Friendship Circle - A Program for Adults 55+
The Jewish Seniors Program of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County
Friendship Circle is a Program designed for Jewish seniors in Sonoma County. It was founded twenty years ago and is now one of several Programs of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County. It offers cultural, recreational, educational, and social programming to healthy elders and outreach to frail elders in institutional settings. The Program provides lunches for seniors, visits to senior facilities, theater parties, a monthly Yiddish group, literature classes, exercise classes, Hanukkah programs and special events, including travel to other communities.
For more information about Friendship Circle, please contact Program Director Barbara Scharf.
Ongoing Activities
Senior Excursions
This year a number of our excursions funded by the Jewish Community Federation, sold out quickly:
- The Drowsy Chaperone at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco
- The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House in Ukiah
- Israel In The Gardens at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco
- San Francisco Symphony at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco
- The Color Purple, a Broadway Musical at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco
- Jersey Boys, a Broadway Musical at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco
- Mayn Yiddishe Velt Performance at the Berkeley JCC and Lunch at Saul’s Deli
***For all trips we must have an updated medical form by date of departure. You can call if you have any questions. We will send you a new medical form before the day of the trip, if necessary.
**** We strongly encourage those who have never attended one of our excursions to sign up and give it a try. No one is ever turned away based on ability to pay. (Please speak to Fran Danoff in confidence.)
These events are being sponsored with the generous support of the Senior Excursion Fund of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Life Stories/Memoir Writing
Ongoing writing workshops with Suzanne Sherman. Suzanne is an editor and author, and has been adjunct faculty at SRJC for 10 years. She has also taught memoir writing at UC Extension, SOU, RCC online, and privately. There is NO FEE.
- Cotati – Congregation Ner Shalom, Tuesdays, 1:30–4:00
- Santa Rosa – Oakmont Gardens, Thursdays, 2:15–4:45
- Santa Rosa – Spring Lake Village, Thursdays, 10:00–12:30
Exercise Class With Barbara Goodridge
All exercise classes are now held at Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:15 am to 11:30 am.
Judaic Studies Class
This class is sponsored jointly by Friendship Circle and Merrill Gardens at Rohnert Park. It is led once a month by Judith Goleman.
Meets monthly every 4th Wednesday at 2:30 pm (we will no longer offer the 2nd Wednesday) The name of Westlake Springs has been changed to Merrill Gardens at Rohnert Park.
Where: Merrill Gardens at Rohnert Park, 4855 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park.
How: Advanced registration required. Ongoing program; you may begin at any time. NO FEE!
Yiddish Class–Petaluma
Conversation Group held 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 1:45 pm in private homes. Contact Belle Ganapoler at 707–664–1256 or Berny Barrish at 707–778–1696
Yiddish Class–Santa Rosa
At the Lodge at Paulin Creek on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 1:00 pm. 2375 Range Avenue in Santa Rosa. No reservation or fees required. Information: Marcelle Marcus at 707–546–5057.
Life Stories Writing Class
Led by author and scholar Peter Laurie. Writing experience not required. Bring your life experience and a desire to write about it. Developed by Santa Rosa Junior College. No fee. Classes are now being held at the Lodge at Paulin Creek, 2375 Range Avenue in Santa Rosa on Tuesdays at 9:00–11:30 AM every week. Call Barbara Scharf at 528–1182
