SPICE Up Your Life
SPICE offers enriching programs, lasting friendships, and meaningful Jewish connection for adults 55 and older. Whether you’re recently retired, new to Charlotte, or looking for more ways to stay active and engaged, SPICE is a warm and welcoming opportunity for lifelong learning, community, and fun.
SPICE programming is funded in part by the Marshall Lindner SPICE Endowment.
Quick Links
What to Expect
- Fabulous Lunch, Learn, and Socialize Programs
- Fun SPICE Outs to Theater, Museum, Music, and Dance Opportunities
- Quarterly Potluck Shabbat Dinners
- SAGE Deep Dive Learning Programs
- Tikkun Olam Programs
- Sterling Elementary
- Senior-to-Senior
Upcoming Programs
Please note: Please check for a confirmation email at the address you use during registration. If you don’t receive one, your registration may not have gone through. If you need help, please call 704-366-1948.
Sunday, March 15 at 11:00am
Please note: This program has been cancelled.
Wednesday, March 18 at 11:00am
Come join SPICE as we welcome UNC Charlotte Professor James A. Grymes, an internationally acclaimed musicologist, author, and winner of a National Jewish Book Award. Dr. Grymes will tell us the story of how Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony broke the mold for how symphonies are heard — and how Classical music concerts are organized.
Using audio samples from Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, along with Viennese concert programs from the turn of the nineteenth century, Dr. Grymes will demonstrate how Beethoven forged a new path for orchestral writing that made greater demands on his audience’s attention and dismantled the conventions for organizing concerts. Dr. Grymes will show how Beethoven, for better or for worse, took the simple pleasure out of attending concerts.
We’ll also collect items for the Jewish Family Services Passover Food Drive — please bring donations to support families in our community.
Menu: Baked potato bar with all the toppings, salad, fruit, and assorted cookies.
Register by Sunday, March 15.
Tuesday, April 7 at 12:00pm
Celebrate spring and the season of freedom with our clergy at a special Passover picnic.
Menu: Passover favorites, macaroons, and brownies.
Register by Sunday, April 5.
Sunday, April 12 at 1:00pm
Join SPICE for a Sunday afternoon at the ballpark as the Charlotte Knights take on the Memphis Redbirds. This SPICE Out is open to all, with group seating planned and all ages welcome, so bring the family! We’ll meet at the stadium, and the first pitch is at 1:03pm.
Tickets are $28 per person and include a $2 fee supporting the ongoing coordination of SPICE programming, along with a $2 concession credit to use during the game.
Register by Sunday, March 22.
Wednesday, April 22 at 11:00am
In recognition of Yom Ha’atzmaut, the 78th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, SPICE will host a special program exploring the evolution of democracy and freedom in the Jewish state. This timely conversation will reflect on Israel’s past and present, and the questions shaping its future in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Menu: Chicken shawarma, hummus, Israeli salad, coleslaw, Israel birthday cake, and brownies.
Register by Sunday, April 19.
Friday, April 24 at 5:00pm
Join SPICE for a potluck dinner in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day! Bring a dish to share, whether it’s a Mediterranean-inspired recipe or a Shabbat dinner favorite.
Brisket and challah will be provided; please bring a dish for 14–16 people based on the first letter of your last name:
- A-K: hot side dish (potatoes, rice, etc.)
- L-P: salad (fruit, macaroni, bean, etc.)
- Q-Z: finger-food desserts (cookies, brownies, etc.)
If you have a traditional side dish with some family history behind it, we encourage you to bring it along with a card that tells your special story and we will place the card next to your contribution to nourish both body and soul. You’re also welcome to to bring a bottle of wine to share with your table.
Register by Tuesday, April 21.
Wednesday, May 6 at 11:00am
Rabbi Beth Nichols will lead us in an exploration of how ancient rabbinic texts recognized more than two genders and how Jewish tradition continues to engage with conversations about gender identity today.
After lunch, Professor Emerita Janet Levy will present “Gender in Pre-History,” offering a wider view of how gender was understood in early human societies. Dr. Levy is Professor Emerita in the UNC Charlotte Department of Anthropology.
Menu: Teriyaki chicken, rice noodles, green beans, and fruit.
Register by Sunday, May 3.
Wednesday, May 20 at 11:00am
Step into the golden age of film with Professor Robert Whalen, Professor Emeritus of Queens University of Charlotte. Weldon, an expert on European and U.S. history, will unpack the backstory of Casablanca, one of the most iconic films ever made. We’ll explore its historical context, enduring themes, and the way art reflected the challenges of the 1940s.
Menu: Lasagna, salad, garlic bread, fruit, and Italian desserts.
Register by Sunday, May 17.
Wednesday, June 3 at 11:00am
Close out the SPICE season on a high note! Join our clergy and staff for a celebratory concert featuring Viva Klezmer, led by clarinetist Gene Kavadlo.
Menu: Deli favorites, including corned beef, pastrami, cheesecake, and more.
Register by Sunday, May 31.
Senior-to-Senior Program
At Temple Beth El, we believe in the power of community. Our Senior-to-Senior program brings together older congregants with caring volunteers for regular companionship visits. Through these visits, we foster meaningful relationships, reduce isolation, and strengthen the bonds between generations. Whether you’re looking for a friendly conversation, a shared activity, or just someone to check in on you, our Senior-to-Senior program is here to support you.
If you’re a Temple Beth El member seeking companionship or a volunteer looking to make a difference, we invite you to sign up today!