Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Issue 17.
What's ahead?
With the County of Marin easing into Phase Two of our Shelter in Place, you may be wondering what this means for the Osher Marin JCC. Specifically, when do we re-open? Alas, we still don't know, but we are excited and optimistic because we're headed in the right direction.
Our executive management team is in daily consultations with local, state, and national agencies—including other JCCs—gathering excellent advice and critical data.

When we are completely confident we can ensure your health, only then will we re-open.

So, for now, please hang in here with us as we remain virtual for a while longer, and let's hope we see each other in person soon!
Entertainment
Fabulous Film Journeys
Movies have the power to take us away, out of ourselves and into another, often better, location. They can inspire us to travel, help us to escape, or just give us the joy of new and often exotic environments. Movies can also place us in another time, from regal courts to revolutions, from knights and kings to the Belle Epoque and Roaring Twenties.

There are many routes to travel through the movies and television shows. I’ve chosen just a few, but this is a theme we can revisit during these times of armchair travel.
Shirley Valentine
1989 (available on Netflix)
Shirley Valentine (1989) introduces us to an articulate housewife living in Liverpool. She basically talks to herself, the camera and the walls. She feels trapped in a world of tired domesticity. She jumps at a chance to take a girlfriend trip to Greece, finding herself stranded alone there when her friend dumps her. Into her life comes a smooth taverna operator and through him and the island’s beauty, Shirley begins an unexpected discovery of herself. Filmed on the island of Mykonos, starring Pauline Collins (nominated for Best Actress, lost to Jessica Tandy Driving Miss Daisy), this British rom com drama is gorgeous, sexy, and uplifting.
Inspector Morse
1987-2000 (available on Amazon Prime and iTunes)
In these challenging times, we need to dig deeper for fine films and television. I often turn to British mysteries, loving the accents, locations, and intelligent scripts. The favorite these days is Inspector Morse (33 episodes 1987-2000). John Thaw stars as the crusty, opera loving Chief Inspector in Oxford, running into eccentrics, students and all manner of people covering up murders. Thaw’s unforgettable character led to two spin offs, Lewis and Endeavour, the latter being about Morse when he was young.
Acorn TV
Subscription streaming service
It is Acorn TV that brings us wonderful British television, including MidSomer Murders, Foyle’s War, Miss Marple, Mrs. Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Vera, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Acorn also draws outside the mystery lines with Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages, I, Claudius, and Doc Martin.
Love, Cecil.
2017 documentary available to rent or buy on YouTube
Sometimes costumes, sets and glorious color lead us to a fabulous film journey. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, adapted from the Lerner and Lowe stage musical, it doesn’t get more sumptuous than 1964’s My Fair Lady. A pompous phonetics professor decides to transform a cockney flower girl into a duchess. Impeccably directed by George Cukor, this began a personal film festival just of his films! Back to My Fair Lady ( available on Amazon.com), the outrageous costumes and sets by Cecil Beaton are remarkable in detail and imagination. For more information on this gifted designer, artist and bon vivant, see a 2017 documentary on YouTube titled Love, Cecil .


Time to travel through films and TV!
Adult Learning & Living
Zoom with us.
We'll teach you how.
If you're interested in attending the Zoom-hosted Adult Learning programs or you'd like to host your own "meetings" with friends and family, we invite you to join one of our classes this Friday.
Development
It's a celebration
of milestones and each other.

I love seeing your shout-outs! Thank you to those of you who have donated to our Shout-Outs & Celebrations campaign! I know that the special people you chose to honor are delighted, and our JCC is grateful for your gift!

If you haven’t sent in a shout-out yet, I invite you to do so. Celebrate a birthday, anniversary, say thank you, or just say hi!

Have a special message to share? Do it! Need some inspiration?
Scroll to the bottom to see this week’s shout-outs.
Cultural Arts & Trips
DESTINATION
Sèvres, France
Hop a virtual metro with me, and let's go just across the southwestern border of Paris to the suburb of Sèvres to visit the illustrious Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres —one of the world's most revered porcelain makers. The distinguished history and creations of the “National Factory” began in 1740 in Vincennes (on the other side of Paris) until it moved west to Sèvres in 1759. At that point, it became owned by the French crown. In the time since, it has produced some of Europe’s most beautiful and valuable ceramics of the highest quality.
For a behind-the-scenes tour:
For a deep dive, watch the BBC’s documentary Beautiful Thing: A Passion for Porcelain:
For a bit about its history and works, watch the documentary A World of Excellence: The Story of Sèvres:
Performing Arts
New Beginnings

This time of year has always been a time for new beginnings, and for the JCC it has always meant gearing up for Summer Nights and Grad Nights. Well, this year is different: no Summer Nights and no grad night celebrations taking over every inch of our center. However, it still remains a time to reflect on the wonderful friends, experiences, and lessons we’ve gained along the way.

As the lockdown continues, and we are all faced with the uncertainties ahead of us, it is still the time for every one of us to celebrate our accomplishments. Although we at the Center are not decorating and prepping for our community graduations and high school grad nights we still want to send our best wishes.

We are wishing all the graduates⁠ —from pre-school to college, from dance school to acting classes, and all other graduates —a happy graduation, wondrous adventures, and best of health.

OUR HATS ARE OFF TO ALL OF YOU!
Hang in there. We are making history together.
Watch John Krasinski and Some Good News, the graduation edition.
During lockdown and graduating to the next step ahead...I thought we could use a dose of poppy/upbeat/sing-along music and dig up some brave, positive energy. Here’s Sara Bareilles' Brave, the official video.
Tikkun Marin Spotlight
Please help those in need?
In community with Venetia Valley, ExtraFood.org, Seed Releaf, Marin Ace, and Dine11, Congregation Rodef Sholom will be hosting a weekly pop-up food and donation distribution center for Venetia Valley families on Thursday afternoons.

Donations can be dropped off at Rodef Sholom on Thursdays from 1:30-2:15pm.


For questions, email Moji at moji@rodefsholom.org .

The list of needs includes:
  • Toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, body wash, and deodorant
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Detergent or bags of quarters
  • Toilet paper
  • Cereal
  • Gift cards from Safeway or Target
  • Gloves and masks
  • Paper and plastic bags to use for distribution

Please note: To our members who donated school supplies to the JCC's Venetia Valley school supply collection, these goods will still be distributed once the shelter in place is lifted. Thank you for your generous help!

Jewish Peoplehood
More Mistakes & Inspiration

We are pleased to present a glimpse into fiber artist Nancy Bardach's process. This is part of a series of short "virtual artist talks" that gives us a look into three very different artistic practices.

The artists and works featured are part of  Mistakes, Deconstruction & Surprises: Exploring Creative Process , a group exhibit with work by Nancy Bardach, Lauren Bartone, and Cindy Ostroff, that will be on view to the public once the Osher Marin JCC reopens.
To access Nancy's video, click the link above, and then press "Play" on the top image (make sure to expand your screen to see the full image).
Camp & Youth
S'more, please!
I know some of you must be missing our Camp S'mores . We know we sure are!

We are happy to share this epic S'mores Cheesecake recipe!

Consider making this campy s'mores cheesecake for the upcoming holiday of Shavuot!
Early Childhood Education
Find the alphabet
in your house.
Let's play the alphabet game. Have fun searching for objects in your home that begin with each letter of the alphabet.

Then join Teacher Melody to sing the ABCs and see what she's found in her house!
Jewish Engagement
Make Shabbat great again.

The whole point of Shabbat, the Sabbath, is that it be radically different than the rest of the week. We refrain from work (and a long list of things, if you’re a letter-of-the-law type), and we instead focus on rest and the miracle of creation. But what happens in a global pandemic when each day bleeds into the next and when Saturday is just another Wednesday where you find yourself in sweats and binging on Netflix?

We need Shabbat now more than ever. It’s a day to temporarily wipe away the mundane; the sadness, fear, or boredom; the pace and pressure of our daily lives, and we focus on what is meaningful and eternal. Nature. Breath. Gratitude. Family. Reflection.
Consider how a dream Shabbat might look for you in the time of Covid. Cook something special ⁠ —perhaps an old family recipe. Try meditating. Reach out to an old friend or cousin who lives miles away. Luxuriate in a bubble bath. Hug a tree. Go through old photos or family videos. Start thinking, now, about how to make the day special for you. Then, after you feel nurtured by the day, move carefully from the sacredness of Shabbat to the rest of your week with the knowledge that whatever else happens in our crazy, mixed-up world, Shabbat will return once again.
Health & Fitness
HEALTHY COOKING RECIPE
Blueberry Mint
Nice Cream*

I wanted to share one of the healthy and delicious recipes that my husband and I eat; we've been experimenting and making our own ice cream (we like to call it "nice cream"). We eat a plant based diet so all the ingredients are vegan but you can substitute the soy milk with regular milk if you like.

You will need
  • 2 cup frozen bananas
  • 4 cups frozen blueberries
  • 4 to 6 fresh mint leaves
  • 1/8-1/4 cup milk depending how creamy you want it (we use soy but you can use any plant or animal based milk)
  • 4 tablespoons syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla (optional)

Directions
In a high-speed blender or food processor combine all the ingredients. Pulse on low to medium-low until crumbly, stop and scrape down sides once or twice. blend till smooth and creamy.
Transfer to a freezer-safe container.

Enjoy your delicious treat!

*This recipe was inspired from Forks over Knives' May issue, page 38.
Shout-Outs & Celebrations
Would you like to place a shout-out
into a future issue of this Virtual JCC?
Stay well, Friends.
We miss you!
Expect Issue #18 on Tuesday, May 26th.