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Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Boundary”
Where: In person When: January 6, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Composing in Italian, a language she began using later in life, and then translating her work into her native English, Jhumpa Lahiri gives us “The Boundary” a short story that invites us to engage with her later work. Portraying characters whose lives have been ruptured by violence, she draws us close to experiences which can seem distant and at the same time close to us.
Yucky Food
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 13, 20, 27, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
We all know the saying, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” Cultural norms, the availability of raw materials, and recent developments in manufactured meats affects what gets counted as food and what is considered to yucky to eat. Who-eats-what can differ from place to place for a variety of reasons. We’ll learn what neuroscience has to say about how our calculations of morality and the boundaries between mental categories affect whether we consider food acceptable or not.
The Historic Queens Neighborhood You Probably Never Heard Of
This historic Queens neighborhood you probably never heard of became home to Black jazz musicians with the help of the Supreme Court. Some musical selections from the artists will be included.
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 13, 20, 27, 1-2:15 p.m.
The Execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
This class will revisit a period in US history that has been described as one of its darkest times. The McCarthy Era aka, the communist witch hunts. Central to that period were Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were the only individuals executed for treason during that era. Time will not allow an in-dept chronicle of their lives that led up to their executions, but the instructor hopes to whet the appetites of attendees to further explore this quintessential New York story.
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 20, 27, 1-2:15 p.m.
Reading the New York Times Science Times
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 7-28, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Great things are happening in the world of science today. Read and bring the Tuesday NYTimes to class for our informative discussions about the latest breakthroughs.
Current Events Discussion Group
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 7-28, 12:30-2 p.m.
This group will enlist rotating facilitators for discussions of local, national, and international news. Come tell us what you think.
Crocheting and Knitting Group
Where: In person When: January 14, 28, 10:30am-Noon
Join us for a crocheting and knitting group for beginning and experienced levels. Those who are working on projects can bring them if they like. If you have any extra yarn and hooks or needles that you’d like to donate to the group, please bring that too. Novices with no experience who want to learn either or both skill are welcome. We hope to have a fun time together, learning and sharing skills.
Two Stories By Henry James
Where: In person When: January 8, 22, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Two Henry James stories will be discussed. “The Aspern Papers” explores themes of obsession and deception. The story follows an American editor who is fixated on uncovering the letters and of a deceased poet, Jeffrey Aspern. “The Birthplace” is a satire on the excesses of bardolatry and reflects Jame’s skepticism about the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays.
If you are interested in an e-book version of these stories, the Oxford World Classics edition of The Aspern Papers and Other Stories is recommended. It contains both stories plus notes for both works and excerpts from Jame’s notebooks and prefaces.
Hebrew Scriptures in Judaism and Christianity
Where: In person When: January 8-29, 12:45-2 p.m.
We will finish the course presented at Harvard University on the Hebrew Bible, essential to both Judaism and Christianity. In these last four segments, we get down to some core issues: Atonement and the true Israel. How are these key concepts interpreted differently in each religious tradition?
A Novella Idea
Where: In person When: January 15, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
We will discuss Their Eyes Were Watching God, a classic 1937 novel by Zora Neale Hurston. It tells the story of Janie Mae Crawford’s journey of self-discovery and independence in the 1930s American South. The novel is celebrated for its powerful portrayal of the African-American female experience and its unique incorporation of Black folk culture and dialect into its poetic narrative. Read this novella and we will discuss it together.
Celebrating Black Life, Culture, Resilience and Joy Part I: Pre-Colonial Africa
Where: Online (Zoom) When: January 9-30 (and continuing into February), 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Each session of this ongoing series explores selected topics led by various instructors. We open with a review of the rich tapestry of African history prior to European colonization, including the kingdoms of Ancient Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Songhai, and Great Zimbabwe. Special emphasis will be placed on trade networks, cultural practices, spiritual traditions, and governance structures that shaped the continent’s vibrant and diverse societies.
