Exploring Opera: Jewish Treasures

Three Thursdays, December 3-17 

4-5:30pm (EST) on Zoom

Join popular San Francisco Bay Area opera instructor (and Osher Marin JCC colleague) James Sokol for delightful musical journeys celebrating the careers & talents of Jewish artists whose work has graced many operatic stages; true operatic treasures! Audio & video clips bring the beauty and excitement of opera into the discussion. This is a wonderful series for the opera newcomer and the long-time fan!

Marvelous Marrakech

Four Mondays, December 7-28

2:00-3:15pm (EST) on Zoom

Pour yourself a cup of mint tea and join Trip Leader James Sokol on our virtual trips to this magical North African country, so different from most Arab-dominant countries. Morocco has its own unique, fascinating culture – a blend of indigenous Berber, Arabian, Sub-Saharan African & European (Christian & Jewish) influences. In this first series on Morocco, join our wonderful, local guide – Nabil – for visits around his diverse, vibrant, 1000-year-old city to discover wonders that await!

Join us for the full series or for single visits - whatever works best for you! Save! Purchase "Series" or "Advance” tickets soon!

Our Visits Include:

• Morocco Overview & Marrakech's Medina (Dec 7)
• The Gardens of Marrakech (Dec 14)
• Moroccan-Jewish Life (Dec 21)
• Koutoubia Mosque & Local Muslim Life (Dec 28)

Songs of Light: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of Hanukkah  

Sunday, December 13 

4:00pm-5:30pm (EST) on Zoom

Whether celebrating “the Festival of Lights” or not, join San Francisco Bay Area instructor James Sokol to journey through an array of music – Broadway, pop, opera & more! – exploring the theme of “light” along the way.  

Free, made possible by our JCC in partnership with the Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael, CA).  

Still Traveling: Sensational Seville

Four Mondays, January 4-25, 2021

2:00-3:15pm (EST) on Zoom

Would you still like to travel? Now you can without leaving your home – just stay still! Let us whisk you away for an "armchair adventure" on an interesting, educational, fun & live, guided group tour in a destination beyond your front door.

Many tourists to southern Spain race to Grenada to visit the Alhambra, but overlook the capital and largest city of the region of Andalusia – Seville! Join Trip Leader James Sokol and our wonderful, professional, local guide to discover an array of fascinating and stunning facets of this sensational, yet quaint city.

“Tours" Include:

• Historical Overview & the Alcazar (Jan 4)
• The Cathedral & Giralda (Jan 11)
• Barrio Santa Cruz & Jewish Seville (Jan 18)
• Modern Seville (Jan 25)

Broadway Backstage

Four Thursdays, January 7-28, 2021  

4:00-5:30pm (EST) on Zoom

Let Osher Marin JCC Program Director & Broadway/opera instructor James Sokol sneak you in the Stage Door to go “backstage” on Broadway! Meet special guest theater professionals – who bring unique expertise, experiences & insights to the discussion – at our exclusive, live, behind-the-scenes visits. Photos/video clips (when available) will enrich the experience. January guests include:

• Randy Graff – The Veteran (Jan 7)
• Kelli Barrett – The One to Watch (Jan 14) 
• James Moye – The Actor/Director (Jan 21)
• Carolee Carmello - The "Go to Gal" (Jan 28)

Come learn, off-stage, what makes the magic happen on-stage!

Songs of Dreams: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of MLK Day 

Monday, January 18, 2021

5:00-6:30pm (EST) on Zoom

“…even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Martin Luther King, Jr’s famous 1963 speech still resonates today. To celebrate this visionary leader, join James Sokol to journey through an array of music – Broadway, pop, opera & more! – exploring the theme of “dreams.”

Exploring Opera: Sensational Seville

Monday, January 25, 2021

4:30-6:00pm (EST) on Zoom

The glorious capital of Andalusia is the setting of more than 100 operas! Of course, there’s Rossini’s famous The Barber of ________ (can you fill in the blank?) with its sparkling vocal fireworks, but there are works by Bizet, Mozart, Verdi, and others with equally beautiful music. Join popular San Francisco Bay Area opera appreciation instructor & trip leader James Sokol for an operatic journey though Seville, seeing a few of the works’ sites and basking in performance video clips of some of these musical masterpieces!