COURSES – SPRING 2026 / Old Courses
The courses listed below in alphabetical order were offered in previous semesters.
Click on any title to view the related course page.
THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV
Coordinators: Sheryl Harawitz, Andrea Irvine, Ellie Schaffer, Ellen Shapiro
Our study group will dive into the complex world of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, a masterpiece that explores the intricacies of faith, doubt, and morality through the lives of the Karamazov family.
THE GREAT GATSBY
Coordinators: Lynnel Garabedian, Sandy Kessler
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, written a century ago, has long since been revered as an American classic.
THE NEAR EAST
Coordinators: Ann Goerdt, Bob Gottfried, Ellen Gottfried
Search for a map of the Near, or Middle East and you will not find a consistent set of countries. In this course, we discuss the countries that are geographically east of the Mediterranean Sea, thus eliminating the countries of North Africa.
THE NOBEL PRIZES
Coordinators: Laura Lopez, Marion Schultheis
Since 1901 the prestigious and lucrative Nobel Prize has been awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Economics, Literature, and Peace.
THE SCARLET LETTER
Coordinators: Patricia Geehr, Arlene Curinga, Susan Keohane
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) American novelist and short story writer was born into an established old New England family.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
Coordinators: Tamara Weinberg, Marian Friedmann
The Twilight Zone was a successful TV series created by Rod Serling in which characters dealt with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described as entering “The Twilight Zone.”
THEATER TALKBACK
Coordinators: Yona Rogosin, Mary Ann Donnelly
This noontime discussion will meet in a relaxed environment to talk about experimental/avant-garde theater and offerings that we have seen recently and in the past, and to share reviews, upcoming shows to see – both experimental and traditional – and tips on how to get discount tickets. Film clips will also be shown.
TOCQUEVILLE'S DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
Coordinators: Sandy Kessler, Ellie Schaffer
Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America (1835;1840) is considered one of the greatest commentaries ever written on American life.
TONI MORRISON: THE LEGEND
Coordinators: Donna Ramer, Sheryl Harawitz, Tamara Weinberg
Through two of her books — Jazz and Song of Solomon — we’ll traverse Toni Morrison’s winding road into African mythology and mysticism, race and racism, the legacy of slavery, relationships, love and desire, violence and trauma that are a critical path as her characters search for identity.
WATER
Coordinators: Judy Weis, Pete Weis
Water. Something we interact with every day. We wash in it, cook with it, put our wastes into it, swim in it and travel in boats on it. In cold winter it freezes and we can skate or ski or sled on it. We shelter from it when it falls down from the sky. “Bad weather” usually involves it.