Tuesdays at the J

Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m. at the East Valley JCC

Tuesdays at the J is a group for individuals and couples ages 55-plus who meet weekly to enjoy presentations on a variety of topics, such as art, music, books and culture. All sessions are free and no membership is required. The program starts at 10 a.m. with refreshments and the presentations are 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Immigration, Assimilation and Antisemitism
The History of Jewish Life in the Americas

 Presented by travel journalist Dan Fellner

Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 10-11:30 a.m.

Fleeing religious persecution in Europe, Jews first arrived in the New World in the 17th century and have since built vibrant and influential communities throughout the Western Hemisphere.  This highly visual presentation from a leading travel journalist will take us to historic synagogues in the Caribbean, South America and United States, including three of the oldest Jewish congregations in the U.S., all of which received letters from President George Washington affirming religious freedom in America.  From Charleston to Curacao; Alaska to Argentina, we’ll explore the survival and resilience of Jewish life in places you might least expect to find it.

Dan Fellner is a freelance travel journalist and photographer based in Scottsdale. He is a faculty associate at Arizona State University and an eight-time Fulbright Fellow who has taught journalism at universities in seven different countries. He specializes in writing about unique Jewish communities in far-flung places.  Dan’s articles have appeared in such publications as the Jerusalem Post, USA Today, the Washington Post and Hadassah Magazine.