Shames JCC

Murder or Assisted Suicide? A Dramatic Courtroom Transcript Reading
2024-08-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a new courtroom transcript roundtable reading that explores the legal nuances between murder and assisted suicide. You’ll be assigned parts (judge, attorney, plaintiff, etc.) from an edited trial transcript. The outcome will unfold as if you are witnessing the case in real time with plenty of space to discuss the inner workings of law and justice. Bring your curiosity and playful spirit!

Coffee and Games
2024-08-21 11:30 - 13:00
Grab a friend or meet a new one over coffee and a good game. We provide Scrabble, playing cards, Rummikub, Mah Jongg, Othello, chess, and more; you’re also welcome to bring your own. Free coffee for players – feel free to bring your lunch!
FREE for members and non-members

Verve Book Club: “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel
2024-08-28 11:30 - 13:00
Olivia is a renowned photographer who retreats to a remote island in British Columbia after a series of personal and professional setbacks. As she delves deeper into the island’s history and its inhabitants, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of reality, blurring the lines between memory and imagination. The novel explores themes of identity, loss, and the haunting power of the past, weaving together a compelling narrative that keeps readers questioning what is real.

CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
2024-09-02

Hot Topics: Jews, The Election, and The Media
2024-09-04 11:30 - 13:00
At this pivotal moment in a U.S. election year, join Rabbi Ron Symons, our Senior Director of Jewish Engagement, for a facilitated conversation that will touch on some of these questions:

What is the history of how Jews have served in public office?
How has the media portrayed this?
How does this moment in history, given the increased Jew-hatred (i.e. anti-Semitism), compare to previous moments?

Our conversation will be all the richer because of your presence and/or participation. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome.
Ron joins the Shames JCC as a facilitator of neighbors learning and living in community with one another across real and perceived differences amplifying our shared humanity. He is a weaver of spirituality with a realistic and optimistic vision of community, and welcomes you to weave with him.

Clergy Talk: Messiah or Martyrdom: Religion and Violence in the Name of God
2024-09-06 10:00 - 11:00
Join Rabbi Jay Stein of Greenburgh Hebrew Center 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.

Laughter Yoga with Dr. Vinodray Shah
2024-09-09 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-09-20 12:00 - 13:00
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!
FREE for members and non-members

Tasty Tuesdays: Birdie's Batch
2024-09-10 11:30 - 13:30
Birdie’s Batch is back with homemade brown bag lunches for sale! Your lunchbox ($12) comes with savory and sweet for a mid-day pick me up: a mini roasted eggplant & whipped ricotta crostata; piece of seasonal, local fruit from The Orchards of Conklin; and a mega chocolate chip cookie.
Prefer a la carte? Mix and match your favorite crostata and sweet treat. From tomato and pesto and zucchini and honey goat cheese to coffee cake and brownies, you can’t go wrong!
This event is part of the Tasty Tuesday series, where you can treat yourself to a special lunch at the J with local vendors! On select Tuesdays during the month, chefs will bring their fresh, homemade specialties for sale on site. Pick up on your way home, or stay awhile and eat in our Atrium!

Retreat to the Berkshires
2024-09-10 12:00 - 2024-09-12 13:00
Join other active 55+ adults September 10–12 for nature, fitness and fun!
Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp, Copake, NY
Come experience the joy of camp as an adult! The inaugural Verve retreat is bringing active adults ages 55+ from four metro JCCs together for two days of fun at Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp (BHEC) in Copake, NY. And some of your favorite fitness instructors are coming along, too! Sample offerings include strength classes, yoga and meditation, tennis, pickleball, swimming, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, card games, and lots of free time to connect with friends and enjoy nature. And that’s just during the day! Nighttime brings entertainment and s’mores around the campfire. Bring a friend or come make new ones!
Costs:

$450 for a shared room (with private bathroom)
$550 for a private room (with private bathroom)
Optional Add-On: $35 for a 90-minute culinary workshop with Chef Katie Hickey, who is leading classes based on the cookbook “The Kripalu Kitchen: Nourishing Food for Body and Soul.

Your cost includes:

Private or shared room with private bathroom in cabins
All meals and non-alcoholic beverages (alcoholic beverages are BYOB)
All activities, including fitness classes, yoga, boating, swimming, pickleball, use of indoor spaces, and more (culinary workshop is extra)
Nighttime entertainment and s’mores around the campfire
All linens and towels
Roundtrip transportation from your JCC by coach bus
Verve T-shirt

Sample schedule and FAQ to come!
*No refunds after August 10

Interfaith Dialogue: People of Faith and The Election: Gun Control, Abortion, Economy, Immigration, Character
2024-09-12 10:00 - 11:00
We may not all agree with the correct solutions to every problem in our country, but can we agree on what the problems are? In this session, Reverend Evans and Rabbi Stein will explore what our sacred traditions believe are the important issues that should guide our decisions when we enter the voting booth.
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: Can I Have a Do Over? Please?
2024-09-13 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in uncovering the importance of mulligans or do overs not just in sports and games but also in the most important moments of life. This conversation is inspired by the Jewish New Year and will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.
for more Jewish Life events, click here

Rock 101 with Thoughtful Productions (in The Ark)
2024-09-15 16:00 - 18:00
Ask fans of rock ‘n’ roll to name ten classic songs, and no two people will agree. But the discussion will be animated because rock ‘n’ roll is part of everyone’s experience. Rock 101 is a fascinating new show that explores the rock ‘n’ roll experience.
In a fun, fast-paced 90 minutes, we’ll cover ten songs with incredible stories and a fascinating multimedia presentation. You’ll learn something new while listening to something familiar and have a blast. Rock 101 does what rock ‘n’ roll has always done: it makes us feel alive.

About Thoughtful Production
Thoughtful Productions was founded to create fun, entertaining events, coupled with unique opportunities to learn something new. We work with remarkable storytellers, artists, musicians and thought leaders to craft experiences that will delight and inspire.

Israel Culture Connection with our Shinshin: Meet Asaf, our Shinshin
2024-09-16 00:00

Welcome Back Bagels and Schmooze
2024-09-16 10:00 - 11:30
Stop by for bagels, coffee, and a schmooze with the JCC program staff to learn about our upcoming Renard lectures this fall. Have an idea for a speaker? Bend our ear….we’re open to all suggestions! You’ll also have the chance to meet and welcome the J’s new Senior Director of Jewish Engagement, Ron Symons.

Free Demo: Soccer Boot Camp (ages 18 & up)
2024-09-16 19:00 - 20:30
Open to all levels of soccer players and the soccer-curious!
Take your fitness and soccer skills to the next level with like-minded futbol fans in a fun and non-competitive environment! Join us for a soccer boot camp experience with Coach Danny Cadena, founder of Train Like a Pro, that will give you a great workout in a creative way. This class focuses on strength, speed and agility, ball work, and small-sided games. Open to all!
This class will run ongoing on Mondays from 9/23–11/18. Register for the series here.

Coach Danny Cadena of Train Like a Pro

Out to Lunch with the JCC: Fantasy Cuisine
2024-09-18 12:30 - 14:00
Join your fellow foodies for our next lunch outing to Fantasy cuisine in Hartsdale! Your meal includes your choice of soup, appetizer, lunch entree, rice, and a soft drink or tea.
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.
NOTE: We will be meeting at Fantasy Cuisine, 20 N. Central Ave., Hartsdale, NY 10530 and you can park in their lot. If you need a ride from the JCC or have room in your car for others, please email cjacobs@shamesjcc.org when you register.

Foreign Affairs Discussion Group: The Clashing Foreign Policy Views of the Presidential Candidates
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:15
Kamala Harris can be expected to continue President Biden’s foreign policy strategy of working cooperatively with our partners and allies to enhance national security and freedom. Donald Trump, in contrast, favors America First nationalism over multilateralism and has stated that the future belongs not to the “globalists” but to the “patriots.” These opposing views would deliver different results for US economic growth, inflation, trade and investment, and immigration—as well as for global peace and political stability. Join us as we discuss the foreign policy plans of both presidential candidates and the implications they would have on the US and the world.

JCC Book Club: “The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime and a Dangerous Obsession” by Michael Finkel
2024-09-19 19:00 - 20:15
This New York Times #1 bestseller tells the astonishing saga of Stéphane Breitwieser, the notorious art thief who stole hundreds of pieces of art, amassing a collection estimated to be worth around $2 billion–and never sold a thing. Join us to discuss this riveting true-crime narrative and portrait of a man obsessed with beauty and risk.

Challah and Conversation: Apologies are So 20th Century!
2024-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in exploring the power of authentic apologies and the damage of inauthentic apologies. Think about the last time you received a really good apology… How long ago was it? This conversation is inspired by the Jewish practice of apologizing on Yom Kippur and will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.

Sensory Swim (All ages)
2024-09-20 18:00 - 19:30
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.

Family Fridays: Pizza and a Movie in The Ark (Moana)
2024-09-20 18:00 - 20:00
Kick off your weekend with your friends at the J over pizza and a screening of Moana in our new theater! Wear your comfy clothes and we’ll take care of the rest by feeding and entertaining you and your kids (we’ll have drinks and food for grown-ups, too). Come enjoy this Disney favorite before Moana 2 comes out this fall!
Member price: Kids ages 2-12 $5 (under 2 free); adults $8
Non-member price: Kids ages 2-12 $8 (under 2 free); adults $10

Million Meal Project
2024-09-22 13:00 - 15:00
Be part of a million mitzvahs at the J! Get ready for the Jewish New Year by joining the Million Meal Project to pack nutritious meal kits that Rise Against Hunger will distribute to food-insecure communities in need. Bring your friends and your whole family as we come together to make a difference.
This event is done in partnership between the Shames JCC,Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Temple Beth Abraham, Temple Beth Shalom, and Woodlands Community Temple

The Influence of Jazz on Modern Pop Culture with Albert Rivera
2024-09-23 10:00 - 11:30
In this hybrid talk and performance, saxophonist Albert Rivera will show us how jazz artists have impacted all forms of entertainment. You’ll listen to and learn about this hugely influential style of music, beginning with the big band era that led to the rise of jazz musicians in Hollywood movies, to jazz affecting modern musicians and bands.
About the instructor: Described by WNPR’s Owen McNally as “A modern jazz messenger,” saxophonist Albert Rivera has been a consistent force on a national and international level since finalizing his studies at The New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Program. Born and raised in the Bronx, Albert is a recipient of a Chamber Music America Residency award, an ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, and most recently a City Arts Corp Grant. He is the current Director of Operations at the Litchfield Jazz Camp and serves on the Jazz Faculty at SUNY Purchase.

Tasty Tuesdays: Falafel by Chef Noam Zabari
2024-09-24 11:30 - 13:30
Stop by for delicious made-to-order falafel from Chef Noam!

Israel Culture Connection: Meet our New Shinshin, Asaf!
2024-09-24 12:00 - 13:00
The Shinshinim program is the “year of service” that offers Israeli high school graduates an opportunity to delay mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces and serve diaspora communities for up to 10 months. The program allows communities to meet young Israeli ambassadors who perform meaningful service prior to entering the army.
Here at the J, connect with our Shishin (Junior Israeli ambassador) Asaf Baider. In a roundtable conversation on the last Tuesday of the month (12:00-1:00pm), he will share his experiences growing up on a Moshav in the south of Israel and perspectives as an Israeli. Read more about Asaf here.

Who Killed Sarah Parsons? A Courtroom Transcript Reading
2024-09-24 13:00 - 14:00
Members: free; non-members: $5
Immerse yourself in a gripping role-playing scenario where a developmentally disabled young man is charged with a murder from 11 years ago. You’ll take on roles of detectives, suspects, and witnesses, delving into the complexities of the case. Navigate through shifting evidence, hidden motives, and unanswered questions as you work together to uncover the truth. No experience is necessary!

Verve Book Club: “The Art Thief” by Michael Finkel
2024-09-25 11:30 - 13:00
This New York Times #1 bestseller by Michael Finkel tells the astonishing saga of Stéphane Breitwieser, the notorious art thief who stole hundreds of pieces of art, amassing a collection estimated to be worth around $2 billion–and never sold a thing. Join us to discuss this riveting true-crime narrative and portrait of a man obsessed with beauty and risk.

Outing with the JCC: Hudson River Museum Highlights Tour
2024-09-26 12:00 - 14:00
Join us for a docent-led tour at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers where you’ll learn about a variety of art on view throughout the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions. After the one-hour tour, we’ll gather together in the museum for a brown bag lunch to discuss the visit. BYO lunch – dessert and drinks are on us! NOTE: space is limited to 20 and you are responsible for your own transportation to and from the museum – car pooling from the JCC is available!
Meet at HRM, 511 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701 (carpooling available)

Challah and Conversation: Happy Birthday to You!
2024-09-27 10:00 - 11:00
Join with Rabbi Ron Symons in discussing the history of birthdays and their celebration rituals. With Rosh Hashanah, often called the “birthday of the world,” just days away, this conversation will help us appreciate why marking time is valuable, no matter how old in body or young in heart you are. While this conversation is inspired by Rosh Hashanah, it will expand into our everyday lives no matter your faith tradition.
In the Challah and Conversation series, Rabbi Ron Symons, Shames JCC Sr. Director of Jewish Engagement, will lead an interactive guided conversation about life that weaves general spirituality with a Jewish lens. We end our time together with a little grape juice and challah. Neighbors of all backgrounds are welcome. These are on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Fridays of each month.
