Sensory Swim (All ages)
2025-06-20 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
Pirate 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.

Summer Solstice Meditation & Sound Healing Event
2025-06-20 18:30 - 19:30
Members: $15; non-members: $20
Join us on the summer solstice—the longest and most light-filled day of the year—for a powerful evening of meditation and sound healing, guided by certified meditation and sound healer Stephany Olivieri. This gathering honors the solstice as a time of new beginnings, self-care, and inner transformation, tapping into the radiant energy of the sun at its peak.
Through guided meditation and the soothing resonance of sound healing instruments, you’ll be invited to release what no longer serves you and align with your highest intentions. The solstice is a potent symbol of light, growth, and renewal, and this event offers a unique opportunity to absorb that energy, reconnect with yourself, and step forward into the second half of the year with clarity and purpose.

Did Democracy Survive 2024’s “Super Election Year?"
2025-06-23 10:00 - 11:30
In 2024, half the world’s population voted. At the same time, growing challenges around the world — including declining trust in political institutions, foreign information manipulation, and new forms of technology — created what some considered “a perfect storm” to test elections and democratic institutions globally. What have been the results and trends from these elections? What can we learn from taking a global perspective on the future of democracy?
About the presenter: John K. Glenn is senior director of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, where he oversees and develops the Forum’s cross-cutting analytic and research activity in areas including transnational kleptocracy, the integrity of the information space, emerging technology, and modern authoritarian influence. Glenn has over 20 years of international experience in the nonprofit, foundation, and academic sectors, having previously served as policy director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, director of foreign policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and executive director of the Council for European Studies. Glenn holds a B.A. from Oberlin College and Ph.D. and A.M. from Harvard University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the European University Institute in Florence and Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He is the author of numerous articles, reports, and books on international affairs and democratic development.

Lunch Outing: Haiku Asian Bistro
2025-06-25 12:30 - 14:00
$20 cash includes soup or salad, choice of lunch entree, tax, and tip
Join us at Haiku Asian Bistro, a 2021 Best of Westchester winner that serves classic yet modern dishes from China, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, and elsewhere in East and South Asia. Your meal includes soup or salad and your choice of lunch entree. Vegetarians welcome! Space is limited to 20 – sign up early!
NOTE: We will be meeting at Haiku, 149 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10601. Street and metered parking is available; the closest municipal lot is the Waller-Maple Lot behind the Haiku, and you can enter the restaurant from the back. If you need a ride to and from Haiku from the JCC or have room in your car for others, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org when you register.

Challah and Conversation: "The Golden Medinah: Jewish Life in America over 249 Years"
2025-06-27 09:30 - 10:30
As we anticipate July 4, Rabbi Ron Symons will guide us in exploring Jewish life in America across the centuries, how it has evolved, and what it looks like today.
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.

Meet and Greet our Community Connector, Rena DeLevie
2025-06-30 10:00 - 11:00
FREE for members & non-members
Have a bagel and come meet our new Community Connector, Rena DeLevie, who can support you with transportation and other services. Can’t make it in person? Feel free to email her at rdelevie@shamesjcc.org to make an appointment!
About Rena: Rena DeLevie, who calls Dobbs Ferry home, is a dedicated community builder with a passion for fostering deep connections. As an artist, writer, and lifelong learner, she believes that communication, laughter, and genuine human connection are at the heart of a fulfilling life. Currently working toward a Master’s in Couples and Family Therapy, Rena is eager to combine her therapeutic skills with her extensive experience in helping individuals access the resources they need to thrive. She has worked as a coach helping companies and individuals use compassion in their management and other professional skills for Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and leaders of meditation and mindfulness.

Cooking with Amy: Fresh and Fun for the Fourth!
2025-07-01 13:00 - 14:30
Members: $10; non-members: $15
Independence Day is around the corner, and that means it’s time for fireworks, backyard BBQs and holiday celebrations! Come join culinary specialist Amy Pane as we learn how to make some unique appetizers for holiday parties that are both good for you and good-tasting. We will be making blueberry salsa, stuffed zucchini skins and strawberry bruschetta. You can wow guests and friends with dishes both healthy and delicious!

Hot Topics
2025-07-02 11:30 - 13:00, 2025-08-06 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members & non-members
Discuss the month’s social and political issues with your fellow news 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!

Tech Topics: Navigating the JCC Online
2025-07-07 10:00 - 11:00
FREE for members and non-members
Would you like to make sure you’re getting JCC emails? Want to clarify how to register for a lecture or sign up for a group exercise class? Still struggling with how to find the pickleball and aquatics schedule online? Mel Hoodlet from the Welcome Desk will help you learn how to confidently navigate the JCC website. You’re welcome to watch as we go through details on the big screen, or bring your devices (laptop, tablet, cell phone) and walk through the steps with us.

Documentary Screening: “Caregiving” (Dir: Bradley Cooper)
2025-07-09 11:30 - 13:30
FREE for members and non-members
(running time 1 hour, 53 mins)

New from Executive Producer Bradley Cooper comes the story of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the challenges and joys of this deeply meaningful work. Intertwining intimate personal stories with the untold history of caregiving, the PBS documentary reveals America’s caregiving crisis through intimate stories and expert insight.

Cool at Camp: A New Musical Comedy
2025-07-09 19:00 - 21:00
Doors open at 6:00 pm
Members: $42; non-members: $46
Age 16+ recommended
Gather your camp BFFs, put on your favorite camp swag, and come revisit your summers at sleep away camp as we present a reading of a real and raunchy meshuga musical about kids, camp, and coming of age.

Challah and Conversation: "Adam & Eve and Adam & Steve: Exploring Religious Perspectives on Gay Marriage"
2025-07-11 09:30 - 10:30
Rabbi Ron Symons will guide us through the sensitive matters related to how different religious denominations across the religions understand the role of 21st century marriage considering long-held religious beliefs.
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.

Third Act Circle: A Peer Support Group
2025-07-15 12:00 - 13:00
FREE for members & non-members
Those experiencing the stage of life referred to as “the third act” are invited to come together to talk, laugh, share stories, and support one another through life’s ups and downs. Whether you’re navigating retirement, dealing with health changes, coping with loss, or just looking to connect with others in a similar life stage, this group offers a place where you can feel heard and understood. Facilitated by Rena, the focus is on encouragement and community. Bring your lunch!

Hot Topics: "What Did You Say?” with Audiologist Dr. Marisa Boyle
2025-07-16 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members & non-members
Join us for a presentation that addresses the social, emotional, and mental effects of hearing loss and new developments in hearing aid technology. This presentation is for anyone who needs to learn about hearing, hearing aids, and how the lack of caring for your hearing can be harmful to your health.
About the presenter: Dr. Marisa Boyle has been practicing as a Doctor of Audiology, NYS hearing aid dispenser and adjunct clinical supervisor for over 25 years. In the past 22 years she has been practicing at Westchester Hearing Instruments, where she specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and aural rehabilitation of hearing loss for adults. Her advanced training includes the fitting of high-definition digital hearing aids and assistive listening devices, as she focuses on aural rehabilitation for the patient, and their families.
Dr. Boyle understands the challenges of living with hearing loss as she was diagnosed with a bilateral hearing loss at age four. Her objective is to improve the quality of life for her patients through better hearing.

JCC Book Club: "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman
2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:15
FREE for members & non-members
This New York Times bestseller follows Eleanor Oliphant, a socially isolated woman who believes she’s perfectly fine living a rigid, lonely life. After befriending a kind coworker and helping an elderly man, she begins to confront her traumatic past and discovers she’s capable of more than just surviving—she can truly live.

Challah and Conversation: "Bastille Day and Jewish Identity"
2025-07-18 09:30 - 10:30
July 14, 1789 marked a pivotal moment in the journey of the French people towards independence. While the theme is often celebrated through the music of Les Miserables), I am curious about how the Jews of France fit into that journey. Just wait until you see what the Jews of that era had to say about being a Frenchman and a Jew at the same time! Trust me, their conversations are relevant for us today in 2025 America.
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.

92NY Live Presents: "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America"
2025-07-21 10:00 - 11:30
FREE for members & non-members
Join Wall Street Journal’s Josh Dawsey, The New York Times’ Tyler Pager and The Washington Post’s Isaac Arnsdorf with Pulitzer Prize-winner Maggie Haberman for a conversation about their riveting book on Donald Trump’s stunning political comeback and what it means for America.
Nearly four years after Trump’s first turbulent presidency concluded in a violent attempt to overturn the election, he made a political comeback on a scale that stunned the nation. Drawing on extraordinary access to the Trump, Biden, and Harris teams, Dawsey, Pager, and Arnsdorf’s investigative reporting brings us the definitive account of how he did it.
In a special conversation, hear these award-winning journalists talk to Maggie Haberman about how the 2024 election is influencing Trump’s policy—and what it means for US democracy.

Cooking with Amy: Great Grain Bowls
2025-07-21 14:00 - 15:30
Members: $10; non-members: $15
Join resident culinary specialist Amy Pane as we uncover the mystery of grains! Together we’ll learn about the history, health benefits, and culinary uses of different delicious and versatile grains (both with and without gluten). Amy will demo how to prepare three grain salads to enjoy in class and everyone will go home with recipes.

Verve Book Club: “The Alienist” by Caleb Carr
2025-07-23 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
The Alienist by Caleb Carr is a historical thriller set in 1896 New York City, where psychologist (or “alienist”) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler teams up with journalist John Schuyler Moore to investigate a series of gruesome child murders. Using emerging forensic and psychological profiling techniques, the team delves into the dark underbelly of the city to uncover the killer’s identity. As they face resistance from powerful institutions, they confront the complexities of justice, morality, and the human psyche.

Voyages with Verve: A Taste of Uganda
2025-07-24 14:00 - 15:00
FREE for members and non-members, includes regional snack
Join us for a virtual tour of the vibrant and bustling Nakasero market in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. Nestled among the city’s iconic seven hills, Nakasero offers a glimpse into daily life in Kampala, where bustling streets are alive with the energy of vendors and shoppers. As our guide leads us through the market, we’ll encounter a kaleidoscope of colors and scents, with stalls overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables, showcasing Uganda’s rich agricultural heritage and learning more about this East African country’s unique culture.

Foreign Affairs Discussion: The World’s Biggest Humanitarian Crises & the U.S. Connection
2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:15
FREE for members; $10 for non-members
Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are facing two of the largest, deadliest humanitarian and human rights crises in the world. And while it might come as a surprise to many, Americans hold deep economic connections to both countries. How can we use these connections to hold those responsible accountable and work towards achieving peace and respect for human rights? Join us for a conversation with John Prendergast, renowned human rights activist, New York Times bestselling author, co-founder with George Clooney of The Sentry, and proud JCC member.

Third Act Circle: A Peer Support Group
2025-07-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-12 12:00 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
Those experiencing the stage of life referred to as “the third act” are invited to come together to talk, laugh, share stories, and support one another through life’s ups and downs. Whether you’re navigating retirement, dealing with health changes, coping with loss, or just looking to connect with others in a similar life stage, this group offers a place where you can feel heard and understood. Facilitated by Rena, the focus is on encouragement and community. Bring your lunch!

Documentary Screening in The Ark: “Reckonings”
2025-07-30 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
Running time: 74 mins
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Roberta Grossman, Reckonings recounts the tense negotiations between Jewish and German leaders as they met in secret to arrange the unthinkable – compensation for Holocaust survivors. The film will be followed by a discussion with Rabbi Ron Symons.
See trailer here

Community Art Workshop with Brice Garrett, Artist in Residence
2025-08-04 11:30 - 13:00
Free, drop in any time
Drop in and make a contribution to our community sculpture “Surface Things.” Create a sculpture out of clay that our Artist-in-Residence Brice Garrett will scan and use in a large wall sculpture. Come contribute to this special project!
Surface Things is a community art project that weaves personal narratives into a shared creation to explore the connections between objects, memory, and identity. This workshop will bring people together to shape meaningful objects out of clay, fostering connection and reflection through the creative process. The clay pieces will be 3D scanned and digitally integrated into a large-scale wall sculpture that will serve as a collective portrait of the community.

Voyages with Verve: Jewish Slovenia
2025-08-13 11:00 - 12:00
FREE for members & non-members
Slovenia once housed a thriving medieval Jewish community, but today, it has one of the smallest in Europe, with only 150 Jews remaining. Slovenia’s Jewish community survived cruel medieval expulsions and suffered the ravages of 20th century war, only to find itself eroding even more during subsequent years of socialist rule. In this live, virtual tour, we visit sites within Ljubljana’s old Jewish Quarter, discuss Jewish life in a Christian society, and learn about the city’s notable Jewish residents. Our guide Mateja will share how some Jews managed to survive WWII, and what happened to the Jewish community during Communism in Yugoslavia. Join us as we learn about the present and the past life of the Jewish community in Ljubljana.

Lunch Outing: RaaSa Indian Restaurant
2025-08-13 12:30 - 14:00
$35 cash per person (taxes and gratuity included)
145 Central Ave, Elmsford, NY 10523

Fine dining restaurant RaaSa is a Westchester gem that attracts customers from all over the tri-state area for its “memorably vivid flavors,” according to the New York Times. Your lunch includes a selection of appetizers, entrees, rice, naan, chutneys and other accompaniments, and dessert. The meal will be served family style and can be spiced to your taste.
Please bring $35 cash to pay at the restaurant; this covers all food costs, tax, and tip.
NOTE ON TRANSPORTATION: This event will be taking place at Raasa Indian Restaurant, 145 Central Ave, Elmsford, NY 10523 where there is an attached parking lot. If you need a ride to and from the restaurant from the JCC, please email rdelevie@shamesjcc.org when you register.

Summer Happy Hour
2025-08-15 16:00 - 17:30
FREE for members & non-members
All ages welcome (21+ to drink)
Unwind on the Quad with lawn games and a refreshing summer drink! Choose from “tinto verano,” a chilled wine-based drink popular in Spain, or our non-alcoholic option.
No registration required, just stop by!

W Connection Step Out: Private Tour of Untermyer Gardens
2025-08-16 10:00 - 12:00
JCC and W Connection members: $20; non-members: $25
Join us for a special “W Connection Step Out” at the stunning Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers for a private, docent-led tour. This outing offers widows a meaningful opportunity to connect with others experiencing a similar life circumstance while exploring one of Westchester’s most beautiful and historic sites.
Our expert docent will guide us through the gardens while sharing stories about Samuel Untermyer’s life, legacy, and notable support for Jewish causes.
Enjoy a morning of beauty, history, and community in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Please note: The terrain includes uneven pathways, involves a good amount of walking, and offers limited shade. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes, bringing a water bottle, and wearing a sunhat or other sun protection. Transportation is not provided; participants are responsible for getting to and from the gardens.
