Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2024-03-22 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
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.

Israeli Culture Connection with Noy
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.

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.

Challah and Conversation: Voting is Good for Your Health
2024-10-25 09:30 - 10:30
We all know that voting is a good thing to do so that your voice is heard, but what if there was more to it? Join us for a values-based conversation about the way the election process impacts our neighbors: not the political impact, the moral impact on us as neighbors.
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: Racism: What’s Judaism got to do with it?
2024-11-01 09:30 - 10:30
Can an oppressed people like the Jews ever be considered racist? Why should Jews—and white Jews in particular—take racism personally? Cantor Robin Joseph ponders these questions, among others, and explores what are some of our Jewish tradition’s responses to racism and how they might inform our individual perspectives.
Join Cantor Robin Joseph of Temple Beth Shalom 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: Patience
2024-11-08 09:30 - 10:30
As we wait for the election results to be finalized, let’s all take a deep breath and find that place inside where we can wait for resolution. The soul trait of patience is a useful tool when it comes to election results and so much more in our lives. We will dust off the cobwebs that prevent us from accessing patience in hopes that we can use it well now and into the future. As always, your presence makes our conversation all the richer.
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: Patriotism, Nationalism, Partisan Politics, and Jewish Wisdom
2024-11-15 09:30 - 10:30
In this hypersensitive partisan time in American life, we will benefit from a discussion that draws from the wisdom of Dan Rather from his book What Unites Us, along with 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom to help us make our way through these challenging weeks. As always, your presence makes our conversation all the richer.
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: Cultivating Gratitude and Joy: How Every Day Might be Thanksgiving
2024-11-22 09:30 - 10:30
If only we could be thankful the other 364 days of the year. We will gather around in preparation for Thanksgiving to feast on an array of morsels of wisdom and insight to help us strengthen our gratitude muscles. As always, your presence makes our conversation all the richer.
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: The Maccabees in Their Own Words
2024-12-06 09:30 - 10:30
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.
