Events - Week View

In the first half of this talk, Joy Ladin will use her experiences growing up as a transgender child in hiding and later as the first openly transgender employee of an Orthodox Jewish institution (Yeshiva University) as the basis of an exploration of how notions of gender are changing and clashing with traditional views. Personal anecdotes will help illuminate the stakes for individuals, communities, and religious traditions. In the second half, she will talk about how her journeys between genders and Jews have inspired and shaped her work as a writer and poet, particularly her memoir, National Jewish Book Award finalist "Through the Door of Life: a Jewish Journey Between Genders;" her book of trans theology, "The Soul of the Stranger: God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective;" and her trilogy of explicitly Jewish poetry collections about the relationship between God and humanity, National Jewish Book Award winner "The Book of Anna," "Psalms," and last year‘s "Shekhinah Speaks." NOTE: This event will take place on Zoom. Silver Spring Village will send the link after registration. https://www.silverspringvillage.org/through_the_door

New members, longtime members, and potential members are invited to meet, greet and socialize over light refreshments and drinks. Choose one of our spring dates - May 8, May 19 or June 4. Alice Padwe hosts June 4 at her building‘s patio and party room. Invite a friend or neighbor to come and enjoy our community, before deciding to join BMAV. New members who joined over the last year and not met others in-person are especially invited. RSVP required. Attendance limited to 20. Note that the building is handicapped accessible, with a ramp to the entrance and a reserved handicap parking space in the garage.

In March, the Social Security Board issued a dire report forecasting the need to cut benefits by 23 percent in 2033 if revisions are not made. There does not appear to be the political will to strengthen the program in the current environment. Social Security is broken, but there are options for fixing and those changes should be enacted soon. Robert “Bob” Blancato is the National Coordinator of the bipartisan 3,000-member Elder Justice Coalition. He is also president of Matz, Blancato and Associates, executive director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, and the national coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition. AHA member Brenda Bloch-Young will interview Bob as he addresses these questions. Bob has long been recognized as a national advocate with policy expertise on behalf of older adults. As a volunteer, he currently serves on the national board of AARP and the board of the National Hispanic Council on Aging. Register: aha@athomeinalexandria.org or 703-231-0824 to receive the Zoom link.

Meet Nancy Balz at Chestnut Street and Wisconsin Ave for a walk in the East Bethesda residential area. We will wait until 11:10 and then walk a 45 minute circuit, with an opportunity to walk longer for those who are interested. We will keep the pace conducive to conversation and mindful of individual needs as we walk. RSVP to Nancy appreciated, or just arrive if you find you can come. BMAV Walkie Talkies will meet every Tuesday (no walk May 30), unless it is raining or over 85 degrees, in which case the walk is cancelled for the week.

Join in to discuss what you are working on or perhaps be encouraged to start a project. All are welcome. This month we are meeting on Elyse‘s patio. RSVP required.

We‘re booked for the lively and well reviewed Joy by Seven Reasons in Friendship Heights. It‘s located at 5471 Wisconsin Ave. - kind of hard to spot from the outside, it‘s in the next block north of Clyde‘s, part of the Collection at Chevy Chase - there is parking on the back side and at Saks.

Once a month we pick a restaurant and descend en masse – partly for a fun meal out, partly to sample new places (or new choices from old places!), and partly to get to know each other better.

We start early to go easy on the restaurant and get a little extra attention before the place fills up. We’ll have name tags for all. RSVP is required to co-lead Janet Dante, the earlier the better.

Let‘s have a Men‘s AND Ladies‘ Lunch! All are welcome to join us at Starr Ezra‘s home for a combined lunch. BYO lunch; drinks and dessert provided. We will meet on covered space on her patio. If weather is inclement it will be meet indoors. Registration required.

BMAV members are invited to virtual coffee talk. Hosted by Naomi Collins and Ann Labriola. Contact them or Elizabeth for the link to participate by phone or by your computer screen.

Now that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is well past the one-year mark, what are Vladimir Putin‘s "red lines"? How close can we get to a nuclear war? How much is the Russian state apparatus prepared to deliver on the red lines set by Putin and his associates? During its war against Ukraine, Russia has declared a number of red lines, but rarely, if ever, acted upon them. Should anyone still fear the Kremlin’s “red line” rhetoric? Our distinguished presenter, Mikhail Troitskiy, will help parse our understanding of "red lines" in crisis bargaining. Russian-born Troitskiy is Professor of Practice in Russian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 2017 to 2022, he was the Dean of the School of Government and International Affairs at MGIMO University in Moscow. Troitskiy also taught at the European University in St. Petersburg from 2014 through 2022. His previous experience includes serving as the deputy director and program officer at the Russia office of the MacArthur Foundation from 2009 to 2015. Troitskiy is a former Fulbright Scholar. Register at: www.littlefallsvillage.org/Putin

Gather with BMAV friends, via phone or your computer, to socialize and talk about what we‘re doing over a drink if you‘d like. Hosted by Barbara Brown and Stephanie Sutton.