Shames JCC

The Kosher Nostra, Jewish Mobsters with Ron Arons
2023-05-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
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.

Evan Weiner presents Germany's Troubling Olympics History, 1936 and 1972
2024-03-18 10:00 - 11:00
Germany is currently bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in Berlin.Proponents of this idea think it could be a teachable moment about how propaganda was used to promote the Olympic Games and the Nazi regime when they hosted in 1936 and 1972. But for many, the idea of the Olympics in Germany brings up terrible memories.
In this talk, journalist Evan Weiner will go into detail about the past games hosted by Germany, including Germany’s exclusion of Jewish athletes, American boycotting of the Games, and the devastating terrorist attack in Munich.

Laughter Yoga with Vinodray Shah, MD
2024-03-25 10:00 - 11:00
Experience Laughter Yoga, a unique exercise routine that combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing. Laughter reaps many scientific benefits including reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression; lower blood pressure; a strengthened immune system; and much more. Laughter is initially stimulated as a physical exercise and soon leads to real and contagious laughter. Bring your playful spirit!
About the presenter: Vinodray R. Shah, MD was a plastic surgeon for 35 years in Massachusetts before retiring to the Rivertowns. He is a certified Laughing Yoga instructor who runs programs at Phelps Hospital, Gilda’s Club, the senior centers in Elmsford, Ardsley, and Ossining. He is a passionate believer that laughter is the best medicine.

David Cheney Presents Music of the 80’s (Part 1)
2024-04-01 10:00 - 11:30
The 80s have been called “the decade of decadence” as a strong economy fed materialism and consumerism. The mix of wealth with advances in music technology— synthetic instruments, MTV videos, cassettes, CDs, and boom boxes—fed a surge in musical development. Many new genres of music boomed at the same time including new wave, synth-pop, punk rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, dance music, and power ballads, while electric instruments introduced sounds never heard before. Join us as we listen to a mix of songs that defined the 80s and share memories together.
About the facilitator: David Cheney is an international economics writer, instructor, and trainer for international and educational institutions. He has held a variety of positions at the International Monetary Fund and has provided communications and writing support for a number of multilateral institutions including the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

David Cheney Presents Music of the 80’s (Part 2)
2024-04-08 10:00 - 11:30

Connecting the Yoms: An Exploration of Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom Ha'aztmaut
2024-05-06 10:00 - 11:30
Within the Jewish calendar, there are periods of time when holidays are connected to each other and, in their connection, add another layer of meaning to the days. We see this So too with Yom HaShoah, Yom HaYizkaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut. As we observe Yom Hashoah on May 6, this discussion will look at each holiday’s meaning and how their connection amplifies and enhances the individual days.

Irish Heritage Concert with Fiddler Brian Conway
2026-03-30 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for a performance of traditional Irish fiddle music, presented by master fiddler Brian Conway. Through performance and storytelling, Brian explores the cultural context and immigrant experience that shaped this rich tradition—one that has thrived from County Sligo to the Bronx, passed down through legendary fiddlers like Michael Coleman and Brian’s mentors Martin Wynne and Andy McGann.
About the Presenter: Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the New York-Sligo style of traditional Irish music. A Smithsonian/Folkways recording artist and multiple All-Ireland winner. Brian recently released an instructional book titled The Brian Conway Fiddle Method, and a new CD titled Wallace Avenue. For more information about Brian Conway, visit brianconway.com.
