Congregant Workshops provide an opportunity for Temple members to share their interest and expertise with others in small, informal meetings around a topic of mutual interest.  The Workshops are free but registration is required.

Click on Topic for more information.

To Register:  Contact Deborah Mancini  (mancinid5@gmail.com) or Abraham Tesser (atesser@uga.edu) with the name of the workshop in which you wish to participate.

The following Workshops are scheduled for 2015-2016.

Leader Topic date/time  Place
Nicole Lazar and Alexandra Moore Israeli Folk Dance Workshop

Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, 4:00-6:00 PM  CCI
Angela Meltzer An Appreciation of Modern (and not so modern) ART quilts Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, 6:45-8:00 PM CCI
Rabbi Eric Linder Play, Sing Create—Jam! Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, 7:00-8:30 PM Rabbi’s Home
Gary Grossman The Ukulele and You Sunday, January 10, 2016, 1:30-3:30 PM CCI
Phillis Wolk Ashkenazic Cooking Traditions—from Borscht to Schmaltz Sunday, January 24, 2016, 3:00-5:00 PM Phillis’ home (kosher) kitchen
Marc Weiszer Georgia Football Beyond The Hedges Sunday, Feb. 21 2016, 3:00-4:30 PM CCI
Bob Galen

Conflicting News About Health and Disease:

What’s wrong with medical research?

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

7:00-8:30 PM

CCI
Al Davison Bass Fishing Small Waters Sunday, April 3, 2016, 5:00 PM – Sunset Al and Heidi’s Pond
Bruce Johnson Drone Photography: A view from Above Sunday, April 17, 2016, 3:00-4:30 PM CCI
Lauren Zeichner Let the Sweet things Roll! Making a Roulage au Chocolat (flourless, chocolate roll cake) Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 7:30 PM CCI

 

Israeli Folk Dance Workshop
October 18, 2015, 3:00 PM

CCI


Dance to the rhythmic beats of Israeli folk songs infused with the
spirited and mesmerizing melodies of Hasidic and Yemenite traditions.
This workshop will focus on learning the basic steps and styles of
classic Israeli circle dances inspired by elements of Hora, Hasidic,
and Yemenite forms. Timeless and enduring dance favorites, these
dances remain popular at Israeli dance groups and dance festivals
world-wide. The workshop is free. No prior experience is necessary.

Nicole Lazar is a professor of statistics in the Department of
Statistics at the University of Georgia. She has danced with Israeli
dance groups in Israel, Palo Alto, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Alexandra Moore is an educator in the arts and humanities. She has had
a career in modern dance as performer, choreographer and teacher. A
lifelong enthusiast of Israeli dance she has danced with Israeli dance
groups in Berkeley, Boston, Atlanta, and Miami.  In recent years she
has participated in many Israeli dance workshops featuring instruction
of new dances by Israeli dance choreographers.

An Appreciation of Modern (and not so modern) ART quilts
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, 6:45-8:00 PM

CCI

The workshop will expose the participants to quilts with vibrant colors and patterns that “bounce” off of the background fabrics.  There will be modern quilts and art quilts, and an opportunity to appreciate the finer skills of many experienced quilters.  Think: “The Quilts of Gees Bend” and the old, stunningly vibrant Amish quilts.  In addition you will be introduced  to the world of Japanese quilts and their use of an old technique called SASHIKO that they incorporate in their beautifully modern designs of garden and mountain scenes.  The workshop will NOT be a “How to Quilt” although several of Angela’s quilts will be discussed

Angela Meltzer, a forever-retiring forensic CPA, has returned to a long-ago interest in quilting. In between visits to and from her 2 adult children in Rochester & Nicaragua and her 4 precious grandsons, she serves on CCI SPC and other local boards and committees. In addition to quilting, she loves any opportunity/excuse for pastry baking. She and her husband, Richard, spend lots of time in the Asheville area, where they both have studios to relax, do pottery, quilt and follow Richard around the mountains birding. 

 

Play, Sing, Create – Jam!

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, 7:00-8:30 PM

 Rabbi’s Home.

Rabbi Linder has a deep love for music. Since starting on the saxophone in the sixth grade, he has dabbled in guitar, blues harmonica, piano, and the ukulele. He has an assortment of electronic software and studio equipment to enhance the music-making experience.  If you play an instrument, or are interested in studio gadgetry, come on down to the basement studio and let’s make some tunes!

Rabbi Linder moved to Athens GA in 2012. Raised in Plantation, FL, he developed a love for Judaism while being involved in youth group.  While singing, playing, praying and making friends at URJ Camp Coleman, he realized the power of Jewish community. He believes strongly that the Torah can be a vehicle for personal growth, as it calls each of us to Lech L’cha, venturing courageously forward into our lives. He brings his passions of music, movies and iDevices to the rabbinate.

The ukulele and you

Sunday, January 10, 2016, 1:30-3:30 PM

CCI

This workshop will focus on a brief history, structural description, and basic playing of the ukulele.  No prior musical experience is required although a ukulele and tuner are necessary for the workshop. Students will learn how to tune, strum and play basic chords on the ukulele. At the end, students should be able to play several two and three chords songs. I will focus on function i.e., teaching you how to play successfully, rather than form.   (Children must be accompanied by a parent.)

I, Gary Grossman, am a professor of animal ecology at UGA and I’ve been playing the ukulele for 4 years.  I love to play Appalachian folk songs and write songs about nature and life. My youtube channel is www.youtube.com/user/garydg29

 

Ashkenazic Cooking Traditions–from Borscht to Schmaltz
Sunday, January 24, 2016, 3:00-5:00 PM

Phillis’ home (kosher) kitchen.

We will talk about how traditional “Jewish foods” arrived in the US. There will be demonstrations and hands on cooking as well as tasting our attempts at these dishes. (Nu–you have to eat something)
Biography


I, Phillis Wolk, am a speech pathologist by day and a Jewish mother at night.  I have lived in many different regions of the country, by choice and chance.  My grandparents are from  Poland, Galicia, the Ukraine, Latvia and Romania

 

Georgia Football Beyond The Hedges

Sunday, Feb. 21 2016, 3:00-4:30 PM

CCI

Hunker Down for a discussion on why University of Georgia football is much more than six or seven Saturdays in the fall in Athens. It’s a year-round obsession. From recruiting season to spring practice to summer workouts and the actual game. Sure, Herschel is an icon but so are Uga, Larry Munson and Vince Dooley.

Marc Weiszer has covered Georgia athletics for the Athens Banner-Herald since 2003. He primarily covers football and men’s basketball. He is a native of Potomac, Md., and a graduate of the University of Maryland and Columbia University. The Associated Press Sports Editors has four times recognized him with awards, including for beat writing in two of the last three years. He is married to Dr. Tara Weiszer. They have two kids, Jacob and Alyssa.

 

Conflicting News about Health and Disease: What’s Wrong with Medical Research?

Tuesday, March 15, 2016, 7:00-8:30 PM

CCI

A week doesn’t go by without news about new medical research findings or at least new guidelines for screening or treatment. These come from professional societies (American Medical Association), national organizations (American Cancer Society) or government agencies (CDC). The news often contradicts current screening and treatment protocols and is unfortunately not unanimous among the various societies or agencies. This workshop will focus on “how we know what we know” using a few examples currently under debate to demonstrate the above chaos. There will be ample time for discussion and finally some ideas about how to deal with this frustrating state of affairs.

Bob Galen is presently professor emeritus in UGA’s College of Public Health where he was co-founder and senior associate dean. Prior to coming here he was on the faculty of Columbia University (where he trained) and Department Chair and Lab Director at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. His most popular book, “Beyond Normality” has been translated into German, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese, among other languages he does not speak. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists and in 2010 was inducted into the National Public Health Honor Society. He also served as a member of the board of the Athens Jewish Film Festival.

Bass Fishing Small Waters

Sunday, April 3, 2016, 5:00 PM – Sunset

Al and Heidi’s pond

This workshop will focus on the basics of fishing for largemouth bass in small ponds.   Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment but a limited selection of rods and reels will be available.  

Artificial baits will be provided – live bait will not be used.

Youngsters (12 years old and up) are welcome but please be advised that they must bring their own rods and reels as Al only owns large, custom-made, very expensive rods that are not suitable for youngsters.   Fly rods are discouraged except by special permission for very experienced anglers only.

The workshop will take place at a private pond within Clarke County owned by Al and Heidi Davison.

Beginners and first-time anglers are welcome!  

Al Davison has been bass fishing small waters for most of his life.   Al has a special love for ponds though he also enjoys fishing rivers and the bigger lakes occasionally.

Drone Photography: A View from Above

Sunday, April 17, 2016, 3:00-4:30

CCI

In this Workshop Bruce will demonstrate some of the things that can be done by the amateur photographer using (relatively) affordable drone mounted cameras.  He will discuss equipment, technical problems, FAA regulations, and the aesthetics of aerial photography/videography.  If you are curious about drone photography, are thinking about getting this type of equipment, or if you have experience in this realm that you would like to share you are most welcome to this workshop.

Bruce Johnson, a chemist by vocation, has been an avid photographer for 40+ years.  He has been particularly interested in nature photography and remote image capture with internet-connected cameras.  Bruce has recently acquired a drone mounted camera and that has captured his interest anew.  It is this latter interest that he will be sharing in this Workshop.

Let the Sweet things Roll! Making a Roulage au Chocolat (flourless, chocolate roll cake)

Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 7:30 PM

CCI

In our family each birthday is celebrated with a Chocolate Roll. This is a cake made with only eggs, sugar and chocolate, and filled with fresh-whipped flavored cream. Made without flour, it is also perfect for Passover.

In this workshop, I will demonstrate how to make and roll this delicacy. All secrets to making this simple, but tricky confection will be shared.

Afterwards, tea, and chocolate roll will be served.

 

I, Lauren Zeichner, come from a large, extended family that loves to COOK! That’s what we do when we are together. We talk food, we share recipes, we prepare dishes, and sometimes we also eat. Since my Aunt, the matriarch, is a Registered Dietitian, all selections veer toward local, fresh, and healthy.

As a Landscape Architect and Potter, it has often been about growing fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking, or making vessels to hold and present food.