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WISE Ones

WISE Ones - short for Wise and Inspiring Social Engagement - is Temple Isaiah’s vibrant 55+ community for Contra Costa County. Choose from two dynamic offerings: Out & About, with curated group excursions to botanical gardens, behind-the-scenes arts tours, zoo visits, San Francisco adventures, and more; or the Speaker Series, a monthly lunch-and-learn held every third Wednesday (BYO lunch at 11:15am, Program at 12pm in the Sanctuary, recorded for online viewing*). Both programs foster connection, enrichment, and fun. Whether you’re seeking outdoor camaraderie or engaging presentations, WISE Ones has something for you!

* WISE Ones Speaker Series recordings are approved for distribution by those featured.

Please subscribe to the weekly Shavua Tov email newsletter or check https://temple-isaiah.org/calendar/ for details. Questions? Contact Jan Trzesniewski at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Julie Bell at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

WISE Ones
WISE Ones

Join us for WISE Ones – our Wise and Inspiring Social Engagement program featuring speakers on a wide variety of topics, held on the third Wednesday of each month at Temple Isaiah. Bring your own lunch at 11:15am to the Sanctuary Foyer to dine and schmooze with friends, then gather in the Sanctuary at 12pm for a dynamic presentation by an engaging speaker. Most sessions are recorded for YouTube and featured on our website, per the approval of each speaker. Please subscribe to our weekly Shavua Tov newsletter or visit temple-isaiah.org/calendar. Questions? Contact Jan Trzesniewski (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Julie Bell (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)). Check out our latest video!


WISE Ones
WISE Ones

Are you 55 or older and eager to explore the vibrant East Bay and beyond with new friends? WISE Ones Out and About offers tailored activities nearby, at Temple, or surrounding cities. Whether you’re seeking companionship, cultural enrichment, or simply a fun day out, our active programs include outdoor excursions, movie and play discussions, symphony evenings, gallery showings, and more. Ready to connect, stay active, and make lasting memories? Click here to read our 2024 newsletter.
WISE Ones Speaker Series Recordings

2026 Recordings

1/21/26: Neighbors and Strangers: Immigration Today through a Jewish Lens with immigration lawyer Charles Nichol
https://www.youtube.com/live/CF53km6oq1Q

3/18/26: How do you feel about end of life? Join End of Life Doula and Temple Member Betsy Shandalov
https://youtube.com/live/QtvwcaL-m8o?feature=share

4/15/26: Mike Seitler: Father’s Holocaust survival story
https://youtube.com/live/HJoHlFofYRs?feature=share

5/20/26: Jon Kalan: Contra Costa Search and Rescue Team
https://youtube.com/live/2PK1bLS_kUQ?feature=share

6/17/26: WISE Ones with Evelyn Graetz: Volunteer Tourism
https://youtube.com/live/rTch6xkFrmU?feature=share

7/15/26: WISE Ones with William Manfred Adler, MD
https://youtube.com/live/UArrQoeaP-c?feature=share

10/21/26: WISE Ones with Rabbi Alissa Miller
https://youtube.com/live/DfLKrBe6PlI?feature=share

2025 Recordings

1/15/2025: Memory Loss and Aging with Julie Rettberg
https://youtube.com/live/oeq8tXLkeoo?feature=share

2/19/2025: Connected Horse with Judy Vared
https://youtube.com/live/BVM1UKlpKw0?feature=share

3/19/2025:  Music with Cantor Korn
https://youtube.com/live/wmephQe_W6o?feature=share

4/16/25: Consumer Fraud with Jenny Pardini
https://youtube.com/live/ZjszZY4jKKo?feature=share

5/21/25: Torah on the Couch: A Rabbi and a Psychiatrist Analyze Characters from the Holy Text with Rabbi Judy Shanks and James Gracer
https://youtube.com/live/gu4nfCNcaEI?feature=share

6/18/25: Evelyn Graetz
https://youtube.com/live/miM4g3KWgtk?feature=share

7/16/25: Jill Singer Douglas
https://youtube.com/live/J7hm54R8Nzs?feature=share

8/16/25: WISE Ones: Honeybees and the Art and Science of Beekeeping
https://youtube.com/live/x6N_BGu-HLs?feature=share

9/17/25: American President’s with Gerald Hening
https://youtube.com/live/n1HYDQuE9rk?feature=share

10/22/25: It’s a Dog’s Life with Laurie Bellet 
https://youtube.com/live/N36SkewIzio

2024 Recordings

1/17/24 with Jennifer Raftis
https://youtube.com/live/4_1wpi88yXw?feature=share

2/21/24 with Denise Silicani, daughter of Ellen Baer (z”l)
https://youtube.com/live/ZTy5Vq2OJDg?feature=share

3/20/24 with Kendra Fried
https://www.youtube.com/live/vo4RG-6vmSw?feature=shared

4/17/24 with Yoav Harlev
https://youtube.com/live/SlXP3Kv-uA4?feature=share

5/17/24 with Noga Ben Shimol, Temple Isaiah’s 2024 Shinshinit
https://www.youtube.com/live/2Zf5BZJOGU8?si=kbYVNy918ZA5vlQc

7/17/24 with Rabbi Aaron Torop
https://youtube.com/live/uQ1ds59FUMQ?feature=share

8/21/24: Tai Chi with Cindy Coleman
https://www.youtube.com/live/f6PPdGO09-Y

10/16/24: Tools for Tough Times with Kendra Fried
https://youtube.com/live/wl6zo42QJCg?feature=share
Click here for the Tools for Tough Times Handout.

11/17/24: Jewish Herbal Traditions with Bridget Wellerstein
https://youtube.com/live/LRjGgwJ_Wdk?feature=share

12/18/24:  An Entertainer’s Life with New York Broadway Actor, Jazz Singer, and Cabaret Performer Lauren Shub
https://youtube.com/live/FT2BHdGqsjE?feature=share

2023 Recordings

4/19/23 with Werner Gottleib
https://youtube.com/live/IOPKbwR2VWg?feature=share

6/21/23 with Rabbi Nicki Greninger
https://youtube.com/live/qRFFtD9xB5s?feature=share

7/19/23 with Heather Stoneman
https://youtube.com/live/EH4AIqrtCcg?feature=share

11/15/23 with Dayna Wilson
https://youtube.com/live/tXnV5ajKQY4?feature=share

12/20/2023 with Rabbi Graetz
https://youtube.com/live/FYE1ukPhdY4?feature=share

©2026 Temple Isaiah