Suburban Thursday Afternoon Retirees, better known as STAR, meets via zoom 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.  At recent STAR meetings we have heard from Har Zion Temple's Rabbi Emeritus Mirelman on three pivotal events in Jewish history in 1897, from Betsy Kelly of River Forest Township on their Home Sharing Pilot Program, from Oak Park Temple member Joyce Porter, an actor, model, and author, discussing her new book Mastering Senior Life: Thriving and Surviving, and from OPRFHS graduate Tim Mellman, who led a group of fellow students in successfully advocating to have Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur become non-attendance days on the high school calendar.   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 Chicago Symphony Orchestra. STAR has a limited number of tickets available to two CSO rehearsals in May and June, 2023, and we'll share details at our meetings.

In  April, 2023, STAR will meet on the 13th, 20th, and 27th:  

April 6th -- NO MEETING, Passover

April 13th -- STAR has a special guest speaker, Oak Park Temple's own Rabbi Daniel Kirzane, who will join us this Thursday, April 13th.

April 20th -- Professor Julie Bach, LCSW, PH.d, will share her experiences with STAR in leading Alzheimer's caregiver support groups over a period of 35 years. Dr. Bach is in the Gerontology Department of Dominican University's Graduate School of Social Work. 

April 27th -- A chance to schmooze, and perhaps a special guest

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!