Clergy Talk: "Dances with Timbrels: Women In The Passover Story" with Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman, Temple Beth Abraham
2025-04-04 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Gain some new perspective for your Passover seder by exploring the stories of women who made their mark during the time of the Exodus. We’ll examine teachings from feminist Haggadahs, learn a few songs, and discover the real story behind the modern tradition of adding an orange to our seder plate.
Join Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman of Temple Beth Abraham for this month’s Clergy Talk (formerly Challenging Times, Ageless Insights). Each month, we feature meaningful conversations with Rivertowns clergy. Your voice matters and makes these conversations all the more valuable. These are on the first Friday of every month.

The ReelAbilities Film Festival: The Paper Bag Plan
2025-04-04 18:00 - 20:00
The Paper Bag Plan (Dir. Anthony Lucero, 107 min)
Recommended for ages 18+, Doors open at 5:30 pm
As part of the 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York– the world’s largest showcase of accessible international cinema by and about people with disabilities, reframing existing disability narratives–join us for a screening of The Paper Bag Plan. In this film, a terminally ill father transforms from caregiver to coach, teaching his wheelchair-using son job skills for independence before time runs out.
After the screening, we will be joined by Director Anthony Lucero for a discussion.
About the film: After being diagnosed with cancer, Oscar realizes his overprotectiveness may be holding his son Billy back from gaining independence. Determined to secure Billy’s future, Oscar helps him build the skills needed for a job as a grocery store bagger. Their heartfelt journey highlights the challenges and triumphs of fostering self-reliance, revealing the deep love between father and son—and the courage it takes to let go. Recommended for ages 18+
https://youtu.be/LhA3u1tGli4
Presented as part of the 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York, running April 3-9 in venues throughout NY+Online. Visit: ReelAbilities.org for full festival information.

Job Fair
2025-04-06 10:30 - 12:30
Help Build a Stronger Community
Join us to explore full-time, part-time, and seasonal opportunities at the JCC!
Hiring for positions including:

Summer day camp counselors
Afterschool counselors
Lifeguards
Swim instructors
Special needs support staff
Receptionists
Personal trainers
Custodial staff
Summer bus drivers

See all open positions.

The ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York
2025-04-06 14:30 - 16:00
We Are Athletes (Dir. Angel Gates Fonseca, 37 mins) and The 17% (Dir. Aaron Johnson, 13 mins)
Recommended for ages 18+, Doors open at 2:00 pm
As part of the 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York– the world’s largest showcase of accessible international cinema by and about people with disabilities, reframing existing disability narratives–join us for a screening of two short films, We Are Athletes and The 17%. In We Are Athletes, participants at an adaptive sports program demonstrate innovative approaches to skiing while building a supportive community. In The 17%, an entrepreneur challenges workplace norms through her successful cookie company, reshaping conversations about inclusive employment.
After the screening, we will be joined by Alexis and Farryl Flishman, who are featured in We Are Athletes, and Aaron Johnson, director of The 17%, for a discussion.

Presented as part of the 17th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York, running April 3-9 in venues throughout NY+Online. Visit: ReelAbilities.org for full festival information.

Jews, Music, and the American Dream
2025-04-07 10:00 - 11:30
Did you know that Jews wrote or produced more than half of the top 10 songs of the 20th century? Join us as we discuss the various ways that people of Jewish background contributed to the development of American popular music in the last century and how they are contributing to the current one.
Presenter: Michael Shamosh

Job Fair
2025-04-07 19:00 - 21:00
Help Build a Stronger Community
Join us to explore full-time, part-time, and seasonal opportunities at the JCC!
Hiring for positions including:

Summer day camp counselors
Afterschool counselors
Lifeguards
Swim instructors
Special needs support staff
Receptionists
Personal trainers
Custodial staff
Summer bus drivers

Voyages with Verve: Jewish Budapest
2025-04-09 11:00 - 12:00
FREE for members and non-members
Discover the vibrant culture of Jewish Budapest on this live, virtual walking tour. Your guide will take you through the heart of the historic Jewish quarter of Pest—one of Budapest’s most intriguing areas. Explore Europe’s largest synagogue, the magnificent Dohány Street Synagogue, and uncover the fascinating history of Pest’s Jewish community. Hear inspiring stories of the Righteous Among the Nations and delve into the rich heritage of this thriving community of 100,000 strong.
You’ll have the chance to view exclusive video footage of Rakoscsaba’s old (abandoned) Jewish cemetery, getting an intimate look into their history and significance. Co-presented with Wowzitude.

Common Ground: Resurrection and Redemption: The Last Supper and Passover Seder Explored
2025-04-10 10:00 - 11:00
Join the Rev. Gareth Evans and Rabbi Ron Symons for an open and engaging conversation about the Easter liturgy and the Passover Seder. Through shared quotes from their respective traditions, thoughtful dialogue, and interactive discussion, they invite you to explore the deep connections between these sacred celebrations.
This is part of the Common Ground: Interfaith Dialogue series. Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and Rev. Gareth Evans, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church of Irvington, come together for an enlightening conversation to build bridges across real and perceived differences. Your participation as a “fly on the wall” and/or an engaged conversationalist is welcome. These are on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

Challah and Conversation: Passover: The Birth Song of Freedom for All Subsequent Challenges
2025-04-11 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in an interactive conversation about how the Passover and Exodus narrative serve as the inspiration for freedom throughout history. The story we tell on Passover night resonates over and over throughout the generations for both Jews and non-Jews alike.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, leads interactive guided conversations about life that weave the world around us with general spirituality through Jewish and other lenses. We begin our time together by lighting candles and end with a little grape juice and challah… all in a very inclusive way. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Haroset on the Hudson
2025-04-11 10:45 - 14:00
Rabbi Ron Symons is pleased to share with you a taste of Passover featuring three Haroset recipes from Jews across the globe prepared by Kate Sonders Solomon. Come by the main lobby; first come first served.

JCC Closes at 3 for Passover
2025-04-12 15:00 - 18:00

JCC Closed for Passover
2025-04-13

Verve Lunch Bunch: Your Career Highlights
2025-04-16 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
Grab some lunch at the cafe (or bring your own) and come chat with your fellow retirees. What were some career highlights and challenges? Let’s trade work stories and get to know each other better – you’ll be surprised by the paths we’ve taken!

Challah and Conversation: Anti-Semitism/Jew-Hatred: The Oldest Hatred
2025-04-18 09:30 - 10:30
Join Rabbi Ron Symons in crafting a shared language around what anti-semitism/Jew-hatred is, how it has developed throughout history, and how we see it in our world today. Most importantly, we will also explore how to mitigate its impacts on us during this Yom haShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) season and beyond.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, leads interactive guided conversations about life that weave the world around us with general spirituality through Jewish and other lenses. We begin our time together by lighting candles and end with a little grape juice and challah… all in a very inclusive way. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Laughter Yoga with Dr. Vinodray Shah
2025-04-18 11:30 - 12:30
FREE for members and non-members
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!

Sensory Swim (All ages)
2025-04-18 18:00 - 19:30
Space theme!
Come spend your Friday night with us at our special Sensory-Friendly Swim Night, exclusively for families with an immediate member with a disability. The pool will be reserved just for you, providing a sensory-friendly environment where you can enjoy a relaxing swim without the usual distractions. This event is designed to accommodate sensory sensitivities and ensure a comfortable, enjoyable experience for all participants.

“Blind Spot” Documentary Screening and Discussion
2025-04-21 10:00 - 12:00
FREE for members; $10 for non-members
Join us for an exclusive screening of a powerful new film, Blind Spot, the first documentary to expose campus antisemitism both before and after October 7. This timely and urgent film sheds light on the experiences of Jewish students and families navigating growing antisemitic harassment and incidents on college campuses, perpetrated by students and faculty.
Following the screening, we’ll be joined by Rachel Klein, executive director of Hillels of Westchester, and Rabbi Ron Symons, to discuss the documentary.
If you can’t make it to this screening, there is another screening on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 pm. Register here.

Caregiver Conversation Circle
2025-04-22 12:30 - 13:30
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. 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.

Voyages with Verve: Rome, Italy
2025-04-22 14:00 - 15:00
FREE for members and non-members
Location change! Today’s live-stream tour takes place in Rome, Italy, as a thoughtful tribute to Pope Francis. Our guide, Adry, will take us through the streets of Rome in real time, sharing the atmosphere and reflections during this historic moment.
While we are avoiding Vatican City due to heavy crowds and limited connectivity, Adry has curated a route through central Rome that offers both beauty and relevance, allowing us to mark this moment respectfully while ensuring a smooth viewing experience.

Verve Book Club: “God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
2025-04-23 11:30 - 13:00
In this haunting and atmospheric novel, the lives of the inhabitants of a remote community are intertwined with the mysterious force of the woods that surround them. The story follows the life of Sophie, a young woman grappling with family secrets, the death of her father, and her complicated relationship with the natural world. As Sophie uncovers hidden truths, the novel explores themes of grief, isolation, and the intersection of human lives with the untamed forces of nature.

Lunch Outing: Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
2025-04-24 12:30 - 14:00
$35 cash includes soup, unlimited market table, protein entree, tax, and tip
Join us at Fogo de Chao for an abundant, authentic, and delicious Brazilian lunch . Your meal includes your choice of protein entree and unlimited visits to their famous Market Table and Feijoada Bar, which includes seasonal salads, vegetables, imported cheeses, smoked salmon, cured meats, fogo feijoada (traditional black bean stew with sausage), soup, pão de queijo (cheese bread), and more. Vegetarians welcome!
Space is limited to 20 – sign up early!
NOTE: We will be meeting at Fogo de Chao, 235 Main Street, White Plains, NY 10601. Street and metered parking is available; the closest garage is White Plains Center Garage at 237 Martine Ave (exit to Main St). If you need a ride to and from the restaurant from the JCC or have room in your car for others, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org when you register.

“Blind Spot” Documentary Screening and Director Talkback
2025-04-24 18:30 - 21:00
Join us for an exclusive screening of a powerful new film, Blind Spot, the first documentary to expose campus antisemitism both before and after October 7. This timely and urgent film sheds light on the experiences of Jewish students and families navigating growing antisemitic harassment and incidents on college campuses, perpetrated by students and faculty.
Following the screening, we’ll be joined by Lenny Gold, executive producer of the documentary, and Rachel Klein, executive director of Hillels of Westchester, to discuss the documentary.
If you can’t make it to this screening, there is a screening on Monday, April 21 at 10:00 am. Register here.

Challah and Conversation: The Israeli Declaration of Statehood: An Annotated Reading
2025-04-25 09:30 - 10:30
As we approach the 77th anniversary of the founding of the modern state of Israel, we will turn our attention back to the founding document to better understand the hopes of Israel’s founders with an eye on today and tomorrow in these challenging times.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, leads interactive guided conversations about life that weave the world around us with general spirituality through Jewish and other lenses. We begin our time together by lighting candles and end with a little grape juice and challah… all in a very inclusive way. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Community Art Celebration
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00
Join us to celebrate new art at the J this Spring! Enjoy our 4th annual Community Art Exhibition with art by over 60 local artists and our Youth Art Exhibition by artists ages 4-18. We will have art-making activities for all ages, refreshments, and live string music by Riley Burke. Registration recommended but not required.
This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Documentary Screening: "Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics"
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00
FREE
Yonkers Riverfront Library Community Room
We’re partnering with Beyond Plastics to screen the award-winning documentary, Plastic People: The Hidden of Microplastics. This film investigates our addiction to plastic, the growing threat of microplastics on human health. What can be done about it?
After the screening, we’ll be joined by guest speakers to learn how you can make our future plastic pollution-free, starting right here in New York.

Rivertown Interfaith Community Gathering: What’s Love Got to Do With It?
2025-04-27 16:30 - 18:30
Location: Irvington Presbyterian Church, 25 N Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533
Loving your neighbor, loving yourself, loving and being loved by God are all long held spiritual beliefs across Judaism and Christianity. As we move beyond Passover and Easter, join us across Jewish and Christian differences to learn, discuss, and eat with one another.

Genealogy of a Murder: Unearthing the Secrets of Our Past That Determine Our Future
2025-04-28 10:00 - 11:30
Members: Free; non-members: $10
NYT journalist and bestselling author Lisa Belkin will discuss her new book Genealogy of a Murder and the creative journey she took while writing her most ambitious and most personal project. It’s a family story, and also a universal one, spanning four generations of three families and ending in the murder of a police officer in 1960. It’s about three men, all inheritors of the American Dream. But it’s also about all of us and how our pasts create ourselves. How does one descendant of immigrants become the cop, one his killer, and one, Belkin’s stepfather, who inadvertently set this murder into motion?
About the presenter: Lisa Belkin has spent a career covering American social issues, as a daily journalist, a magazine writer and a book author. During nearly 30 years at The New York Times, she was variously a national correspondent, a medical reporter, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, and the creator of the Life’s Work column and the Motherlode blog. She has spent the past decade in the digital realm, in senior positions at HuffPost and Yahoo News. Belkin is the author of four books and is a graduate of Princeton University, where she has returned as a visiting professor in the Humanities Council, teaching narrative non- fiction as an instrument of social change. Since 2015 she has taught reporting, writing and narrative non-fiction at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Assistive Tech Made Simple
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:00
FREE for members and non-members; on Zoom
Are you interested in learning more about assistive technologies for yourself or to support someone with differing abilities? Mark Surabian from the Marlene Meyerson JCC’s ATHelp, will join us virtually to explore assistive technology resources that are currently available on phones and other electronic devices.
Any questions, please contact Annie Bridson at abridson@shamesjcc.org.

Documentary Screening: "What’s Next?" (Dir. Taylor Taglianetti)
2025-04-30 11:30 - 13:30
FREE for members & non-members
Running time: 77 minutes
At 100-years-old, Dr. Howard Tucker has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest practicing doctor. Following a 7+ decade career–capped off by a stint teaching neurology to medical residents at Cleveland’s St. Vincent Charity Medical Center– Dr. Tucker begins to slow down and grapple with aging for the first time. Told through the eyes of his grandson, the film follows their journey and relationship through a changing medical landscape.
See trailer here.

Free Screening: The Zone of Interest
2025-04-30 18:00 - 20:30
Join us for a community screening of The Zone of Interest, the 2024 Academy and BAFTA Award-winning film by Jonathan Glazer. In this film, based on the book by Martin Amis, Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden beside the camp. After the viewing, we’ll explore how the film portrays the “banality of evil” and the chilling normalcy of Nazi ideology. We will question the ease with which ordinary people can participate in the dehumanization of victims and the normalization of violence, and how it might resonate in the present day.
