For many, life on Martha’s Vineyard revolves around the beaches. But those seeking a little more stimulation than the sand under their feet should look no further than the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center’s Summer Institute. Every year the Summer Institute presents a variety of films and speakers and this year’s series begins this weekend.

On Sunday night the documentary Hava Nagila opens up the film series. The movie explores the history of the quintessential bar mitzvah song and takes a deeper look at Jewish cultural identity as a whole.

This letter is written in the highest praise for the organizers of the Summer Institute at the July 26 lecture by David Gergen. I appreciated their valiant efforts to get as many people as possible into the auditorium.

It's Our Seaside Think Tank - Hebrew Center's
Summer Plans

By C.K. WOLFSON

In the midst of summer concerns about ferry lines and tan lines, the
Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center Summer Institute, entices hundreds
of Island residents and visitors to consider subjects such as prejudice,
medical and legal malpractice, terrorism and civil liberties, and engage
in discussion.

They gather at the Hebrew Center in Vineyard Haven - so many
some have to be turned away - to attend the Island's seaside
Chautauqua: the Summer Institute Scholar Series.

Betsy Sheerr Leads Hebrew Center Institute

By MIKE SECCOMBE

The summer speaker series put on by the Martha's Vineyard
Hebrew Center, explained Betsy Sheerr, is not a Jewish thing, although
she explained its motivation - and her own - in distinctly
Jewish terms.

"There is in Judaism an important concept of repairing the
world: Tikun olam," said the new chairman of the center's
Summer Institute.

Institute Presents Film,

Panel Discussion on Family

The Summer Institute of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in the coming week will present a film and a panel discussion on the theme of family, with experts on raising girls and boys.

The Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, in conjunction with the Summer Institute, presents former Vermont Governor and ambassador to Switzerland Madeleine Kunin Monday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

The Summer Institute at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center has traditionally programmed its summer movie series with selections from the Boston Jewish Film Festival. This year, however, they have taken matters into their own hands by programming the festival themselves, becoming, in a sense, an international film festival unto themselves.

This summer’s slate of films includes both documentaries and features from around the world.

It’s summer on the Vineyard; crowds are expected. But nobody, from event organizers to the hundreds of people who gathered outside the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center last Thursday night, expected mayhem at a speaking event about the Supreme Court.

On Sunday, June 24, the Hebrew Center begins its summer film series. Programmed by the Summer Institute, the series is known for thoughtful movies usually relegated to the shadows of big city, independent cinemas.

This Sunday’s film is Restoration, not the 1995 Robert Downey Jr./Meg Ryan feature. No, not at all.

In the summer, when attention turns to Island beaches and visitors come off the ferry in droves, a speaker series offers a chance to think about the world beyond Vineyard shores.

The Summer Institute speaker series at the Hebrew Center, now in its 13th year, aims to provide affordable, thought-provoking discussions, said Summer Institute committee chairman, Geraldine Alpert.

The idea is to enrich the cultural and intellectual life of the Island, Ms. Alpert said. “To enlighten.”