The Education Center at Temple Beth Israel looks toward fall semester

School is back in session on Longboat Key. 

As of Nov. 4, the Education Center at Temple Beth Israel will start its fall semester with a new series, "Holistic Health and Wellness."

Education Center Program Manager Susan Goldfarb thought it would be the perfect way to welcome back Longboaters after weeks of stress due to the hurricane season. 

"People, right now, need stimulation," said Goldfarb. "After what we have been through, people need relaxation and healing. This new series will be the relaxing stimulation they need to get ready for the season." 

The series will include four expert lectures beginning on Nov. 14. The first presentation will discuss how Feng Shui promotes balance and healthy energy throughout your home and life. Students can attend a sound bath the following week to see how it improves focus, boosts energy levels and reduces stress.

The next presentation, "The Unconscious - Where All Great Solutions Are Located," will take students through clinical hypnotism and how to use it to better their lives. The last lecture will introduce different healing arts from Japan, such as energy healing and bodywork. 

For other fall classes, perennial favorites such as yoga, Qigong and painting will return. Dissect classic cinema with film guru Gus Mollasis as he leads enticing discussions on "hidden gem" films. Students can also start their new favorite hobbies by learning the tricks of Mahjong, canasta and bridge.

In Nordic Walking, Sam DiGiammarino will teach how walking with Nordic walking poles activates nearly 90% of muscles in the human body. While improving balance and reducing the strain on your bones, it is also a great program to make friends on fun walks around Longboat. 

Similarly, discover "The Nature of Longboat Key" on nature walks with the longtime lecturer at the Education Center, Elliot Prout. According to Goldfarb, Prout plans to explore how the island's nature was affected after Hurricane Helene and Milton.

Goldfarb is most excited for the winter season, which is when most of her snowbird students will be returning due to the impact of the hurricanes. 

Staying in tune with current events, the winter semester starts with a two-part series called "Hot Topics." Anne Golden will lead a civil discussion about the 2024 election season as a way for people to respectfully share their views. 

Goldfarb is also excited about the Education Center's first play reading starring the Temple's very own Rabbi Stephen Sniderman. Betty Mohr created and directed "Einstein's Compass," following the story of Albert Einstein since childhood. Along with his accomplishments in science, the reading will take the audience through hard times in Einstein's life, like how Germany's anti-semitism transformed his view of his Jewish heritage. 

Along with a variety of new programs, people can enjoy jazz happy hours every week at Wine Down Wednesday starting in January. The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is also coming back to perform for the most attended event at the Education Center. 

Goldfarb prides herself on the amount of new programs she adds each semester. She said it is important to keep the longtime regulars on their toes. 

"I have such a dedicated group of people that have been coming forever," said Goldfarb. "So, there is this pressure to change everything. They don't want to look at the same stuff every year. They want new stuff. And frankly, it is my passion to find those new programs."