Shames JCC

"The Diversity of Westchester Birds: From Eagles to Warblers."
2023-01-23 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Join the Executive Director of the Saw Mill RIver Audubon as she shares beautiful images, sounds, videos of Westchester birds across the seasons and in various county birding hotspots. Tips on how to start birding and how to have bird-friendly, bird-safe properties whether residential, business or community-owned will also be covered.

America Calling: How our universities attract the world's talent and why it matters with Dr. Rajika Bhandari
2023-01-30 10:00 - 11:00
America Calling: How our universities attract the world’s talent and why it matters with Dr. Rajika Bhandari
For over 200 years, American colleges and universities have attracted students from around the world, with this type of educational exchange being a critical form of soft diplomacy for the U.S. Drawing upon her research and her award-winning memoir, America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility, Dr. Rajika Bhandari, an international higher education expert and local Irvington resident, will discuss the value of international students and skilled immigrants to the U.S., and how continuing to keep the doors open to global talent is critical to the economic, social, and cultural future of the country. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Challenging Times, Ageless Insights
2023-02-03 10:00 - 11:30
Challenging Times, Ageless Insights
Student Rabbi Solomon Hoffman from Mishkan Ha’am will draw from ancient Jewish stories from the Torah and Talmud to explore multiple perspectives on how we face the universal human challenges of sickness and death. The discussion will explore how these stories resonate today, and how they intersect with our recent experience of living through a pandemic. We will focus on how community and resilience show up in these narratives, and how these texts can support our individual and collective healing.

“Challenging Times, Ageless Insights” offers participants the opportunity to engage with clergy in exploring contemporary issues through a Jewish lens. These discussions will provide insights, debate, and if we are successful, even more questions.

Can the UN be made more effective?
2023-02-06 10:00 - 11:00
The UN recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. But the nature of conflict and crisis has shifted, and the UNd needs to be adapted and strengthened to meet today’s global challenges and maintain credibility. This is worth the effort as the UN remains the key global institution with the all-important goal of securing world peace and security and controlling political violence. David Cheney will discuss the reforms needed, and what it will take to get there.
David M. Cheney is a consultant to international economic institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and UN. He spent 24 years as Division Chief at the IMF. Previously. David was an economist at Chase Bank and at the US Export-Import Bank. He currently teaches courses on international economics and writing at the Global Affairs Center of NYU’s School of Professional Studies and runs a weekly discussion group on foreign affairs at the Manhattan JCC.

The Climate Crisis and Emerging Climate Technologies
2023-02-27 10:00 - 11:00
In the last few years, it’s been clear to most Americans that climate change is with us already and its destructive impacts are growing. Scientists are researching ways to pull C02 out of the atmosphere and develop other new technologies to decrease climate risks. Join us to learn about these and explore the potential benefits and risks–, and how do they compare to the risks of not intervening.
About the presenter: Cynthia Scharf was the head of strategic communications and speechwriter on climate change for former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon from 2009-2016. She previously worked for the UN and numerous NGOs on emergency humanitarian relief. She and her family live in Sleepy Hollow.

New York State Constitution with Juliet Gobler, Esq.
2023-03-13 10:00 - 11:30
On January 24, 2023, the New York legislature passed the Equal Rights Amendment (“ERA”);New Yorkers will vote on its ratification on the November 2024 ballot. The NYS ERA would prohibit discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex — including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. We will discuss the current equal rights protections under our state constitution, the gaps that a NYS ERA will fill –including preserving reproductive rights for New Yorkers– and the hundred-year history of the fight for a federal ERA.
About the Presenter:
Juliet Gobler is an attorney and social activist with a demonstrated passion to end gender discrimination. She proudly served as the President of the National Organization for Women’s Suffolk County Chapter for three terms. Juliet is the principal of The Law Office of Juliet Gobler in White Plains, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Stony Brook University in Women’s and Gender Studies, with a focus on Gender and Social Change, and her Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law.

Local Justice and Injustice with Judge Walter Schwartz
2023-03-20 10:00 - 11:30
Walter Schwartz, a longtime Village Justice in Westchester, will speak and answer questions candidly about his own experiences and observations inside the local judicial system. If you’ve ever, or even if you’ve never, gotten a parking ticket or served as a juror, you’ll want to tell it to this retired judge and hear what he has to say about how “justice” is dispensed and judges are chosen.

Censorship in America with Evan Weiner
2023-03-24 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-04-10 10:00 - 11:00
Censorship in America with Evan Weiner
Censorship in American media has been going on for decades. Historically, books have been banned, content for television deeply restricted, and movies edited for obscenity. Journalist and media expert Evan Weiner will discuss the why and how of censorship in America that has persisted despite the freedom of speech amendment.

Women's History Month with Dana Rubin
2023-03-27 10:00 - 11:30
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Dana will be telling us about what inspired her to rescue women’s speeches from obscurity. She’ll share a few stories about historic women speakers you may not have heard of — from right in our backyard. And she’ll explain why it’s so important that we shift our understanding of who spoke out in history to include women. She makes a powerful case that unless you know the history of women’s speech, you don’t really know American history — and that all our public voices are needed to create the world we want to live in.
Dana Rubin is a consultant, speechwriter, and speaker who’s on a mission to encourage more women to put their views into the public square. She created the Speaking While Female Speech Bank to broaden our understanding of the role of women orators in history. It’s the world’s largest online archive of women’s speeches from around the world and across time, free for anyone to use. She’s also about to publish a women’s speech anthology, “Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women,” which tells the story of America through the voices of women, from 1637-2021. Dana is a speaker and a public speaking coach, and she leads workshops that support women to be thought leaders, subject matter experts, brand ambassadors, and role models for future generations of women and girls.

Getting your Legal Documents in Order with Roberta Goodman and Nicole Fields
2023-04-03 10:00 - 11:00
Getting your Legal Documents in Order with Roberta Goodman and Nicole Fields
When was the last time you updated your health proxy information? Do you have a Power of Attorney? Lots of things change as we age and it’s important to make sure your decisions keep pace with your changing needs and relationships. At this hybrid lecture/workshop led by attorneys from the Pace Women’s Justice Center, you will learn which legal documents you need at this point in your life and what has changed in NY law in the last few years. You’ll also have the opportunity to fill out a health proxy form onsite and ask questions along the way. At the end of the program, an attorney will serve as a notary for any outstanding needs (remember to bring a photo ID if using the notary service).
About the Presenters:
Roberta S. Goodman, Esq. is a senior staff attorney in the Elder Justice unit with the Pace Women’s Justice Center in White Plains. She represents, educates and advocates in a broad range of matters, including financial exploitation, securing family court orders of protection for incidents of domestic disputes, voluntary guardianships, advance planning and negotiating legal resolutions involving abusive living situations.
Nicole H. Fields is a staff attorney in the Training, Outreach & Education Department of Pace Women’s Justice Center. Through outreach and training programs, Fields raises awareness and trains law enforcement, social service providers, law students, and communities on domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse issues.

Yom Ha Shoah Reflections: A Jewish Childhood in WWII Britain
2023-04-17 10:00 - 11:30
Cynthia Ehrenkrantz was six in 1939 when Britain entered World War II. Seeking Shelter is her vivid child’s-eye account of life in wartime England as she lived it: an adored only child in a large Jewish clan whose comfortable existence became one of food shortages, gas masks, air-raid sirens, and – worst of all – being sent away for months and years at a stretch to escape German bombs. Cynthia will reflect on the mixed realities of wartime and read passages from her book.
About the Presenter: Originally from London, Cynthia’s work has appeared in Gourmet News Magazine, Simple Cooking, Jewish Post & News, riverSedge: a Journal of Art and Literature, and How Not to Greet Famous People: The Best Stories from Ducts.org. A resident of White Plains, NY, she also performs her work at regional storytelling events and sings with the Yiddish Philharmonic Chorus.

Screening and Q&A of Dear Babe
2023-04-24 10:00 - 11:30
Dear Babe follows the journey of a young Jewish American soldier who fought in World War II and was among the first to liberate a concentration camp. Rosanne Ehrlich, the film’s director and former VP of Paramount Pictures, will talk about the process of turning letters sent home and archival footage into an award-winning documentary that was shown on PBS and in film festivals.
About the Presenter: Roseann Ehrlich has worked in the movie and TV industry for twenty-five years, including as a writer-producer on shows such as The Great Ships series for the History Channel, and as a V.P. for Paramount Pictures.

Before There Was Elvis with Michael Shamosh
2023-05-08 10:00 - 11:30
Before There Was Elvis with Michael Shamosh
Elvis Presley, a cultural icon of the mid-20th century, borrowed from several musical styles during his career. In this lecture, we’ll discuss, and listen to, the music that influenced Elvis and learn how he brought these musical forms into the mainstream. We’ll hear the music of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Hank Snow, Arthur Crudup, and others as we examine the environment that was instrumental in the creation of a legend.

The Rise of Anti-Semitism in the American Media with Noah Berger
2023-05-15 10:00 - 11:00
The Rise of Anti-Semitism in the American Media with Noah Berger
In the last 10 years, we’ve seen an alarming rise in antisemitism, both abroad and at home, and the American media has remained mostly silent. Noah Berger will look at how antisemitism in America is being portrayed–or not–and how the media typically responds.
About the presenter: Noah Berger has a MA in Global Conflict and Security from the University of Kent. He has worked with the World Jewish Congress and has served as campaign manager for various political figures. Having lived abroad in a number of countries including China, Belgium, and Israel, Noah has seen firsthand the pros and cons of the global political structure in diverse contexts.

The Kosher Nostra, Jewish Mobsters with Ron Arons
2023-05-22 10:00 - 11:00
The Kosher Nostra, Jewish Mobsters with Ron Arons
Join genealogist Ron Arons for a fascinating presentation about the history of Jewish organized crime in Westchester and beyond. In addition to discussing notorious Jewish criminals like Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky, Ron will talk about his book The Jews of Sing Sing, which describes the famous prison in Ossining where many Jewish criminals served time. Ron’s unique perspective includes not only primary research but his own family’s history with crime (spoiler alert: his grandfather served time in Sing Sing).
About the Presenter:
Ron is currently the Secretary for the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. He has given more than five hundred presentations internationally on topics of Jewish criminality, Jewish genealogy, research methodology, technology, and data visualization. Ron is the author of three books and has a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Antisemitism in the 1930s with Dr. Gene Fein
2023-06-05 10:00 - 11:30
1930s New York City was a hotbed for extremist politics, from communism to fascism, fueled by ethnic rivalries. Jewish New Yorkers found themselves in the middle of this conflict, branded with accusations of being “internationalists” and “communists” bent on the destruction of America. Professor Gene Fein will discuss what anti-semitism in 1930s America was like, and the ways in which it blurred the lines of ethnicity and politics..
About the Presenter: Dr.Gene Fein is a long-time member of Fordham University, as an alumnus, Assistant Vice President, and adjunct faculty member, as well as an adjunct faculty member at SUNY-Purchase College. Dr. Fein received his Ph.D. in American history from the City University of New York, Graduate School & University Center. He teaches a variety of American history courses ranging from Colonial America, the American Revolution, the Civil War, Jazz Age to Hard Times, the Vietnam War, Jewish American history, the US Constitution, and the history of baseball. He currently resides with his family and dog, Gracie, in White Plains, New York

The Refugee Crisis and Real Ways to Help with Andrea Kott
2023-06-12 10:00 - 11:30
There are currently 117 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, including 32.5 million refugees. Join local writer and humanitarian Andrea Kott to learn about the current state of refugees and asylees globally and locally, the challenges they face being resettled in new homes, and concrete ways you can help.
About the Presenter: Andrea Kott earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California–Berkeley and her master’s from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She writes about public health for global and national nonprofits, public health schools, and academic medical centers, and has published work in The New York Times, Lilith Magazine, The Journal of the American Medical Association, and literary journals. Andrea also teaches English as a Second Language to immigrants and refugees. She and husband Erik live in Sleepy Hollow and have two grown children.

Tragedy in the East River: The Passenger Steamboat the General Slocum
2023-10-09 10:00 - 11:30
The General Slocum was a side-wheel passenger boat taking over 1,300 people, mainly from the Lower East Side, on a day’s outing to Oyster Bay on June 15, 1904. Soon after departing from Lower Manhattan, tragedy struck the ship and over 1,000 people perished. It was the greatest loss of life from a single event in New York’s history until 9/11. Archaeologist Eugene Beosch will discuss the horrible incident which is less well known than the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire or the sinking of the Titanic, other disasters occurring less than a decade later as well as ongoing archaeological/ historic research related to the event conducted along the Bronx shoreline.

New York’s Street Music: From Doo Wop to Hip Hop with Michael Shamosh
2023-11-06 10:00 - 23:30
The streets of New York have always been the source of new musical ideas. In this high energy lecture, music historian Michael Shamosh will examine two vocal music revolutions- doo wop and hip hop and their journey from the streets of the great city to the rest of the world.
About the presenter: Michael Shamosh is a musician and historian of American music. He was known as “Sunnyside Slim,” the harmonica player for the local band Sunnyside Slim and The Hudsons. Michael has been a chief investment strategist for brokerage firms, and a manager of mutual funds and a hedge fund. He is a JCC member and lives in Irvington, New York where he raised two sons with his wife Renee

Beyond Google: Genealogical Methods to Finding People Online with Ron Arons
2023-11-13 10:00 - 11:30
Want to reconnect with an old friend? Want to find a good doctor or attorney? Learn the methods genealogists such as Ron Arons use to track down or simply discover living relatives. Beyond Google, we’ll discuss how to use professional websites, people directories, court and other government records, ‘aggregation’ websites, and of course, social networking platforms. You’ll learn that by using these websites together, their synergies can provide even more fantastic search results.
About the Presenter: Ron is currently the Secretary for the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. He has given more than five hundred presentations internationally on topics of Jewish criminality, Jewish genealogy, research methodology, technology, and data visualization. Ron is the author of three books and has a B.S. in Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Evan Weiner presents Jewish Comics
2023-11-20 10:00 - 11:30
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 to Borscht Belt comedians like Freddie Roman to modern day comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.

From Preschool to Pickleball: The History of the JCC in Westchester
2023-11-27 10:00 - 11:30
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 Walter Schwartz has served as the Ardsley Village Historian, a longtime Village Justice in Westchester, and member of the Board of Trustees for the Westchester County Historical Society. He has authored articles on local history in the Westchester Historian among other publications, and has spoken to historical societies in Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Greenburgh, and Briarcliff. Walter is an enthusiastic member of the JCC and lives in White Plains with his family.

Putin and the Roots of Russian Invasion (Part I)
2023-12-04 10:00 - 11:30
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 and individual rights. We’ll explore how this culminated in the Gulag, the Great Terror, deliberate famine in Ukraine, the consequences of the Soviet collapse, and finally, how these events led to Putin’s fight to restore Russia’s imperial glory.
About the Presenter: Jess Velona has taught courses on Russian history, the Nazi regime, and other topics at Fordham University’s College at 60 and NYU’s School of Professional Studies, as well as African American history at CUNY’s College of Staten Island. He has been a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School since 2006. Jess graduated from Harvard College and received an MA in history from NYU before completing Columbia Law School. He was a law clerk for then-Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, As a one time candidate for public office in Manhattan and former aide to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Jess loves sharing his passion for politics and history with students and adult audiences across the New York metropolitan area.

Putin and the Roots of Russian Invasion (Part II)
2024-01-08 10:00 - 11:30

Musical History of the Jewish People: A Performance and Talk with Dr. David Podles
2024-01-29 10:00 - 11:30
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 as the steadfastness of the Jewish people.
About the Presenter: Dr. David Podles of Riga, Latvia, is a laureate of 3 prestigious international competitions. He graduated from Music Conservatory in Riga, Latvia. Dr. Podles performed in symphony, chamber, opera, and ballet theater orchestras both solo, in orchestra and on tour across Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, including The Bolshoi in Moscow & Kirov in Ukraine. In the US, he has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, 92nd Y, and at Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

Cooking and Eating for Heart Health: The Power of Plant-Based Nutrition with Plant Powered Metro NY
2024-02-12 10:00 - 11:30
How we eat can improve our cholesterol, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health in dramatic ways. But which foods, and how? Join Plant Powered Metro New York to understand how nutrition can impact the health of the entire circulatory system — and how to prepare delicious meals that can prevent and even reverse heart disease. Health coaches and nutrition educators Kelly Weichsel-Arya, RN, and Florence Hovy, will offer a live cooking demo and tasting with take-home recipes and the motivation to make achievable changes.

Lilith: From First Wife to Demon to Feminist
2024-02-26 10:00 - 11:30
Building off of Torah and Rabbinic texts, this talk by Tami Arnowitz will review attitudes towards magic and demons in Judaism. The discussion will focus on the character of Lilith (a “demon” thought to be the first wife of Adam), whose story grew and changed over the ages, reacting to the needs and imaginations of the Jewish people.
About the Presenter: Tami Abramowitz is an educator who teaches in a variety of settings and to a range of ages, including at Camp Ramah in New England, JCCs, and synagogues. Her classes are designed to integrate ancient Jewish texts and traditions with modern life, finding meaning and insight. She has a BA from Wellesley College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and her Life Coach Certification from Life Coach Training Institute. Tami has also studied at Hebrew University and The Conservative Yeshiva. For more than 20 years, Tami has balanced a successful professional life with being a mom to 4, clergy spouse, and active member of her community.

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.

Albert Rivera Presents: A Brief History of Jazz Through the Eyes of its Performers
2024-03-11 10:00 - 11:00
In this hybrid talk and saxophone performance, teaching artist Albert Rivera will take us through a brief history of jazz from the 1930s through the present day. He’ll discuss how different styles of jazz were created in response to the socio-economic and political themes of certain decades and how jazz music shaped the sounds of music we hear today.
About the instructor: Described by WNPR’s Owen McNally as “A modern Jazz messenger,” saxophonist Albert Rivera has been a consistent force on a national and international level since finalizing his studies at The New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Program. Born and raised in the Bronx, Albert is a recipient of a Chamber Music America Residency award, an ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, and most recently a City Arts Corp Grant. He is the current Director of Operations at the Litchfield Jazz Camp and serves on the Jazz Faculty at SUNY Purchase.
