Wednesdays, 3/6, 4/3, 5/1, 6/5 10:00 a.m.

Mustang: In this Oscar film set in a village in northern Turkey, Lale and her four sisters are walking home from school, playing innocently with some boys. The immorality of their play sets off a scandal that has unexpected consequences. The family home is progressively transformed into a prison; instruction in homemaking replaces school, and marriages start being arranged. Sharing a passion for freedom, the sisters find ways of getting around the constraints imposed on them. Drama; Rated PG-13; Running time 97 minutes; Released in 2015; Turkish with English subtitles

La Strada: This Fellini film tells the sad story of a naïve young woman bought from her mother by a brutish strongman, who takes her with him on the road. Drama; Not rated; Running time 108 minutes; Released in 1954; Italian with English subtitles

Departures: An unemployed cellist takes on a new career performing the ceremonial “encoffination” of corpses prior to cremation. A story of love, discovery, revelation and the transcendent human spirit, “Departures” will linger in your heart and mind long after viewing. Comedy, Adventure and Drama; Rated PG-13; Running Time 130 minutes; Released in 2008; Japanese with English Subtitles

In A Better World: A doctor travels frequently between Denmark and a refugee camp in Africa. He and his wife are experiencing marital strife, and their son is bullied. When a new boy moves to town, it provides solace for father and son, until the story takes a turn for the worse. Thriller/Drama; Rated R; Running Time 119 minutes; Released in 2010; Danish with English Subtitles

Thursdays, May 2, 9, 23 and 30
10:30 a.m. to noon
$48/$60

Course Description: Watch four Broadway Supermusicals as they are brought to life in front of you. Learn how the stories of Fiddler, Chicago, Les Miserables and Phantom came to fruition! Be edutained! Feel like you are on Broadway while in this class! Learn about the composers, authors, choreographers and more!

Facilitator: Ellen Katz is a former children’s vocal music teacher. Her audience now consists of adults up and down the East Coast. She provides extremely lively and interactive programs. Her love of music is contagious.

Thursdays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27
10:30 a.m. to noon
$48 for members/$60 for non-members

Course Description: The Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh last October was the most tragic antisemitic incident in American Jewish history. This course will put this incident into its proper social, cultural and historical context. In each of the 4 sessions, we'll explore a different chapter of the American Jewish experience. We will evaluate events in the light of historical precedent, and ask how the past helps to illuminate our current situation in 2019.

Facilitator
Valerie Thaler is the Temple Administrator at Har Sinai Congregation. She earned a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Yale University, and an MA in Jewish Studies and Jewish Communal Service/Education from Brandeis. Prior to coming to Har Sinai, she taught Jewish history courses at Baltimore Hebrew University, Towson University and Beth Tfiloh High School. Dr. Thaler is also the recipient of a Wexner Graduate Fellowship in Jewish Education.

Image credit: European Parliament Working Group on Antisemitism, https://ep-wgas.eu/2018/05/09/anti-semitism-still-alive/

Tuesdays, July 9, 16, 23 and 30
10:30 a.m. to noon

Course Description: Let’s explore Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, Billy the Kid, Rodeo and Appalachian Spring, Candide and West Side Story to see how these three musical geniuses blended popular music from various cultures into something uniquely American!

Facilitator: Jonathan Palevsky, B.M., M.M., is Program Director of WBJC FM, Baltimore’s Classical Music Station. His undergraduate studies focused on Musicology and his graduate studies on classical guitar performance. He is a radio show host and a lecturer and also hosts Cinema Sundays at The Charles Theater.

Tuesdays, August 6, 13, 20 and 27
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Course Description: Explore the deep ideological divisions among Democratic presidential candidates; the state of the Republican party and its titular leader; the first rounds of Democratic presidential debates this summer; Trump’s ongoing efforts to govern without Congress, and what lies ahead as America votes next year for President.

Facilitator: Since 1971, Barry Rascovar has been a reporter and commentator on local and national politics and government, first for the Baltimore Sun, then The Gazette of Politics and Business (owned by The Washington Post) and The Community Times (published by The Carroll County Times). He has previously taught SPICE courses entitled “The Election,” “Living in a Trump World” and “Trump: One Year Later.”

Wednesdays, 8/7; 9/4; 10/2 and 11/6 10:00 a.m.

Intouchables: This award-winning film is about a rich, white Parisian quadriplegic who hires a black ex-con as his live-in assistant. Loosely based on a true story, the story follows how a paralyzed aristocrat gives a down-and-out petty criminal a chance to be his health aide. At first, the aide is skeptical and disgusted by some of his responsibilities, but soon enough the two men come to understand, respect and help each other. Comedy-drama; Rated R; Running time 112 minutes; Released in 2011; French with English subtitles

Terraferma: This film is set on a small and humble fishing island. A generation gap exists because the elders tend to live in the past, and the younger people must examine their own priorities. The growth of a small Sicilian island will depend on the bridging of their gaps. This film leads the refugees on a path that requires perseverance. Drama; Rated R; Running time 88 minutes; Released in 2011; Italian with English subtitles

Nosostros Los Nobles: Construction mogul Herman Noble stumbles upon his children's credit card statements. One son neglects the family business in exchange for his own ridiculous business ideas. A daughter gets engaged to a 40-year-old gigolo to spite her father. The youngest son was expelled from college after having sex with the teacher. Herman decides to teach his children a lesson. Comedy; Rated PG-13; Running Time 108 minutes; Released in 2013; Spanish with English Subtitles
Road to Your Heart: Basson has five days to make it to his father's funeral in Cape Town, but needs to complete certain tasks on this trip before he can call the family company his own. On the road he meets a free-spirited bohemian girl, Amory, with whom he experiences highs and lows until their journey meets a surprising end. Romance/Adventure; Not Rated; Running Time 112 minutes; Released in 2014; Afrikaans with English Subtitles

Thursdays, September 5, 12, 19 and 26
10:30 a.m. to noon

Course Description: Sacred to Jews and Christians, The Hebrew Bible is viewed by Orthodox Jews and fundamentalist Christians as the word of God and therefore, factual and true. Liberal believers see the Bible as a collection of ancient Hebrew literature. This course will examine the Bible in light of modern scholarship, as well as the people and the historical events which might have influenced it.

Facilitator: Floyd L. Herman is the Rabbi Emeritus of Har Sinai Congregation, which he has served for more than 35 years. He continues his involvement in the Congregation and in the community. He also enjoys golf and food. Rabbi Herman has taught before in our SPICE program on several occasions.

Tuesday, September 24 depart 8:00 a.m./return 5:30 p.m.

Spend the day with us at Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Washington, D.C. We will travel via Superior Tours coach bus, leaving from the upper parking lot at Har Sinai Congregation at 8:00 a.m. sharp (please plan to arrive at 7:45 a.m.) We will serve a light snack on the ride down and on the ride home. The day will consist of tours of the estate and gardens as well as providing you with time on your own. Lunch will be provided in the on-site café. Your lunch order will be taken when you make your reservation for the trip.

Cost for Admission, Lunch and Round trip Transportation: $75 per person

Tuesdays, October 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Course Description: This course will explore those Jews who have proudly served and defended America. We will then learn about the Jewish influence on professional baseball. We will discuss the amazing Hall of Fame homerun hitter and Hall of Fame pitcher, as well as the catcher who was a spy.

Facilitator: Barry Steelman graduated from the Naval Academy and is a Vietnam veteran. After law school he clerked for the Chief Judge of Maryland’s Federal Court. He spent over thirty years as a trial attorney litigating complex civil cases. He taught law school and published in both the Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Memories and Dreams,” and the Naval Academy’s “Shipmate.” He is on the National Advisory Board of the American Veterans Center.

Tuesdays, November 5, 12, 19 and 26
10:30 a.m. to noon

Course Description: Watch as Ellen, our edu-tainer, tells the backstories of Hamilton (two sessions), Jersey Boys (one session) and Chicago (one session.) She will talk about their creation, their composers and their stars. In unique Power-Point presentations, she will enlighten us with video clips, and in costume, she will sing the songs from each musical and invite you to join in. What can be better? Don’t miss a note!

Facilitator: Ellen Katz is a former children’s vocal music teacher. Her audience now consists of adults up and down the East Coast. She provides extremely lively and interactive programs. Her love of music is contagious. Come and find out why!