Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning at Metro

**M01. ZOOM. "Thought-provoking and uplifting Zoom sessions on culture, philosophy, religion, politics and other human endeavors!" Hossur Srikantan. Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Oct. 13, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10 (10 sessions): 10:00am-11:15am. Email hsrikantan@aol.com (99 max)

Description: Choose diverse and engaging topics that span various disciplines: Culture: Explore art movements, cultural traditions, or cross-cultural comparisons. Philosophy: Discuss ethical dilemmas, metaphysical concepts, or influential philosophical works. Religion: Examine religious texts, interfaith dialogues, or the role of spirituality in modern society. Politics: Analyze current events, political systems, or historical political movements. Invite guest speakers, including scholars, practitioners, or community leaders, to provide expert insights.

**Tu02. ZOOM. “Portrait Artistry in Watercolor.” Sept. 16 (1 session): 11:30a-12:30p. Deborah Rappaport. Email: dmorgaport@gmail.com (99 max)

Description: Debbie is a freelance graphic designer and artist who combines decades of advocacy and communications experience with the visually creative intuition that brings designs to life. She spent 25 years directing advocacy campaigns and policy communications before returning to school to study graphic design. After completing her education, Debbie worked for The Hatcher Group, a full-service communications firm focusing on supporting mission-driven organizations and foundations in the Washington, DC area.
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Most recently, during the pandemic, Debbie felt she needed something to give her hope and purpose beyond the workplace. And that was when art found me her in a new way. Debbie began watercolor painting only a few years ago, and now it is a major facet of her life.

**Tu08. ZOOM. “ Ekphrastic Poetry: Experience the Beneficial Effect of Poetry and Art.” Deborah Gerrish, EDD, MFA. Oct. 7, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11 (5 Sessions): 1:00p-2:15p. Email: shakabeee@aol.com (20 max)

Description: Poetry and the visual arts, and art in general, can have a therapeutic effect on us. Students will be inspired by reading poetry and viewing works of art. Ekphrastic poems paired with paintings (the encounter between literary works and artworks) will be the springboard for telling our own stories as we respond and give voice to an actual work of art by Van Gogh, Matisse, Hopper, Rothko, and more. It was William Butler Yeats who once said, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” And poet Muriel Rukeyser once said, “The universe is not made of atoms but of stories.” May your imagination be enlightened by the poems and paintings of the great masters as well as the contemporary luminaries. Please join us for meaningful sessions chock full of enriching poetry and art! (You do not have to write since it is voluntary!)
 
DEBORAH GERRISH is an award-winning poet and author of three books of poetry: Indeed Jasmine (2022), Light in Light (2017), The Language of Paisley (2012), and chapbook, The Language of Rain (2008). Her poems have appeared in many journals and anthologies. Her poem, “A Precis on the Stuff We Breathe” was a finalist in The Comstock Review, Muriel Craft Bailey Poetry Contest, 2024. Her work is featured as poetry films in Moving Words. She earned an EDD from Rutgers University, received the Edward Fry Fellowship for scholarship research, holds an MFA in Poetry from Drew University, taught English for over thirty-five years in NJ public schools, and teaches poetry workshops in the FILL program. She lives in NJ with her husband Jim, and cat, Yeats.

**Tu12. ZOOM. “Current Events Roundtable.” Ken Spencer.  Sept 16, 30, Oct 14, 28, Nov 11, 25, Dec 9 (7 sessions): 4:00 - 5:15.  Email: spencerken1946@gmail.com (99 max)

Description:  Roundtable discussion of international, national and local non-political news, including a game show format of “What happened on this date in history in the USA”? Classes may include discussion of financial market trends, local community activities, Broadway shows, musicals, theater,  streaming movies, and health care matters for seniors. Recommended cocktail recipes will be discussed.

**Tu13. ZOOM. “History of Russian Cinema.” Benjamin Rifkin, Ph.D. Aug. 26, Sept. 2 Sept 9, 16, 25*, 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec. 2 (15 sessions): 8p-9:15p. Email: b.rifkin@fdu.edu (99 max)

NOTES: all classes meet on Tuesdays EXCEPT for Sept. 25 which is a Thursday; students will need to pay for film rentals (some films available free on YouTube with subtitles, others have a rental fee of $3 to $5); all the films we will screen for this course have English subtitles. Most of the films we will screen for this course have mature themes and have or would be rated R in the context of the US motion picture industry, due to language, graphic violence, and scenes of a sexual nature.

**W04. ZOOM. “The Israeli Political System and its History.” Naomi Wish, Ph.D. Nov. 12, 19, Dec. 3, 10 (4 sessions): 10:00a- 11:15a. Email: Naomi.Wish@shu.edu (99 max)

Description:  Israel is in the news every single day, and the news of the day usually focuses on a conflict in which Israel is involved. This course does NOT focus of the current conflict or any since Israel was established in 1948. Instead, this course covers two major topics that are critical for a deeper understanding of the current situation. The first focuses on the history of Zionism and pre-state Israel. The second includes a more in-depth analysis of the Israeli political system i.e., its executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Dr. Naomi Bailin Wish, Professor Emerita at Seton Hall University, is a national leader in the field of Nonprofit and Philanthropic Studies.  She recently retired from Seton Hall University (SHU) after teaching there for 45 years.  She has published in many journals including Public Administration Review, The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, and International Studies Quarterly. 
 
As a Political Science professor, she taught a course on the political system in Israel quite a few times.  She took both graduate and undergraduate SHU students to Israel in 2008 and 2010 and taught her course there as well as at Seton Hall itself. She taught a similar course on Israel in the Fairleigh Institute for Lifelong Learning last year.

**W06. ZOOM. “The Other Constitution:  Writing and Reading the New Jersey Constitution.” Stephen Eisdorfer, J.D. Sept. 3, 10, 17, Oct. 1, 8, 15 (6 sessions): 11:30-1p. Email: smeisdorfer@gmail.com (25 max)

Description: Everyone knows something about the U.S. Constitution.  Hardly anyone knows anything about the New Jersey Constitution.  Yet, the N.J. Constitution has a much more direct impact on our lives.   We will think together about the task of drafting of a state constitution.  What policy choices were available to the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1947?  Which did they choose?  What were the consequences of those policy choices.  After the first session, we will pursue those consequences topically, focusing selectively on the resulting controversies and conflicts, which continue to roil New Jersey politics. The primary mode of this course is conversation, discussion and debate.
 
Bio: Stephen Eisdorfer is a graduate of Haverford College and Harvard Law School. He clerked for the New Jersey Supreme Court, practiced law for 45 years, was an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and argued a dozen cases concerning the New Jersey Constitution before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

**Th03. ZOOM. “A Brief History of the 20th Century, Part 15.” Arnold Goldstein, Ph.D. Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 20 (6 sessions): 10:00a-11:15a. Email: arnoldmgoldstein@aol.com (99 max)

Description: The 20th century was one of remarkable change in essentially all aspects of the human experience. This multi-semester course explores the major themes and events that made the 20th century unique in recorded history. Key to understanding the 20th century is  the First World War which represented the “coming of age” of the United States on the world stage. Future lectures will focus on America’s role in ending the war and the impacts of the war on America. Also, we will discuss in some depth the Treaty of Versailles which ended the war and the 1919-1939 inter-war period that witnessed economic upheavals, revolutions and civil wars, the rise of dictatorships, “ethnic cleaning” and the runup to the Second World War and the Cold War. The current wars in Ukraine and the Holy Land can be traced back to World War I. There will be six lectures, each of which will be online via Zoom teleconferencing. There is no limit to the number of attendees. Both new and returning students are welcome. 
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Bio: Arnold Goldstein received his Ph.D. from the City University of New York. He was an Adjunct Professor at NJIT and has lectured at numerous venues including public libraries, retiree clubs, and a cruise ship. He has been an instructor in the FILL program for eight years and received the FILL Teacher of the Year Award for the 2017-2018 academic year.

**Th04. ZOOM. “Where on Earth is the U.S.? Are we in the Top-10?” Doug Stowell, Market Resource Associates. Dec. 4 (1 session): 10:00a-11:30a. Email: dwstowell10@gmail.com (99 max)

Description: The 20th century was one of remarkable change in essentially all aspects of the human experience. This multi-semester course explores the major themes and events that made the 20th century unique in recorded history. Key to understanding the 20th century is  the First World War which represented the “coming of age” of the United States on the world stage. Future lectures will focus on America’s role in ending the war and the impacts of the war on America. Also, we will discuss in some depth the Treaty of Versailles which ended the war and the 1919-1939 inter-war period that witnessed economic upheavals, revolutions and civil wars, the rise of dictatorships, “ethnic cleaning” and the runup to the Second World War and the Cold War. The current wars in Ukraine and the Holy Land can be traced back to World War I. There will be six lectures, each of which will be online via Zoom teleconferencing. There is no limit to the number of attendees. Both new and returning students are welcome. 
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Bio: Arnold Goldstein received his Ph.D. from the City University of New York. He was an Adjunct Professor at NJIT and has lectured at numerous venues including public libraries, retiree clubs, and a cruise ship. He has been an instructor in the FILL program for eight years and received the FILL Teacher of the Year Award for the 2017-2018 academic year.

**Th06. ZOOM. “Tips and Tricks for Mastering Your Apple Devices.” Debra Goldfaden. Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 20 (6 sessions):  11:30a-12:45p. Email: debragoldfaden@me.com (99 max)

Description: We will explore, through demonstrations, the newest features and changes to the Apple ecosystem as updates to apps and the operating systems enable us to do more with our devices (iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple Watch).
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It can be perplexing how to use our devices especially since many elements have been hidden in different menus with each update!  Keep current and learn what has changed. We will spend time reviewing with time for Q&A in each session.  For those new to Apple devices, please bring your questions!  Step by step instructions are provided along with video recordings of each session to peruse at your own speed.