Wise Years is Stephen Wise Temple’s seniors group for members and guests 60 years and better. You are invited to join us for our regular series of learning, lunch, leisure, and community. Mornings feature speakers on a wide range of timely and timeless topics. Following lunch together, afternoons offer a choice of films or games.
Upcoming Programs
Thursday, September 11, 2025
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Registration & Coffee |
| 10 a.m. | All Things AMC with Marc Entous  Marc Entous is a proud alumnus of Stephen Wise Temple Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, Middle School and Nosaya summer camp. Additionally, Marc helped organize and teach our children’s Morning Minyan program for nine years. His parents have been members of Stephen Wise Temple since 1965. In June 2003, he graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.Marc began working as a Database Consultant for the Activities and Youth offices, and, in August 2001, became the Database Manager for Stephen Wise Temple and Schools. After taking on the role of Director of Information Technology in 2015, Marc is now our Assistant Executive Director, putting his architecture experience to work as we build our new Aaron Milken Center.Marc became a Bar Mitzvah and was married, both by Rabbi Eli Herscher and Cantor Nathan Lam. Marc lives in Encino with his wife Tonia and three boys, Jonah, Jayden, and Jordan who attended Wise School. |
| 11 a.m. | Taking Charge: Preparing for Life Alone with Beverly Halpern  A native of Los Angeles, she grew up in the West Adams area and graduated from Dorsey High School before attending Los Angeles City College. She was married to her husband Marshall for 55 years until his passing several years ago. Together, they had two daughters and a son. She is a proud grandmother of three. Over the years, she has lived in various parts of Southern California, including her first home in Burbank, a second in Tarzana, and now resides in Westlake Village, where she has lived for the past 15 years. Deeply involved in Jewish community and leadership, she served as Sisterhood President at both Temple Kol Odom and Temple Judea. Professionally, she worked as the Executive Director of the American Board of Trial Advocates for 24 years before retiring in 2001. Her commitment to service continued in the Brandeis San Fernando Valley Chapter, where she served as both Study Group Vice President and Chapter President. She also served as President of the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation at UCLA. Following her husband’s death, she created a brochure and began giving seminars titled “Taking Charge – Preparing for Your Future Alone,” which she has now presented over 60 times. |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Movie (Charade) and games (mahjongg, canasta, & rummy) |
Previous Programs
May 13, 2021 – Juilliard trained pianist, Beth Sussman, hosted a delightful afternoon of both classical and jazz music by George Gershwin. Selections performed included some of his own amazing arrangements of songs including “S’Wonderful”, “Lady Be Good” and “The Man I Love.” Beth introduced his music with brief remarks that enhanced the appreciation of Gershwin’s genius.
(No recording is available for this session).
April 28, 2021 – What’s your Jewish Zodiac sign?
Whether you’re a Bagel or Blintz, join us for a humorous and inspirational multimedia history of the delicatessen across four generations of Jews in America, led by comedian Seth Front, creator of the Jewish Zodiac, a deli food parody of the Chinese zodiac.
Whether you’re a Bagel or Blintz, join us for a humorous and inspirational multimedia history of the delicatessen across four generations of Jews in America, led by comedian Seth Front, creator of the Jewish Zodiac, a deli food parody of the Chinese zodiac.
February 11, 2021 – Making Babka with Deborah Turobiner, founder of the Holla for Challah community on FaceBook.
You’ll find Deborah’s recipe for babka here.
November 12, 2020 – Legal Journalist Linda Deutsch and Law Professor Laurie Levenson discuss celebrity justice over the decades.