Program Description: Join us for lunch at the Templeton of Cary as realtor Emily Kaplan talks about downsizing. Get information on what you need to know before making important life decisions!

Where: Templeton of Cary, 215 Brightmore Drive, Cary, NC 27518

When: Tuesday, May 6 from 12-2pm

Cost: JCC members $10; General Community $18

For more information: gena.brown@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: You've talked with them on Facebook, now join with other Raleigh Jewish Moms for lunch! Meet new moms or hang out with ones you already know.

Please note that you are responsible for paying for your own lunch.

Where: Simply Crêpes Craft Kitchen Raleigh, 8470 Honeycutt Rd. #110, Raleigh, NC 27615

When: Wednesday, April 30 from 12-1:30pm

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: "The Joy of Text: An Intimate Look at Learning and Enjoying Jewish Wisdom Through Text Study"

12:30 Box Lunches

1:00 Program

Explore the satisfying terrain of Jewish wisdom through some well-known and loved classic texts. Make a new friend through interactive learning "chevruta style" - discussing text in pairs. As you dive into words of the practical, relevant, and sometimes mystical world of the Jewish sages, you will see how Jewish texts can transform how we think and how we live our lives. Come and be part of the old adage of how pairing two Jews can lead to three opinions. This is an intimate and fun experience of enjoying Jewish wisdom through study.

B.J. Davis has been involved in many branches of Judaism. He grew up in a Modern Orthodox synagogue, spent teen years in Reform organizations, and as an adult has been active in both the Conservative and Reconstructionist movements.

Since retiring as Director of Education at the NC Museum of History, BJ earned a Master’s degree in Jewish Studies at Gratz College, Philadelphia, learns each week with three chevruta (study partners), coordinates a bi-weekly Zoom morning minyan, and leads monthly Kabbalat Shabbat services at Magnolia Glen.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, April 23 from 12:30-2:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

Registration Deadline: April 18

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Come join the Ladies Who Lunch for some wonderful food and amazing conversations! This is a great way to meet new people and make a new friend. Our lunch for this month will be at Sophie’s Grill and Bar.

Where: Sophie’s Grill and Bar, 2734 NC-55, Cary, NC 27519

When: Tuesday, April 22 from 12-2pm

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: "A Tangled Immigration Version of the American Dream: Rubin Morris Hanan's Freedom"

When sixteen-year-old, Sephardic Jew, Rubin Morris Hanan, embarked in 1927 from the island of Rhodes to land in Montgomery, Alabama, he never dreamed of what lay in store for him. Decades later his writings reveal an immigration story with a fascinating trajectory - a version of the American dream in the early twentieth century that is more tangled than one might suspect, or even than Hanan himself expounded later in his writings.

Originally from Charlotte, Mimi Wooten is a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan's history department and a Todd M. Endelman fellow at the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Mimi studies the modern Sephardi diaspora in the US with a focus on the American South.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, March 19 from 12:30-2:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

Registration Deadline: March 14

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Join Ladies Who Lunch for wonderful food and conversation! Make new friends or visit with old ones. This month, we are dining at

Where: Outback Steakhouse, 7500 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh 27613

When: Tuesday, March 18 from 12-2pm

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: "My Forty Years as a Congregational Rabbi," is a collection of stories and anecdotes from Rabbi Mike Stevens serving congregations in Ohio, Montreal, and Indiana. Some of the stories are very funny, some are poignant or sad, and many are very inspiring. Question and answer session to follow.

Lunch provided by our friends at AROSA.

Where: Beth Shalom, 5713 Yates Mill Pond Rd., Raleigh, NC 27606

When: Tuesday, March 4 from 12-2pm

Cost: Beth Shalom and JCC members $10; General Community $18

Registration Deadline: Thursday, February 27

For more information: gena.brown@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: “My Childhood During WWII as a US Army Brat” with Laura Gutman

Laura Thurston Gutman, author of the 2024 memoir "Army Brat," lived her childhood folded into the middle of the US Army from before the attack on Pearl Harbor, throughout World War II, into the war's immediate aftermath, and up to the start of the Vietnam War. Her family was posted to many historically pivotal places and events of that era, including Hawaii where from her backyard she witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and life in post war Germany under Russian hostility. Laura's presentation will blend the nature of her childhood life with the unfolding of history during her father?s military assignments as a liaison officer in the US army.

Laura Gutman is a retired pediatrician living in Durham. A graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine in 1962, she is the author of the 2024 memoir, “Army Brat.”

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, February 26 from 12:30-2:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

Registration Deadline: February 21

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Join Ladies Who Lunch for wonderful food and conversation! Make new friends or visit with old ones. This month, we are dining at Vivo Ristorante.

Where: Vivo Ristorante, 7400 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615

When: Tuesday, February 18 from 12-2pm

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Come enjoy lunch with your friends. Our special guest is Jorie Slodki, who is sharing her knowledge of Yiddish and hoping you can share some too!

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Thursday, February 13 from 12:30-1:30pm

Cost: $8

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Abby Palmer will be joining us for lunch and will be discussing Mind Games & Healthy Aging Tips.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Thursday, January 30 from 12:30-1:30pm

Cost: $8

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Come join us for lunch at Craft Public House in Cary. Participants will pay for their own meal.

Where: Craft Public House, 1040 Tryon Village Dr., Cary, NC 27518

When: Tuesday, January 21 from 12-2pm

Registration Deadline: Friday, January 17

For more information: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Duke University Professor Carol Meyers: "Getting Old! Elderly Women in the Biblical Period"

Although there are many references to aging men in Torah, references to elderly women are virtually non-existent. Based on her latest book, Rediscovering Eve, a landmark study of women in ancient Israel, Prof Meyers will provide a glimpse into the lives of elderly women in the biblical period, showing that they made important contributions to household life and were recipients of respectful family-based eldercare.

Carol Meyers, the Mary Grace Wilson Professor of Religious Studies emerita at Duke University, has lectured and published widely in biblical studies and archaeology. Her reference work, Women in Scripture, is a comprehensive look at all biblical women; and her latest book, Rediscovering Eve, is a landmark study of women in ancient Israel. She has been a frequent consultant for media productions and has served as president of the Society of Biblical Literature.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, January 15 from 12:30-2:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Click here to register.

Program Description: Come join us for our first speaker of 2025, Leonard Rogoff, as we learn about the history of the Jewish South.

Leonard Rogoff is a former president of the Southern Jewish Historical Society and recipient of its lifetime achievement award.  He has taught at the University of North Carolina, North Carolina Central University, and Duke University.  He has lectured widely on the Jewish South and contributed to numerous anthologies and journals.  His books include Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina; Homelands: Southern Jewish Identity in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Gertrude Weil: A Jewish Progressive in the New South.  He currently serves as historian and president of Jewish Heritage North Carolina.

Lunch is provided by Seniors Helping Seniors.

Where: Beth Shalom, 5713 Yates Mill Pond Rd., Raleigh, NC 27606

When: Tuesday, January 7 from 12-2pm

Cost: $10

For more information: gena.brown@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: "What Makes Jerusalem Special?" with Prof. Jodi Magness

Prof. Jodi Magness' newest book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (Oxford University Press, 2024), presents a broad yet detailed account of Jerusalem, one of the world’s oldest, holiest, and most contested cities. Jodi's presentation will journey us back thousands of years to understand how this remote and relatively poor mountain town came to be sacred to followers of the three Abrahamic faiths.

If Prof. Jodi Magness seems familiar to you, you probably have seen her on numerous TV archeology programs. Archaeologist and scholar of religion, Dr. Magness serves as UNC's Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism. She has participated in 20 different excavations in Israel and Greece, including co-directing the excavations of  Masada's Roman siege works. Recent excavations led by Dr. Magness in Israel's Galilee have brought to light a monumental early 5th century synagogue with stunning mosaics .Among her award winning books are Masada: From Jewish Revolt to Modern Myth (2019 finalist - National Jewish Book Award in History); The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls (2003 winner Biblical Archaeology Society’s Award, Best Popular Book in Archaeology) and The Archaeology of the Early Islamic Settlement in Palestine (2006 Irene Levi-Sala Book Prize - Archaeology of Israel).

12:30pm - Box Lunches

1:00pm - Program

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, December 18, at 12:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Enjoy a festive Chanukah lunch at the JCC with the Ladies Who Lunch!

When: Tuesday, December 17 from 12-2pm

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

For more information: Leslie.Needham@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Dine with the Ladies Who Lunch at Milton's Pizza & Pasta!

When: Tuesday, November 19 from 12-1:30pm

Where: Milton’s Pizza & Pasta, 8853 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615

For more information: Leslie.Needham@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Play Jeopardy with Dina Stambler from Arosa! Lunch will be sponsored by Arosa.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 12:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $8

For more information contact: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Come out and meet all the wonderful moms you've been talking to on Facebook for years! Join us for lunch at Brier Creek Beer Garden.

Where: Brier Creek Beer Garden, 8521 Brier Creek Pkwy, Raleigh, NC 27617

When: Wednesday, November 6 from 12-1:30pm

For more information contact: leslie.needham@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action

Learn how to make a difference – and spread the word on how solutions to our Climate Crisis are available and affordable. As Jews, we are compelled to act, as our ancestors did, who faced extinction, with courageous action. The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our lifetimes.

Triangle’s Dayenu Circle will empower our Western Wake friends with “Climate Action tools” to address our heating planet earth. A quick review of the Climate Crisis will reveal how we are all impacted. Followed by the good news that solutions exist to “cool our planet,” and how they are gradually being implemented. The presentation will be enhanced by engaging participants interactively in meaningful and fun ways. The Renewable Energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable electric energy is happening – and we are all invited to participate.

The presentation will be given by Arthur and Anya Gordon. Now in retirement, Arthur founded and operated the Irregardless Cafe & Catering in Raleigh for 45 years. Irregardless Cafe was the first restaurant in North Carolina to enforce “No Smoking,” 25 years before the state of North Carolina mandated it. The Cafe also used Solar Panels to heat the hot water, and operated the Well-Fed Community Garden, 3 miles from the Cafe, which grew organic produce served at the Cafe. Anya served on the City of Raleigh’s Environmental Advisory Board as it’s Chairperson and cares passionately about our planet.

“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Albert Einstein

Where: Beth Shalom, 5713 Yates Mill Pond Rd. Raleigh, NC 27606

When: Tuesday, November 5 from 12-2pm

Cost: $10

For more information: gena.brown@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: "Conserving Judaic Objects in Your Home and at NC Museum of Art"
NC Museum of Art Curator of Judaic Art, Sean Burrus & Corey Riley, Objects Conservator 

Bring your Judaica objects from home (one object per person) for NC Museum of Art Curator of Judaic Art, Sean Burrus, and Objects Conservator, Corey Riley, to advise you on how to take care of your object. 

First on the program, Sean and Corey will share how the Museum takes care of its incredible collection of Jewish ceremonial objects, including conservation methods and treatments. Learn about recent conservation campaigns on Judaica including an 18th century Italian Torah curtain and a 19th century Algerian Torah crown.

12:30pm - Box Lunches

1:00pm - Program

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, October 30, at 12:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: “Playback Theatre: Storytelling & Theatre of the High Holidays” with Noa Roth

Playback Theatre is improv theater based on the audience's life stories and then reenacted in a creative and supportive way. In today's program the audience is invited to share a personal story from the high holiday season- a memory from childhood, or from years past, or perhaps something that happened this past year, or a hope for a fresh beginning. Noa will play these back in a monologue or a short scene.

Noa Roth instructs and acts in Playback theatrical groups in Israel and since coming to the US, in the Triangle. With a degree in Educational Theater from Tel Aviv University, she specializes in directing drama groups for children, adolescents and retirees. In addition, Noa is an award winning documentary filmmaker whose films are shown internationally.

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

When: Wednesday, September 18, at 12:30pm

Cost: JCC Members Free, General Community $18

For assistance registering: registrar@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Dine with the Ladies Who Lunch at the JCC! Bring a grocery store gift card or canned or boxed food to donate to the Federation Food Pantry while we collect for Good Deeds Day! Lunch will include cold salads, bagels, dessert and more.

When: Tuesday, September 17 from 12-1:30pm

Where: David R. Kahn Community Campus

For more information: Leslie.Needham@shalomraleigh.org

Program Description: Please join us for a lovely afternoon as the owner of Sophie’s in Cary, Desi Nikolova, treats us to a curated, family-style meal with specials from her home country of Bulgaria. She will spend time talking with us about the specialties of the Eastern European region, especially Bulgaria. Like many, she has a “sad love story” that brought her to the United States, but she turned hers into something beautiful. What goes better with a sad story turned into a passion, than food?

Where: Sophie’s Grill and Bar, 2734 NC-55, Cary, NC 27519

When: Tuesday, September 3, at 12:00pm

Cost: $18, paid directly to the restaurant on the day of the program. This will cover a pre-determined, family-style meal. You must have registered in advance.

For more information: gena.brown@shalomraleigh.org