Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Come and kibbitz with us in Yiddish! Whether you are a fluent speaker of the "mama loshen," or know just a handful of words, you can have fun speaking and learning about this uniquely expressive language at Jewish Family Service's new Yiddish Club. Our meetings are on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Jewish Family Service, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown.

The club is led by Ralph Weiner, a longtime Allentown resident who grew up in a predominantly Yiddish-speaking home in South Philadelphia. He has taught Yiddish, which he relishes for its "tam," that special zest that spices conversation like none other.

Participation is free. Please call 610-821-8722 to let us know you will attend.

See picture of Yiddish Club >>

Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at JFS-LV, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown

It's as if it were yesterday-your wedding day, the cake your mother made for your bar mitzvah, your first day of school. All your memories-just waiting to be put into writing for your family, your friends, yourself!

Join us at Jewish Family Service for the fun of gathering your life stories and giving them form. You can create a memoir or an autobiography, a scrapbook with captions, or a story based on a family heirloom. Any subject from your life is conducive to reminiscence-be it the homes you've lived in, family celebrations you've enjoyed, places you've been, people you've known. Just think: Author Marcel Proust wrote a novel inspired by the recollection of a pastry!

Yours need not be a novel, however. Nor do you need any writing experience. Just bring writing materials and your questions and ideas. Meetings will be Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at JFS-LV, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown.

The series will be facilitated by Sondra Jacobs, who has master's degrees in English and counseling psychology plus experience conducting memoir-writing classes.

The classes are free of charge and made possible though the generosity of the Ruth P. Seruga Trust. To sign up, call 610-821-8722.

Wednesday, September 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Jewish Family Service, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown

Join us for “Learning for Life in the Senior Years,” a book and film discussion group with a unique slant.

Led by popular and dynamic facilitator Sondra Jacobs, the group for people ages 50 and older will explore family relationships, gender roles, historical events’ impact on individuals, and common human experiences from childhood to later life, through the media of extraordinary books and films.

The series begins with The Savages, an Oscar-nominated film about a sister and brother facing the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father. The first meeting of this monthly series will be on Wednesday, September 15 at 1:30 p.m. at Jewish Family Service, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown. Complimentary coffee and snacks will be served.

The first session is free, and the fee for subsequent meetings will be $3 per meeting, to help defray some expenses. This program has been supported in part by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Federal-State partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Support has also come from Lafayette Ambassador Bank and the Beverly Volk Fund for Special Programs at Jewish Family Service. Please call 610-821-8722 to let us know you will participate.

Monday, Sept. 20 at 10:00 a.m. Country Meadows, Allentown, Building 3, dining room.

Love of Judaism and art are combined in the creative work of Gloria Nelson, an award-winning, internationally-known porcelain artist. A presentation by the artist includes slides of the seder-plate presented to TV commentator Cokie Roberts, a challah tray given to anchorman Larry Kane and more. Please call 610-821-8722 by September 17 to let us know you will attend.