Make Thursday the Night to be at the Mandell JCC - JCC Talks Begins February 6, 2014, 7:00pm

Connect with friends and engage in conversation at the Mandell JCC’s new JCC Talks on Thursday evenings. The series kicks-off Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 7:00pm-8:15pm at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. These programs are free and open to the public, and conclude with refreshments and a social hour. Participants will choose one of two different talks each week.

The series opens on February 6 with two cultural speaking events, Inside the Red Tent with Rabbi Debra Cantor of B’nai Tikvoh Sholom facilitating a women’s Rosh Hodesh Group, which explores texts and literature about remarkable women in the Bible, and is open to women of all faiths. The second is “What I Admire About Reform Judaism, and Why I am Still Orthodox” and “What I Admire About Orthodox Judaism, and Why I am Still Reform,” hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Adler of Beth David Synagogue and Rabbi Michael Pincus of Congregation Beth Israel.

The following Thursday, February 13, focuses on Political News & Views featuring Bob Newman, where a discussion regarding domestic and international news headlines will take place, or attend What You Should Know Before they Go… Sending Your Jewish Kid to College with Lisa Kassow, Hillel Director at Trinity College.

February 20 harkens social change with Making Our Voices Heard in Connecticut in which Bob Fishman, the Director of the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut and State Capitol Jewish Community representative, discusses current state issues and politics. Or catch a sneak peek of what’s coming at the 18th Annual Mandell JCC Hartford Jewish Film Festival with Lights, Camera, Action!

Get Inside Israel on February 27 with the Mandell JCC Director of Israel Programing, Raz Newman and the Jewish Federation Israeli Emissary Coordinator, Ronny Siegel, as they delve into Israeli culture, news and politics. Or get your Leonard Bernstein on at From the Shtetl to the Great White Way with Cantor Mark Perman of the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation – Emek Shalom, and discover the Jewish origins and influences of some of our greatest Broadway composers.

The Series continues every Thursday evening through June 2014. All events are free and open to the community. For more information on JCC Talks, contact Sharon Holtzberg, 860-231-6311, sholtzberg@mandelljcc.org. RSVP to events is suggested.

The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, and a member of the JCC Association of North America. For updates, visit www.mandelljcc.org, or follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook and Twitter. All dates and programs subject to change.