As we get used to the mild chill in the air here in Miami, we are gearing up for the winter season at the Alper JCC. With Cultural arts and adult programming events taking center stage this season, it is a very busy month with activities to enrich the mind, body and soul.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Watson Children’s Museum at the JCC, learn how to protect yourself and stay safe with officer Kelly Dunham from the Coral Gables Police Department. Come dressed in casual clothes to participate in contact demonstrations or just watch and learn some important self-defense techniques. This event is brought to you by the National Council for Jewish Women. For NCJW or Alper JCC members, admission is $10 per person and $15 for guests. RSVP to Mindy Finkelman by Dec. 4. For more information, call 305-238-1088.
The following day, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Russell Theater, Joshua Safran will present his book Free Spirit: Growing up On the Road and Off the Grid as part of our 34th annual Berrin Family Jewish Book Festival. Attorney and author Joshua Safran achieved notoriety with the critically acclaimed 2011 documentary Crime After Crime (Sundance, Oprah Winfrey Network) which chronicled his sevenyear struggle to free a battered woman from prison and profiled his faith as an Orthodox Jew. Now, in his riveting book Free Spirit, he reveals how he overcame adversity, reconnected to his Jewish heritage and to Israel, and his journey to become a lawyer.
A screening of the film Crime After Crime and a Q&A follow the author’s presentation. We will collect toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner for the clients of Shalom Bayit. It would be appreciated if you could bring $10 gift cards from Publix or Target for the Women of Domestic Violence.
This can be given in lieu of the $10 admission. The JCC’s community partner for this event is JCS Shalom Bayit, the domestic abuse program of Jewish Community Services of South Florida. If you can make it to the JCC a bit earlier that evening or stay after the Book festival presentation, the fascinating Cinema Judaica art exhibit is open for viewing starting at 5:30 p.m.
CINEMA JUDAICA:
The War Years continues through Dec. 28 in the Futernick Art Gallery. In the years following World War II and the creation of the state of Israel, Jewish-themed films and the bold advertising that accompanied them had a major influence on the way the Jewish people and Israel were perceived. This exhibition of iconic Hollywood film posters from 1939 to 1949 chronicles the “Great Debate” films of 1939- 1941, the role of anti-Nazi films, patriotic “platoon” films, World War II espionage and concentration camp escape melodramas, plus films about Nazi Germany’s accountability.
Accompanying the exhibit will be the showing of a few of these notable films in the gallery. The Gallery is open Sundays 1-4 p.m. and times vary for special events.
The Alper JCC wishes you a festive holiday season and a happy Hanukkah. In the spirit of the holidays, we invite Alper JCC members to join us in a festive scavenger hunt. Aletter “J” will be hidden in the fitness center building on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Find the hidden “J” and win two movie tickets, redeemable at the fitness center front desk upon return of our J. Nobody appreciates their members like the Alper JCC!
And speaking of holidays, don’t forget our winter break mini-camp from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for kids in K-6th grade. Sign them up for a day or two or the full two weeks of fun, with cooking, arts and crafts, science, swimming, computers and lots of fun and games. Week 1: Monday, Dec. 22, Tuesday, Dec. 23 and Friday, Dec. 26; Week 2: Monday, Dec. 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Friday, Jan. 2. The program is open to everyone in the community. Daily ASP participants $30, JCC members $40, non-members $50. Early arrival and late pick-up are available for an additional charge. For more information or to register, contact Elyse Molk at ext. 263 or email emolk@alperjcc.org.
