T uesday, June 2, 2020. Issue 19.


 " In the end, we will remember not
the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends. ”

~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


The Osher Marin JCC honors the blessed memories of Mr. George Floyd, Ms. Breonna Taylor, Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, and each dear soul who tragically and unjustly preceded them.

We pray that our nation and our hearts be healed of racism and hate in all its forms.
Adult Learning & Living
Virtual Music & Morsels

Concert Pianist Ian Scarfe
presents
Musical Excursions

Wednesday, June 3
1:00pm via Zoom

Pre-registration required
Thanks to our donors, I am thrilled to invite you to our LIVE, FREE concert!
Join a musical excursion as pianist and historian Ian Scarfe performs and discusses classical masterpieces that celebrate and depict the outdoors:

  • Samuel Barber's 1944 piano works Excursions.
  • Claude Debussy's impressionistic scene Reflections in the Water.
  • Frederic Chopin's masterpiece, the Barcarolle, Op. 60.

Be entertained live and enriched by Scarfe’s insights into these beautiful works. Afterwards, stay for live Q&A to engage with and learn more from Ian.

For pre-registration and details, click button below.
‌

Hello, June!
Have you noticed?

Jasmine, roses, wisteria—all are filling our noses with a fragrant announcement to another colorful summer in Marin.

While a mask might keep the pollen and other nasties at bay, we hope you enjoy the visual feast.

Strange times, yes, but the season is reliable and sure to tickle our every sense. Partake!
Jewish Engagement
Loneliness...
It's a thing in ordinary times. These days, our sense of isolation is on steroids. Loneliness can lead to depression and can lower our ability to fight disease. Thankfully, there's Jewish wisdom to help us navigate this terrain.

Tablet Magazine offers a cure for loneliness. To read the article click the button below.
A Guided Sharing:
Loneliness Now
Thursday, June 11
3:00-3:45pm
The Bay Area Jewish Healing Center (BAJHC) is offering an intergenerational sharing entitled Loneliness Now, June 11, 3:00 - 3:45pm. It will be guided by Kyla Sokoll-Ward, Rabbi Eric Weiss, and Maxine Epstein LCSW. BAJHC describes this as a community-wide moment of tenderness. Framing our current situation that way is, in itself, a soothing balm.

To participate, email program@bajhc.org and you will receive the link the day before.
Cultural Arts & Trips
DESTINATION
Venice
Called the "Olympics of the Art World," the Venice Biennale has infused the historic and tourist-clogged city every two years since 1895. Contemporary art installations and exhibitions fill the famous Giardini (“Gardens”), Arsenale (“Arsenal”), and other venues throughout the city. Let me take you back to 2019 to discover Venice’s 58th International Art Exhibition titled: May You Live In Interesting Times.
An introduction with curator
Ralph Rugoff:
See “Best in Show.”
Tour the event.
Adult Learning & Living
Stay connected.
Learn Zoom.

Interested in attending the Zoom-hosted Adult Learning programs? Learn how to host your own meetings! We'd like to help, so we're offering FREE training classes, and we invite you to join one of our upcoming classes.
Learn Intermediate Zoom Skills
Wednesday June 3, 2020
10:00am PST (US and Canada)
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Performing Arts
There and Back Again

I was Zooming with James Sokol and we started talking about the great artists that have graced the Hoytt Theater Stage at the Osher Marin JCC. Our discussion made me think I should check-in on these old friends to see what has been keeping them busy. Watch the performances I found, have fun, and if you’d like to share a fave show, send me an email, I’d love to hear from you! lbolt@marinjcc.org.
The David Grisman Quintet played for the very first Summer Nights —28 years ago and consecutively for many following years. Here he is much more recently: David Grisman playing Tipsy Gypsy on the mandolin with Tommy Emmanuel on guitar.
Ira Glass and David Sedaris, both have graced our stage. When Ira performed at the JCC, David connected with me to “surprise” Ira by doing his introduction. David is a fabulously quirky, kind, wonderful guest and always had time for a good chat. Here’s a more recent piece that he did for one of Ira Glass’s shows.
Entertainment
Two Mockumentaries & a Joyous Musical
Best in Show
2000. Available on Prime-Video Amazon.com and trailers on YouTube.
Be a guest at the highly competitive, tension filled Mayflower Dog Show. The scent of competition is in the air as we meet adorable canine contestants and their colorful owners. Director and costar Christopher Guest developed a group of “mockumentaries,” films of little rehearsal time, thin script, and ensemble improvised scenes. Guest told me the phrase “mockumentary” is not his favorite since he says his movies do not mock, but explore characters and situations. Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and the rest of his marvelous troopers keep this a fresh and funny look at the need to win, outrageous characters, and darling dogs that just somehow put up with it.
Waiting for Guffman
1996. Available on Prime-Video Amazon.com and trailers on YouTube.
Due to my own show business background, this Christopher Guest mockumentary gets to my funny bone every time. It’s the small town of Blaine, Mo. The town’s movers and shakers are about to celebrate their 150th anniversary by putting on a show: Red, White, and Blaine. Cowriter Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, and Fred Willard are part of the ensemble, but it is Guest himself who stars as Corky St. Clair, an eccentric and frustrated Broadway import to Blaine. Fred Willard was the first person cast by Guest and he told me he was thrilled not to have to learn lines. Then he realized he would have to personally develop the character of the town travel agent, who of course has never traveled. Everyone succeeds in this affectionate exploration of home town theatrics.
Hairspray
2007. Available on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
Put on comfy clothes and get ready to stand up and shake it a little! It’s 1960’s Baltimore. Dance loving teen Tracy Turnblad auditions for the big TV dance party and win, becoming a celebrity, influencer, and sensation. But what she wants more than fame is a chance to integrate the show itself. Based on John Waters 1988 comedy, this offbeat, wonderfully musical movie will have you dancing in the aisles. Just the opening number, Good Morning Baltimore, may do it for you. John Travolta plays this in drag as a shy mother ready to bust out of her norm. Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, and newcomer Nicole Blonsky add to the charm, fun, and showstopping musical numbers. One of our best recent musical comedies.
Jewish Peoplehood
Exploring the Creative Process
Meet local artist Lauren Bartone whose work is grounded in an interdisciplinary balance of painting, community dialogue, and collective work. Learn more about her visually and conceptually powerful art and process in this brief presentation, as part of the exhibit Mistakes, Deconstruction & Surprises. It will be on view at the Marin JCC when we are able to open again.

On the exhibit webpage, you can also explore brief artist talks from the other participating artists: Cindy Ostroff, printmaking and Nancy Bardach, quilts and textile art.
To access Lauren's video, click the button to the left, and then press "Play" on the top image (make sure to expand your screen to see the full image).
The Bay Area Book Festival (which traditionally filled streets and theaters in Berkeley with authors and book enthusiasts) is moving to an online series of programs, called #Unbound, which will run through the end of the year. The conversations, meant to "inform, inspire, console, and engage" are timely and far-reaching, with offerings for all interests and ages.

Check out the festival's June programs that include talks with Tiffany Shlain, Louise Aronson, David Talbot, and more.

Support and celebrate our local literary community!
Health & Fitness
An app just for you,
and it's FREE!

We've developed our very own app! It is totally free and a great way for you to stay connected and informed. It includes a link to our group fitness virtual schedule, and it's a great way for you to track your workouts to see how many calories you're burning. Plus, you'll find motivation and inspiration with fun challenges!

To get the app: Go to the Apple or Android app store and type "Marin JCC" into Search. Then download it to your smartphone.
Early Childhood Education
Find your inner butterfly!

Create Butterfly Art with JCC Preschool Teacher Alison . She demonstrates three ways to create these imaginative projects so you can share creative time with your children.
Development
You deserve a delicious meal this week!

Please take advantage of the generosity and culinary talents of Stacy Scott Catering and enjoy a delicious dinner while helping out the JCC! Stacy will be donating 15% of this week’s orders to our JCC.
 
Check out these amazing individual and family style meals:

  • Middle Eastern Mixed Grill with minted lamb kebobs, preserved lemon chicken, fire roasted veggies, and orange saffron basmati. Cucumber salata.

  • Grilled Wild Salmon with Lemon-parsley pistou, Capers and Artichokes Served with no pasta zuchinni "noodles," and charred sweet 100 tomatoes.

  • Ottolenghi Sweet and Savory Apricot Chicken with Red quinoa and colorful veggies

  • Handmade Butternut Squash Ravioli with Orange Sage cream, goat cheese, and toasted pecans (has dairy and nuts)

Dessert
Nectarine, blueberry and ricotta galette 

Bon App é tit!
Send a Special Shout-Out
And while we're at it, don’t forget to honor Dad, that special grad, a birthday, or just say thanks with our shout-out banners!
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 #20 on Tuesday, June 9th.