Courses Archive

Prior to our class, try to watch this documentary (1 hour, 55 minutes), directed by Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine (streamed on Netflix, Prime Video, and elsewhere).

AI will be doing more and more of the rational and linear thinking required in all fields. This releases us to be speculating and prototyping possibilities and creative solutions to complex problems. We will discuss a process for this and a way for collaborating with AI.

Adele Myers was a unique woman.  As a Sparkill Dominican she eventually found her calling as a teacher, advocate and administrator. She founded the Art Department at St. Thomas Aquinas College and created the Thorpe Intermedia Gallery whose unique exhibits were often reviewed by the NY Times. Adele was also a gifted artist.  Her work,…

In 1555, Titian painted a portrait of Venus, which caused a great scandal in its time. The brouhaha was NOT inspired by the graphic nudity of the goddess, but by the furs surrounding her form. Learn the true reason for this “Shande,” and then savor the many works of art and letters that continue to…

This is an examination of reading techniques and of seeing different ways of reading a line. Class members will have a chance to read aloud Marc Antony’s speech “O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth” from Julius Caesar and Romeo’s speech “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright” in Romeo and Juliet.  Click here…

Using short scenes from two plays, pairs of students will read aloud and interpret scenes from Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet.  Click here to download the scenes used in the class (PDF).

During WW II, an escape network operated in occupied France that returned down allied airmen to England. The network located the airmen and hid them from the Germans utilizing a series of safe-houses. Once a month – during dark of the moon – the men were transported to the Brittany coast and then to England.…

Steel factories and coal mines built company towns in the late 19th century to house their workers. The company owner controlled the schools, prohibited the sale of alcohol, and established a moral police force to keep records of the behavior of residents. Obedience to the boss was required. Residents shopped at the company store. Infractions of the rules…

For nearly 150 years, American women did not have the right to vote. On August 18, 1920, they won that right! But what happened before and has occurred after that date?

This class will cover how the Cold War started at the end of World War II and how the United States dealt with the Soviet Union. [Special Note: This class was scheduled to be the last of  Marty’s six-class course during the 2023 spring semester. It was not given due to illness. Those who enjoyed…

Andersen’s fairy tales are known and loved the world over, but they have eclipsed his output as novelist, playwright, poet, travel writer, and autobiographer. His work in each of these genres, and as a graphic artist, will be examined and discussed. To follow along (highly recommended), you may request texts in advance.  Forward your email address to…

In 1956, the distinguished bass-baritone, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson was summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). In spite of declining health and emotional vulnerability, he defended himself with eloquence and forthrightness. We will hear interviews and speeches in which Robeson expressed his political and ideological beliefs, as well as his…

This year is the 50th anniversary of Pablo Picasso’s death. There are many art exhibitions looking at his contributions from different points of view. Let’s look at Picasso’s art through the eight main women in his life: Fernande, Eva, Olga, Marie Therese, Dora, Francoise, Genevieve, and Jacqueline. He painted them all through his blue, rose, cubist, classical, and…

Your money should serve you and your goals, not the other way around. Travel, retirement, stability – your dreams are within reach. Then when it is time to leave what you have to your heirs, you are making it easy for them.

Should the Constitution be revamped? Is it a viable document? Has every President abided by constitutional law?

Reagan was the 40th President of the US. His early life as a lifeguard, Hollywood actor, head of the Screen Actors Guild, and political life will be covered with special attention given to his presidential years (1981-1989.)

An illustrated introduction to identifying and safely collecting wild mushrooms in Rockland County.

In this presentation, Vincent provides an overview of electric vehicles (EVs), including charging and range – two most common questions about them. We will also discuss his experience operating an EV as a daily local driver and on two long trips totaling over 4,000 miles. He will leave sufficient time for your questions at the…

This expressive arts session with Dr. Reji Mathew is an invitation to explore stillness, mindfulness, and reflection through the expressive arts. Dr. Mathew will guide students through an intermodal journey through movement, imagination, visual art, music, and writing to cultivate our capacity to be aware of all the possibilities of wellness available to us. SPECIAL…

In this presentation we will look at what AI can do today, explore its early development, and the also look at the major jumps that allowed it grow so powerful. A PowerPoint that includes images and a short video clip will help you to understand this amazing technology. With ChatGPT live on our viewing screen,…

We will discuss the five basic ways that assets pass upon our deaths. You will learn why how you own an asset is a crucial part of assembling a cost- and tax- efficient estate plan. We will discuss what assets should always pass by beneficiary designation (and never through your will or trust) as well as what probate…

This session will examine the roles played by Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Ford, and Franklin D. Roosevelt in the story of American anti-Semitism.

This is a hands-on writing workshop to experience ways to initiate the writing of a memoir. Simple exercises from Miller’s nationally known Write It Out® program provide methods to utilize feelings and memories to begin to write your story.

This is the year of the largest ever retrospective of Vermeer’s works to be held in The Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam. While seeing the exhibit in person is not possible, (it has been sold out for months,), the class will provide an overview of Vermeer’s life, milieu, and the astonishing paintings he produced that have captivated museum…

The 10,000 Year Clock is a project of an organization called The Longview. We will discuss the organization, the clock, and other projects that point to a brighter future. From this, you hopefully will be more confident about having informed hope for the future.

Many of the problems that we are now facing are caused by global warming. We will explore new and emerging technologies that could hopefully solve these problems. We will also look at breakthroughs in medical technologies, artificial intelligence, transportation, and, if time allows, look at some of the award-winning products from the Consumer Electronics Show…

The 19th century was a dramatic and exciting time in the history of Western Art. The work of the Romanticists, Realists, Impressionists, Post Impressionists and Symbolists all displayed a marked departure from tradition. This class will examine all of these movements and artists such as Courbet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and many others whose masterpieces…

This course will be a potpourri, featuring the short history of many diverse subjects such as the Empire State building, the Miss America contest, Lord Nelson’s brilliant strategy at the Battle of Trafalgar, the Maccabees, how famous products got their names, the Dutch tulip investment bubble, π (3.14159…), most popular first names for boys and…

The American standard of living was made possible by the ingenuity of risk takers who developed new products and manufacturing methods. Alexander Hamilton laid the foundation for the nation’s financial system. Samuel Slater engaged in “industrial espionage” and applying British textile technology to an American “factory system.” Entrepreneur Frederic Tudor – the “Ice King” became…

Get to know dance and musical theater professionals from the “Together in Dance” community (led by Executive Director Katie Palmer.) Some performers will be returning from last semester and some will be new. In this series, participants will be treated to a sample of all of the artists’ work in their respective métier and have…

American presidents have taken the nation into major conflicts. These were difficult times for the president who sent hundreds of thousands of American men and women to the warfront, facing possible death. We will explore how certain presidents were able to withstand the pressures of war while others were broken by them. NEW!

A Danish professor and an English farmer’s wife are brought together by a shared fascination with the Tollund Man, the subject of a famous poem by Seamus Heaney. Their letters to each other reveal how much they have in common, not only with each other, but also with us. Be sure to read the book…

In our effort to understand troubling current issues, we will explore several topics including political polarization, cancellation culture, climate change inaction, truth in politics, and meritocracy. Provocative ideas of political philosophers from Plato to Hannah Arendt will be shared. Thoughtful discourse of participants is anticipated. NEW!

Join us for a lively, informative and interactive presentation of six selected operas: Pearl Fishers, Rigoletto, Nabucco, Girl of the Golden West, Manon and Lescau. Featured are the signature arias as well as dramatizations of the libretto and an introduction to the composer, usually in costume. Much fun. Please join us. NEW!

We’ll watch a different film each week, in advance of the class, and then have a discussion of its subject matter, style, and significance. The movies will be a combination of contemporary and classic, and a great attempt will be made for you to get them easily by streaming or on DVDs from your library. NEW!

In the course we will look at works of James Joyce concentrating on The Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist and also taking a peek at Ulysses and Finnegan’s Wake. NEW!

In Part 1 of this Course, (given in Fall 2022,) we examined the history of the Constitutional Right of Privacy culminating in the June 2022 Dobb’s decision. In Part 2, we will examine the Second Amendment, First Amendment Freedom of Religion cases, Election Law cases and the Critical Area of Administrative Law cases (think, “Social…

This class is about how the United States changed in its struggle over wars, economic crises, and political upheavals since its beginnings. NEW!

We will discuss primary source informed reports on the positive developments in climate, environment, water, health, hunger, poverty, equity, literacy, and artificial intelligence. NEW!

This class will read from and discuss Far from the Madding Crowd (Penguin edition) and the development of “Wessex” as the landscape of Hardy’s novels. Hardy’s poems on complicated love, the defining landscape, and twisted fate will complement the reading of the novel. NEW!

This panorama of distinguished Black writers will include the voices of W. E. B. Du Bois, James Weldon Johnson, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn Brooks, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni in recorded interviews or reading from their works. In addition, Frederick Douglass, Richard Wright, and Lorraine Hansberry will be represented in recordings…

Let’s explore the lives, study the paintings, and learn about the time periods of Spanish artists from the Renaissance through modern times. We will study El Greco, Ribera, Velázquez, Murillo, Goya, Sorolla, Gaudí, Picasso, Dalí, and Miró. [This course was last given several years ago. Much new material.]

How can we better view, understand and assess visual art works? This class will endeavor to address five important questions basic to aesthetic inquiry: What is it that I see? Is it, in fact, art? What kind of art is it? How good is it? And what does it mean? [This class was last taught…

** This is an additional session of the Course 1.1.1Z ** We’ll watch a different film each week, in advance of the class, and then have a discussion of its subject matter, style, and significance. The movies will be a combination of contemporary and classic, and a great attempt will be made for you to get…

You have your legal documents – now what? As a parent and/or grandparent it is very important to get your estate documents done, but is that all you need to make sure your family is protected?

In advance of our meeting, watch the 2022 film Till, directed by Chinonye Chukwu. This movie is based on the true story of Mamie Till-Bradley, who pursued justice after the murder of her 14-year-old son Emmett in Mississippi in 1955. Till can be found on Amazon Prime Video. (Given twice.)

In this class we will discuss the major scientific achievements in 2022. Topics will include astronomy, space exploration, medicine, archaeology, biology, and more.

This chair-based yoga class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates yoga postures, gentle movement sequences, breath work, and guided meditation, all of which focus on bringing an increased sense of mindful awareness. Research demonstrates that mindful practice of breath and body are effective in managing stress and quieting the nervous…

Join this class to share the music of your youth as each of our three instructors explains the impact on the emotions from the music, the lyrics, and the dances. We’ll also look at how the news of each era and how the increasing accessibility of music impacted ours and your music: Were you into…

The lifelong friendship of two men is threatened by their passion for the same woman. The signature aria, “Au Fond  Du Temple,” alone is worth the price of admission, say the critics.

With the development of sound recording and broadcast technologies starting in 1877 and 1916, respectively, it became possible to preserve audible historical events and speeches for contemporary listeners and for posterity. We will listen to a variety of noteworthy twentieth-century speeches, including King Edward VIII’s Abdication Speech (1936), FDR’s Declaration of War (1941), Douglas McArthur’s Address…

The Ziegfeld Follies ran from 1907 to 1931. Florenz Ziegfeld glorified the American Girl and made her a symbol of the modern independent woman. He was instrumental in bringing women to the center of society.

Part 1 of this course includes a presentation on exactly what’s happening with climate change so far, and what steps NY State has taken to address/mitigate it by reducing our carbon emissions. Part 2 describes the many ways that we can take action, individually and collectively, to reduce our carbon emissions, using some local examples, with…

The term “surrealism,” coined by the French writer Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917, was eventually applied to the movement that encompassed visual arts, literature, theatre, film, photography, and music. We will hear the movement’s leader, André Breton, author of the 1924 surrealist manifesto, and other important figures of surrealism, including the artists Salvador Dali and Man Ray,…

Since 1937, there have been fifty-four American Poet Laureates. We will look at four of them, two in each Part and discuss what each has contributed to the appreciation of poetry in the United States. For Part 1, we will discuss Robert Hayden and Louise Gluck. For Part 2, we will discuss Robert Pinsky and…

Join this class to share the music of your youth as each of our three instructors explains the impact on the emotions from the music, the lyrics, and the dances. We’ll also look at how the news of each era and how the increasing accessibility of music impacted ours and your music: Were you into…

Audrey Hepburn was a major cultural icon in film and fashion and became a special ambassador for UNICEF. She was the most acclaimed young ballerina in the Netherlands. Severe malnutrition during WWII stunted her growth and made it impossible for her to pursue ballet. So Audrey turned to acting. She became the lady women have emulated for over half a…

Revocable Living Trusts can be an essential estate planning tool, but they aren’t necessary for everyone (despite the flyers in your mail telling you otherwise). We will explore what a revocable trust actually is and what a trust can – and can’t – do. We will discuss situations when not having a trust could be…

Orlando and Patricia will play selections from their recent recording Beatles in Bassa and will discuss making it within the context of a Q&A session. The following is taken from one of many enthusiastic reviews: “More than anything else it is the sheer ingenuity of the invention that is packed into each song that will…

Learn to Breathe!? This chair-based breathwork class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates gentle yoga sequences to prepare the body to dive deep into mindful, healthy breathing, and will include guided breathwork techniques and meditation. It is great for managing stress and quieting the nervous system. No experience is necessary.

The biblical period was the time of a (very) male-dominated society but a surprising number of women managed to make their mark, anyway. We will examine the parts played by several dozen biblical women – from Eve to Mary Magdalene. This class will be a combination of history, theology, sexuality, and feminism. Who can resist?…

Both Israelis and Palestinians have a profound connection to the whole of the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River; both consider the whole their homeland. But both one-state and two-state solutions are highly problematic. In this session, we will explore “confederation” as a third way to end a century of bloodshed, giving…

Let us look at the lives and art of these two African-American artists whose works have been the subject of much attention lately. Kehinde Wiley was born in L.A., earned a MFA from Yale and established himself as a painter in New York. He did not see black people represented in museums in a positive light, so he…

The Mirror is a compelling archetype that threads its way through the arc of classical and contemporary literature, and even hides between the pages of the Hebrew Bible. The Looking Glass also sets the foundation for a rich meditation on the subject of Beauty itself. It poses a scintillating question: Is gazing in a mirror…

The biblical period was the time of a (very) male-dominated society but a surprising number of women managed to make their mark, anyway. We will examine the parts played by several dozen biblical women – from Eve to Mary Magdalene. This class will be a combination of history, theology, sexuality, and feminism. Who can resist?…

This talk coincides with the excellent exhibit currently at the Whitney Museum: Edward Hopper’s New York. Suzanne will discuss Hopper’s unique perspective on the isolation and loneliness of urban life, his study of the effects of natural and artificial light, and his fascination with architecture. And, of course, his Rockland County connection!

The female pilots of World War II (WASP) flew jets and sometimes new planes the men avoided. They ferried aircraft from the factory to airbases to free male pilots for combat. They endured discrimination and were paid less than men for the same job. The Women Air Force Service Pilots had no military standing and…

Part 1 of this course includes a presentation on exactly what’s happening with climate change so far, and what steps NY State has taken to address/mitigate it by reducing our carbon emissions. Part 2 describes the many ways that we can take action, individually and collectively, to reduce our carbon emissions, using some local examples, with…

This is a hands-on writing workshop to experience ways to initiate the writing of a memoir. Exercises from the nationally known Write It Out® program provide methods to utilize feelings and memories to write your story.

So why is this course different from all other courses about Seders? Because it’s a Feminine Re-imagining of the Seder. Our effort to imagine and create Seders that can reawaken some of the sacred aspects of this ancient ritual that for many women have been lost. Here we look at the story with women taking…

This opera shows how a vindictive queen is transformed by an unexpected love. Comedy, drama, revenge, and redemption – all in one opera. The signature piece is “Nessun Dorma” sung by Marcello Giordano.

Join Dr. Sophia Patrikis, Clinical Audiologist with Hudson Valley Audiology, to discuss the different paths to better hearing. From the recent over-the-counter hearing aid law to complete hearing healthcare with an audiologist, she will dive into the dos and don’ts of seeking care for your auditory system.

The Mirror is a compelling archetype that threads its way through the arc of classical and contemporary literature, and even hides between the pages of the Hebrew Bible. The Looking Glass also sets the foundation for a rich meditation on the subject of Beauty itself. It poses a scintillating question: Is gazing in a mirror…

In 1952, Marianne Roney and Barbara Cohen founded Caedmon Records, one of the first commercial labels to specialize exclusively in recordings of literature, including poetry. Over several decades, noted contemporary poets recorded for Caedmon, which also issued historical recordings from earlier years which had received only limited circulation or had never been issued commercially. From the extensive…

For millennia, people have practiced quiet contemplation to slow their busy minds, to introduce calm, and to enhance their appreciation of things as they are. And now the many health benefits of meditation have been measured and proven. A regular meditation practice can help reduce stress and improve stress-related health conditions, promote mental and emotional…

Since 1937, there have been fifty-four American Poet Laureates. We will look at four of them, two in each Part and discuss what each has contributed to the appreciation of poetry in the United States. For Part 1, we will discuss Robert Hayden and Louise Gluck. For Part 2, we will discuss Robert Pinsky and…

Jerome Kern concluded that Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American music. During Berlin’s career he published an estimated 1500 songs. Marty will discuss how this immigrant boy from Russia became the classic ragtime to riches story.

Join this class to share the music of your youth as each of our three instructors explains the impact on the emotions from the music, the lyrics, and the dances. We’ll also look at how the news of each era and how the increasing accessibility of music impacted ours and your music: Were you into…

For millennia, people have practiced quiet contemplation to slow their busy minds, to introduce calm, and to enhance their appreciation of things as they are. And now the many health benefits of meditation have been measured and proven. A regular meditation practice can help reduce stress and improve stress-related health conditions, promote mental and emotional…

In advance of our meeting, watch the 2022 film Till, directed by Chinonye Chukwu. This movie is based on the true story of Mamie Till-Bradley, who pursued justice after the murder of her 14-year-old son Emmett in Mississippi in 1955. Till can be found on Amazon Prime Video. (Given twice.)

Are you a good listener? Do you like to share your thoughts and opinions? Do you wish someone else would just do the talking for you? Understanding your communication style and how to be a more effective participant can make family gatherings, social interactions, and visits with friends more enjoyable. This interactive course will use a…

Hamilton premiered at the White House in 2009 with Lin-Manuel Miranda performing the opening number during the early days of the Obama Presidency. Seven years later, after becoming a smash Broadway hit, the cast performed again at the White House for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama. Music includes Alexander Hamilton and The Schuyler…

Michael Nevins has recently completed a short documentary video assisted by several Rockland County collaborators. The subject is a poem written after World War II by a Polish poet illustrated by Marc Chagall. The video is scheduled to be shown at venues in this country and Europe. Dr. Nevins will discuss the backstory of the project…

Everyone knows that New York City is home to many of the greatest paintings in the world – but what are the best of the best? This (opinionated) lecture takes you on a visual journey through many museums and other venues to see the paintings most experts consider to be among the finest works of art…

Kenneth Bé will talk about the New-York Historical Society – the first museum founded in New York City in 1804. He will focus on his role as the museum’s conservator and his many activities behind the scenes.

Which inventive American artists of the late 20th century turned the art world around with their innovative approaches to painting through photographs, collages, grids, print making and paper making? We will look at their lives, art styles, and contributions to the movements.

Rigoletto is a Verdian masterpiece that tells the tragic story of a licentious duke and his hunchbacked jester, Rigoletto. We will hear the signature arias and learn about Verdi’s background and his battle with the censors before Rigoletto was approved for performance. Come share this opera experience with us.

Out of 117 Nobel Prize Laureates in Literature, only 16 have been women, and only 3 were poets – one of whom was Wislawa Szymborska, a Polish poet who won the prize in 1996. Her poems in translation speak powerfully to us today. There will be two classes of her poetry. (See class 2.2.3.) In…

This chair-based yoga class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates yoga postures, gentle movement sequences, breath work, and guided meditation, all of which focus on bringing an increased sense of mindful awareness. Research demonstrates that mindful practice of breath and body are effective in managing stress and quieting the nervous…

Through interactive group sharing, we will experience the inspirational and healing power of poetry! (Part I, given in a prior semester, is not a requirement.)

Judeo-Christian faith communities depend upon psalms, from the Biblical book of that name, for poetic appreciation of God’s created world. Are psalms flexible and eternal enough to educate us about the present environmental crisis? Can psalms serve as a compass that orients us in our own time?

We have a special activity this semester called “An Artist’s Journey”. Each Tuesday morning, a different accomplished artist will talk about and show her artwork. She will elaborate on how she negotiated a career, family life, and her changing interests in various media. Each artist will share how her talent displayed itself in her early…

You don’t need to be rich to include a charitable gift in your estate plan. We will explore different ways you can support your favorite charity or causes during your lifetime and after your death. We will discuss ways to make gifts (even some that don’t incur any legal fees!) and learn how some charitable gifts can…

The Sumerians of ancient Iraq, who were lost to history until modern times, created an astounding civilization. They revolutionized agriculture, science and technology, governmental organization, warfare and just about every other aspect of civilization way back as far as 7,500 years ago. Echoes of Sumerian religion reverberate throughout the opening chapters of the Biblical book…

The United States is being challenged now by a rising China in all aspects of world leadership. Is China destined to become “number one” or is a there a blueprint for maintaining our supremacy in world affairs?

Millions of cattle were driven from Texas ranches to railheads in Kansas for shipment to the Armour meatpacking plant in Chicago in the late 19th century. Traveling along the Chisholm Trail, the cowboys ended up in the Kansas Cowtowns of Wichita, Abilene, and Dodge City. Newly paid, the rowdy cowboys would spend their money in saloons, gambling…

Beginning in the 19th century, different conceptions have arisen about giftedness and what it is. Is it genetic? Is it environmental? Is it both? Recent research on gifted performance in adulthood and how it is nurtured from childhood through adulthood provides a more thorough and nuanced understanding of gifted performance in adulthood.

Four decades studying his Jewish roots in Russia-Poland, inspired Michael Nevins to write two books based on his experiences. Now he has produced a film based on a dramatic Holocaust-related poem written during the 1960s by Polish poet Jerzy Ficowski entitled “Letter to Marc Chagall.” This class will be the “world premier” of the short video which features…

We have a special activity this semester called “An Artist’s Journey”. Each Tuesday morning, a different accomplished artist will talk about and show her artwork. She will elaborate on how she negotiated a career, family life, and her changing interests in various media. Each artist will share how her talent displayed itself in her early…

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) wrote his early love poems a few years after Vincent Van Gogh’s (1853-1890) death. Yet the vibratory energy of Van Gogh’s stunning and dizzying painting “Starry Night” seems to pulse through the vertiginous verses of Neruda’s earliest work La Poesia.  Had Neruda ever seen the painting or are we simply witnessing the…

Out of 117 Nobel Prize Laureates in Literature, only 16 have been women, and only 3 were poets, one of whom was Wislawa Szymborska, a Polish Poet who won the Prize in 1996. Her poems in translation speak powerfully to us today. There will be two classes of her poetry. (See class 1.1.2.) In each…

This spring and summer the Metropolitan Museum will be showing an important exhibit of the works of Winslow Homer who is known for his powerful paintings of American life and scenery. Particularly featured will be his representations of war, race, politics, and the environment. Suzanne will be discussing his life, his works during and after…

This class will feature a review of the amazing life of James Joyce with a peek at his four great publications.

Ethel Merman was New York City’s girl next door.  She went from being a stenographer from Queens and became the queen of the Broadway musical in its golden age.  On October 14, 1930 she brought the house down with her performance of George and Ira Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm.  Ethel’s rags to riches story fueled the hopes of everyday…

Asked how he became so rich, Rockefeller replied, “God gave me my money.” Rockefeller was in the oil refining business early after the Pennsylvania oil rush began in 1859. He built state-of-the-art refineries and bought out his rivals. Rockefeller negotiated secret rebates with the railroads and formed what would become the Standard Oil Trust. Eventually the…

This class is for journalers and journaler-want-to-bes. Please bring a pen and a journal or spiral notebook.

Hannah Arendt’s thoughts command our attention for we share her questions, concerns, and perplexities about the world in which we live. This talk will focus on her life and diverse contributions.

Some of these technologies will already be in use and others will still be under construction or works in progress at research institutions. As a member of this class, you will be encouraged to share your thoughts since we have all been using technology our entire lives.

The 17th century in the Dutch Republic was an extraordinarily fruitful time in the history of art. Great painters such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Claesz, and Hals produced masterpieces of portraiture, genre painting, landscape, and still life of this era. We will explore the reasons for this abundance of genius and creativity and see many examples…

Some think that “Military Intelligence” is an oxymoron. How wrong they are! During WWII, the Allies changed the course of the war in both the European and Pacific theaters by the successful use of disinformation, deception, and code breaking. This class will cover some of the most spectacular examples.

This talk will include a brief look at Simone de Beauvoir’s life with a summary of her works and a discussion of her newly discovered novel Inseparable, with an Introduction by Margaret Atwood, translated by Sandra Smith, published by Ecco, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. The novel was short-listed for the French American Florence…

Many Americans familiar with the name Abraham Joshua Heschel have come to know that name primarily through the iconic photograph of Heschel walking alongside Martin Luther King in Selma. He is remembered as an activist who happened to be a rabbi. Fewer of us are aware of Heschel’s philosophical and theological writings, and many fail…

In this class, we’ll explore what Sahaja Yoga is; its history, techniques, and benefits on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. In Sahaja Yoga, one becomes peaceful, joyous, and collective as a drop falling into the ocean of compassion. Of course, one cannot pay for the knowledge and experience of Divine Love like we can’t pay…

When the federal government ran out of gold in 1895, J. P. Morgan bailed it out with gold from his bank. Then he bailed out the government again in 1907. He bought out Andrew Carnegie and formed the largest corporation in the world, named U.S. Steel. Rich Uncle Pennybags, better known as the banker in…

Many people are curious about how poets create and shape their work. As a published poet and teacher for over fifty years, Zev hopes to answer some of those questions. Using selected poems from two of his books, we will explore the processes through which he arrived at the poems’ final shapes. The active dialogue between…

We will examine what diversity is, in terms of our own lives. We will explore the dynamics of diversity to understand the benefits and consequences faced by people of diverse identities in America. Finally, we will touch on political trends that relate to diversity.

We have a special activity this semester called “An Artist’s Journey”. Each Tuesday morning, a different accomplished artist will talk about and show her artwork. She will elaborate on how she negotiated a career, family life, and her changing interests in various media. Each artist will share how her talent displayed itself in her early…

We will listen to interviews with both of these renowned literary figures and hear each of them reading from his works. To follow along (highly recommended), you may request texts in advance. Forward your email address to Richard at thinkers.liu@gmail.com and he will email the texts to you before the class.

The Ziegfeld Follies ran from 1907 to 1931. Florenz Ziegfeld glorified the American Girl and made her a symbol of the modern independent woman. He was instrumental in bringing women to the center of society. The Ziegfeld Girl became an American Institution.

Flamenco is an art form that arose in Spain, influenced by various populations passing through or living in the southern region of Andalusia. Beginning in the third century BC, Jews, Christians, Muslims and later the Roma people all contributed to Andalusian culture. This presentation will discuss flamenco and its Jewish connection.

Are you in despair about the future because of so many urgent, unresolved problems such as climate, water, pollution, inequities, health, and more? They are all urgent and the media reminds us of them 24/7. But there is something the media seldom mentions: the incredible number of hopeful projects that are now happening. In this…

You’ll receive a list of five films that you’ll watch, one a week, in advance of the class. The titles will be a combination of classics and contemporary films, which will be available, usually free, on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or as DVDs from your public library. They will be diverse in subject matter and style and will…

Many of us are feeling less joyful about life these days and many are also concerned that our memory capabilities and other brain functions are slowing down. Join us in this class where, together, we will discuss these issues and practice scientifically designed activities that can enhance our joys and sharpen our brains. It could…

In the years between the end of the Hebrew bible (ca. 333 BCE) and the origins of both the Rabbinic Period (which led to the Talmud) and the Christian New Testament (ca. 70CE), a vast amount of religious literature was produced. Most of these books have been lost but a great deal has survived. The…

Get to know dance and musical theater professionals from the “Together in Dance” community (led by Executive Director Katie Palmer.) Some performers will be returning from last semester and some will be new. In this series, participants will be treated to a sample of all of the artists’ work in their respective métier and have…

The role of the President is perhaps the most difficult job in the world. Why would someone want this position? Perhaps for prestige. Others may seek the office for the country’s sake. Some may have been forced. We will explore some “unknown” strengths and weaknesses of the presidency. NEW! (This class will be repeated in…

If you are considering sooner or later to downsize, then this class is for you! Join Helena, a professional organizer, as she presents some structures and routines that will help you prepare for such move. She will help you address all your organizational issues way in advance so that when the time comes, you can…

Join our interactive, entertaining and educational class featuring musical highlights, synopses of plots, and backgrounds of the composers – a new opera each day. Featuring Lucia Di Lammermoor (Donizetti), Daughter of the Regiment (also Donizetti), Carmen (Bizet), Nabucco (Verdi), and La Donna del Lago (Rossini). NEW!

We will look at some new technological breakthroughs from different tech categories and explore how they might impact the future of humanity. NEW!

Feel more vitally alive! Offer your body and spirit the gift of Vital Movement™, a unique program for wellness enhancement that integrates the teachings and principles of a variety of kinetic and artistic disciplines to provide effective, joyful, and restorative movement experiences for participants of all ages and levels of proficiency. Each Vital Movement class is a deeply…

This class will feature a close look at the ways in which Shakespeare creates and balances Othello against his arch nemesis, Iago, in language, poetry, and action. Have on hand any good edition of the play. NEW!

You’ll receive a list of five films that you’ll watch, one a week, in advance of the class. The titles will be a combination of classics and contemporary films, which will be available, usually free, on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or as DVDs from your public library. They will be diverse in subject matter and style and will…

As most people are aware, the Supreme Court has been very busy of late with major decisions affecting abortion, the 2nd Amendment, voting rights, and religious rights, to name a few. In this two-part course, we’ll examine each major decision in view of its historical precedents. (What is not covered in Part 1 will be…

This class will explore the lives and times, and study the paintings, of American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries and their visions. Some of the artists that will be studied are O’Keeffe, Hopper, Wood, Wyeth, Lawrence, Pollock, Lichtenstein, Warhol, Hockney, Neel and Wiley. [Last taught 4 ½ years ago.]

Through music videos and documentaries, this course will examine the evolution of how this music affected America’s social and political institutions, mores, and family life.  We’ll cover “juke joints”, RnB, Country, Honky Tonk, Boogie Woogie, Doo Wop, Rock-a- Billy, Soul, Motown, Rap and more. NEW!

Dickens’ shortest novel (1854) has been called “a bitter expose of capitalist exploitation during the Industrial Revolution in Victorian England.” It has such memorable characters as the harsh schoolteacher, Professor Gradgrind, and other unforgettable Dickensian creations. NEW!

A review by Joan Didion captures this marvelous novel: “Shirley Hazzard has written a hypnotic novel that unfolds like a dream: Japan, Southeast Asia, the end of one war and the beginning of another, the colonial order gone, and at the center of it all, a love story.” Have a copy of the book with you for…

We’ll read and share ideas on two stories every week, many of them from The New Yorker. Stories will be selected based on relevance to our world today, diversity of content and style, and likelihood of inspiring good discussion. Stories will either be available for you to access directly on the Internet or sent by…

Poet and teacher Zev Shanken reads and explains the origin of his poems as a way of celebrating the joy that reading and writing poetry can bring to political, religious, familial, and romantic issues in our lives. Material will come from his three published books and his new book currently under development. NEW!

We will explore distinct eras of American History including the Revolutionary period, the western Expansion, the Civil War, the World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Social Movements of the mid- to late 20th Century, as seen by such artists as Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Jacob Lawrence, and Judy Chicago. NEW!

In the 1960s The Flip Wilson Show was on the top of the television charts. One of his characters, Geraldine, excused herself from any wrong-doing with the line, “The devil made me do it.” In this session we will explore the genesis of Geraldine’s concept through excerpts from John Milton’s Satan in Paradise Lost. Satan,…

Andrew Carnegie built a steel empire, became wealthy, and then gave it all away. Charles Schwab would become wealthy leading Bethlehem Steel but died bankrupt. In 1887, Sparrows Point was an isolated stretch of marshland on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. By 1958, it was the biggest steel mill in the world. In 2015,…

The role of the President is perhaps the most difficult job in the world. Why would someone want this position? Perhaps for prestige. Others may seek the office for the country’s sake. Some may have been forced. We will explore some “unknown” strengths and weaknesses of the presidency. NEW! (This class will be repeated in…

The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, with music by Kurt Weill, was first produced in Berlin in 1928. We’ll take a look at the lives of Brecht, Weill, and Lotte Lenya, and learn who Mack the Knife is. This work has been described as the operetta that made off-Broadway. [This class was given several years…

The decade of the 1920s is now celebrating its hundredth anniversary. Through recorded interviews with and about the foremost personages of that time, many still remembered (Clara Bow, Willa Cather, Clarence Darrow), others mostly forgotten (Ganna Walska, Miguel Covarubias, W. T. Benda), we will acquire a picture of what this fascinating decade was like, with attention…

With five separate classes, as follows below, Marty will bring back the New York area as it was. Lectures 1 and 2 are new; lectures 3 to 5 are repeats from the past. Nov. 25th Jewish New York – How Jewish America started in New York Dec. 6th The Bronx as Seen by Marty Growing…

You’ll receive a list of six films that you’ll watch, one a week, in advance of the class. The titles will be a combination of oldies commemorating a particular director or actor and contemporary films. Choices should be available, usually free, on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, or as DVDs from your library. They will be diverse in subject…

Course is closed.  A second instance is available on Wednesdays at 10a.  Register here You’ll receive a list of six films that you’ll watch, one a week, in advance of the class. The titles will be a combination of oldies commemorating a particular director or actor and contemporary films. Choices should be available, usually free, on…

The capitalist economic system is marked by economic boom and bust cycles. The prior expansion cycle was the longest in American history. This class covers business cycles of the 18th to 21st centuries in America. Topics include: three depressions of early America, J. P. Morgan, the crash of 1929, the Great Depression, and the 2008…

We will discuss and hear selections from the following operas: La Boheme, Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Werther, La Donna del Lago, and Tosca. NEW!

This chair-based yoga class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates yoga postures, gentle movement sequences, breath work, and guided meditation, all of which focus on bringing about an increased sense of mindful awareness. Research has demonstrated that mindfulness practice of breath and body is effective in managing stress and “quieting”…

We will explore Positive Psychology – a recent outgrowth of the field of psychology that explores science-based tools that facilitate happiness. Positive Psychology is NOT positive thinking. We will explore how to adopt a positive lens through mindfulness, meditation, meaning and purpose, gratitude, character strengths, and more! NEW!

The seven decade career of John Gielgud (1904-2000) encompassed a wide range of performances on stage, screen, radio and recordings. We will hear him review his personal and professional life in detail, read prose of Dickens, Wilde, and Lewis Carroll, enact scenes from plays of Shakespeare, Chekhov and T. S. Eliot (among others), and recite…

This is a hands-on writing workshop to use the raw material of one’s own life to write fact or fiction stories. It is sometimes the everyday, ordinary moment, a phrase, taste, smell, touch, or sight that is embedded in our memory and has had the greatest effect on our life. To document and express these…

Starting with the Metaverse (a virtual-reality space in which users can interact with a computer-generated environment and other users) we will look at new, exciting, and important breakthroughs in technology. Some of these technologies will already be in use and others will still be works in progress at research institutions and medical facilities. As a…

In reading Macbeth, we will try to get below the rich language of the play to understand not only the complexities of the theme of ambition and its consequences in the lives of Macbeth (a real Scottish Thane) and Lady Macbeth (a real Scottish Princess called Gruoch) but also to examine how the structure of…

How do authors begin their stories? We will read and discuss first chapters representing a variety of forms of narration and style, beginning with Dickens’ David Copperfield, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and Anthony Trollope’s The Eustace Diamonds. Copies of these will be sent to members of the class before the first session. The remaining selections…

Every day, new and exciting discoveries and developments in the various fields of science are announced. In this class, the prior weeks’ most important scientific news items will be presented and discussed. Participation by class members is encouraged. ALL NEW ITEMS!

We now live in a world of accelerating changes – in technology, the environment, economics, and social values. Instead of having change-aversion, we can navigate change using some new skills and honing some latent skills. Through interactive discussions, we will explore some of both – the new and the latent. Depending on class needs, these might…

China has entangled the world in its long game – a slow but steady drumbeat of economic coercion, intensive global propaganda, political pressure, and consensual agreements designed to create the perception that the Chinese way of life is superior to the West. The free world, inspired by US leadership, however, can address the threat of Chinese…

The Pulitzer Prize for Drama was first awarded in 1918 and has been given most years since then. We will hear scenes from many celebrated American plays, performed by distinguished actors. Representative plays will include Strange Interlude, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Little Foxes, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, and J.B., among many others. NEW!

The word Kabbalah means “The Receiving.” It refers to a system of sacred secrets passed down from teacher to disciple that explored life’s deepest mysteries. In our time together, we will share the study of a selection of these insights, as well as excerpts from the writings of Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sufi mystics, along…

Beowulf is considered to be the first great work of “English” literature although it was written in the Anglo-Saxon period (between the 7th – 10th centuries, C.E.) and in Old English. It concerns characters who did not live in Britain, but in Scandanavia. Mythic Beowulf, a Scandinavian prince, has killed Grendel, who threatened the lives…

This course is a blend of an art history course with slides and a book discussion group. Excerpts from six books about artists will be provided (though you are certainly welcome to read the entire book.) Information and visuals relating to the book will be shown to spark discussion. Books include Girl with a Pearl…

We will look at a selection of stories by Edith Wharton, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, and Ring Lardner, perhaps familiar but well-worth re-reading and discussing. These stories will be made available through email to the students before each session. We begin with “Roman Fever,” by Edith Wharton, to be emailed to those registered for the…

The way individuals have responded to the current pandemic sheds light on one of the main divides in our society. Some see human nature dictating that we act solely according to our self-interest; others see regard for the welfare of others – altruism – as a key motivation for our actions. Guided by the philosophies…

Join the artists of Together in Dance as they take you behind the scenes in the life of an artist. In this series, we will compare and contrast the difference between creation of a work versus performing in one that’s already established. You’ll talk with dancers, choreographers, songwriters, and actors who are currently working members…

Whether you have already put together an estate plan or have been “getting around to it,” on January 1, 2020 things changed! Now more than ever it is important to know who you are leaving what to. Should you name them on a beneficiary designation or are they in your will. Learn how to use…

We’ll read and share ideas on two stories every week, many of them from The New Yorker. Stories will be selected on the basis of relevance to our world today, diversity of content and style, and likelihood of inspiring good discussion. Stories will either be available for you to access directly on the Internet or…

This class will cover Eddie Rickenbacker – flying ace of World War I; American propaganda of World War II including the Disney film Education for Death, Memphis Belle, and the story of Lili Marlene; Louis Zamperini’s career as a runner at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and as a flyer who survived 47 days in a…

This potpourri course will include the following one-day classes. All are NEW! Lower East Side – Tidbits about some of the great people like Irving Berlin, Eddie Cantor, and George Burns who lived on the Lower East Side. Jewish Harlem – Before the great black migration from the south, Harlem was the third largest Jewish settlement in…

This course explores some of the most famous and treasure-filled museums in the world including the unparalleled collection of the Louvre, the Dutch Golden Age at The Rijksmuseum, the Renaissance masters at the Uffizi Gallery, and the cultural treasures of the British Museum. Also the Spanish masters at the Prado and, of course, NYC’s most…

This three-week course will tell the compelling story of the author who was adopted at birth into a nurturing family, who lost her mother to cancer at twenty, and then reunited with her birth mother at fifty with the help of information given to her earlier in life by her mother. It is also the…

This chair-based yoga class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates yoga postures, gentle movement sequences, breathwork, and guided meditation, all of which focus on bringing an increased sense of mindful awareness. Research demonstrates that mindful practice of breath and body are effective in managing stress and quieting the nervous system.…

This lecture will help you identify the characteristics that are distinctive to art movements from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Examples will be shown to illuminate how each era made unique contributions to the span of art history, both expanding on and reacting against what came before.

This course will feature selected readings from the book by the same title by Norman E. Rosenthal, MD. We will share poems that may provide emotional and physical healing through nature and our mind/body connection. Analysis and sharing by students, along with the deep analysis by this perceptive psychiatrist, will hopefully bring us collectively to…

The Opera Experience is an interactive class where students learn the story and background of a particular opera. They also listen to the signature arias, “meet” the composer, and even participate in some of the drama. This time we will examine Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.

This will be a short story that we didn’t get to read in the fall, namely F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz”. Look for the pdf link and download.

This course is a condensed version of the closed-out course by the same name given by Dr. Grob during the fall 2021 semester. It will explore bridging ideas for resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will thus give less attention to the past and more to the future. Although references to historical events will necessarily…

This is part one of a two-part presentation on passwords. We will explore these questions: Why do we have passwords? How do bad actors (cyber criminals) steal our passwords? What are the characteristics of a good (i.e., secure) password? Vincent will share his experiences helping people deal with their password pain.

Every day, new and exciting discoveries and developments in the various fields of science are announced. In this class, the prior few weeks’ most important scientific news items will be presented and discussed. Participation by class members is encouraged.

Hear Frank Sinatra’s debut with the Hoboken Four (1935) and big band remotes with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey (1939-1942), and as a soloist through the 1940s on a multiple of radio programs including, Your Hit Parade. This archival material represents a special period for the American Song Book and the evolution of Sinatra’s musical…

Using PowerPoint imagery, this talk will endeavor to explain Carl’s life’s work as a sculptor: how it began and evolved; the people, places, and things that inspired it; what it is about and how it is made.

This three-week course will tell the compelling story of the author who was adopted at birth into a nurturing family, who lost her mother to cancer at twenty, and then reunited with her birth mother at fifty with the help of information given to her earlier in life by her mother. It is also the…

This course is a condensed version of the closed-out course by the same name given by Dr. Grob during the fall 2021 semester. It will explore bridging ideas for resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will thus give less attention to the past and more to the future. Although references to historical events will necessarily…

If you use Facebook or other social media, if you attend School Board or Town Board meetings or read about them, then you have witnessed disagreeable people behaving disagreeably. While you cannot effectively change such people, you can change the nature of your interaction with them and this can lead to the beginning of learning…

Are you frustrated or embarrassed due to difficulties hearing and communicating? Join us as we host an informational session about how one hears, communication strategies, and group problem solving surrounding communication breakdowns. Gain insight and strategies from our audiology staff and the experiences of others who may struggle in similar ways.

The times are calling upon us to be patient, adaptive, creative, and congruent as we face the chronic uncertainties and collective trauma of this epic moment in history. Join Judith Rose, the founder of Vital Movement™, for a unique movement journey, and return to the land of your body and soul. Our session will be a dynamic…

This will be another short story that we didn’t get to read in the fall, namely Ernest Hemingway’s “Now I Lay Me”. Look for pdf link or look for Hemingway short story collections on line or in the library.

This class is about Climate Change, (aka climate disruption), with a brief primer on what is happening now and how critically important it is to take immediate action, individually and collectively. Suzanne is a trained and certified Climate Reality Leader™.

Gandhi was a curious combination of a radical and an anti-modernist. This class will try to bring out how that was a consistent combination of stances. We will consider his ideas of non-violence, the state, the nature of science, and his views on liberalism and the cultural and cognitive effects of capitalism.

This is part two of a two-part presentation on passwords. It will cover the reduction of password frustrations while at the same time practicing “safe computing”. Topics will include: Password Managers, Multi-Factor Authentication, One Time Passwords, and Authenticators.

Frederic Church was a vital figure in the movement in American painting known as the Hudson River School and in the development of Western landscape painting in general. Thomas Cole’s paintings made the Hudson River Valley famous, but Frederic Edwin Church was famous for painting the world. Church’s artistic explorations took him to exotic and…

The Bossa Nova sound originated in Rio de Janeiro, home to the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. The Girl from Ipanema won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965. Rio, a city of contrasts, features one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the pre-Lenten celebration Carnival, and striking favelas. The city comes…

This three-week course will tell the compelling story of the author who was adopted at birth into a nurturing family, who lost her mother to cancer at twenty, and then reunited with her birth mother at fifty with the help of information given to her earlier in life by her mother. It is also the…

In the heyday of network radio broadcasting and after, Norman Corwin became celebrated as the poet laureate of radio. During a career that spanned more than five decades, he wrote and directed award winning audio plays which examined a wide range of themes dealing with the human condition. Humorous, satirical, whimsical, dramatic, poignant – the…

Positive Psychology is the science of human flourishing. It is a recent outgrowth of the field of psychology that explores science-based tools that facilitate happiness. In this one-session Zoom introductory class, we will take a whirlwind tour of techniques that facilitate uplift: meditation, appreciative inquiry, practicing gratitude, using character strengths, and focusing on meaning and purpose.

Richard is presenting a two-session course that considers the lives and careers of musicians of color. In the first session, we will consider composers, conductors, and instrumentalists. The second will be concerned with vocal recitalists and operatic singers. Figures to be profiled will include, among others, William Grant Still, Henry Burleigh, Dean Dixon, Roland Hayes,…

Add joy to your life through “Improv.” Stretch your mind by opening up the dusty files of your imagination. This improvisation series, with all new situations, provides an enjoyable brain workout through games, exercises, and imaginary play. The results are humor, fun, and a sharpened mind.

This course is a condensed version of the closed-out course by the same name given by Dr. Grob during the fall 2021 semester. It will explore bridging ideas for resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will thus give less attention to the past and more to the future. Although references to historical events will necessarily…

Media often report warnings about AI. They come from scientists, world and corporate leaders, employees, historians, and others. Having followed popular media and the professional media about AI, Jim respects these warnings, but he also respects the excitement and promises AI offers. How to get ready? You will learn suggestions for what we all need to…

This class is about the social breakdown of trust in institutions large and small (from school districts to Congress), in a time of increasing cultural and political polarization. We’ll be asking ourselves, how did we get here, and is there a way back? We will briefly look at three examples of successful community-building that overcame…

In this class we’ll explore the diversity of peoples practicing within the religious groups of India and see how they’re currently involved in the tensions of their country’s politics which have come into play these years due to globalization.

The class will take up the question of what, if anything, is common to a range of different populisms in our time (Trump in the USA, Brexit in the UK, Narendra Modi in India, Le Pen in France, Bolsanaro in Brazil, and Erdogan in Turkey.) Though there will be some effort at giving some historical…

Class Cancelled due to illness. This Belgian surrealist will amuse you, confuse you, and delight you with his images of everyday objects and people in unusual spaces. Let’s look at these paintings and see how challenging it is for us to interpret them.

Please watch in advance of the class the film Passing, available on Netflix beginning Nov. 10, 2021. This recently released black-and-white movie, based on a 1929 novel by Nellie Larsen, involves two friends from childhood for whom secrets unfold when they unexpectedly meet again as adults.

Cornelius Vanderbilt began operating his own ferry in New York Harbor at the age of 16. He would work from dawn until dark ferrying passengers between Staten Island and the tip of Manhattan. The tiny business would grow into a massive steamship company. Vanderbilt would undercut his competitors by pricing his services so low that…

Clever people like you know that, though voted the most-hated school subject, Mathematics hides many delights. Take Fibonacci’s sequence – lotsa fun – but invented a thousand year before he was born. I’ll explain why I love that guy and why you should, too.Why does 12 pm never happen? Why wear a digital watch? They’re…

Pauline Garcia-Viardot (1821-1910), of Spanish descent, was a leading nineteenth-century French mezzo-soprano, pedagogue, and composer. Her music will be performed by female music specialists Feminine Musique. Pauline’s music will be interspersed with fascinating details about her life and the lives of musicians, writers, and artists in her inner circle – Chopin, George Sand, Delacroix, Liszt,…

We will look at technology that might ameliorate some of the effects of global warming. The big question is, of course, will humans be part of the next extinction if global warming is not brought under control? In this session Dr. Pierce’s teaching style will be that of a discussion leader rather than that of…

Marty will discuss the history of Lower Manhattan with the architecture, people, and events concerning Trinity Church, Federal Hall, The New York Stock Exchange, sites associated with 18th century slave uprisings, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington.

The Allies utilized films, music, posters, cartoons, and even comic books in a propaganda effort to increase support for the war effort in America and abroad. President Franklin Roosevelt created the Office of War Information in 1942 to control all communications coming into and out of the United States. This program features the Three Stooges…

When reading or re-reading the opening of this award-winning novel, we enter a world described through a satiric lens. We will examine and discuss the ways in which the author uses the brilliant devices of comedy to show us people and places as we have not seen them before. Have the book with you for the class.

English is the unchallenged present day international language. It is the most widely used language in commerce, on the Internet, and in the field of entertainment. However, it is also highly quirky, which makes it unique among languages. In this class we will look at, and hopefully enjoy, many of these quirks.

A trim tab is a small rudder that turns a larger one. Many of the world’s improvements have come from individuals we probably have not heard of, but their stories make for interesting learning. Find out who changed the course of World War II. Who was the wealthiest female CEO in 2013? What MD never…

Esther and Daniel, the last two books to be added to the Hebrew Bible, were written and circulated in the province of Judah in response to the bitter persecutions of Antiochus IV, the Greek-Syrian despot of the 2nd century BCE. Esther became vitally important to Jews while Daniel became equally important to Christians. Join with…

You’ll receive in advance titles of six films to watch on your own, for discussion in class, one per week, of themes, characterizations, directors’ decisions, relevance to today, and more. NEW!

The class will review important Constitutional cases forming a framework for the extent to which government may be involved with or restrict religion. The last two classes will be devoted to recent and upcoming cases pitting the first amendment against the right to privacy, LGBTQ rights, and the rights of local governments to restrict religious…

Since the 1920s, photography has been a dynamic element of the cultural landscape, but images have also been used to document, expose, and explain societal problems. Governments and reform advocates have employed images and photo-stories to inspire or provoke political supporters and opponents at every level, from the neighborhood to the national. This course will…

A journey of art from the 14th to the 16th centuries. We will study the origins of the Renaissance with artists such as Giotto and Duccio; the early Renaissance (15th century) with Donatello and Botticelli; the High Renaissance of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael; the Early Renaissance in the North with artists Durer and Bosch; in…

We will explore Positive Psychology – a recent outgrowth of the field of Psychology that explores science-based tools that facilitate happiness. Positive Psychology is NOT positive thinking. We will explore how to adopt a positive lens through mindfulness, meditation, meaning and purpose, gratitude, character strengths, and more! NEW!

Imagine walking through a lively Middle Eastern market filled with an exciting variety of literary wares! Sample and savor the stories, poems, essays, and parables that have left their mark on the heart of the reader. Note: Weekly texts will be emailed to students for at-home printing; the instructor will not be sharing them on…

This course involves a week devoted to each of the following nostalgic topics: Fred Astaire, the Borscht Belt, New York City during World War II, The Brooklyn Bridge/Brooklyn Heights, Irving Berlin, and Audrey Hepburn. NEW! [Special Note: On week 2, instead of meeting on Tuesday, the 12th, this class will meet at 10:00 am on…

Modernism was a worldwide artistic movement of the late 19th and early 20th century in the pre-WWI and post-WWI worlds. It sought to break with traditional and classical forms of art be they music, painting, dance, or literature. Two American writers of the 1920s and 1930s, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, changed forever the focus…

In this course, we will look at the contributions of six different marginalized groups of artists: Women, African Americans, Latin Americans, Asian Americans, Indigenous Americans, and members of the LGBTQ community. In addition to discussing their works, we will examine how their identity impacted their creativity and how the works were received by the larger…

If you have read anything written by this Canadian writer, he needs no introduction, and is well worth re-reading. Otherwise, welcome to a “marvelously enigmatic novel, elegantly written and driven by irresistible narrative force,” as described in Christopher Lehman-Haupt’s New York Times Book Review. The latest Penguin edition is preferred but not required! NEW!

In 1953, Goddard Lieberson, the Executive Vice President in charge of artists and repertoire at Columbia Records, initiated a series of spoken word recordings documenting the voices and writing of a dozen American and British authors. We will hear Edna Ferber, Katherine Ann Porter, John Steinbeck, Aldous Huxley, Christopher Isherwood, Truman Capote, William Saroyan, the Sitwells,…

This course presents fresh views on key Elder issues by national and local guests, who will give talks and hold Q&A sessions. Topics to be covered, among others, are Longevity, Wellness, Economics, and Housing/Living. Speakers will include Karl Pillemer, Cornell University author and gerontologist, and Taylor Patskanick, specialist and researcher at MIT AgeLab. We are…

People have always been fascinated by criminal behavior. Just look at TV listings, popular movies, and offerings on streaming services. This class will examine the complex nature of concepts like diminished capacity, insanity pleas, intoxication, specific intent, ability to stand trial, and the psychology behind jury selection. NEW!

We will explore the lives and times and study the paintings of American artists from the 18th and 19th centuries. The painters studied will be: Copley, Stuart, Peale, Cole, Heade, Church, Bierstadt, Moran, Whistler, Eakins, Homer, and Sargent. (This course was last taught eight semesters ago.)

Hear excerpts from Sinatra’s twenty Hollywood musicals that span the period beginning as Tommy Dorsey’s big band vocalist in the early 1940s, continuing with his MGM musicals as “the Voice”, and as the “Chairman of the Board” in the 1950s and 1960s. This class provides a nostalgic tour de force with Sinatra as a balladeer…

Here are the topics, one for each of the six weeks. Excerpts of recordings with great soprano and contralto artists with anecdotes of their careers and personal life, tragic finales including Werther, happy endings including La Donna del Lago, party scenes including La Traviata, signature scenes including Tosca, and famous choruses including “The Anvil Chorus.”…

A look at the poetry of the plays and the structure it provides as it reveals character and the contrast between an early and a late play. Familiarity with both plays would be helpful.” NEW!

You’ll receive in advance a list of stories, two per week, with instructions on how to access them. Read the stories more than once, if possible, for best possible discussions. NEW!

Since 2007 we at The Collaborative have looked at many ethical challenges in medicine from a policy perspective. In terms of enacting good planning, what have we learned so far? What is the responsibility of the public? Elected officials? The courts? What, if any, kind of flexibility should each constituency be willing to demonstrate to…

Discover how to think like a Rocket Scientist, Futurist, Freakonomist, Inventer/Designer, Exponentialist, Possibilarian, Neurologist, Einsteinianist, Poker Player, and Flexible-3D Open Thinker. You will also learn how to detect a con artist and a liar. Great fun, significant insights, and lots of resources. NEW!

Get to know musical theater and dance professionals from the “Together in Dance” community (led by Executive Director Katie Palmer). Some performers will be returning (from last semester) and some will be new! In this series, participants will be treated to a sample of all of the artists’ work in their respective métier and have…

Charlese will lead you through Yoga poses to stretch your muscles while working on improving flexibility and balance. NEW!

How has Mark Twain’s Huck survived eviction by librarians, attacks for its use of racial slurs, and criticism for literary crimes? What connections can be made between the America Mark Twain writes about and the one in which we live today? Let’s read, re-read, and discuss. NEW!

Over the past several months, many of our beloved art museums have re-opened, yet not all of us are getting around to shows the way we used to do. In this course, we will visit one or two museums each week, a virtual tour of Frick Madison, The Whitney, The Met, Salon 94, DIA Beacon, Storm…

This course will explore bridging ideas for resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We will thus give less attention to the past and more to the future. Although references to historical events will necessarily be made, the course will focus on ideas that might, at some future time, bridge the large gaps between traditional positions taken…

Baseball, often referred to as “America’s National Pastime,” dates back to the Civil War years. We will focus particularly on the so-called Dead Ball era, the period between 1900 and 1919, at the end of which Babe Ruth became celebrated as a power hitter. Interview subjects recalling their careers will include Fred Snodgrass, “Goose” Goslin, “Lefty”…

Through the eyes of one black woman, we will examine the “angry black female stereotype” and what it has meant throughout history, exploring also the effects this issue has had on the presenter. NEW!

The age-old wisdom of the Talmud has inspired medieval scholars, modern yeshiva students, Supreme Court justices, Long Island Railroad commuters, and people of all faiths. Thanks to several excellent annotated translations, this ancient text is more accessible than ever before. Join Rabbi Berkman as we explore the history, language, and methodology of the Talmudic text…

Today, Hamilton, a ground-breaking musical featuring Black and Latino actors playing the founding fathers, is the hottest ticket on Broadway. Hamilton, who as an immigrant became the first Secretary of the Treasury and founded the U.S. financial system, died at the hands of Vice President Aaron Burr upon the dueling grounds in Weehawken, NJ. The…

Stephen discovered Rhythm & Blues music while listening on his first transistor radio to Jocko’s “Rocket Ship Show.” Suddenly one night, there was Alan Freed and his “Moondog” radio show. Stephen was hooked on Rock ’n Roll for the rest of his life. This lecture will review the early days of Rock ’n Roll and its effect on music, teenage social life, and social mores. It was the sound track of his generation.  He is the drummer in the Rockland-based band “Grandpa.” Join him for some music and share your own memories.

We will study “In Another Country” and “Soldier’s Home.” Here are the links: https://www.somanybooks.org/eng208/SoldiersHome.pdf and       https://mt15000219.schoolwires.net/cms/lib/MT15000219/Centricity/Domain/97/In%20Another%20Country.pdf. Please read the stories before class.

This chair-based yoga class is appropriate for all ages and levels of ability. Instruction incorporates yoga postures, gentle movement sequences, breath work, and guided meditation, all of which focus on bringing about an increased sense of mindful awareness. Research has demonstrated that mindfulness practice of breath and body is effective in managing stress and “quieting” the nervous system. Modifications are provided specific to participants’ needs, allowing for the optimal balance between support and challenge. This class will meet you where you are at any given moment. No yoga experience necessary.

In her short story, “An Unwritten Novel,” Virginia Woolf shows us glimpses of her creative process as she describes an ordinary trip by train and focuses on a particular passenger, unknown to the narrator.  Once again, the magic of Woolf’s remarkable use of language and imagination is on display. Please read the story before class. It can be found at: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/woolf/monday/monday-04.html

The class will feature nine Metropolitan Opera stars with some fascinating facts about their lives and careers.

Rob Stoner will demonstrate various guitar techniques and sing your favorite songs. He will discuss the lifestyle of a traveling performer, the economics of the concert industry, how songs are written, and how recordings are made. Photographs and video from throughout his career will be exhibited and discussed.

Over the last four years, American foreign policy was severely compromised. Reestablishing American leadership is a top priority for the Biden Administration. This presentation will outline initiatives in both foreign and domestic policy that will enable the United States to regain global leadership in the face of an increasingly combative China intent on undermining American influence around the world.

During the early 20th century, Letchworth Village in Rockland County was at the center of the Eugenics movement in America. Administrators there performed research on “feebleminded” youth in order to validate the theory that mental illness was inherited, untreatable, and associated with anti-social behavior. Dr. Nevins, who has written several books and articles on this subject, will discuss the personalities and work of several of the Village’s local leaders.

Most people think that yoga means putting a young and flexible body into pretzel-like positions. But that’s only one part of yoga. Beyond a fitness and wellness trend, the ancient practice of yoga has Eight Limbs. You’ll find out about yoga philosophy, morality, and yoga breathing, and much more. You will also discover why yoga has endured for millennia, why it’s practiced by hundreds of millions of people of all ages around the globe, and why the medical community embraces yoga for treatment of common ailments (including back pain, arthritis, stress management, and more). The class is taught by a yoga instructor who undertook yoga teacher training at age 63 and who believes in aging well!

In advance of our meeting, please watch Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, which follows a family of South Korean immigrants who relocate from California to Arkansas in the 1980s. By the time we meet, we’ll know whether Minari has won any of the six Academy Awards for which it’s been nominated.

Dr. Segan provides an intimate portrait of her father, the influential 20th century photojournalist Arthur Rothstein. She presents the photo-stories that highlight his pivotal role in the landmark New Deal-era documentary photography project that became a national treasure and explores the highlights of his fifty-year career that shaped the visual culture of post-war America during the Golden Age of picture magazines.

African American poets examine race through the lens of powerful poems. These poems are listed in order of publication. Each of these is downloadable using Google, but here are suggested links for each poem.
1. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes 1926 www.poetryfoundation.org
2. “Southern Cop” by Sterling A. Brown 1936 www.poemhunter.com
3. “we real cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks 1960 www.poetryfoundation.org
4. “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden 1962 www.poetryfoundation.org
5. “Facing It” by Yusef Komunyakaa 1988 www.poetryfoundation.org
6. “Incident” by Natasha Tretheway 2006 www.poetryfoundation.org
If we have time for it:
7. “Praise Song for the Day”, Elizabeth Alexander 2009 www.poetryfoundation.org (Written for President Barack Obama’s Inauguration, Jan 20, 2009.)

Why did Shakespeare write this play? What do we make of it? Is it outright anti-Semitism, sympathy for the oppressed, or somewhere in between? (It would be helpful, but not essential, to have the text of the play in front of you during class.)

As a bit of “philosophy light,” we will share some life lessons found in the “wise fool,” court jester, and some appropriate jokes and other humor. We will avoid bawdy, racist, ethnic, insult and other hurtful humor. “Laughter is an overlooked medication.” – Norman Cousins.

This class is about Climate Change (aka climate disruption), with a brief primer on what is happening and how critically important it is to take action, individually and collectively, asap.

The lute was one of the most commonly and widely used musical instruments throughout Europe from the 15th through the 18th centuries. Through an overview demonstrating the history of its development, construction, technique, and repertoire, learn about why it was so popular and important in musical and social history during this period.

This will be an exploration of dance in Spain and its relationship to power throughout history. The class will study dance as an embodiment of resistance to the Reconquista during the Golden Age in Spain, the Napoleonic invasion, the subsequent fall of the Spanish empire, and finally the Spanish Civil War and the fascist Franco regime.

Dr. MacKay-Brandt will discuss how cognition changes as we age and how cognitive changes are related to brain changes. She will review the current research findings on some of the factors that influence cognitive change and interventions aimed to reduce age-related changes.

This will be an interview with Kos, who is a developer of the Collaborative’s new website and who lives in, and is a concerned citizen, of the Ukraine. The interviewer will be Dr. Howard Goldstein.

If you are considering downsizing sooner or later, then this class is for you! Join Helena, a professional organizer, as she presents some structures and routines that will help you prepare for such a move. She will help you address all your organizational issues way in advance so that when the time comes you can ensure a smooth transition and not have to rush through the process of going through years of objects and papers in your home. Become and Stay Organized now!

Officer Davies is the Community Police Officer for the Clarkstown PD and has experience in Community Police, Crime Prevention, Scams, Emergency Management, CARES unit, and VIN etching. As part of this class, there will be questions from the audience – which are encouraged.

Feel more vitally alive! Offer your body and spirit the gift of Vital Movement™, a unique program for wellness enhancement that integrates the teachings and principles of a variety of kinetic and artistic disciplines to provide effective, joyful, and restorative movement experiences for participants of all ages and levels of movement experience. Each class is a deeply focused, dynamic and fluid ritual that encourages growth and transformation. Please have a sturdy armless chair in your space. All new choreography!

While many have heard the word “mitzvah,” few understand what the word actually means. And fewer are comfortable with the ramifications that follow. But the word “mitzvah” is what lies at the heart of Judaism, and the different ways in which the word has been used have given rise to the many streams that exist within its practice. Join us to explore the word, its meaning, and resulting behaviors.

This begins with jump blues and in the late 40s with Louis Jordan, Swing Bands, and a compilation of songs that defined what is Rock ’n Roll.  Pioneers like SUN Records (Sam Phillips) and CHESS (Leonard Chess) created a new demographic. There will be a special segment on Boogie Woogie. Artists Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis and the Rock-a- Billy Stars Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis will be presented. Also, the “beat,” from thigh slapping to Bo Diddley. The session will end with Jim Crow, juvenile delinquency and the teenage idols. Much new material.

Christian rescuers during the Holocaust engaged in acts that put their own lives and the lives of their families in mortal danger. During this talk, Lenny will explore the implications of these altruistic acts for our understanding of “human nature.” He’ll be relying, in part, on interviews he conducted with rescuers during a visit to Germany.

This class will teach piano students how to improvise using some basic techniques. By learning the blues scale, pentatonic scales, and major and minor modes, they can begin to improvise after this class.

Irene Nemirovsky was a famous writer in France before she was arrested and later killed at Auschwitz. Many of her works describe the lives of Jewish immigrants in France in the interwar period, as well as provide insight into French society of the time. A novella of hers, coming out in September, is The Prodigal Child. This was translated by Sandra, who will give a sneak preview of the work. (The first part of this lecture was last given for the Collaborative about five years ago.)

Long overlooked and underappreciated, women have been a force in art history for centuries. From Renaissance portrait painters to the still life painters of the Dutch Golden Age to accomplished Impressionists to the many important 20th century women in Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Feminist Art, this lecture explores artists both obscure and well known. Works by Artemisia Gentileschi, Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt, Helen Frankenthaler, and Georgia O’Keeffe will be shown and discussed.

Berry Gordy wrote the Jackie Wilson hit Lonely Teardrops but barely made any money. So he started his own record company named “Motown”. The label played an important role in the racial integration of popular music, achieving crossover success. Motown would launch the careers of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson Five. The class will feature classic videos of the early years of Motown music.

This Belgian surrealist will amuse you, confuse you, and delight you with his images of everyday objects and people in unusual spaces. Let’s look at these paintings and see how challenging it is for us to interpret them..

All cultures have stories that are transmitted orally from one generation to the next. We will consider stories from four cultures: French, Irish, Yiddish, and West African, in captivating recordings by distinguished storytellers, authors and actors. To follow along during this class, you may request texts in advance. Forward your email address to Richard at thinkers.liu@gmail.com. and he will email them to you.

Proposed legislation HR 40 in the U.S. Congress would create a commission to study and propose reparations for slavery in our past. Robert will share his rationale against federal reparations, and then encourage discussion.

Korliss Uecker, a Juilliard School graduate (BA and MA) and richly endowed operatic soprano, who has appeared in over 150 Metropolitan Opera performances (including appearances with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo), will discuss her career and perform a broad variety of music, from Puccini to Gershwin, and more. Ms. Korliss will be accompanied on the piano by Christopher Oldfather.

Henri Matisse is considered to be one of the greatest of the 20th century artists. This class explores his influences, his life, and the astonishingly innovative journey of his art during his long career. Matisse is widely regarded as the greatest colorist of the 20th century and as the main rival to Picasso for the title of greatest artist of his time.

In 1953, Goddard Lieberson, the Executive Vice President in charge of artists and repertoire at Columbia Records, initiated a series of spoken word recordings documenting the voices and writing of a dozen American and British authors. We will sample these records by listening to Edna Ferber, Katherine Ann Porter, John Steinbeck, and Somerset Maugham – each reading for the microphone and captured for posterity. To follow along during this class, you may request texts in advance. Forward your email address to Richard at thinkers.liu@gmail.com and he will email them to you.

Science Fiction books, movies, and TV shows have long been predictors and inspirations for invention. This PowerPoint presentation will use photos and videos to explore the predictions and then compare them to the actual technologies that were eventually created.

This is a continuation of Poets of the Harlem Renaissance: Part I. We’ll introduce poets such as Arna Bontemps, Anne Spencer, and Sterling Brown, whose works spoke of the physical, emotional, and intellectual aspects of life for African Americans during the 1920s–1940s.

The actual voices of important personalities of the recent past are rarely heard in the modern age. Recordings of distinguished men and women, including Bayard Rustin, Malcolm X, Margaret Mead, James Baldwin, Woody Guthrie, Aaron Copland, Arthur Miller, Moss Hart, Aldous Huxley, H. G. Wells, Edith Sitwell, and Robert Graves will be heard. (Originally given in Fall 2012.)

From a collection of insights and experiences, you will learn new ways of thinking (mindsets) about the challenges of the increasing number of older people, the rise of ageism, and the issues of well-care and health-care coming from living longer. You will also gain a deeper sense of hope and a more informed way to respond to these concerns.

Every day, new and exciting discoveries and developments in the various fields of science are announced. In this course, the prior week’s most important scientific news items will be presented to the class and discussed. Participation by class members is encouraged.

We are going through unprecedented times based on issues of racism. This class will make it clear how racism has been percolating through our society since the inception of our nation and help you understand what brought it to a boil. The class will present a direction for positive change. If you took one of Mark’s courses before,…

Add JOY to your life through “Improv.” Stretch your mind by opening up the dusty files of your imagination. This improvisation series provides an enjoyable brain workout through games, exercises, and imaginary play. The results are humor, fun, and a sharpened mind. ALL NEW SITUATIONS!

The pandemic has moved this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) event to a fully digital online format. The six sessions of this class will cover the rapid changes and technological trends that are here today, some formed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Pierce will use video clips that he recorded during CES…

This is a hands-on writing workshop to use the raw material of your own life to write fact or fiction stories. It is sometimes the everyday, ordinary moment, a phrase, taste, smell, touch, or sight that is embedded in memory and once released makes for the best stories. To document and express these stories is…