Friendship Circle - A Program for Adults 55+
Friendship Circle Exercise Class: LAUGHING YOGA
The Jewish Adults 55+ Program of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County
Friendship Circle is a Program designed for Jewish older adults in Sonoma County. It was founded almost thirty years ago and is now the premier year round program of the Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County. It offers cultural, recreational, educational, and social programming to healthy elders and outreach to frail and more isolated seniors in retirement communities. The Friendship Circle program provides a twice monthly Hot Lunch and Learn program, Senior Excursions to theatre and museums, monthly Yiddish clubs and classes, literature and exercise classes, Judaic studies, and special holiday events throughout the year.
Message from Friendship Circle Outreach Coordinator Fran Danoff
We are so pleased by the positive feedback we get from our Friendship Circle participants. We would like to extend the Friendship Circle to those who may not already know about us. Please call me if you are aware of seniors who would enjoy our luncheons, excursions, and special events. We are especially eager to contact newcomers to our community, and those who may feel isolated or lonely. We are expanding our programs throughout the county, and welcome your suggestions. Thanks to the renewal of a special transportation grant from the Jewish Community Federation, we are able to offer free rides to our events on the JFCS van within Santa Rosa to those who can no longer drive. If you live outside of Santa Rosa, we can arrange carpools from Petaluma, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Windsor/Healdsburg to our events. (Please don’t let a lack of transportation be an obstacle to participation.) I look forward to hearing from you.
For more information about Friendship Circle, please contact either:
Program Director Barbara Scharf 707-528-1182 or
Outreach Coordinator Fran Danoff 707-528-1476
Ray Kaplan - JCC, Sonoma County Volunteer of 2009
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
- San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum: Power and Glory: China’s Ming Dynasty
- Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco Schumann’s Symphony No. 2
- San Francisco Contemporary Museum
***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.
Exercise Class With Barbara Goodridge
This class meets in the sanctuary of Congregation Shomrei Torah, 2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m.
Mah Jongg with Lisa Isaac & Carol Jarvis
Play, Learn, and Improve Your Skills
Come
and join us for an afternoon of fun and learning. An
instructor will be present and will supply all necessary
sets and cards. You must make reservations in advance
so we have enough supplies for everyone. All levels
welcome.
Location: Congregation Shomrei Torah, Kolbo Room
2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa
When: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. May 12 & 26,
from 1 to 3 p.m. Fee: $2 per class paid at the door
Contact: Barbara Scharf, 528-1182, or Fran Danoff,
528-1476 to RSVP.
Life Stories/Memoir Writing – Suzanne Sherman
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. Sponsored in collaboration with SRJC Seniors Program.
Contact Barbara Scharf at 707/528-1182 for more information.
- Sebastopol - Sebastopol Senior Center Tuesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
- Santa Rosa - Lodge at Paulin Creek Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Santa Rosa – Oakmont Gardens Thursdays, 2 – 5 p.m.
- Santa Rosa – Spring Lake Village Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–1 p.m.
Life Stories/Memoir Writing – Geets Vincent
Contact 585-6780 for more information.
- Rohnert Park Senior Center Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
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
Where: Merrill Gardens at Rohnert Park, 4855 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park.
How: Advanced registration required. Contact Judith Goleman at 707/829-1670 for more information. 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