Shames JCC

Israel Connection: Welcome Noy!
2023-11-07 11:00 - 11:45 (America/New_York)
Come welcome our new Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Noy Laufer, born in Haifa. Her family currently lives in Moshav Avigdor, a small village 40 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Noy is spending her gap year after graduating high school working with different institutions. Noy will to share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli. Light refreshments will be served.

Israeli Culture Connection
2023-12-19 11:00 - 11:45
Come connect with our Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Noy Laufer, born in Haifa. Her family currently lives in Moshav Avigdor, a small village 40 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Noy is spending her gap year after graduating high school working with different institutions. Noy will share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli.
Light refreshments will be served.

Israeli Culture Connection with Noy
2024-01-23 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-04-16 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-05-14 11:00 - 12:00
Come connect with our Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Noy Laufer, born in Haifa. Noy is spending her gap year after graduating high school working with different institutions. In a roundtable conversation, she will share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli. Light refreshments will be served.

Tu B’Shevat Pop-up
2024-01-25 15:00 - 17:00
Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish Birthday of the Trees, with Yanira in the lobby! Join us for a joyful gathering as we plant parsley, a symbolic herb used at the Passover table. Let’s come together to honor nature and embrace the spirit of growth and renewal on this special occasion.

Rabbi Joshua Rubin Presents True Acts of Kindness: Organ Donation and Judaism
2024-03-04 10:00 - 11:30
Thanks to medical science, people who pass from this world into whatever comes next are able to engage in a final selfless act of kindness through the mitzvah of organ donation. But is organ donation allowed under Jewish law? This talk will introduce the organ donation process while examining key Jewish texts and common misconceptions.
About the Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Rabin is a community and government affairs liaison at LiveOnNY, specifically focusing on the Jewish community. Josh also serves as the rabbi of the Astoria Center of Israel in Astoria, Queens. He received his rabbinic ordination and certificate in pastoral counseling from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2011 and is a recipient of the Wexner Field Fellowship and the Ruskay Fellowship for Jewish Professional Leadership.

Outing to Bethany Arts Community: Black History Exhibit
2024-03-04 14:00 - 15:30 | Bethany Arts Center, 40 Somerstown Rd, Ossining, NY, 10562, United States
Join us for a private guided tour of the award-winning exhibit at Bethany Arts Community that portrays the histories of Black entrepreneurs and Black organizations from all facets of the community’s business and social life. Each unique gallery highlights a particular period in American history where the Black presence made a profound impact on the community. A notable addition is an exhibit room dedicated to the history of the Rosenwald schools, highlighting the partnership between Black and Jewish communities during the Jim Crow era.
NOTE: Participants are responsible for their own transportation. Carpooling from the JCC is available once you register.

Purim Pop-Up: Rain Sticks
2024-03-19 15:00 - 17:00
Get ready to add a rhythmic twist to your Purim festivities! Join Yanira to create your own rain stick—a magical instrument that not only lets you unleash your creative flair but also brings the enchanting sounds of rainfall right to your celebration!

Purim Pop-Up: Mask Making
2024-03-20 15:00 - 17:00
Join Yanira for Purim Mask Making! Stop by for a joyful afternoon of crafting unique masks with mixed media.

Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2024-03-22 15:00 - 17:00
Local favorite Birdie’s Batch will be at the J with delicious homemade hamantaschen and more!

Challenging Times, Ageless Insights: Israel on Campus: Zionism, Then and Now
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:30
The Hamas-Israel war has spotlighted a generational rift about the meaning of Israel in American-Jewish life. Join us to discuss the historical significance of Israel throughout the Zionist movement and the current attitudes expressed on college campuses and beyond.

Passover Cooking: Macaroons and More
2024-04-07 11:00 - 12:00
Experience the joy of Passover with our exciting family culinary workshop! Amy Pane, our expert cooking instructor, will guide us in making delicious Passover treats like matzah pizzas and coconut macaroons. Take home all the recipes to recreate the magic in your own kitchen. This program is designed for children 4 years old and up with their caregiver.

Super Seder Science
2024-04-13 11:00 - 12:00
Join Kimberly Marcus, author of Frankenstein’s Matzah: A Passover Parody, for an interactive program that combines Passover stories with hands-on science experiments. Explore traditional Passover tales with a fresh perspective. For children 4 years old and up with their caregiver.

Dinner Theater at the J: Stories and Songs of Freedom
2024-04-14 16:00 - 18:00
Set the stage for Passover with an entertaining and uplifting evening featuring professional storytellers, live music, and a delicious dinner! Passover is a time for telling tales and we’re thrilled to welcome award-winning storytellers and performers Bill Gordh and Therese Folkes Plair to explore the themes of freedom as told through Jewish and African sources. They will be accompanied by violinist Lisa Gutkin from the renowned Klezmatics and other musicians. After the performance, guests will be prompted to share their own stories over a delicious kosher-style dinner by Jean-Jacques catering. Includes entertainment and dinner.
About the Performers:
Bill Gordh
Bill Gordh is an award-winning storyteller, author, educator, songwriter, and banjoist. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, at the Clearwater Festival, The Museum of Natural History, the Tribeca Film Festival Family Day, Celebrate Brooklyn, the Byzantine Fresco Museum (Houston, TX), the Gerald Ford Amphitheater (Vail, CO) and for the last 3 years of the Clinton administration Bill was a featured storyteller at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Lisa Gutkin
Recognized as violinist and vocalist for the groundbreaking Jewish Roots band, The Klezmatics, and as fiddler for the Downtown Celtic band Whirligig, Lisa is also known for her scoring, performance, and music direction in the two-time Tony Award winning play, Indecent. She has performed in Sting’s Broadway musical The Last Ship and her song “Gonna Get Through This World” – with words by Woody Guthrie – was hailed by Pete Seeger, as “a piece of genius.” Lisa’s playing and stories are fun and poignant, and her voice has been praised by the LA Times as “hauntingly emotional.”
Therese Folkes Plair
Therese Folkes Plair, an award-winning performing artist, is a classically trained singer who in 1979 changed her artistic direction from opera to world music and storytelling. Her research, performances, and teaching focus on the music and the oral and written literature of people of African descent. A graduate of in from Sarah Lawrence College, Ms. Plair has been on the forefront of developing arts education in Westchester Country and Tri-State New York areas since 1980. Her roles have included conducting residencies, integrating core curriculum with music, and storytelling for students of all ages.
This event is made possible by a generous grant from Verve 55+ Living/UJA Federation of NY.

Macaroons and More
2024-04-20 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Yorktown Heights, Location provided upon registration
Experience the joy of Passover with our exciting family culinary workshop! Amy Pane, our expert cooking instructor, will guide us in making delicious Passover treats like matzah pizzas and coconut macaroons. Take home all the recipes to recreate the magic in your own kitchen. This program is designed for children 4 years old and up with their caregiver.

Freedom of Speech, Majority Rule, and Cancel Culture—with Rabbi Daniel Reiser, Temple Beth Shalom
2024-05-03 10:00 - 11:30
We live in a country with freedom of speech. Does that freedom apply even to offensive opinions? We live in a democracy. Does that mean that the majority is always right? We will reflect on how a story from the Talmud helps us to unpack these important questions.

Israeli Culture Connection with Noy
2024-06-11 11:00 - 12:00
Join us in bidding farewell to our Shishin, Noy Laufer! As she embarks on her journey to serve in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) this fall, let’s gather to celebrate her contributions to the J, indulge in delicious Israeli snacks, and wish her the very best.

Hot Topics: Jews, The Election, and The Media
2024-09-04 11:30 - 13:00
At this pivotal moment in a U.S. election year, join Rabbi Ron Symons, our Senior Director of Jewish Engagement, for a facilitated conversation that will touch on some of these questions:

What is the history of how Jews have served in public office?
How has the media portrayed this?
How does this moment in history, given the increased Jew-hatred (i.e. anti-Semitism), compare to previous moments?

Our conversation will be all the richer because of your presence and/or participation. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome.
Ron joins the Shames JCC as a facilitator of neighbors learning and living in community with one another across real and perceived differences amplifying our shared humanity. He is a weaver of spirituality with a realistic and optimistic vision of community, and welcomes you to weave with him.

Clergy Talk: Messiah or Martyrdom: Religion and Violence in the Name of God
2024-09-06 10:00 - 11:00
Join Rabbi Jay Stein of Greenburgh Hebrew Center for this month’s Clergy Talk (formerly Challenging Times, Ageless Insights).
Each month, we feature meaningful conversations with Rivertowns clergy. Your voice matters and makes these conversations all the more valuable. These are on the first Friday of every month.

Interfaith Dialogue: People of Faith and The Election: Gun Control, Abortion, Economy, Immigration, Character
2024-09-12 10:00 - 11:00
We may not all agree with the correct solutions to every problem in our country, but can we agree on what the problems are? In this session, Reverend Evans and Rabbi Stein will explore what our sacred traditions believe are the important issues that should guide our decisions when we enter the voting booth.
This is part of the Common Ground: Interfaith Dialogue series. Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and Rev. Gareth Evans, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Irvington, come together for an enlightening conversation to build bridges across real and perceived differences. Your participation as a “fly on the wall” and/or an engaged conversationalist is welcome. These are on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

Challah and Conversation: Can I Have a Do Over? Please?
2024-09-13 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in uncovering the importance of mulligans or do overs not just in sports and games but also in the most important moments of life. This conversation is inspired by the Jewish New Year and will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.
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Challah and Conversation: Apologies are So 20th Century!
2024-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in exploring the power of authentic apologies and the damage of inauthentic apologies. Think about the last time you received a really good apology… How long ago was it? This conversation is inspired by the Jewish practice of apologizing on Yom Kippur and will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Challah and Conversation: Happy Birthday to You!
2024-09-27 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in discussing the history of birthdays and their celebration rituals. With Rosh Hashanah, often called the “birthday of the world,” just days away, this conversation will help us appreciate why marking time is valuable, no matter how old in body or young in heart you are. While this conversation is inspired by Rosh Hashanah, it will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

A Communal Remembrance: October 7 and a Year of War
2024-10-07 19:00 - 20:00
We will come together to acknowledge all of our losses since October 7, 2023, including the loss of innocent lives across faiths, ethnicities, and nationalities; the loss of physical and emotional security felt in the Middle East, the U.S., and around the world; the loss of relationships across differences; and more. Our time together will be a-political and filled with music, readings, and private reflection time.

Common Ground: Has Politics Replaced Religion in America?
2024-10-10 10:00 - 11:00
Given the divisiveness throughout our country, is it possible that some people think political affiliation is more important than religious affiliation? Join us to discuss with Rabbi Jay Stein from the Greenburgh Hebrew Center and Rev. Gareth Evans from the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Irvington.
This is part of the Common Ground: Interfaith Dialogue series. Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and Rev. Gareth Evans, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Irvington, come together for an enlightening conversation to build bridges across real and perceived differences. Your participation as a “fly on the wall” and/or an engaged conversationalist is welcome. These are on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

Challah and Conversation: The Power of My Word
2024-10-11 09:30 - 10:30
With all the words that easily fly around us on the news, social media, and in conversation, it seems that the weight of our words is less than it used to be. We’ll discuss the importance of sticking to what you say. While this conversation is inspired by the themes of Yom Kippur, its application can touch our everyday lives, no matter your background or faith.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, leads interactive guided conversations about life that weave the world around us with general spirituality through Jewish and other lenses. We begin our time together by lighting candles and end with a little grape juice and challah… all in a very inclusive way. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Inside the Middle East: Navigating the Storm One Year After October 7
2024-10-15 19:00 - 20:30
As the Middle East navigates a storm of unprecedented challenges, we stand at a pivotal juncture that will define the future of Israel, the Palestinians, and the entire region. Avi Melamed, former Israeli intelligence official and senior advisor on Arab affairs, will lead a special briefing on the issues underscoring the escalating conflict. We’ll delve deep into the forces driving these turbulent times, unravel the intricate complexities beneath the surface, look at “the day after,” and assess the far-reaching implications for both the region, and the world.
Avi Melamed is a Middle East geopolitical expert and intelligence analyst. He is the founder of Inside the Middle East, an apolitical non-partisan educational nonprofit providing analysis on current affairs. Avi is the author of Inside the Middle East: Entering a New Era, and has been a featured expert in the media including CNN, Newsweek, and USA Today.

Challah and Conversation: Shelter Us!
2024-10-18 09:30 - 10:30
On this second day of the fall holiday of Sukkot, which celebrates the power of shelter in our lives, we will explore both the contemporary challenges of affordable housing in our region and the spiritual power of being sheltered in all kinds of ways. While this conversation is inspired by the themes of Sukkot, its application can touch our everyday lives, no matter your background or faith. (Weather permitting, we might hold this session in our Sukkah (Harvest Hut) on the quad of the JCC.)
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, leads interactive guided conversations about life that weave the world around us with general spirituality through Jewish and other lenses. We begin our time together by lighting candles and end with a little grape juice and challah… all in a very inclusive way. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.
