Laughter Yoga
2023-10-31 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
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!

Hot Topics
2023-11-01 11:30 - 13:00
Are you a news junkie? Come discuss the week’s social and political issues with your fellow JCC enthusiasts. 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 ideas. All points of view are welcome in this lively, thought-provoking, and civil discussion. Feel free to bring your lunch and/or a friend!

Hearing the Other Side: Partisan Politics through a Jewish Framework
2023-11-03 10:00 - 11:30
With Rabbi Mara Young, Woodlands Community Temple
We know that Judaism values “arguments for the sake of heaven,” but why is having different opinions such an important part of Jewish learning and living? How can we apply this acceptance of conflict to our (highly charged) modern political discussions?

Family Art-Making Workshop: Upcycle with Block Printing
2023-11-04 15:00 - 16:30
Turn something old into something new at our clothing upcycling workshop. Artist Erwin Ong will guide you through block printing and pattern-making basics with used clothes. You will leave with your own creation and the skills to upcycle at home! Come with an article or two of clothing. Cotton or linen fabrics are best: shirts, sweatshirts, bandanas/scarves, tote bags, etc. This workshop is meant for caregivers with children and is best for ages 4+.
$8 per person for members, $12 per person non-members.

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

Israel Connection: Welcome Noy!
2023-11-07 11:00 - 11:45
Come welcome our new Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Noy Laufer, born in Haifa. Her family currently lives in Moshav Avigdor, a small village 40 minutes south of Tel Aviv. Noy is spending her gap year after graduating high school working with different institutions. Noy will to share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli. Light refreshments will be served.

Documentary Screening: We Feed People (Dir. Ron Howard)
2023-11-08 11:30 - 13:30
FREE for members and non-members
Register Here
We Feed People, from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, spotlights renowned chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s mission and evolution, from being a scrappy group of grassroots volunteers to becoming one of the most highly regarded humanitarian aid organizations in the disaster relief sector. Since 2010 WCK has served 300 million meals and is currently on the ground in several countries. Running time is 89 mins plus time for discussion.

Holiday Pop-Up: Hanukkah candles from Irvington’s Boy Scout Troop 55
2023-11-11 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-19 09:00 - 12:00
Stop by the J to get your Hanukkah candles and support the local Boy Scouts!

That's How The Light Gets In: A Musical Tribute to Leonard Cohen
2023-11-12 15:00 - 16:30
Join us for an afternoon of music and connection in honor of Leonard Cohen’s 7th yahrzeit.
Nobel laureate and modern-day prophet Leonard Cohen’s timeless body of work as a songwriter, performer, and poet spans more than 50 years and explores religion, politics, isolation, love, and mortality. His creations delved fearlessly into the essence of human existence, often doing so through the lens of Jewish history, texts, and tradition.
As we commemorate his 7th yahrzeit, join guitarist Dan Nadel, vocalist Shira Averbuch, and drummer Satoshi Takeishi for a tribute celebrating Cohen’s life and music. After the concert, we’ll gather for wine and light snacks.
Where: The concert will take place in the Experiential Theater at The Masters School 49 Clinton Ave. Dobbs Ferry NY. The theater is inside the Fonseca Center and is handicap accessible. Plenty of parking is on site.
When: The show runs from 3-4:15 and will be immediately followed by a casual reception in the Sharon Room.
Who: This event is organized by a consortium of Rivertowns synagogues including Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Shalom, Pleasantville Community Synagogue, Woodlands Community Temple, and Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and generously sponsored by UJA-Federation of NY. It is geared towards adults 55+ but all are welcome!
About the Performers:
Shira Averbuch
Named “the golden-voiced singer” by The New York Times, Shira Averbuch, is a NYC based Israeli-American singer-songwriter and actor. She serves as the Artist in Residence at B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue in NYC.
Born in upstate NY to Israeli parents, Shira split her time growing up between Israel and the States. After finishing her service in the Israeli Army Band, Shira moved to NYC and graduated from The New School with a BFA in Musical Theater with a minor in Music Therapy. Shira has recorded two albums and found her place sharing her healing song in both the Jewish world and the world at large. She is set to release new music in 2024.
Dan Nadel
Dan Nadel is an Israeli-born guitarist and composer, whose personal style combines flamenco, jazz, and Middle Eastern influences. His debut album, Brooklyn Prayer, was released in 2005 to critical acclaim, and was followed by recordings and performances as a bandleader, a solo performing artist, and an in-demand collaborator.
Nadel is the music director for Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan and director of the 92NY’s new program Bridges in Sound. He attended the jazz program at the prestigious “Thelma Yellin” High School of the Arts in Tel Aviv, before completing his three-year army duty as the guitarist for the IDF’s Air Force Band. He is a graduate of the BFA jazz program at The New School in NYC and has studied with jazz masters Billy Harper, Hal Galper, Cecil McBee in NY, and flamenco guitarist Antonio Moya in Seville, Spain.

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.

New Babies: Bris, Baby Namings, and Baptisms
2023-11-14 10:00 - 11:00
With Rev Garth Evans, St. Barnabas, and Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center
This discussion is part of the Baptism to B’ Mitzvah: exploring Rituals in Judaism and Christianity lecture series. Across diverse religions and cultures, there are ceremonies and traditions acknowledging a child’s maturation and entrance into adulthood. We will examine how Jews and Christians mark these transitions and how the communal responsibilities of young adults in each faith develop and evolve.

Friendsgiving Potluck Lunch
2023-11-15 12:00 - 14:00
Bring your lunch and a dessert to share with friends new and not-new for a friendsgiving potluck at the JCC! We’ll gather to celebrate all we’re grateful for in our JCC community. Beverages and extra dessert on us!
NOTE: Please include a list of ingredients with your dish in case of allergies.

Will the Hamas Attack Halt the Transition to a New Middle East?
2023-11-15 19:00 - 20:15
In recent years, following the tumult of the Arab Spring and turmoil in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, some key Middle Eastern countries showed signs of moving toward peace and economic stability. The October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel threatens to undermine these prospects, delaying or even destroying the progress under the Abraham Accords. What are the potential outcomes for the region–and how can Israel and the US minimize the damage done by Hamas and keep the region focused on stability and economic advancement?
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 has served as an adjunct professor of Global Economics and Writing at NYU and currently runs two foreign affairs discussion groups at the Manhattan JCC and Scarsdale Adult School.

Women’s Circle: Building Body Confidence and Trust
2023-11-16 18:30 - 20:00
Whether we realize it or not, feelings about our body underscore many of our most important relationships including with food, health, and our deeper selves. Join body image coach, nutritionist, and author Amelia Sherry MPH, RD for new insights into the concept of body confidence. You’ll learn practical tools and strategies to build a positive body image for yourself, your children, and your grandchildren that lasts throughout life.
$10 members/$15 non-members

An Israeli Teen Perspective: What’s Happening in Israel?
2023-11-16 19:00 - 20:30
Across Westchester County, several local families host “Shinshinim” who are Israeli high school graduates serving as emissaries to Jewish communities and engaging in meaningful service work prior to their mandatory engagement in the Israeli army. Teens ages 14 and up are invited to come to hear from these Shinshinim about their personal ties to current events in a moderated discussion and question-and-answer session. Registration is strictly required.

Friday Night Sensory Friendly Swim
2023-11-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Shames JCC
Friday Night Sensory Friendly Swim
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.

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.

Thanksgiving Zumba Dance Jam
2023-11-25 09:30 - 11:00
What’s better than one Zumba instructor? How about all three of your favorites for a 90 minute sweat session! Come join your J favorites Yolanda, Gabby, and Julie from 9:30-11:00 am the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a Zumba Master Class.
Bring your friends! Members $10/Non-members $20

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.

Caregiver Conversation Circle
2023-11-27 13:00 - 14:30
FREE for members and nonmembers
Do you care for a family member with chronic illness or special needs? Join our conversation circle to connect with others in a similar situation. Groups can serve as an invaluable tool to help ourselves and others deal with the consequences of being a family caregiver. Whether you are responsible for a child with special needs, a spouse with cognitive or physical decline, or any other situation that fits, we welcome your participation. The group will be facilitated by longtime social worker, Joanne Reed. Coffee and tea will be served.

Holiday Pop-Up: Fused-glass Housewares
2023-11-28 09:00 - 13:00
Shop from a beautiful selection of houseware handmade by Abe Rosenthal.

Holiday Pop-Up: Ariane's Jewel Box
2023-11-29 10:00 - 13:00
Give a loved one some truly unique and special jewelry this year from Ariane’s Jewel Box!

Verve Book Club “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
2023-11-29 11:30 - 13:00
“A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel . . . Charming, smart, heart-blistering, and heart-healing.” —Danez Smith, The New York Times Book Review
From James McBride, author of the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, comes a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows.
As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community-heaven and earth-that sustain us.

Sibspace Lecture Series: Sibling Perspective Panel (in partnership with Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan)
2023-11-29 19:00 - 20:30
This virtual panel will highlight the experiences and voices of siblings of those with disabilities. The event is open to all who want to better understand the unique perspectives of these siblings.Advanced registration is required. Zoom information will be sent to registrants prior to the program.

Pasta Together: An Inclusive Culinary Experience
2023-11-30 13:00 - 15:00
Indulge your senses in our inclusive pasta cooking class designed for adults of all abilities! Join Amy Payne for a culinary adventure where participants both with and without special needs come together to learn the art of making pasta from scratch. Whether you are a pasta enthusiast looking to brush up on your skills or a beginner who is eager to explore the kitchen, Amy’s class offers a supportive space where each person can actively participate and contribute.

Holiday Pop-Up: Handmade Jewelry
2023-12-02 10:00 - 13:00
Purchase one-of-a-kind creations handmade by Alla Stoyan!

Tension Release and Tea with Orly (in Hebrew!)
2023-12-03 12:30 - 14:00
Need to get rid of some tension (don’t we all)? Join Orly Kobi, born in Israel, for a functional movement workshop to relieve stress in your body and get you feeling good. Conducted [mostly] in Hebrew, this session will promote relaxation through stretching and focused movement, all while listening to uplifting Israeli music. Afterwards we’ll have time to connect over tea and cookies. No experience is necessary and non-Hebrew speakers are welcome to attend!

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.

Holiday Pop-Up: Hastings Refill Room
2023-12-05 09:00 - 12:00
Bring in a bottle (or three!) and stock up on eco-friendly, zero-waste household and body products.
