STAR Suburban Thursday Afternoon Retirees
in person or on Zoom

Suburban Thursday Afternoon Retirees, better known as STAR, meets every Thursday from 1-3 pm, except on Jewish and national holidays.  This vibrant group includes attendees from West Suburban Temple and Oak Park Temple, as well as the broader community.

This joint endeavor of both Temples offers a place for candid discussions on a variety of topics as well as an opportunity to socialize and to support each other.  Recent STAR programs have included a presentation by The Onion Roll about its history and its new in-house bagel making; a presentation by Stephen Jackson, the Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at the Oak Park Public Library, a presentation by Esther Craven, from the Council for Jewish Elderly on their 50 years of continuing service, and a presentation by Charles Shapera, Executive Director of Temple Har Zion.   STAR has longterm partnerships with Rush Oak Park Hospital, Dominican and Concordia Universities, Brookdale, Oak Park and River Forest Townships, Arbor West Neighbors, Jewish Child and Family Services and more. 

In September we’ll meet on the 1st, 8th, 15th,  22nd, and 29th.  Our speakers are:
 September 1st - Dave Cohn, Executive Director of the USC Hillel, will speak to us on "Understanding and Addressing Antisemitism on College Campuses"
September 8th - Mozel Ginsberg of Oak Park Temple will speak to us on  "Honoring Ancestor Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld: Through Science to Justice-- Gender Theory in the 21st Century" 
September 15th - Officer Ben Ransom of the River Forest Police Department will present on Scams and Frauds Aimed at Seniors
September 22nd - Charlie Meyerson, veteran journalist, will discuss his latest publishing venture "Chicago Public Square"
September 29th - Avril Greenberg will speak on a medical topic to be announced

And looking forward to early October:
October 6th - Robb Packer will speak on synagogues of Chicago and will include the history of West Suburban Temple Har Zion and Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion

We are planning future programming and hope to include a presentation by women in the rabbinate.  Other programs are in the works!

We are currently meeting via Zoom. If you'd like more information about STAR, contact your Temple office.  We at STAR feel like a small community learning and growing together.  Please join us!