Shames JCC

Caregiver Conversation Circle
2024-02-12 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Do you care for a family member with chronic illness or special needs? Join our conversation circle for a helpful exchange of information, ideas and suggestions. 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.

Cooking and Eating for Heart Health: The Power of Plant-Based Nutrition with Plant Powered Metro NY
2024-02-12 10:00 - 11:30
How we eat can improve our cholesterol, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health in dramatic ways. But which foods, and how? Join Plant Powered Metro New York to understand how nutrition can impact the health of the entire circulatory system — and how to prepare delicious meals that can prevent and even reverse heart disease. Health coaches and nutrition educators Kelly Weichsel-Arya, RN, and Florence Hovy, will offer a live cooking demo and tasting with take-home recipes and the motivation to make achievable changes.

Hairstyling and Hair Care (Fashion, Beauty, and Bonding Women’s Group)
2024-02-10 13:00 - 15:00
Ages 18+
This social group intends to provide a special, welcoming place for folks identifying as females with disabilities to come together and connect. In partnership with professionals including from Neiman Marcus, we will learn make-up, hair, and fashion techniques in a fun, supportive environment that celebrates diverse beauty.
Come learn about hairstyling and hair care from Angie Johnson, a professional hairstylist for movies and films in NYC. Bring hairstyling tools you already have so that Angie can help you learn different techniques using what you already own.

Lunch and Gallery Visit to The Capa Space
2024-02-09 11:30 - 15:00
Join us for an afternoon of thought-provoking art and socializing in our own backyard! We begin with a delicious lunch at the highly-rated Pappous Greek Kitchen and continue with a private tour of The Capa Space in Yorktown Heights. Named after Hungarian war photographer Robert Capa, the Capa Space is an exhibition and education center that views photography as a way to advance concepts of peace, equality, and justice. Participants will get a personal one-hour tour of the current exhibit that features John Shearer, the acclaimed Black photojournalist who documented major historical events of the 1960s and 1970s, including the funerals of MLK and JFK, and the Attica uprising.
Use your own car or take advantage of private transportation from the Shames JCC! The bus will leave the JCC at 11:30 am and return around 3 pm. (Bus space limited to 27).

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.

FREE Belly Dance Workshop
2024-02-07 18:30 - 19:30
Curious about belly dancing? Come try the first class for free! Our new belly dance series led by Pelin Qualben will introduce you to this traditional Middle Eastern and Turkish dance technique, music, and culture Over a 6-week period, participants will develop the ability to showcase proper posture, engage muscles with technique precision, maintain body alignment, and execute transitions. They will gain confidence and accuracy in performing movements and combinations. Above all, the classes are designed to be fun, entertaining, and a great way to let the day go.
About the instructor: Originally from Turkey, Pelin Qualben is a member of Sheba and other esteemed belly dance troupes and collaborative event organization companies in New York and New Jersey. She brings the enchantment of Turkish and Egyptian belly dance, veils, zills, Middle Eastern folklore dances, Saidi cane dance, and fan veil techniques to diverse cultural events, belly dance shows, weddings, and joyous celebrations.

Hot Topics
2024-02-07 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
Come discuss the week’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!

NeuroFit Demo
2024-02-06 11:30 - 12:30
Join Frank (Special Strong Certified*) for a class specifically designed for people with neurodegenerative challenges. This class will focus on aerobic conditioning, joint strengthening, balance work, and stretching while fostering a sense of community amongst participants.
Exercises will be taught from a chair so each participant must be able to sit independently on a chair. Contact lkovall@shamesjcc.org for additional questions.
* Special Strong is a nationally accredited fitness organization which specializes in adaptive and inclusive training.

New Year, New Scams with Pace Elder Justice Unit
2024-02-05 10:00 - 23:30
Scams don’t only happen on the internet and over the phone. With $8 billion lost to fraud every year, it’s important to protect yourself and your families with up-to-date information. In this talk, you’ll learn what the latest scams are and how to vet potential contractors or other vendors you interact with in order to make good decisions and stay safe
About the Presenter: Roberta S. Goodman, Esq. is a senior staff attorney in the Elder Justice unit with the Pace Women’s Justice Center in White Plains. She represents, educates, and advocates in a broad range of matters, including financial exploitation, securing family court orders of protection for incidents of domestic disputes, voluntary guardianships, advance planning, and negotiating legal resolutions involving abusive living situations.

J Sports Academy Open House at Tennis Club of Hastings
2024-02-04 17:00 - 18:00 | Tennis Club of Hastings, 100 River Street, Hastings on Hudson, NY, 10706, United States
Questions about camp and want to learn more? Come meet camp leadership to hear more about our programs!
At J Sports Academy, young athletes will spend their summer receiving professional coaching, developing skills, and most importantly, having fun. Utilizing the extraordinary facilities of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, J Sports Academy provides participants with four hours of training in either basketball, soccer, or tennis, along with swimming, sports electives, and other camp activities.

Mom Rage and Modern Motherhood: Author Talk and Workshop
2024-02-04 16:30 - 17:45
“Dubin reminds us that our darkest moments are symptoms of systemic failings, not signs of personal flaws–and that our anger should be harnessed as an animating force for equity.” – Angela Garbez, author of Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change
Besides runny noses and obsessing about your child’s sleep, motherhood sometimes feels like it is 90% list-making. In 2023, Minna Dubin published the internationally acclaimed book Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood, inspired by a list about her rage she wrote six years earlier. In this special interactive discussion, Minna will share her original list that marked the beginning of her own transformation with mom rage and help you uncover your own big feelings about parenthood–and what to do about it. Books will be available for purchase on-site from Transom! Wine and cheese will be served, and childcare through Kidspace is available.
Minna Dubin is the author of MOM RAGE: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood. Her writing has been featured in the New York Times, Oprah Daily, Salon, Parents, Romper, The Forward, and elsewhere. Minna has become a leading feminist voice on the topic of mom rage, appearing on MSNBC, Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, NPR, and the BBC Woman’s Hour. She lives in Berkeley with her husband, two kids, and no pets because enough is enough.
This event 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.

Challenging Times, Ageless Insights "Am Yisrael High": Jews and Cannabis
2024-02-02 10:00 - 11:00
Just because something is permitted doesn’t mean it is a good idea, and just because something is forbidden doesn’t mean it is bad. The choices we make around substance use are influenced by many factors, including science and religion. Judaism has something to say about everything; come hear Jewish perspectives on marijuana.

Trip to Prayer for the French Republic on Broadway
2024-01-31 19:00 - 22:00
Join your JCC friends for an evening on Broadway! Prayer for the French Republic, written by “Bad Jews” author Joshua Harmon, tells the story of a family grappling with contemporary and historical antisemitism in France. In 1944, a Jewish couple in Paris desperately awaits news of their missing family. More than 70 years later, the couple’s great-grandchildren find themselves facing the same question as their ancestors: “Are we safe?” The New York Times calls it “thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and wickedly funny.” Don’t miss your chance to see the play that won the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New Off-Broadway Play!
Location: Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 West 47th Street
$85 for members; $100 for non-members includes tickets and transportation to and from the JCC by private coach bus
The show begins at 7 PM and runs for three hours including two intermissions. Comfortable transportation to and from the theater from the JCC is included; the bus will leave the JCC at 4:45 PM and return after the event at approximately 11:00 PM. If you’re interested in attending but do NOT need transportation, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org after you register.

Verve Book Club: Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
2024-01-31 11:30 - 13:00
Based on a true crime in 2015, Leila Mottley’s debut novel, Nightcrawling, gives voice to 17-year-old Kiara Johnson, who, after her father’s death and mother’s detention in a rehab facility, becomes a sex worker to pay for rent hikes. She also needs to look after her disillusioned older brother and a nine-year-old left behind by a neighbor. Mottley outlines the perilous economy of poverty in America in a dramatic account that gives tangible form to what millions of invisible people endure. BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, TIME, GOODREADS

Musical History of the Jewish People: A Performance and Talk with Dr. David Podles
2024-01-29 10:00 - 11:30
Acclaimed international concert musician Dr. David Podles will take participants on a heartfelt trip of Jewish musical history by performing Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Israeli Jewish music. From the original touching niguns to playful freilehs to beautiful songs of prayer, Dr. Podles will show how music is deeply embedded in historical points in Judaism as well as the steadfastness of the Jewish people.
About the Presenter: Dr. David Podles of Riga, Latvia, is a laureate of 3 prestigious international competitions. He graduated from Music Conservatory in Riga, Latvia. Dr. Podles performed in symphony, chamber, opera, and ballet theater orchestras both solo, in orchestra and on tour across Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, including The Bolshoi in Moscow & Kirov in Ukraine. In the US, he has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, 92nd Y, and at Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

JCC Nature, Climate, and Connection Exhibition Reception
2024-01-28 15:00 - 17:00
Free for all
Join us to celebrate the JCC’s current exhibition Nature, Climate, and Connection featuring the artwork of 20 local artists. Our local Mothers Out Front chapter will be serving hot chocolate alongside an induction-cooking demonstration, and Melissa Lohman-Wild will lead a family-friendly art project. Drop-ins are welcome but registration is encouraged.
This event 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.

Makeup Exploration (Fashion, Beauty, and Bonding Women’s Group)
2024-01-27 12:00 - 13:30
Ages 18+
This social group intends to provide a special, welcoming place for folks identifying as females with disabilities to come together and connect. In partnership with professionals from Neiman Marcus, we will learn make-up, hair, and fashion techniques in a fun, supportive environment that celebrates diverse beauty. We have four sessions scheduled for this winter/spring. Participants may register for all or select sessions. See all sessions here.
For our first session, we will be learning about and experimenting with makeup. Whether you’re a makeup enthusiast or just starting your beauty journey, join us and a makeup artist from Neiman Marcus for an afternoon of empowering discussions, inclusive tutorials, and connection amongst a community that embraces and highlights diverse beauty.

An Hour of WOW
2024-01-27 08:30 - 09:30
Come celebrate a year of WOW with an extra special class; all four of your WOW instructors, 14 stations, and 15 extra minutes! We will be using the entire gymnasium (basketball) and will have space for 2 people per station (28 total).

Trip to Prayer for the French Republic on Broadway
2024-01-26 20:00 - 23:00
Join your JCC friends for an evening on Broadway! Prayer for the French Republic, written by “Bad Jews” author Joshua Harmon, tells the story of a family grappling with contemporary and historical antisemitism in France. In 1944, a Jewish couple in Paris desperately awaits news of their missing family. More than 70 years later, the couple’s great-grandchildren find themselves facing the same question as their ancestors: “Are we safe?” The New York Times calls it “thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and wickedly funny.” Don’t miss your chance to see the play that won the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New Off-Broadway Play!
Location: Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 West 47th Street
$85 for members; $100 for non-members includes tickets and transportation to and from the JCC by private coach bus
The show begins at 8 PM and runs for 3 hours including 2 intermissions. Comfortable transportation to and from the theater from the JCC is included; the bus will leave the JCC at 5:45 PM and return after the event at approximately 11:45 PM. If you’re interested in attending but do NOT need transportation, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org after you register.

Tu B’Shevat Pop-up
2024-01-25 15:00 - 17:00
Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish Birthday of the Trees, with Yanira in the lobby! Join us for a joyful gathering as we plant parsley, a symbolic herb used at the Passover table. Let’s come together to honor nature and embrace the spirit of growth and renewal on this special occasion.

Verve Goes to the Movies at Jacob Burns
2024-01-24 14:00 - 15:30
Shortlisted for Best International Feature for the 2024 Academy Awards®
Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival
Commandant of Auschwitz Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), along with his wife Hedwig (played by Anatomy of a Fall‘s Sandra Hüller), strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. Based on the novel by Martin Amis, The Zone of Interest forces us to take a cold look at the mundanity behind an unforgivable brutality. Running time 106 minutes.
Participants are responsible for their open transportation and carpooling is available – email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org by Jan. 21 if you want to share a ride.

Games and More
2024-01-24 11:30 - 13:00
FREE for members and non-members
Grab a friend or meet a new one over a good game. We provide Scrabble, playing cards, Rummikub, Mah Jongg, Othello, chess, and more; you’re also welcome to bring your own. Feel free to bring your lunch!

Israeli Culture Connection with Noy
2024-01-23 11:00 - 12:00
Come connect with our Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Noy Laufer, born in Haifa. Noy is spending her gap year after graduating high school working with different institutions. In a roundtable conversation, she will share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli. Light refreshments will be served.

Ossining Artist Alfred Algate and the Most Ambitious Exploring Expedition You’ve Never Heard Of
2024-01-22 10:00 - 11:30
Alfred Agate was the illustrator for one of the most ambitious and largest scientific exploratory expeditions that you‘ve never heard of – an epic voyage that sailed to South America, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, the West Coast of North America, the Philippines, and Indonesia. He was born in Sparta, now part of Ossining, and was a very successful portrait and miniature painter before he went to sea. In this image-packed talk, Ossining Town Historian Caroline Curvan presents a fascinating piece of little-known local history.
About the presenter: Caroline Curvan is the current Ossining town historian. She is also a professional researcher, writer, and Broadway stage manager, as well as a teacher of English composition, literature, and research at the college level. Caroline’s recent career highlights include co-authoring Croton Point Park: Westchester’s Jewel on the Hudson, serving as the lead researcher for the PBS/American Masters documentary Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page, and being the stage manager for Broadway shows including The Kite Runner, The Collaboration, Kinky Boots, and Chicago.

Reel To Real Film and Discussion Series: Misery
2024-01-18 18:30 - 22:00
Join Scott Bloom, LCSW-R and film enthusiast, for the kick-off to a new series that explores cinematic themes and how they play out in real life. The first selection is Misery, directed by Rob Reiner and based on the book by Stephen King.
One of the more curious phenomena of our time and culture is fandom and the rise of we-ness–the fanatical affinity that people have for sports teams, rock stars, and celebrities. In Misery, danger awaits when psychic boundaries become so blurred that a person doesn’t know where fantasy begins and ends. Misery sets the stage for us to discuss the role of we-ness in our culture and how symbiotic relationships– with each other and within ourselves– are more pervasive than we care to acknowledge.
Program schedule:
6:30: Dinner available
7:00: Welcome & Introduction to the film
7:15: Film begins
9:00-10:00: Discussion (stay as long as you like!)
About the presenter: Scott Bloom has spent his 33-year career at the intersection of mental health, schools, and communities. He was the founding director of School Mental Health Services for the New York City Department of Education, where he built a city-wide system of mental health services and resources in over 1800 city schools to better serve the needs of 1.2 million students and families. Mr. Bloom has certification as a psychotherapist and a private practice and supervision in New York City. He is currently the director of special projects at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center.

Out to Lunch with the JCC: O Mandarin Chinese restaurant
2024-01-17 12:30 - 14:00
Join your fellow foodies for our next lunch outing to the beloved O Mandarin Restaurant in Hartsdale! Your meal includes your choice of soup, lunch entree, plus tea or coffee. O Mandarin is known for its freshly prepared and creative Chinese cuisine served in an elegant dining room.
The menu is suitable for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The cost is $20 per person (to be brought in cash), and includes all taxes and gratuity. Bring your appetite and a friend, or come make new ones! These events are always lots of fun and are open to all.
$20 cash covers all food, tax, and tip
NOTE: We will be meeting at O Mandarin, 361 N Central Ave in Hartsdale, NY 10530, located in the same strip mall as H Mart. There is plenty of parking available. If you need a ride to the restaurant from the JCC or have room in your car for others, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org when you register.

Exploring Rituals in Judaism and Christianity Marriage and Divorce
2024-01-16 10:00 - 11:00
Join Rabbi Jay Stein of Greenburgh Hebrew Center and Reverend Gareth Evans of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church to explore marriage and divorce rituals through the lens of two different faiths.
In the Jewish tradition, marriage is called kiddushin, which means to make something holy. Sometimes, a couple cannot and should not stay together, therefore needing to uncouple. Just as both the Jewish and Christian faiths have a way of consecrating the union, both seek to find ways of permitting a couple to move on in the hopes that the love they once held for each other might direct them as to how to separate. Join us as we explore rituals and scriptures from both faiths to help people mark these milestones in their lives.
This lecture is a part of the From Baptism to B’ Mitzvah: Exploring Rituals in Judaism and Christianity series.

MLK Day of Service
2024-01-15 09:30 - 14:30
There is strength in numbers and power in shared purpose.
This MLK Day, January 15, 2024, the Shames JCC is joining UJA and a variety of partners from across New York to work together toward a stronger future for all.
Join us at the J for meaningful volunteer opportunities that will make a difference in the lives of individuals, our community, and the greater community to which we all belong. Families can decorate and pack “Blizzard Boxes”, which contain the makings of a complete meal, for food pantries around Westchester and the Bronx. Adults will work with our Generation Forward volunteers to sort medical supplies for the Afya Foundation to distribute to crisis settings around the world.
We have opportunities for all ages, in 90-minute shifts throughout the day.

Moving To Stillness: A Special 90 Minute Yoga Class
2024-01-14 10:00 - 11:30
We are thrilled to offer you an opportunity to experience three of our yoga instructors simultaneously while moving you through three different genres of yoga. First, Lisa will take you through movement and breathwork to develop strength and mobility. Next, you will experience Yin yoga where Kimberly will guide you into gentle poses, allowing the body, mind, and emotions the time to settle and release. The final part of the class will be led by Bari, including postures, mantras, and delicious guided relaxation and sound healing.
Please bring a Yoga Mat and a blanket or large towel.

J Sports Academy Open House
2024-01-11 19:00 - 20:00
