JEWISH HISTORY YOU DID NOT LEARN IN SUNDAY SCHOOL

Myrna Goldberger
Recipient of the LLS 1999 Excellence in Teaching Award

DESCRIPTION: Most of us at some point in our lives have received some form of Jewish education. We have learned about ancient Jewish history, biblical teachings, and rituals that are significant in our heritage. But there are other stories about Jews which we either never formally learned, or never read about on our own. This series will focus on some of these stories in order to increase Jewish pride, assess how what we could have learned influenced history for all people, and create within us a desire to rewrite or augment Sunday school curricula to add interest and even humor. What are the significant events in the lives of the Strauss family? Who are some Jewish heroes whose names are not household words, but whose contributions are? What are the fascinating connections between U.S. presidents and their Jewish friends? What are some tales about Jews that elicit a smile or giggle? These four lectures will answer these and other questions.

FOUR LECTURES:

1. Those With the Name of Strauss - Nathan, Isidor, Oscar, Jesse,
   Nathan Jr. and Levi
   
   
2. Jews and U.S. Presidents - Zacharais, Simon Wolf, Adolphus Solomons and others
   
   
3. Unusual Stories of Heroism - Rabbi Gittelsohn, Michael Marcus,
   Leo Page
   
   
4. People with a Yiddisha kop* - Walter Cresson, Nathan Handwerger, Bugsy Siegel  *Jewish cleverness

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Myrna Goldberger has been an instructor for the Lifelong Learning Society (LLS) for 21-plus years. Educated at the University of Maryland, Loyola College and Johns Hopkins University, Myrna has had 50-plus years of experience in educational programming, including Elderhostel and scholar-in-residence weekends. She currently presents lectures to community and religious groups, as well as to special-interest groups in Florida and other states. Moreover, she performs in self-written, one-act plays focusing on famous American women and men. Her students, who call themselves “Myrna’s Groupies,” describe her as “charismatic, knowledgeable and dynamic.” Myrna calls what she does “Edutainment” and she has been the recipient of several LLS awards.