Lectures For Lifelong Learners!

The post-World War 2 population boom in South Florida included those who built for them. Hear about how architects’ war experiences and knowledge of South Florida resulted in landmarks such as the Fontainebleau and other buildings as practical as they were glamorous.

Local residents look anxiously towards the tropics for 6 months each year – hurricane season. Hear about the hurricanes that have reshaped everything from the economy to the landscape. Learn about how the local connection to “Hurricane Alley” has also enabled improvements in forecasting and preparation for storms.

Walt Disney had completed seemingly every project he could think of. But his wish for a new type of community led him to Florida. Learn about the planning and development of Walt Disney World and how life events and politics have altered Disney’s initial ideas.

Since its opening in 1971, Walt Disney World has been Florida’s most popular tourist attraction. But Florida was a place of interest for visitors for about a century before that. Find out about tourist destinations influenced by Florida’s environmental and human history, places created from social, economic and technological change, and locations of curiosity and oddities unique to the Sunshine State.

Florida has attracted many people – including those in the music world. Hear the songs and stories from Marian Anderson, Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra and others who left memories along with musical notes. Learn how Florida became a center for everything from Southern Rock to the Miami Sound.

South Florida has one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States. It began with European immigrants viewing the area as the new Promised Land. Hear how transportation, economy and world events shaped the growth of the Jewish community, and how its members have made contributions far beyond local shores.

During the first half of the 20th century, Cuba became a center for Jewish immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere. They established a small, but close-knit community – a community that mostly came to South Florida after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. This program will look at the history of the Jewish community of Cuba, the move to and adjustment of thousands in the Sunshine State, and how even time and political changes could not break established bonds.

Jews were among the pioneers settling in South Florida during the early 20th century. Among their contributions were different ways of eating – not always kosher, but certainly tasty! Their legacy has been handed down to millions of people who call this region home or visit – both Jews and non-Jews. This program will highlight the celebrated restaurants, cuisine, and eating habits created and sustained by Jewish community members in South Florida through the years.

It was seen as the greatest technological achievement of the 20th century: In 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human being to walk on the moon during Apollo 11. “One Small Step for Man; One Giant Leap for Mankind” was the culmination of more than a decade of effort, with tragedy and triumph. Learn about the building blocks to Apollo, the lunar missions that followed, and current plans for return trips to the moon.

The first Olympics in Ancient Greece honored Zeus. The Roman Empire brought an end to the ancient Games, but beginning in 1896, the modern Olympic Games have thrilled millions of sports fans with diverse sports and athletes. Hear about the rise and fall of the ancient Olympics and the evolution of the modern Olympics with challenges such as wars, illness, politics, drugs and commercialism.

Description: Early on, the modern Olympic Games took advantage of the rising popularity of winter sports, with the first official Winter Olympics taking place in 1924. Learn how the Winter Games have become centers of athletic achievement as well as fronts for international conflict, and how the competition has evolved through changes in technology, officiating and the environment.

As the temperatures cool, Palm Beach County’s arts and culture season heats up! From Jupiter to Boca and all points in between, join Sylvia Gurinsky for a preview of coming events, including holiday activities, major concerts, museum exhibits, education programs and much more in the 561! Note: This lecture is recommended during Fall as the “season” is about to begin.

Once upon a time, there was a South Florida without tall buildings and traffic jams. Take a look at the region from prehistoric times to the end of World War I – and how indigenous people, homesteaders and innovators lived in and adapted to a new tropical frontier.

It was once a remote island filled with local animals and plants. Then, farmers and developers began creating what became Miami Beach. Learn about the city’s growth as a center of tourism, celebrity, community and architectural innovation, and how Miami Beach continues its popularity amid current challenges.

More than 10,000 years ago, the first people in South Florida hunted and fished for their food. Find out how community and technological changes of the last 150 years changed food from a source of sustenance to a major industry and made the region into a culinary destination.

A Wright Brothers plane took off at Miami’s 15th Birthday celebration in 1911 – and so did the aviation community. Hear about the influence of pioneers and entrepreneurs in creating major 20th Century airlines and how flight continues to be an important contributor to South Florida’s economy.

Cuba’s architecture has been built by many hands from many places – including Spain and the United States. Learn about the forts, palaces, theaters, hotels, government buildings and more that stretch across different styles of architecture and different eras of the island’s history.

The Jewish people began to come to Mexico – then called “Nueva España” – more than 500 years ago. But during the period of Inquisition, their presence had to be hidden until the late 1800s. Learn how Mexico eventually became a center of Jewish culture, how many of today’s Mexicans are tracing previously hidden Jewish ties – and about Ladino, a language that developed for many in the Sephardic Jewish community.

It’s been called the “Jewish Christmas,” but it isn’t. Find out about the history and significance of Chanukah (or Hanukkah), which began as a triumph over adversity and has become possibly the most famous Jewish holiday. Learn about the holiday’s history, symbols, stories and of course, the foods. And hear about how the calendar position of the holiday made it literally larger than life.