


Come and enjoy a tour of Long Hill Mansion and Sedgwick Gardens in Beverly. The tour covers the beautiful Federal style home built by the Atlantic Monthly editor and publisher Ellery Sedgwick in 1916, and the spacious gardens that surround it. The gardens were designed by Ellery's wife, Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, author of the authoritative gardening manual "The Garden Month by Month."


The tour lasts approximately one hour and takes place both indoors and outdoors, sometimes on uneven terrain.  Group size is limited to maximum of 20 people.


Members: $25 Non-members: $35

RSVP

Alumni College Online

Brandeis alumni, friends, and family are welcome to explore timely topics with Brandeis faculty, distinguished alumni speakers and experts in their field. 

Virtual programs via Zoom.

Learn More

Book Fund Tribute Cards

Book Fund/Tribute Cards are the perfect way to send greetings, condolences, or to honor someone for a special milestone or accomplishment.


To order a Book Fund Card, Tribute Card or Learned Research Journal click the link below.

Buy Book fund cards

community service projects

Home Goods Collection

Each spring, we organize a collection for Welcome Home, a nonprofit agency which distributes home goods to families in need. In the past, we have donated linen closet items and

glassware. This spring we dropped off many bags of new or gently used towels.  In the fall, Welcome Home will let us know what they need and we'll let you know!

Knitting for a Cause

Calling all knitters and crocheters. Please continue to make shawls and lapghans to be donated to elder residents of Hebrew Senior Life in Roslindale, Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham and Orchard Cove in Canton. Save your creations for the fall collection.



I have a question about knitting

Ongoing Book Drive Collection

Please store away any books you're willing to pass along to More Than Words, a non-profit social enterprise program that empowers troubled young adults to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a book-selling business. For more information on More Than Words click on the link.


Acceptable to Donate: gently-used hardcover books and paperbacks, any subject including foreign language; textbooks no older than 10 years (may be underlined); CDs and DVDs in original cases; records; video games. 


Not Acceptable: textbooks older than 10 years, encyclopedias, magazine/journals, audio cassettes, VHS tapes. 


Our next drive collection will be announced soon. 

I have books to donate

We'd love to hear from you.

We're always looking for new, stimulating ideas to add to our schedule. If you have an idea for an activity or event please let us know!

I have an idea

BNC Greater Boston Chapter

415 South Street Waltham, MA 02453

Copyright © 2025 BNC Greater Boston Chapter - All Rights Reserved.

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