Classes, Courses, and Lectures

Our fall semester begins September 6.

Monday

International Folk Dancing (pre-registration required)

Folk dancing is not only great exercise, but it involves the memory and increases cognitive agility. Most dances will be circle or line dances, so partners are not necessary.

Instructor: Elaine Sohn
Time: 9:15–10:45 a.m.
Dates: September 17–December 3 (weekly except October 8)

Elaine Sohn has been leading folk dance groups in Brooklyn Heights for more than 20 years. She recently began offering classes at the Jubilee Senior Center and the Park Slope Senior Center.

The Short Story: Here and There

The art form of the short story offers a unique opportunity to explore how fiction can reflect and/or imitate life. Participants help choose stories that stimulate discussion and thought. Please read "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry (copies are available in the office, 3160 Boylan Hall).

Rotating Facilitators
Time: 10:50–11:50 a.m.
Dates: September 17–December 3 (weekly except October 8)

Current Events Discussion Group

"May you live in interesting times" is a Chinese curse. This discussion group will consider the current events of a new administration and developments abroad. Tell us what you think.

Instructor: Gene Reiser
Time: 11 a.m.–noon
Dates: September 17–December 3 (weekly except October 8)

Gene Reiser has a lifelong passion for history and politics. He is a former labor relations manager for CUNY.

Actor's Workshop

This is your opportunity to tap into your creative side and explore your hidden talents…but most of all to HAVE FUN! Come join us. Please be aware that this class runs from September through May, leading up to a final performance.

Instructors: Julie Kirshner and Sunny Brandler
Time: noon–3 p.m.
Dates: September 17–December 3 (weekly except October 8)

Julie Kirshner graduated Brooklyn College with a degree in theater and a master’s degree in English. Sunny Brandler is a retired professor from CUNY who holds a B.A., M.S.W., M.A. in English literature, and a doctorate from Adelphi University.

SCOTUS and Its Impact on American Society, Part II

Discussion of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on American society. Part  I is not a prerequisite to this class.

Instructor: Debbie Miller
Time: 12:05–1:05 p.m.
Dates: October 15, 22, 29

Debbie Miller was an educator for more than 30 years, teaching both middle school and high school with an expertise in American history and American thought.

"iPhone Photography": Special Slide Show and Lecture

Enjoy a variety of beautiful photojournalistic images taken with an iphone.

Presentor: Professor Kenneth Axen
Time: 1–2 p.m.
Date: October 1

Kenneth Axen is an adjunct full professor at Brooklyn College. His training in photojournalism and documentary filmmaking enables him to create slide shows and short films of his world travels.

An Overland Trip Through “Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan”: Special Slide Show and Short Film

Presentor: Professor Kenneth Axen
Time: 1–2 p.m.
Date: October 22

Kenneth Axen is an adjunct full professor at Brooklyn College. His training in photojournalism and documentary filmmaking enables him to create slide shows and short films of his world travels.

Connections 1 With James Burke

James Burke turns science into a detective story by tracking 12,000 years of history for the clues that led to eight great life changing inventions— the atom bomb, telecommunications, the computer, the production line, jet aircraft, plastics, rocketry, and television.

Instructor: David Krupp
Time: 1:15–2:30 p.m.
Dates: September 17–October 22 (weekly except October 8)

David Krupp attended SUNY Buffalo as a psychology major and taught in New York City public schools for 45 years.

"Learning to Count: Permutations and Combinations": Special Mathematical Lecture

How many ways can four people be seated at a table? Why do we need telephone area codes? How many five-digit whole numbers can be formed with three fives and two sevens? How many "words" can be formed using the letters of "assessments"? How do we know that two Brooklyn College students have the same first, middle, and last initials?

Presentor: Fred Friedland
Date: October 29
Time: 1:30–3 p.m.

Fred Friedland teaches mathematics at Baruch College (CUNY). He has given lectures at IRPE/BLL since 1990.

Tuesday

Introduction to iPhones and iPads (class size is limited to 10; pre-registration required)

This course will cover the following topics: typing on iPhones and iPads, sending text messages, taking photos/videos and sending via text message, apps, accessing the Internet on a smart phone, watching movies and listening to music, and security. Students must bring their own devices.

Instructor: Kenneth Jackson
Time: 10–11 a.m.
Dates: September 25–December 4 (weekly)

Kenneth Jackson works for the Office of Information Technology Services at Brooklyn College and has volunteered numerous hours helping people understand their smart devices.

BLL Book Club (classes are limited; pre-registration required)

We will discuss: Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee; Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng; The Feast of the Goat, by Mario Vargas Llosa; Hunger, by Roxanne Gay; and Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande.

Time: 10–11:45 a.m.
Dates: September 4, October 2, November 6, December 4, 2018, and January 8, 2019

Painting—Acrylics 101

Comprehensive foundations in painting. You will learn the use of color and basic visual components. Bring paints, brushes, canvas boards, water container, and rags.

Instructor: Susan Tischler
Time: 11:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Dates: October 2–November 20 (weekly)

Susan Tischler is a BLL member who has studied Art and has been painting for over 10 years.

Yoga, Pilates, and Body Movement Awareness

This course will consist of a series of postures and breathing exercises combined with relaxation techniques and exercises.

Instructor: Cynthia Arenson
Time: noon–1:20 p.m.
Dates: September 25–December 4 (weekly)

Cynthia Arenson is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has a master's degree in exercise physiology from Queens College (CUNY). She has taught yoga for more than 30 years.

Essays, Articles, and Op-eds

Sharing thoughts, ideas, and experiences provides the opportunity to better understand ourselves and others. This class will consist of open discussions on selected thought-provoking topics found in essays, articles, and op-eds.

Please read "Heroin in the Heartland" before the first class. Copies are available in 3160 Boylan Hall.

Instructor: Annette Libert
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Dates: September 25–December 4 (weekly)

Annette Libert is a registered nurse/administrator and educator for 44 years. She has facilitated two sessions for BLL.

Spanish for Beginners

This course is based on a functional focus with special emphasis on oral communication and practical uses of the language. Students will learn about culture; useful, familiar, and everyday expressions; and basic grammar, vocabulary, and phrases aimed to interact and survive in a Spanish-speaking context.

Instructor: Nilita León
Time: 12:30–1:50 p.m.
Dates: September 25–December 4 (weekly)

Nilita León is a certificated Spanish teacher with exceptional knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries.

Wednesday

Spanish, Intermediate and Beyond

We invite any student who has a reasonable background in Spanish study. We read, converse, listen, and write in order to achieve the goal of mastering the language.

Instructor: Edward Drayton
Time: 9:45–11 a.m.
Dates: September 26–December 5 (weekly except November 21)

Ed Drayton's passion for Spanish began when he won the medal for Spanish at his junior high school. He graduated from Brooklyn College and went on to become a New York City public school teacher.

Reading the New York Science Times

Great things are happening in the world of science today. Read and bring the Tuesday New York Times Science Section to class for our informative discussions about the latest breakthroughs.

Instructor: Leslie Jacobson
Time: 11:05 a.m.–12:05 p.m.
Dates: September 12–December 5 (weekly except September 19 and November 21)

Leslie Jacobson has been a long-time professor in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences. She is a "founding mother" of IRPE/BLL and a major supporter of our organization since its beginning.

A Dive Into the Brooklyn College Archives (pre-registration required)

This is hands-on history. The original records of our organization (under its earlier name, IRPE) are archived in the Brooklyn College Library. We will learn a bit about archiving, then spend a session in the library going through the actual materials. Afterwards, we will share what we found.

Instructors: Rona Goldwitz and Toby Sanchez
Time: 12:10–1:10 p.m.
Dates: October 10, 17, 24

Rona Goldwitz enjoys history and has done some independent digging into local history and genealogy. Toby Sanchez is an editor, grant writer, and archivist. She is the sole creator and sole arranger of the archives of the 94-year-old East Midwood Jewish Center.

"Hearing and Aging, Facts and Situations": Special Lecture

Causes of hearing loss and how to deal with these problems.

Presentor: Rochelle Cherry
Time: 12:10–1:20 p.m.
Date: November 7

Rochelle Cherry taught audiology classes at the college level for more than 40 years and was a certified clinical audiologist since 1970. She was head of audiology at Brooklyn College for more than 20 years and has written several journal papers on this subject.

Education in Turmoil

No child left behind, small school movement, common core standards, charter schools, standardized tests—all these topics have been in the news since 2001. The school system is in turmoil. It is important for us all to understand these trends.

Instructor: Dianne Stillman
Time: 12:10–1:25 p.m.
Dates: September 26, October 3, 10

Dianne Stillman is a retired attorney, adjunct professor of law, and high school English teacher.

1980s and 1990s Films, Part 4

This is part 4 of a continuing series, in which films are screened decade by decade. This semester, you will view six films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Groundhog Day and Witness.

Instructor: Sol Makon
Time: 1:30–4 p.m.
Dates: September 12, 26, October 10, 24, November 7, 28

Sol Makon is a film and music aficionado. His expertise was further developed by taking college courses in these fields. He also has a large media collection at his disposal.

Thursday

Brooklyn History

Students will learn the history of the Flatbush/Nostrand Junction; Coney Island; the Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Coney Island Railroad (today's B and Q trains); a historic walk through one of Brooklyn's historical neighborhoods; Flatbush Avenue; and much more.

Instructor: Ron Schweiger
Time: 9–10:30 a.m.
Dates: September 6–October 4 (weekly)

Ron Schweiger is a retired school teacher who was appointed "The Official Borough Historian" by former Borough President, Marty Markowitz. He has 30 years of experience on aspects of Brooklyn history.

"Jewish Businessmen in the Jazz Age": Special Lecture

During the Jazz Age (1920s and 1930s), virtually every successful musician had a Jewish manager.

Presentor: Professor Robert Cherry
Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
Date: October 18

Robert Cherry is an economics professor who has been teaching at Brooklyn College for almost 40 years and has published a number of articles on Jewish middlemen and Herman Lubinsky, the owner of one of the more important jazz record companies, Savoy.

"Destined to Live: A True Story of a Child in the Holocaust": Special Lecture

Discussion of the author's Holocaust experience and her knowledge of the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park.

Presentor: Ruth Gruener
Time: 11 a.m.–noon
Date: September 20

Ruth Gruener is a Holocaust survivor and author who also co-authored Prisoner B-3087 with her husband, about his concentration camp experience. She lectures in schools throughout New York City and is a tour guide at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Significant Presidential Elections

We will complete our consideration of the 1964 election of Lyndon Johnson and the resultant Great Society Program and the Vietnam War expansion. We will then examine the 1968 election in the context of a tumultuous background of urban unrest and protests over the Vietnam War and assassinations.

Instructor: Stephen Appell
Time: 11:10 a.m.–12:10 a.m.
Dates: September 13, 27; October 11, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 29

Stephen Appell is an attorney who specialized in labor law. A graduate of Cornell and Rutgers Law School, he is an avid student and teacher of historical subjects.

Movie Memories and Hollywood Humor

Famous movie dialogue, anecdotes, clichés, jokes, biographies, Oscar winners and losers, and songs from the movies.

Instructor: Leo Gerber
Time: 12:15–1:30 p.m.
Dates: September 27; October 11, 25; November 8, 29

Leo Gerber is a movie buff who lectures on American history, film facts and fiction, popular songs and singers, and the history of vampires. He enjoys researching and presenting background material for his classes.

"European Christmas Markets": Special Slide Show and Lecture

Beautifully decorated Christmas markets provide an opportunity to buy unique gifts as well as gather with family and friends over traditional food and drink while listening to holiday choirs.

Presentor: Susan Castro
Time: 12:20–1:45 p.m.
Date: November 15

Susan Castro is an avid traveler who loves exploring New York City and the world, experiencing first hand their different cultures and food. She has a New York City sightseeing guide license with star recognition.

Criminal Law From A to Z

Why do criminal laws exist? How old are they? What constitutes a crime? We will examine history, crimes, punishment, and cases.

Instructor: Dianne Stillman
Time: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Dates: October 25–December 6

Dianne Stillman is a retired attorney, adjunct professor of law, and high school English teacher.

"Nutrition and Fad Diets": Special Lecture

New guidelines for healthy eating.“My Plate” and “Dash Diet” and how food relates to health.

Presentor: Elaine Sarfati
Time: 1–2 p.m.
Date: September 13

Elaine Sarfati practiced nursing for over 50 years and presently teaches a community health course at Long Island University School of Nursing.

Language to Image: Film Adaptations of Lierary Texts II

What is the relationship of a literary text and its movie adaptation—faithful reproduction of the original text, an independent, original work, or something in between? What do literary texts and movies have in common? How do they differ? What can each of these media do that the other can't because of the way they communicate? Texts and their film adaptations include Shakespeare's Macbeth and film adaptations by Welles and Kurosawa; Proulx's Brokeback Mountain and Ang Lee's adaptation; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Whale's adaptation; Woolrich's Rear Window and Hitchcock's adaptation; Julio Cortazar's Blow Up and Antonioni's adaptation. Please read Macbeth before the first class.

Instructors: Lilia Melani and Liz Weis
Time: 1–4:30 p.m.
Dates: September 6–October 25 (weekly)

Lilia Melani is an English professor at Brooklyn College. Liz Weis is a faculty member in Brooklyn College's Film Department.

Friday

Social Bridge

For those with knowledge of bridge, come and enjoy supervised play in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Instructor: Ira Barnett
Time: 10 a.m.–noon
Dates: September 7–December 7 (weekly except November 23)

Ira Barnett has been supervising since 2008.

"Museum Walks and Talks": Docent-led Guided Tours

Members travel independently to museums. All tours begin at 11 a.m. and last one hour. Registration begins on the day of receipt of the catalog and is through e-mail only. If you do not have e-mail, you may call 347.834.4578. Do not send checks until your choices are confirmed. Docents will guide us through special exhibitions and regular tours.

Coordinator: Linda Silverman

Linda Silverman is an avid museum-goer. She was a program director at NYC College of Technology (CUNY) in adult and continuing education, and collaborative academic programs for more than 20 years.

• Chaim Soutine: Flesh—Jewish Museum
  Focus on the Expressionist artists's remarkable paintings depicting hanging fowl, beef carcasses, and rayfish, considered to be his greatest artistic achievements.
  September 14; $23
• Charting the Divine Plan: Orra White Hitchcock (1796–1863)—American Folk Art Museum
  Explores the confluence of art, love, science, and religion in the extraordinary art of one of America's first female scientific illustrators.
  September 28; $8
• Chaim Gross, Sculptor—Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation
  Tour the studio of Chiam Gross, the modern American sculptor who produced work from 1921 to 1991. See the living space and special exhibition area featuring more than 200 of his works.
  October 12; $15
• Hilma af Klint: Paintings of the Future—Guggenheim Museum
  Exhibition will focus on the artist's breakthrough years, 1906–20; bold, colorful, abstract paintings untethered from recognizable references to the physical world.
  October 26; $23
• Dutch Masters of the 17th Century—Metropolitan Museum of Art
  Focus on key issues in the 17th-century Dutch culture, from debates about religion and conspicuous consumption to painters' fascination with the domestic lives of women.
  November 16; $24
• Neo Realismo: The New Image of Italy, 1932–60—Grey Art Gallery @ NYU
  Poignantly portrays life in Italy through the lens of photography before, during, and after World War II.
  December 7; $5