Monday, April 28 – Eric Byrne

Meet and speak with Eric Byrne, Ed.D, Superintendent of the Rye City School District. Prior to being named Superintendent, Dr. Byrne served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Chappaqua, a role he held for six years. Please join Dr. Byrne to learn about school programs as well as the budget for the Rye City Schools.

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Thursday May 1 - How to prevent and recognize Scams

Come and meet Troy A. Outlaw Jr., Community Outreach Liaison from the New York State Office of the Attorney, General Letitia James. Every year, thieves target individuals to get access to their personal information and money, and they tend to zero in on older people. Victims of elder financial exploitation lose $28.3 billion annually, according to report by AARP. If you haven’t yet been approached by a scammer, you could face a scheme in the coming years. Sometimes family members, especially relatives caring for the elderly, are even the ones behind the attack. Some of the most common senior scams include:

 

• AI-powered scams

• Funeral scams

• Tech support scams

• Government imposter scams

• Grandparent scams

• Internet scams

• Investment scams

• Check fraud

• Reverse mortgage scams

• Caregiver scams

• Sweepstakes scams

Monday May 5 - TBD

Thursday May 8 - Marie Johnson, Executive Director of SPRYE 

Marie will bring us updates about this important organization for Seniors serving Harrison, Port Chester, Rye, and Rye Brook. SPRYE offers:

• Member services, such as roundtrip transportation provided by volunteers

• Referrals and resources to members who seek services (i.e. real estate, downsizing, health care agencies)

• Culturally enriching programs and activities in the towns of Harrison, Port Chester, Rye and Rye Brook to encourage people to engage and socialize

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Most of the programs are free and open to the public. Memberships are affordable and help offset the costs of operation.

 

Monday May 12 - Pharmacist Ronald May

As a pharmacist specializing in nutrition at Rye Beach Pharmacy, Ronald May will address such questions as: How do you handle stress? How can you sleep better? Do you know what supplements will work best along with your medication?

Thursday May 15 - Hila Madar Itzkovitz, Senior Community Shlicha (emissary) for Westchester

Hila is the NY Director of the Westchester Shin-Shinim Program and will bring current information on Israel. Hila is an educational professional with a deep passion for fostering connections and promoting understanding between diverse Jewish communities. Driven by her enthusiasm for Israeli history, culture, nature, and politics, Hila has dedicated her career to building bridges between Jewish communities in Israel and abroad.

In her most recent role as Educational Program Manager at The Jewish Agency for Israel, Hila cultivated connections between four communities—Atlanta, St. Louis, Yokneam, and Megiddo—developing programs, delegations, and seminars that foster broad collaborations between these communities. Her commitment to Israel’s diverse aspects is also evident from her work as a project manager at Lotem NGO, where she focused on making nature accessible through inclusive educational programs and tours across Israel. Additionally, Hila has worked as a professional tour guide with leading organizations, including the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and Birthright. Hila holds a Master’s degree in Jewish-American and Israeli Relations and a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Israel Studies, both from the University of Haifa. Her deep connection to Israel fuels her professional life and enriches her personal life. She enjoys hiking across Israel’s diverse landscapes and birdwatching with her family. She also leads the traditional Israeli horah dancing in her kibbutz.

Monday May 19 - Lloyd  Mallah

The Weather Lloyd, also known as Lloyd Mallah, is a real estate finance professional with a passion for meteorology. He and his family are members of CSR. Ever since he was in high school, he has followed his passion for the love of winter weather and tracked large storms. After years of reading, learning, and studying weather informally, he enrolled in Penn State University’s Certificate in Weather Forecasting Program in 2018 and completed the program 2020. This program, at one of the premier meteorology programs in the country, really helped him to create a formal framework for how to forecast the weather and allows him to further pursue his passion.

Thursday May 22 - Sharing More of Our Stories with Andi Hessekiel

Andi is a freelance writer, writing coach, and CSR member who has led sessions for SAJE each year for over a decade. She uses simple prompts that jog your memory and guide you to write about your life. Andi’s warm feedback helps us get in touch with the writer that lives inside each of us, and stories shared stimulate great conversation among us. This session is open to anyone who cares to join us–as a listener or as a storyteller.

Monday May 26 No SAJE – Memorial Day

Thursday May 29  SAJE  Book Club with Barb Tankel

The Hebrew Teacher by Maya Arad comprises three novellas. One, dealing with academic friction on an American campus, the second an Israeli grandmother’s USA visit to her indifferent family. Finally, the battle for parental control between a mother and her teenage daughter. Though all three stories are stirring, the most impactful is the titular The Hebrew Teacher.