Explore, learn & connect!
Kavod on the Road offers engaging programs for active, older nonresidents living in the greater Denver community. Our team brings exciting events to various partner locations throughout the month. Join us in exploring new horizons, building connections and enjoying enriching experiences right in your community!
Advanced registration is recommended. Walk-ins are welcome as space allows, in the order they arrive.
July
Behind the Badge: Reflections of a Former FBI Investigator
Wednesday, July 16 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at JCC Denver
Cost: $5
Presenter: Kevin Farrington, retired FBI
Drawing on a distinguished career with the FBI, former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Office Kevin Farrington shares reflections from his time in federal service. With experience as an investigator, program builder, manager, security planner, and leader, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at the complex world of federal law enforcement. Through personal stories and thoughtful perspective, he explores the challenges, decisions, and lessons learned over many years in the field.
Advanced registration and payment required.
Kvetch, Kvell, and Kibitz: The Joy of Yiddish
Thursday, July 17 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at B’nai Havurah
Cost: $5
Presenter: Daniel Eisenberg, Jewish Educator
Dive into the colorful world of Yiddish with a program that’s equal parts laughter, nostalgia, and cultural celebration. We will explores the richness of this expressive language through stories, sayings, humor, and heart. Whether you’re a lifelong maven or just discovering a few familiar words, you’ll enjoy an interactive and entertaining journey into how Yiddish continues to shape identity, tradition, and everyday conversation. Come kvetch a little, kvell a lot, and kibitz with us—you’ll leave with a smile and maybe a few new favorite words!
Advanced registration and payment required.
Rhythm & Soul: A Tribute to Motown Legends
Tuesday, July 22 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at Hebrew Educational Alliance
Cost: $5
Musicians: Bassist Michael Friedman and his ensemble
Michael Friedman and his ensemble will get you moving with a set of Motown and R&B songs! The program will showcase iconic songs from artists such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Al Green, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Ben E. King and more. Come get your groove on!
Advanced registration and payment required.
August
The Enduring Relevance of the Spanish Inquisition
Thursday, August 7 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at BMH-BJ
Cost: $5
Presenter: Dr. Seth Ward, University of Wyoming
“The Inquisition…we have a mission: to convert the Jews. They’ll see the light, learn wrong from right—we’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse.”
The Spanish Inquisition transformed both Jewish history and the world at large. Rooted in centuries of religious tension and a generation of forced conversions, it marked a turning point in the story of Jewish survival, identity, and diaspora. It remains a powerful lens through which to examine antisemitic tropes—especially those surrounding Jewish “blood” versus Jewish belief. How we remember the Inquisition shapes how we understand both the past and our present—and remembering it is more vital than ever.
Advanced registration and payment required.
The Jew Who Would Be King: A True Story of Shipwreck, Survival, and Scandal in Victorian Africa
Wednesday, August 13 from 11:00am – 12:00pm
at Temple Emanuel
Cost: $5
Presenter: Dr. Adam Rovner, University of Denver, Judaic Studies
The Jew Who Would Be King tells the story of Nathaniel Isaacs—a nineteenth-century British Jew who helped establish the Zulu kingdom only to become a ruthless warlord and slaveholder. Isaacs’ thrilling journey begins with his shipwreck on the shores of Zululand and proceeds to ports across West Africa, including Freetown, Sierra Leone. There, tasked by the colonial governor to end the local slave trade, Isaacs brokered deals that reinforced his own power.
Adam Rovner’s meticulous archival research in England, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and St. Helena, coupled with his own travels to the remnants of Isaacs’ island stronghold in Guinea, brings this complex figure to life. Through Isaacs’ story, Rovner exposes the entangled forces of Jewish emancipation and antisemitism, slavery and abolition, the stark dichotomies of civilization and “savagery,” and the creation of whiteness versus blackness.
Advanced registration and payment required.
Stories from Denver’s Jewish Consumptive Relief Society
Wednesday, August 20 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at JCC Denver
Cost: $5
Presenter: Josh Furman, Director of Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society at the University of Denver
Take a compelling look into the history of the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society (JCRS), a groundbreaking institution founded in 1904 to care for Jewish tuberculosis patients. Located in Denver, it became a beacon of hope for thousands who came seeking treatment in Colorado’s dry climate.
Through personal stories, historical photos, and archival materials, this program explores the human side of the sanatorium movement—highlighting the resilience of patients, the dedication of caregivers, and the community-wide effort to provide dignity, healing, and support during one of the most challenging public health crises of the early 20th century.
Discover how JCRS shaped Jewish life in Denver, contributed to the fight against tuberculosis, and left a legacy that still resonates today.
Advanced registration and payment required.
Writing the Legal Thriller: From Practice to Plot
Thursday, August 26 from 1:00 – 2:00pm
at Hebrew Educational Alliance
Cost: $5
Presenter: Mark Shaiken, author and attorney
After four decades practicing commercial bankruptcy law, Mark Shaiken stepped away from the courtroom to pursue a life of writing, reflection, and reinvention. He is the author of the 3J Legal Thriller Series, a four-book saga (so far) that blends legal drama with American history and jazz. At its center is Josephina Jillian Jones—“3J”—a compelling Black woman bankruptcy attorney navigating truth, justice, and systemic inequities alongside her mentor, William Pascale.
In this engaging talk, Mark shares his journey from lawyer to novelist, offering insights into creative reinvention, his writing process, and how fiction—particularly the legal thriller—can shine a light on pressing social issues. Topics explored in his books and discussion include hate and white nationalism, mental health, greed, discrimination, redlining, and aging.
Advanced registration and payment required.
Tour and Lunch at Zion Baptist Church
Wednesday, August 27 from 11:00am – 1:00pm
Pick up and drop off at the JCC Denver
No cost thanks to the Theodore and Maxine Murnick Family Foundation
Join us for a meaningful visit to Zion Baptist Church, the oldest African American congregation in Colorado, founded in 1865. Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, Zion Baptist Church has played a vital role in the spiritual, cultural, and civil rights life of the city for over 150 years.
During our visit, we will:
Tour the historic sanctuary, a striking Romanesque Revival structure built in the early 20th century
Hear about the church’s founding by freedmen, its impact on Denver’s African American community, and its ongoing ministries
Learn about key moments in civil rights history, including Zion’s role in hosting the first NAACP meetings in Denver
Reflect on the intersection of faith, justice, and community in shaping the legacy of this enduring institution
This visit offers a powerful opportunity to learn about and connect with a cornerstone of Black history in Colorado.
Limited space available.
If you require a caretaker, please register that person, too.
Advanced registration required.
While we are unable to provide transportation to and from our events, we’ve compiled a list of options to help you get there [click here].
Register for a Kavod on the Road Program
Kavod on the Road Partners
