Am I My Father's Son? (Men's Workshop)

When women get together, it's not unusual for them to talk about feelings. Not so for men. When men gather, they talk about politics, sports, religion -- but not about how they feel. Sound familiar?The objective of this ongoing workshop "Am I My Father's Son?" is to share experiences and feelings about issues that affect men.  A New York Times article ("The Challenges of Male Friendships," 6/27/16) discusses the challenges faced by men in developing and maintaining friendships. In the article, Jane F. Brody, a Personal Health columnist for The New York Times, mentions a recent finding in an Australian study of aging "that family relationships had little if any impact on longevity, but friendships increased life expectancy by as much as 22 percent. The author was inspired "to explore ways promote male friendships, especially for retired men who often lose regular contact with colleagues who may have similar interests and experiences."This workshop is based on a similar group that Ed Kaplan, a B'nai Emunah congregant, participated in before moving here to San Francisco. The group had been meeting for over 15 years as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) on the campus of SUNY/Stony Brook. The group met once a week whenever regular University classes were in session, and comprised 26 men from all walks of life and religions. It was immensely popular -- so much so that a second group was necessary to accommodate the large number of men seeking to participate.Topics are chosen by the workshop members. Members will be active participants, supportive of one another, and non-judgmental. Each member will be considered an equal participant in a non-threatening environment.  Ed is a PhD environmental scientist and SUNY professor who retired in 2006. He guides the workshops, though the persons bringing topics to the group will be discussion leaders. Coffee/tea served and will sweeten the morning with just a bissle of babka (so as not to ruin lunch)!