Shames JCC

JCC Book Club (evening session)
2023-04-11 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Want to join a book club but don’t know where to start? Curious about the bestseller “Lessons in Chemistry” that everyone is talking about? Join us for the inaugural Shames JCC book club on 4/11, 6:30-8:00 pm!

JCC Book Club (daytime session)
2023-04-12 12:30 - 14:00
“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve…When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.” -Elizabeth Zott, Lessons in Chemistry
Join us to discuss the bestselling book Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, which explores love, loss, family, sexism, science, cooking, relationships, and so much more. Set in the 1950s and 60s, the themes and lessons are relevant today–but Elizabeth Zott is like no one you have ever encountered before.
Need a copy of the book? Local store Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown is offering 10% off when mentioning the JCC book club. Email hello@transombookshop.com or call (914) 848-4232 to reserve your copy.

Pop-Up with Parson Brown
2023-04-13 11:00 - 13:00
Pop-Up with Parson Brown
To continue our Stress Awareness Month offerings, stop by the J to pick up CBD wellness products made by a local, majority women-owned business that makes you feel good, both inside and out. Parson Brown’s mission is to craft sustainable, functional, and beautiful hemp-derived products. They source the highest quality and most sustainable ingredients and are committed to prioritizing sustainable business practices. Pick up their bestselling CBD oil, candles, body cream, and bath salts.

Laughter Yoga with Vinodray Shah, MD
2023-04-21 10:30 - 11:30
Experience Laughter Yoga, 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!
About the presenter: Vinodray R. Shah, MD was a plastic surgeon for 35 years in Massachusetts before retiring to the Rivertowns. He is a certified Laughing Yoga instructor who runs programs at Phelps Hospital, Gilda’s Club, the senior centers in Elmsford, Ardsley, and Ossining. He is a passionate believer that laughter is the best medicine.

JCC Community Art Celebration
2023-05-07 14:00 - 17:00
JCC Community Art Celebration

Join us to celebrate all of the new art at the JCC this spring!
Come and enjoy:

Art by over 50 local artists ages 4-99!
Art-making with artists Melissa Lohman-Wild and Erwin Ong, all ages welcome.
Live music
Wine from My Sherry and More and cheese from Bloomy Cheese & Provisions, plus soft drinks and snacks.

This event is generously sponsored by Jocelyn Cloder of Compass Real Estate, Breakaway Landscaping Corp, ENT & Allergy Associates, ProClinix Physical Therapy and Chiropractic, and Crown Products.
Registration is recommended but not required. Please consider a donation to the JCC to support arts programming.
Cover art by Kevin Sterne, Inez Andrucyk, and Carol Herd-Rodriguez.

Foreign Affairs Discussion: Will Brexit Destroy the United Kingdom?
2023-05-10 18:30 - 20:00
Foreign Affairs Discussion: Will Brexit Destroy the United Kingdom?
Two world wars and the end of its empire diminished the United Kingdom’s role in the 20th century. The 2016 Brexit referendum vote to leave the European Union has further undermined the country’s global role and threatens the breakup of the Union of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This discussion will look at the economic and political costs of Brexit and whether or not the United Kingdom will hold together.
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.

Become a Reading Buddy!
2023-05-18 10:00 - 12:00
Become a Reading Buddy!
JCC Lobby
Interested in being a reading buddy to an elementary school-aged student? The Family Services Society of Yonkers is looking for volunteers to help children build their literacy skills this summer. Stop by the information table before or after your morning workout on May 18 to learn more!

Volunteer Opportunity: Baby Bundle Making
2023-05-19 10:00 - 12:00
Baby Bundle Making
For the past month, the JCC has been collecting items for a Baby Bundle for patients of Open Door Family Medical Center, the majority of whom live at or below the federal poverty line, and who must make the hard choice between paying bills and buying items their babies need. On May 19, we are gathering adult volunteers to package these items and write notes to the families.

ECC Families, Alumni, and Friends Picnic 2023
2023-05-21 10:00 - 12:30
ECC Families, Alumni, and Friends Picnic 2023
Join us for a fun family afternoon at the JCC celebrating our ECC community. All ECC families are welcome and encouraged to bring friends.
Bring a blanket, pack a picnic lunch and relax on the field while enjoying:

Performance with Jill from Music Together, from 10:30-11:15 am
STEAM activity with iCAMP, from 11 am-12 pm
Movement activity with Rivertown Dance Academy, from 11:30 am-12 pm
Touch-a-truck with an ambulance and fire truck
Arts and crafts
Gaga
Bounce house
Light snacks
Raffles including: Family photo session, one week of STEAM camp with iCamp, and more!

Families can register and are welcome to share this link with others (registration is required).
Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $30 per family.
See you there!

Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2023-05-25 15:00 - 17:00
Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
Grab some delicious goodies for your Memorial Day plans! Be the best guest or host with savory and sweet crostatas (kale & Asiago cheese, strawberry-rhubarb, more!), lemon ricotta cake, and other treats. Getting ready for a long weekend firepit? Grab a s’mores kit! Preorder here and select the J as your pick-up spot!

River Arts Music Tour
2023-06-03 12:00 - 14:40
The JCC is an official stop on the River Arts Music Tour! We will be hosting three acts, beginning at noon. Bring a friend—all are welcome! See the full schedule and lineup here

JCC Book Club: You Could Make This Place Beautiful
2023-06-06 18:30 - 19:45
Join us to read and discuss poet Maggie Smith’s new memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, which explores the author’s experience of life and motherhood after divorce.
Order at Transom Bookshop in Tarrytown for 10% off!

Pride Pop-Up: Sleepy Hollow Bookshop
2023-06-14 - 2023-06-17
Explore Sleepy Hollow Bookshop’s curated selection of children’s and young adult books featuring LGTBQ characters and authors, and celebrating differences. Books will be available for online ordering on-site!

Juneteenth Pop-Up: Transom Bookshop
2023-06-19 - 2023-06-22
Explore Transom Bookshop’s curated selection of fiction by Black authors and/or with Black protagonists, and nonfiction about Juneteenth and other related topics of racism in America. Books will be available for online ordering on site!

Shames JCC Lot Party 2023 Fundraiser
2023-09-09 19:30 - 22:30
Enjoy an amazing night out, all while raising money for our community.
Ticket price includes food from Dough Nation, Kimchi Taco Truck, and Bill’s Good Humor Ice Cream truck; beer, wine, and canned spirits from Captain Lawrence; and music from Hastings band “Push for Heat“. We will also have beer pong, raffles, and more!
This fundraiser will raise money to help the Shames JCC thrive across our programs, such as:

Completing our new theater/event space and community lounge and cafe
Supporting our littlest learners in our early childhood program
Building more opportunities for social action and community service
Expanding support services for community members with special needs

***You must be age 21+ to attend this event. This event will be held outdoors.***
BID TO SING WITH THE BAND!
Live out your pop star dreams and sing “One” by U2 on stage with Push for Heat all while supporting the JCC! Bidding is open here and will continue the night of the event.
PLEASE CONSIDER THESE ADD-ONS TO YOUR TICKET PURCHASE:

Beer Pong: $20 per person to play.
Raffle Tickets: $10 for 1 ticket, $20 for 3 tickets. Prizes include wine basket,
personal training sessions, LOOK movie passes, massage from Bronxville Wellness, and more!
Help us plant seeds for the future of the J with our inaugural Giving Tree. Pick an item to help support various needs at the J which will be represented as a leaf on our Giving Tree at the Lot Party.

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS:
ENT and Allergy Associates
Levitt-Fuirst Insurance and Bonding
Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office
Fitzgerald & Sadove PLLC
Olafe
ProClinix Sports Physical Therapy & Chiropractic
Zarin & Steinmetz, LLP
Allan Block Insurance
Birdie’s Batch
Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan Association
WhizKidz Tutoring
Evolution Tennis Academy
THANK YOU TO OUR HOST COMMITTEE:
Leslie Alkalay, Carlie Finkle, Brandi Kligman, Kelly Politzer, Courtney Rappaport, Jori Robbins, Arielle Rosenblum, Stacy Sadove Zbeda, Natalie Schreter, Lisa Sherman Weltman, Emily Sobol, Liza Wang, Sarah Weiss, and David Weyburn.

Happy Birthday World
2023-09-13 15:45 - 16:45
Jewish people worldwide will celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on the evening of September 15. At this family event, children will learn about some customs and traditions of the Jewish New Year and create a family intention for the new year.

Birdie's Batch Rosh Hashanah Pop-up
2023-09-14 15:00 - 17:00
Just in time for Rosh Hashanah, we are bringing back local favorite Birdie’s Batch for some sweet new year goodies. Stock up on honey cake, apple cake, apple butter rugelach, apple butter and more! Preorders will be available on the site or just stop by the J!

Saying Sorry Isn't Easy: A Tashlich Program
2023-09-17 12:00 - 13:00
Join Shames JCC and PJ library to learn about the ceremony of tashlich, a Jewish tradition of saying sorry on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Families will hear a Pj Library story, learn about the ritual and meaning of tashlich, and participate in an age-appropriate tashlich ceremony. Please feel free to bring your picnic blankets and lunch with you. Light snacks will be served.
Location to be disclosed upon registration.

Sukkot Decorating Party
2023-09-26 15:30 - 17:00
Come drop by our community sukkah and help decorate our community sukkah.

Sukkot Celebration at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
2023-09-30 10:00 - 16:00
Join us at the Chappaqua Book Festival on the first day of Sukkot. Shames JCC will have a pop-up Sukkah reading hut and bookmark-making station.

Interfaith Communal Space: Supporting Each Other in the Wake of Violent Conflict
2023-10-15 16:00 - 17:30
Rabbi Jay Stein, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, and Reverend Gareth Evans, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, will lead and facilitate a discussion about our shared anguish over the war in Israel, and our shared commitments to humanity and peace. They will create a safe space to share feelings in a supportive community. Together we will discover strength and comfort during difficult times.
This event is for adults and is free of charge; registration is strictly required.
We will also be collecting cards at the J to send to children in Israel with messages of support and hope; please feel free to bring one to this event!

Mindful Grief Workshop with Dr. Amy Gross
2023-10-25 18:15 - 19:15
In partnership with COPE, the Shames JCC presents:
Mindful Grief Workshop with Dr. Amy Gross.
Grief and loss are deeply felt and part of our human experience. What can bring us greater ease and peace in the midst of pain is letting go of our resistance to it. In this workshop, participants will engage in learning, meditation and discussion in order to support each other and come to terms with accepting the truth of the human experience–that life is constantly changing and that with life comes death.
ABOUT AMY: Amy L. Gross, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified meditation teacher with more than 20 years of experience in the mental health and wellness disciplines. She is currently in private practice in Westchester, NY where she works with adolescents and adults with a wide range of concerns and spends summers in PA at a sleepaway camp where she provides campers and staff with social and emotional support as well as mindfulness programming. Amy also teaches weekly meditation classes for Pause to be Present, an in-person and virtual studio in Scarsdale, NY. Amy’s clinical and meditation experience creates a special synergy that she is eager to share with the COPE and Shames JCC communities. You can learn more about Amy here: https://dr.amylgross.com/. Find Pause to be Present on Instagram and Facebook @pausetobepresent.
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COPE is a nonprofit grief and healing organization dedicated to helping parents and families living with the loss of a child. COPE offers community support – if you need support, please reach out: 516-832-2673 info@copefoundation.org. For more information, visit www.copefoundation.org.

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.

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

Birdie’s Batch: Passover Pop-Up
2024-04-18 15:00 - 17:00
by the J for all of your seder desserts–or treats to enjoy throughout Passover! Get a Passover cookie box (brown butter coconut macaroons, peanut butter s’mores, and more) or a cake box (including (flourless chocolate cake and apple crisp). All recipes are grain and leavening-free.

Community Art Celebration
2024-05-05 14:00 - 17:00
Join us to celebrate new art at the J this Spring!
Come and enjoy art by over 30 local artists, art-making activities for all ages, wine and cheese, and live music by Dillon Kondor.
Registration recommended but not required. Please consider a donation to the JCC to support arts programming. 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.

JCC Celebration
2024-05-30 19:00 - 22:00
Join us for a special evening to celebrate the expanded Harold & Elaine Shames JCC on the Hudson and recognize the contributions of our entire community. This celebration will be held in The Ark, our new theater and event space.
Honoring
Judy Cohen
and The Family of Harold and Elaine Shames:
Mitchell Shames, Harry Livenstein, Risa Shames and Neil Silverston, and Barbara Livenstein
Program
Cocktail hour reception from 7-8PM, followed by program and seated dinner beginning at 8PM
Cocktail attire suggested
Host Committee
Leslie Alkalay, Rachel Alkon, Lisa Cohen, Andrew Eifler, Daniel Fossner, Charles B. Friedman, Allen Halpern, Steve Kasoff, Emma Katznelson, Scott Krady, Nancy Lonky, Barry Reichgott, Barbara Robertson, Brad Schwartz, Dara Seiken, Jon Weiss, and Fred Yerman

Grand Opening Breakfast of the Cohen Family Atrium and The Ark!
2024-06-03 08:00 - 10:00
Join us in the new space on opening day! A full hot, unlimited breakfast will be available for purchase for $14 Monday–Friday, as well as a la carte items.

Olympics Screening in The Ark: USWNT v Australia (soccer)
2024-07-31 13:00 - 15:00 | The Ark, 371 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, United States
Join us on our massive 18.5′ screen to watch USWNT (with Sleepy Hollow native Sam Coffey) take on Australia! Bring your children, friends, and family!
No registration required, drop-in/out as you want to!

Olympics Screening in The Ark: Team USA Men's Basketball v South Sudan
2024-07-31 15:00 - 16:30 | The Ark, 371 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, United States
Join us on our massive 18.5′ screen to watch the Dream Team take on South Sudan! Bring your children, friends, and family!
No registration required, drop-in/out as you want to!
