Children & Youth
Children
Early Childhood
Fitness
Fitness Center
Personal Training
Group Exercise
Aquatics
Aquatic Exercise
Swim Lessons
Hammerheads Swim Team
Lap Swimming
Jewish Life
Jewish Life
Special Needs
Meeting You at the J!
Aquatic Exercise
Swim Lessons
Hammerheads Swim Team
Lap Swimming
Jewish Life
Rabbi Ben Newman brings opportunities and programs that inspire and grow community connections to Jewish teachings, values, spirituality, and culture—in a way that is accessible, caring, and inspiring. This can include early childhood programs for the holidays or a thoughtful lecture on Jewish films, or a mindful meditation.
The Shames JCC is also part of the Rivertowns Jewish Consortium, a group that includes Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Mishkan Ha’am, Rosh Pinah Chavurah of the Rivertowns, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Shalom, and Woodlands Community Temple, as well as the Westchester Jewish Council. The Shames JCC is also pleased to be a key network agency of the UJA Federation of New York. The following upcoming events and initiatives have been selected as of possible interest to our members:
Rabbi Newman is the Jewish Life Coordinator at the Shames JCC. He is also on staff at Temple Beth Shalom in Hastings, as well as the founder and spiritual leader of Shtiebel, a new paradigm Jewish community in the Rivertowns of Westchester, NY. He served for 7 years as the rabbi of Congregation Har Shalom in Fort Collins, CO, along with his wife Rabbi Shoshana Leis. Rabbi Ben received a B.A. from Skidmore College in Religion and Culture, an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and rabbinical ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. He previously served as the Associate Rabbi for JRF Congregation M’vakshe Derekh in Scarsdale, New York.
Rabbi Ben Newman is Jewish Life Coordinator at the Shames JCC, he is also on staff at Temple Beth Shalom in Hastings, as well as the founder and spiritual leader…
read more
Thursdays, 12:00 – 12:45 PM
In these challenging times, it is important to take time to stop, center ourselves, breathe, and be mindful of the gifts of the present moment. Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) teaches that we live in four dimensions or “worlds”—body, heart, mind, and spirit. Within the practice of Kabbalah, there is a rich tradition of meditation tools to help center us in the present moment and achieve balance in all four dimensions. Join Rabbi Ben Newman on a meditative journey towards relaxation and balance in each of these dimensions. All are welcome and will appreciate the healing powers of Kabbalah. Participants should dress comfortably in clothes that allow for light movement.
The class will be held in-person and live-streamed. Registration required. In-person participants will be strictly limited in order to maintain social distancing. Live-stream participants will be provided with ZOOM info before the class.
Dates and Rates
Session 1: November: 3 Thursdays (11/5, 11/12, 11/19). Members, $15 / Non-Members, $30
Session 2: December: 4 Thursdays (12/3, 12/10, 12/17, 12/24). Members, $20 / Non-Members, $40
Session 2: January: 4 Thursdays (1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28). Members, $20 / Non-Members, $40
Thursdays, October 22, 29, and November 5; 7:30 – 8:30 PM
The sanctity of human dignity serves as a bedrock of the Biblical and Rabbinic traditions. And yet, the cruel pervasiveness of racial injustice displays just how challenging and complicated it can be to adhere to this sacred principle.
Join Hadar and the Westchester community for a deeply important and timely webinar series on our responsibilities towards the broader world and our fellow human beings.
Webinar 1: Skin in the Game: A Conversation with Eric Ward
Join as we welcome Eric Ward to lead a conversation on the intersection of anti-Semitism and white nationalism. Mr. Ward is a national expert on hate violence and brings nearly 30 years of expertise in community organizing and philanthropy to his role as the Executive Director of the Western States Center. His influential 2017 essay, Skin in the Game, has been hailed by many as prescient of the recent rise in anti-Semitic violence in the US.
Webinars 2 and 3: Three Talmudic Paradigms for Understanding Racism in the United States with Rabbi Avi Killip
This two-part shiur will invite participants to explore what ancient Jewish texts teach us about racism in America today. We will explore three Talmudic frameworks for understanding the role of racism in our country. Through concepts developed by our ancient rabbis, we will explore our own role and responsibility in racism today, seek tools to resist the racism that is pervasive in our culture, and ask if we have any responsibility and ability to correct for a troubled national history. All are invited to workshop these paradigms and think through how they might be useful to our current national moment, and where their application is limited or maybe even damaging.
Thirsty for some community connection? Join Rabbi Ben Newman who will be moderating this weekly series of lectures and conversations in current events, arts and culture. Each week, we will connect virtually on Zoom or (socially distant) in person for a lecture followed by a conversation moderated by Rabbi Ben. Tune in for some intellectual stimulation, and more importantly, for community connection!
Beginning five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is named after the booths or huts (sukkot in Hebrew) in which Jews are supposed to dwell during this week-long celebration. According to rabbinic tradition, these flimsy sukkot represent the huts in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after escaping from slavery in Egypt. Sukkot reminds us of the fragility of life, and the need to be grateful for everything we have.
This year the Shames JCC has built a beautiful new sukkah which will be put up in the quad on the JCC grounds on Friday, October 2. This year more than ever, it is important to be grateful for the gifts of nature and community. Whether you are Jewish or not, we invite you to reserve a time to sit in the JCC sukkah, share a meal that you bring, and feel thankful for the fragile beauty of life.
Available Time Slots:
Friday, October 2: 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM
Sunday, October 4: 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM
Tuesday, October 6: 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM
Friday, October 9: 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM
Thursday, October 8; 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
By reservation only. Members $5/Non-Members $10
As the wind blows a little colder and the leaves begin to change color, we can sense in our bones the coming of Fall. The fall season and the Jewish holiday of Sukkot teach us resilience and the deep truth of impermanence. The Jewish tradition provides spiritual tools to open to the spiritual lessons contained in nature and the changing seasons. Join Rabbi Ben outside in the new JCC Sukkah as he leads us through several replenishing meditations to help open us to the powerful and transformative lessons of this season in our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. This session will include mindfulness meditation, study, and light movement. At the end of this session, you will come away feeling renewed and open to the spiritual power of the Fall season.
Register Here
A Message from Rabbi Ben Newman As we notice the green leaves of summer turn yellow and orange, red and brown, and the wind gets a little chillier, nature…
read more