In 1978, it was estimated that 80 percent of American stand-up comics were Jewish. Acts such as the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, and Fanny Brice filled the early comic world from vaudeville to film and radio. This talk will explore Jewish comics and their effect on our culture, from the slapstick of The Three Stooges […]

Ever wonder how the Shames JCC came to be? Drawing on written and photographic archives, local historian Walter Schwartz will take us from the 1920s, when the Jews of Yonkers first joined together to fund and develop a Jewish Community Center, to the thriving JCC you know and love today. About the presenter: Former judge […]

In this two-session series, Professor Jess Velona explores how Putin's autocracy and invasion of Ukraine have strong parallels throughout modern Russian history. The discussion will examine how Tsarist and Soviet Communist regimes, for all of their differences, exhibited commonalities including a penchant for imperial expansion, suppression of ethnic and national traditions, and scorn for democracy […]

In this two-session series, Professor Jess Velona explores how Putin's autocracy and invasion of Ukraine have strong parallels throughout modern Russian history. The discussion will examine how Tsarist and Soviet Communist regimes, for all of their differences, exhibited commonalities including a penchant for imperial expansion, suppression of ethnic and national traditions, and scorn for democracy […]

Acclaimed international concert musician Dr. David Podles will take participants on a heartfelt trip of Jewish musical history by performing Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Israeli Jewish music. From the original touching niguns to playful freilehs to beautiful songs of prayer, Dr. Podles will show how music is deeply embedded in historical points in Judaism as well […]