Shames JCC

Clergy Talk: The Maccabees in Their Own Words
2024-12-06 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
The Books of the Maccabees were written too late to be included in the Hebrew Bible, and too early to make it into the New Testament. They tell the story of Hanukhah from the perspective of those who experienced it, and that retelling is as fascinating for what it leaves out as for what it includes. We’ll look at selected passages and get the eyewitness account of the origin of the Festival of Lights.
Join Rabbi David Holtz of Temple Beth Abraham 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.

Mohammad Darawshe: Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs Building Shared Society
2024-12-11 19:00 - 20:15
The October 7 Hamas attack and its aftermath deeply impacted all of Israel’s ethnic groups. The Jewish majority experienced indescribable fear, while many citizens comprising the Arab minority–which makes up one-fifth of Israel’s citizenry—faced its own fear of being seen as Hamas terrorists.
Mohammad Darawshe, a faculty member at the Shalom Hartman Institute and director of strategy for the Givat Haviva Center for Shared Society, will discuss his work with Givat Haviva and its impact on Jewish-Arab relations to foster dialogue and mutual respect in Israel and beyond. Q&A will follow.
About the Speaker
Mohammad Darawshe is considered a leading expert on Jewish-Arab relations. He has presented lectures and papers at the European parliament, NATO Defense College, World Economic Forum, and Club de Madrid, US Congress, Herzliya Conference and Israel’s Presidential Conference. Mohammad was the recipient of the Peacemakers Award from the Catholic Theological Union, and the Peace and Security Award of the World Association of NGO’s, and was Leadership Fellow at the New Israel Fund. In 2008, Mohammad Darawshe was elected as a city council member in his hometown Iksal. In 2009, he served as a member of The National Committee which drafted Israel’s Coexistence Education policy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Hartford University. He lives in Iksal with his wife and four children.

Challah and Conversation: ‘Tis The Season to Be… Interfaith
2024-12-13 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in a conversation about the power of and challenges with confronting interfaith dialogue, especially now in a world filled with divisions.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Don’t Let The Light Go Out
2024-12-20 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in uncovering the deeper meanings of Hanukkah beyond candles, dreidels, latkes, and gelt. Our conversation will help us return to the core light that might spark something new or old deep down inside.
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.

Clergy Talk: Mental Health and Melody: The Power of Music for Wellness
2025-01-03 09:30 - 10:30
Our sacred texts are rife with stories about the mental health of our ancestors. So too do the teachings of our sages grapple with our mental and emotional well-being. We’ll explore how mental health has played a role in Jewish texts, thought, and practice, as well as how Jewish composers have written–and continue to write– music to illustrate and soothe personal turmoil.
Join Cantor Jenna Mark of Woodlands Community Temple 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.

Challah and Conversation: Endings and Beginnings
2025-01-10 09:30 - 10:30
Join a conversation about the power of turning the page on the past and starting a new chapter. At this season of new year along with a new administration, we’ll discuss how we can use our past experiences to help us nurture future experiences for ourselves and the generations yet to be.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."
2025-01-17 09:30 - 10:30
Join a conversation about the impact of the life, work and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., its roots deep in biblical themes and its branches reaching towards tomorrow.
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.

Challah and Conversation: The Power of Work
2025-01-31 09:30 - 10:30
Join a conversation about the impact good work has played on our lives and how those who have organized workers have advanced the common good. We can reflect on how meaningful work is an essential part of our individual and collective identities. Our conversation will reach back to the days of the Torah, to the good work of labor organizers of the 20th century, and to our own experiences of work.
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.

Clergy Talk: "Godshopping" with Rabbi Mara Young
2025-02-07 09:30 - 10:30
We know God is one, but Judaism is anything but monolithic in how we understand this principle. Our written and oral traditions present a plethora of authentic “God concepts.” What is yours? In this interactive session, we’ll investigate different ways of thinking about God and then “go shopping” for our own articulation of our relationship to the Divine.
Join Rabbi Mara Young of Woodlands Community Temple 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.

Challah and Conversation: You Shall Guard and Work The Garden
2025-02-14 09:30 - 10:30
Our earliest stories remind us that we have a responsibility to care for the earth so that we can preserve it for generations to come. In a time when global warming and environmentalism are in the news, join us for a values-based conversation about the balance between using our natural resources with abandon and caring for them.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Love the Stranger as Yourself
2025-02-28 09:30 - 10:30
For thousands of years we have been instructed to love the stranger because of the way the ancient Israelites were once strangers in Egypt and how powers throughout history have poorly treated the Jewish community. With a new emphasis on immigration in America, join us for a relevant values-based conversation about our obligation to and treatment of those deemed “strangers.”
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.

Challah and Conversation: Purim: Looking for Joy, Especially Now
2025-03-07 09:30 - 10:30
Who couldn’t use just a little more joy? Jewish tradition teaches us that joy increases in the month of Adar (beginning on March 1) as we anticipate the festival of Purim (March 14). Let’s use this tradition to learn how we can infuse simchah (joy) into our daily lives given some of the challenges we face.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Jewish Wisdom
2025-03-21 09:30 - 10:30
In a world in which DEI is being challenged rather than celebrated, let’s come together to uncover the values from Jewish wisdom that might bring clarity to our understanding of the vast array of human expression.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Yearning for Connection and Good in Our Lives
2025-03-28 09:30 - 10:30
The reality of our 21st-century world is that many of us are isolated and fret over the lack of goodness around us. Our coming together to explore Jewish wisdom and techniques to stay connected and to celebrate the good might actually help each one of us as we step out of winter into the spring.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Passover: The Birth Song of Freedom for All Subsequent Challenges
2025-04-11 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in an interactive conversation about how the Passover and Exodus narrative serve as the inspiration for freedom throughout history. The story we tell on Passover night resonates over and over throughout the generations for both Jews and non-Jews alike.
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.

Challah and Conversation: Anti-Semitism/Jew-Hatred: The Oldest Hatred
2025-04-18 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in crafting a shared language around what anti-semitism/Jew-hatred is, how it has developed throughout history, and how we see it in our world today. Most importantly, we will also explore how to mitigate its impacts on us during this Yom haShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) season and beyond.
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.

Challah and Conversation: The Israeli Declaration of Statehood: An Annotated Reading
2025-04-25 09:30 - 10:30
As we approach the 77th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel, we will turn our attention back to the founding document to better understand the hopes of Israel’s founders with an eye on today and tomorrow in these challenging times.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Mothers and Fathers: Can a Hallmark Card say it all?"
2025-05-09 09:30 - 10:30
Join with Rabbi Symons in a participatory conversation about how Jewish wisdom teaches us to raise up the next generation. We will reflect on the ways we were raised to honor our parents, how our children honored parents in our generation, and how children are honoring parents today. This conversation will be all the richer because you, parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or friend might share your wisdom.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Memorial Day: What happened to the power of memorializing?"
2025-05-16 09:30 - 10:30
Join with Rabbi Symons as we uncover the ways Jewish wisdom invites us to memorialize those who are no longer with us. Lest you think otherwise, it is not through “White Sales”. Our conversation will touch on our collective efforts around Memorial Day and our individual efforts around friends and family.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "The Ten Commandments: A Reading for Today"
2025-05-30 09:30 - 10:30
With the Jewish holiday of Shavuot beginning at sundown on June 1, we will explore the pivotal story of the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai and their application to our lives today. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Adam & Eve and Adam & Steve: Exploring Religious Perspectives on Gay Marriage"
2025-06-06 09:30 - 10:30
During this Pride Month, Rabbi Ron Symons will guide us through the sensitive matters related to how different religious denominations across the religions understand the role of 21st century marriage considering long held religious beliefs.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Hatikvah and the Star-Spangled Banner—Among Other National Anthems"
2025-06-13 09:30 - 10:30
As the American Calendar marks Flag Day (June 14), Rabbi Ron Symons invites you to engage in a conversation about the content of national anthems and the values they represent of the national founders even in these changing times.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "The Golden Medinah: Jewish Life in America over 249 Years"
2025-06-27 09:30 - 10:30
As we anticipate July 4, Rabbi Ron Symons will guide us in exploring Jewish life in America across the centuries, how it has evolved, and what it looks like today.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Adam & Eve and Adam & Steve: Exploring Religious Perspectives on Gay Marriage"
2025-07-11 09:30 - 10:30
Rabbi Ron Symons will guide us through the sensitive matters related to how different religious denominations across the religions understand the role of 21st century marriage considering long-held religious beliefs.
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.

Challah and Conversation: "Bastille Day and Jewish Identity"
2025-07-18 09:30 - 10:30
July 14, 1789 marked a pivotal moment in the journey of the French people towards independence. While the theme is often celebrated through the music of Les Miserables), I am curious about how the Jews of France fit into that journey. Just wait until you see what the Jews of that era had to say about being a Frenchman and a Jew at the same time! Trust me, their conversations are relevant for us today in 2025 America.
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.
