Current Events Roundtable
2023-06-07 12:00 (America/New_York)
Come discuss the week’s events in our new roundtable series led by JCC members and staff. With timely and changing international, national and local issues from the news arenas of government, arts, sports, science and religion, we welcome all participants to voice their views in a moderated format. All points of view are welcome in this lively, thought-provoking, and civil discussion. Feel free to bring your lunch and/or a friend!
FREE for members and nonmembers

Summer Soirée for Adults
2023-06-11 17:00 - 20:00
Experience the Mind-Bending Magic of Ken Salaz: The Ultimate Mentalist and Magician!

To celebrate the beginning of summer, the Shames JCC is hosting an elegant and fun evening featuring dinner, cocktails, dessert, and a show with renowned magician and mentalist, Ken Salaz. Ken has performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Early Show, and for numerous celebrity clients. Guests will enjoy good food, good company, and a performance you won’t forget! Members and non-members welcome. Please note, this evening is geared towards adults.
This event is made possible by a generous grant from Verve 55+ Living/UJA
Check out some of his performances here!

Pride Pop-Up: Sleepy Hollow Bookshop
2023-06-14 - 2023-06-17
Explore Sleepy Hollow Bookshop’s curated selection of children’s and young adult books featuring LGTBQ characters and authors, and celebrating differences. Books will be available for online ordering on-site!

JCC Potluck Picnic
2023-06-21 12:00 - 14:00
Bring a dish to share with friends new and not-new for a potluck picnic at the JCC! We’ll gather under the tent in the back field to celebrate a season of successful lunch outings. Drinks and dessert on us!
Important: Please bring a kosher-style dish (no shellfish, pork products, and meet/dairy combinations). Please include a list of ingredients with your dish in case of allergies.

WOW SUMMER SIZZLER
2023-06-21 18:30 - 19:30
Calling All WOW Warriors!
It’s been 6 months since the launch of our WOW program! We are grateful for the community we have built and look forward to seeing it continue to flourish!
Let’s celebrate our gains and kick off summer with a bang! Please join us at 6:30p outside at the J!
And don’t worry; we made it at 6:30p so you will have time to still attend our 5p WOW session on that day
*please bring food and beverage

Survey Says: Mingle!
2023-06-25 12:00 - 15:00
Join us for a special event for adults over 50!
Are you an adult 50+ looking to meet new people? Survey says….join us at Via Garibaldi in White Plains* for an afternoon of game show fun, lunch, wine, and mingling! This is a great way to expand your social circle in a low-pressure and entertaining environment.
The program will begin with a delicious buffet that includes appetizers, mains, dessert, wine, and more. After the meal, the fun begins! Free valet parking is included, and free transportation to and from the Shames JCC or JCC-Midwestchester is also available.
*Free valet parking is included, and free transportation to and from the Shames JCC or JCC-Midwestchester is also available.

Verve Book Club
2023-06-28 11:30 - 13:00
Verve Afternoon Book Club
Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman
The Sassoons and the Kadoories stood astride Chinese business and politics for more than 175 years, profiting from the Opium Wars, surviving Japanese occupation, courting Chiang Kai-shek, and nearly losing everything as the Communists swept into power. Jonathan Kaufman tells the remarkable history of how these families ignited an economic boom and opened China to the world, but remained blind to the country’s deep inequality and to the political turmoil on their doorsteps.

Pop-Up: Handmade Ceramics by Maggie Chow
2024-02-08 09:00 - 13:00
Member Maggie Chow will be back at the J selling her beautiful handmade pottery. Come get your loved ones–or yourself–some Valentine’s Day gifts at the J.

Purim Pour
2024-03-20 16:00 - 19:00
Sample a selection of kosher wines from Aries Wine & Spirits and place orders for your Passover Seder to pick up at the J!

Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2024-03-22 15:00 - 17:00
Local favorite Birdie’s Batch will be at the J with delicious homemade hamantaschen and more!

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.

Pop-Up Shop: Skincare by Born to Be Free
2024-05-07 09:00 - 12:00
Come shop natural skincare with eco-friendly packaging from Born to Be Free!

Pop-Up Shop: Jewels of the East
2024-05-09 10:00 - 13:00
Looking for mother’s day gifts for the mothers in your life? Support a local business that sells embroidery and jewelry from around the world.

Pop-Up Shop: Handmade Jewelry by Alla Stoyan
2024-05-11 09:00 - 11:00
Member Alla Stoyan will be selling homemade jewelry. Come get your loved ones a gift—or for yourself!

The W Connection Meet and Greet
2024-07-30 11:00 - 12:00
JCC members now have $50 off membership to the W Connection, a group that helps widows rebuild their lives after loss. Come learn more about what this group offers and meet Shelley Levy, a W Connection member and the J’s on-site facilitator.

Game Night with Desserts and Drinks
2024-10-10 20:00 - 23:00
Tara’s Tables is hosting Game Night with Desserts and Cocktails featuring Family (or friends) Feud! Enjoy a night of sweet treats, great drinks and a dash of friendly competition.
The evening will include an assortment of desserts from local bakeries, festive cocktails, and a chance to test your wits and have some laughs as we recreate the classic Family Feud game show at the JCC. Bring your competitive spirit and a sweet tooth. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!
Tara’s Tables is a locally owned company dedicated to curating beautiful and intentional “tablescapes,” unique themed table settings that transform any gathering into an unforgettable experience.
Ticket prices will cover the cost of the event. If you are able to make an additional donation, you will help the JCC provide amazing programs and services to many of our most vulnerable neighbors. If you’d like to donate, please choose the donation option in addition to your tickets. We greatly appreciate your support!

Pop-Up: Ceramics from Maggie Chow
2024-12-05 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-08 09:00 - 13:00
Explore handmade, functional ceramics with special designs, all created locally in Westchester and without any toxic materials.

Pop-up: Ariane's Jewel Box
2024-12-10 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-05 09:00 - 12:00
For the trendsetter in your life, explore this carefully curated collection of jewelry.

Pop-Up: Jewels of the East
2024-12-13 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-06 09:00 - 13:00
Purchase one-of-a-kind Baltic Amber jewelry and gorgeous silk, wool and cashmere scarves, shawls, and ponchos with and without embroidery.

Pop-up: Ariane's Jewel Box from Ariane Braverman
2025-12-08 09:00 - 12:00
