Shames JCC

Stop or I’ll Shoot: A Dramatic Courtroom Transcript Reading
2023-07-10 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
If you’re a fan of Perry Mason, Law and Order or just good old fashioned suspense, join us for our first courtroom transcript roundtable reading! Much like a table reading for a play, participants will be assigned parts (judge, attorney, plaintiff, etc.) from an edited transcript of a famous trial. You won’t know the outcome of the case until the group finishes! The program is facilitated by health professional Aytan Adler and no experience is necessary! l

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.

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.

Laughter Yoga
2023-06-23 10:30 - 11:30
Laughter Yoga is 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!

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

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.

Outdoor Summer Solstice Yoga and Acupuncture
2023-06-20 18:30 - 20:00
Outdoor Summer Solstice Yoga and Acupuncture

Please bring a yoga mat and towel to put underneath it.
We are moving our Summer Solstice Women’s Circle outside! Join us for an evening of embodied movement and acupuncture to welcome and celebrate the Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year).
Tori Cronk, yoga instructor, will guide you through a summer-welcoming yoga flow. Once you are settled into a restful yoga pose, acupuncturist Chyrssa Tsakiris will offer each participant an acupuncture treatment that targets specific joy-cultivating points to help your system usher in the season of sun and fun while also remaining grounded. You will leave you feeling rested and rejuvenated.

Falafel and Farewell To Maya Naor!
2023-06-20 13:00 - 14:00
Maya Naor has served as the JCC Shinsin (Israeli youth ambassador) for the last 10 months and will be returning to Israel to join the IDF. Please join us to wish her well in this next chapter.
Israeli music, photos, and snacks will be providedj

Juneteenth Pop-Up: Transom Bookshop
2023-06-19 - 2023-06-22
Explore Transom Bookshop’s curated selection of fiction by Black authors and/or with Black protagonists, and nonfiction about Juneteenth and other related topics of racism in America. Books will be available for online ordering on site!

Family Friday: Swim Under the Stars
2023-06-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Shames JCC
Family Friday: Swim Under the Stars
Join us for our monthly Friday night free-swim to families who have an immediate member with a special need. The pool will be exclusively reserved for this event, so that we can ensure a sensory-friendly pool environment for a fun family night out!
Please note:
-We ask that at least one person over the age of 18 accompany the individual with a supportive need to ensure safety.
-Swim levels will be determined upon arrival. For those who wish to swim in the deep end, a swim test will be conducted.
-If your family member needs 1:1 assistance, we ask that you please come prepared to get in the pool with them or ensure they are accompanied by someone in the pool over 18 who can support their needs.

Foreign Affairs Lecture Series: A New Order in the Middle East
2023-06-14 08:00 - 17:00
Join international economist David Cheney to discuss pressing international relations issues of our time.

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!

PB Hot Sauce Pop-up
2023-06-13 10:30 - 15:00
Looking for a hot Fathers Day gift this year? Be sure to stop by our pop-up with local farmer’s markets fave PB Hot Sauce! There will be a variety of sauces on hand, even ones to satisfy the spiciest dads on your list. All their delicious sauces are certified kosher, gluten free, vegan, and contain no added sugars or preservatives! Learn more about PB Hot Sauces.

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.

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!

Sort Medical Supplies for The Afya Foundation (Mt. Kisco)
2023-06-11 10:00 - 12:30
The Afya Foundation collects unused medical supplies and equipment and gives them a second life, shipping them to under-resourced and compromised health systems all over the globe. Join us to sort and organize supplies to be sent to areas in need, including areas experiencing conflict and natural disasters. Volunteers are needed to sort, label, pack, and list supplies.
Sort will happen at Bet Torah, 60 Smith Ave, Mt Kisco, NY 10549.
We will have a shift for families (with children 8+) from 10-11 am, and a shift for teens (ages 13-18) from 11:30 am-12:30 pm.

Women's Circle: Fiber Art Workshop with Kit Demirdelen
2023-06-07 18:30 - 20:00
Join artist and educator Kit Demirdelon to create an art work with felted materials, fibers, and simple sewing techniques. All materials will be supplied and no experience is necessary!

Current Events Roundtable
2023-06-07 12:00
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

JCC Book Club: You Could Make This Place Beautiful
2023-06-06 18:30 - 19:45
Join us to read and discuss poet Maggie Smith’s new memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, which explores the author’s experience of life and motherhood after divorce.
Order at Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown for 10% off!

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

River Arts Music Tour
2023-06-03 12:00 - 14:40
The JCC is an official stop on the River Arts Music Tour! We will be hosting three acts, beginning at noon. Bring a friend—all are welcome! See the full schedule and lineup here

A Duck Amuck Pop-Up
2023-05-30 15:00 - 17:00
A Duck Amuck Pop-Up
Tuesday, May 30; 3:00–5:00 pm
You may have seen Erwin Ong painting the “under the sea” mural in our ECC building, or leading family art projects during our community art celebration. Now you’ll have a chance to purchase some of his small art prints, greeting cards, stickers, and pins! Erwin makes bright and happy character-based illustrations influenced by a love for plants, animals, and all things aquatic. His company, A Duck Amuck, is an LGBTQ and AAPI (Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)-owned business that aims to spread joy with bright and happy artwork. Stop by and get some lovely item to make you smile!

Israeli Culture Connection with Maya Naor
2023-05-30 13:00 - 14:00
Israel at 75: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going
FREE for members and non-members
How has Israel’s identity changed over the last 75 years, and what might it look like in the next 25? Come hear JCC shinshin Maya Naor present texts, songs, and art submitted by Israelis that address these questions. You’re invited to contribute your own feelings about the last 75 years of Israeli history in this casual and open discussion.

Laughter Yoga with Vinodray Shah, MD
2023-05-26 10:30 - 11:30
Laughter Yoga with Vinodray Shah, MD

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.

Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2023-05-25 15:00 - 17:00
Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
Grab some delicious goodies for your Memorial Day plans! Be the best guest or host with savory and sweet crostatas (kale & Asiago cheese, strawberry-rhubarb, more!), lemon ricotta cake, and other treats. Getting ready for a long weekend firepit? Grab a s’mores kit! Preorder here and select the J as your pick-up spot!

Verve Non-Fiction Book Club
2023-05-24 12:30 - 14:00
Verve Non-Fiction Book Club
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
FREE for members and non-members
As the National Book Foundation notes, Killers of the Flower Moon, is a true story about the brutal murders behind white settlers’ attempted dispossession of an Osage family’s Oklahoma lands, under which lay some of the world’s most valuable oil fields. That this conspiracy of theft, terror, and genocide helped launch J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI deepens the narrative’s moral complexity. Structured taut as a noir, researched like an indictment, and written with hard-boiled empathy, the book leaves us to wonder at the unresolved and unrecorded crimes against Native Americans.

Everyday Relationship Building: A Broad River Gathering
2023-05-23 18:30 - 20:00
Everyday Relationship Building: A Broad River Gathering
Does the word “networking” make you think of suits and forced interactions? Not anymore! In our combination workshop/end-of-year party, we’ll explore how to build genuine human connection in a casual and organic way – no corporatese, no blah blah blah, and no BS.
In this interactive workshop led by master story weaver, Deb Pagnotta participants will:

Learn how to network organically, using tips and tricks for various settings such as at the supermarket, with new acquaintances, and with new colleagues.
Learn how to share your true stories which make you “sticky.”
Practice your skills with the group through break-outs and prompted discussions
Walk away feeling confident and excited about your newfound networking abilities
Enjoy light snacks and beverages
Receive a special discount for an hour of individual, tailored online story coaching with Deb Pagnotta (Broad River attendee price is $88; retail price is $250)

Be sure to bring at least 3 business or personal cards, flyers, or anything else to help people remember you!
About the presenter:
Deb Pagnotta has been telling true stories to cross barriers and make connections her entire life: as a child, janitor, lawyer, mediator, trainer, college faculty, VP/HR, and entrepreneur. She delights in emerging technologies, and in 2021 founded ULUstory, a science-based platform to help everybody find, build and share their stories to build trust, empathy and community.
About the facilitator:
Laurie Hirsch Schulz is the founder of Broad River and the president of the board of the Westchester Youth Alliance. Through her business LHS Coaching, Laurie partners with career explorers, solopreneurs and non-profit founders to navigate through change to clarify, embrace and activate new opportunities.

Project Genesis: An Interfaith Conversation Between Two Clergy
2023-05-23 10:00 - 11:00
Project Genesis: An Interfaith Conversation Between Two Clergy
Sibling rivalry can be incredibly complicated- Joseph’s story
There is more to the Joseph story than Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It certainly doesn’t begin or end there. If we hadn’t gotten the message about the real-life dangers of sibling rivalry from earlier Genesis stories, this one makes it all too painfully clear on what happens when a parent prefers one child over another.
Project Genesis: The same story can have multiple meanings. The books of the Old Testament in particular are ripe with symbol, metaphor, and character, providing the reader with the opportunity to unpack and analyze the meanings. In Project Genesis, we will discuss different interpretations of some of the beloved stories we learned as children and now revisit as adults.

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.

ECC Families, Alumni, and Friends Picnic 2023
2023-05-21 10:00 - 12:30
ECC Families, Alumni, and Friends Picnic 2023
Join us for a fun family afternoon at the JCC celebrating our ECC community. All ECC families are welcome and encouraged to bring friends.
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic lunch and relax on the field while enjoying:

Performance with Jill from Music Together, from 10:30-11:15 am
STEAM activity with iCAMP, from 11 am-12 pm
Movement activity with Rivertown Dance Academy, from 11:30 am-12 pm
Touch-a-truck with an ambulance and fire truck
Arts and crafts
Gaga
Bounce house
Light snacks
Raffles including: Family photo session, one week of STEAM camp with iCamp, and more!

Families can register and are welcome to share this link with others (registration is required).
Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $30 per family.
See you there!
