Shames JCC

Soul Shuffle 2024 Line Dancing Party
2024-03-10 14:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Rock the Wobble, Cupid Shuffle, and lots of original dances during our 3-hour line dancing extravaganza on March 10! R&B/soul line dancing instructor Steve “The Fun Bunch” Dillard and special guest choreographers Darlene Johnson Barnaby (Brooklyn NY) and Mr. Charles Doss Jr. (Spartanburg, SC) will lead you through easy-to-follow steps to music that will uplift your soul. All ages are welcome!
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.

Albert Rivera Presents: A Brief History of Jazz Through the Eyes of its Performers
2024-03-11 10:00 - 11:00
In this hybrid talk and saxophone performance, teaching artist Albert Rivera will take us through a brief history of jazz from the 1930s through the present day. He’ll discuss how different styles of jazz were created in response to the socio-economic and political themes of certain decades and how jazz music shaped the sounds of music we hear today.
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.

Caregiver Conversation Circle
2024-03-11 13:00 - 14:00
FREE for members and non-members
Do you care for a family member with chronic illness or special needs? Join our conversation circle to connect with others in a similar situation. Groups can serve as an invaluable tool to help ourselves and others deal with the consequences of being a family caregiver. 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.

“PI Day” Pizza Party
2024-03-13 12:00 - 13:30
FREE for members; $5 for non-members
March 14 marks “Pi Day,” an annual acknowledgment of the mathematical sign pi, whose first three digits are 3.14. And even though we’re a day early, what better way to celebrate than with a pizza (PI)e lunch? Come join us for a casual lunch enjoying kosher-style pizza and salad in the community room. Everyone is welcome– science-related conversation topics optional!
Pizza is kosher style

Foreign Affairs Discussion Group: The Rise of Failed States
2024-03-13 19:00 - 20:30
Some 50 nations have either collapsed or are teetering on the edge of failure. The causes include the lingering effects of the pandemic, terrorism, huge public debt, climate disasters, drug-related crime, and corrupt governments. Join us to discuss what the overstretched international community can do to address this problem and reduce a growing source of instability in today’s world.

Friday Night Sensory Friendly Swim
2024-03-15 18:00 - 19:30
Join us for our monthly Friday night free-swim to families who have an immediate member with a disability. The pool will be exclusively reserved for this event, so that we can ensure a sensory-friendly pool environment for a fun family night out!

Fashion Fundamentals (Fashion, Beauty, and Bonding Women’s Group)
2024-03-16 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.
We will be partnering with Neiman Marcus to learn about and experiment with clothing. At Neiman Marcus Westchester, participants will be led through practical lessons and discussions about when to wear what, in addition to defining their style and shopping! A highly skilled personal stylist will walk the participants through understanding diverse body types, mobility considerations, and unique fashion needs, fostering creativity and confidence in their style choices. All money paid for this program will be put toward a gift card for your participant to purchase something for their wardrobe or beauty collection.
Please only register for one participant; if the participant needs a staff member present, please email abridson@shamesjcc.org to give us the staff member’s information.

Evan Weiner presents Germany's Troubling Olympics History, 1936 and 1972
2024-03-18 10:00 - 11:00
Germany is currently bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in Berlin.Proponents of this idea think it could be a teachable moment about how propaganda was used to promote the Olympic Games and the Nazi regime when they hosted in 1936 and 1972. But for many, the idea of the Olympics in Germany brings up terrible memories.
In this talk, journalist Evan Weiner will go into detail about the past games hosted by Germany, including Germany’s exclusion of Jewish athletes, American boycotting of the Games, and the devastating terrorist attack in Munich.

Camp Day
2024-03-19 09:00 - 12:00
Summer is around the corner! Stop by for a bagel and learn more about our sleepaway and day camps on Tuesday, 3/19 from 9am-12pm. We will have staff members and informational materials from Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Sleepaway Camp, J Sports Academy, and River Friends Day Camp.
Do you enjoy working with children and are looking for a fun and rewarding summer job?
River Friends Day Camp is looking for Group Leaders and Junior Counselors for the summer of 2024!
To apply email your resume and/or cover letter to Arden at Riverfriends@shamesjcc.org.

Group Leaders should be 21 years of age or older and have experience in working in early childhood educational or recreational settings
Junior Counselors must be 16 years of age or older and have an interest in early childhood education and/or development.

Israeli Culture Connection with Noy
2024-03-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-04-16 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.

Purim Pop-Up: Rain Sticks
2024-03-19 15:00 - 17:00
Get ready to add a rhythmic twist to your Purim festivities! Join Yanira to create your own rain stick—a magical instrument that not only lets you unleash your creative flair but also brings the enchanting sounds of rainfall right to your celebration!

Documentary Screening: Rosenwald
2024-03-20 11:30 - 13:00
Rosenwald is the story of how businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald joined with African-American communities in the South to build schools for them during the early part of the 20th century. This historical partnership as well as the modern-day attempts to maintain or reconfigure the schools is a little-known but great dramatic story.
FREE for members and non-members

Purim Pop-Up: Mask Making
2024-03-20 15:00 - 17:00
Join Yanira for Purim Mask Making! Stop by for a joyful afternoon of crafting unique masks with mixed media.

Purim Pour
2024-03-20 16:00 - 19:00
Sample a selection of kosher wines from Aries Wine & Spirits and place orders for your Passover Seder to pick up at the J!

Art Making with Upcycled Plastic
2024-03-20 18:30 - 20:00
Artist Natalya Khorover will lead us in making flower-inspired art from single-use plastic bags. We’ll explore the irony in creating symbols of ephemeral nature from plastic which will outlast us all. Bring various soft single-use plastic packaging from home, like shopping bags, bread bags, etc. We’ll supply the rest along with lots of inspiration and snacks!
With Natalya’s guidance, you’ll make art inspired by the flowers we are all awaiting for this spring. Be sure to check out Natalya’s work hanging in the Nature, Climate, and Connection show up now at the JCC.

Birdie’s Batch Pop-Up
2024-03-22 15:00 - 17:00
Local favorite Birdie’s Batch will be at the J with delicious homemade hamantaschen and more!

Laughter Yoga with Vinodray Shah, MD
2024-03-25 10:00 - 11:00
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.

Verve Book Club: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
2024-03-27 11:30 - 13:00
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (588 pgs) is a fast-paced and reflective adventure story that centers on three young men whose conflicting motives and moralities set them on a course for collision across the United States. It tells the story of 18-year-old Emmett Watson who hits the road with his little brother, Billy, following his release from a working farm in 1950s Kansas after serving time for involuntary manslaughter, the death of their father, and the foreclosure of their Nebraska farm. Towles’ novel is packed with revelations about the American myth, the art of storytelling, and the unrelenting pull of history.

David Cheney Presents Music of the 80’s (Part 1)
2024-04-01 10:00 - 11:30
The 80s have been called “the decade of decadence” as a strong economy fed materialism and consumerism. The mix of wealth with advances in music technology— synthetic instruments, MTV videos, cassettes, CDs, and boom boxes—fed a surge in musical development. Many new genres of music boomed at the same time including new wave, synth-pop, punk rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, dance music, and power ballads, while electric instruments introduced sounds never heard before. Join us as we listen to a mix of songs that defined the 80s and share memories 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.

Hot Topics
2024-04-03 11:30 - 13:00
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!

Challenging Times, Ageless Insights: Israel on Campus: Zionism, Then and Now
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:30
The Hamas-Israel war has spotlighted a generational rift about the meaning of Israel in American-Jewish life. Join us to discuss the historical significance of Israel throughout the Zionist movement and the current attitudes expressed on college campuses and beyond.

Passover Cooking: Macaroons and More
2024-04-07 11:00 - 12:00
Experience the joy of Passover with our exciting family culinary workshop! Amy Pane, our expert cooking instructor, will guide us in making delicious Passover treats like matzah pizzas and coconut macaroons. Take home all the recipes to recreate the magic in your own kitchen. This program is designed for children 4 years old and up with their caregiver.

David Cheney Presents Music of the 80’s (Part 2)
2024-04-08 10:00 - 11:30

Parenting is Hard: Teen Mental Health and the Effects of Social Media
2024-04-09 19:00 - 20:15
Join us for the third workshop in our series on adolescent mental health (12-18 years) led by Scott Bloom, LCSW, in collaboration with the Child & Family Institute of Westchester. Through engaging presentations and discussions, we will explore the challenges facing today’s teens, and how parents can address these to set teens up for success. Social media can impact adolescents by exacerbating teens’ concerns about their appearance and being judged, and increasing feelings of anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Come learn how parents can be proactive in setting healthy limits that will protect, but won’t distance, your teen.

Film Screening: “Egypt, A Love Song” (Dir. Iris Zaki)
2024-04-10 11:30 - 13:00
Director Iris Zaki takes her father on a journey that spans generations and continents, unpacking the complex relationship of Jewish/Arab identity and culture, as they follow in the footsteps of her legendary grandmother, the Egyptian singer Souad Zaki. The film combines scripted period scenes from Souad’s life, rare archival materials, and an intimate father-daughter journey that cuts deep into family dynamics through unfiltered conversations. Running time 74 minutes + time for discussion.

Navigating Grief: Embracing Symbols of Hope
2024-04-11 18:30 - 20:00
In partnership with COPE, we present our third Healing Workshop. Join Grief and Death Doula (a person who guides individuals and their families through the dying process), Madhu Matthew Dwyer for an exploration of the mystery of grief, the seen and unseen as we explore signs from spirits. We will create a compassionate and inclusive atmosphere where we can openly talk about our longing to connect with our loved ones who have died.

Super Seder Science
2024-04-13 11:00 - 12:00
Join Kimberly Marcus, author of Frankenstein’s Matzah: A Passover Parody, for an interactive program that combines Passover stories with hands-on science experiments. Explore traditional Passover tales with a fresh perspective. For children 4 years old and up with their caregiver.

Dinner Theater at the J: Stories and Songs of Freedom
2024-04-14 16:00 - 18:00
Set the stage for Passover with an entertaining and uplifting evening featuring professional storytellers, live music, and a delicious dinner! Passover is a time for telling tales and we’re thrilled to welcome award-winning storytellers and performers Bill Gordh and Therese Folkes Plair to explore the themes of freedom as told through Jewish and African sources. They will be accompanied by violinist Lisa Gutkin from the renowned Klezmatics and other musicians. After the performance, guests will be prompted to share their own stories over a delicious kosher-style dinner by Jean-Jacques catering. Includes entertainment and dinner.
About the Performers:
Bill Gordh
Bill Gordh is an award-winning storyteller, author, educator, songwriter, and banjoist. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, at the Clearwater Festival, The Museum of Natural History, the Tribeca Film Festival Family Day, Celebrate Brooklyn, the Byzantine Fresco Museum (Houston, TX), the Gerald Ford Amphitheater (Vail, CO) and for the last 3 years of the Clinton administration Bill was a featured storyteller at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Lisa Gutkin
Recognized as violinist and vocalist for the groundbreaking Jewish Roots band, The Klezmatics, and as fiddler for the Downtown Celtic band Whirligig, Lisa is also known for her scoring, performance, and music direction in the two-time Tony Award winning play, Indecent. She has performed in Sting’s Broadway musical The Last Ship and her song “Gonna Get Through This World” – with words by Woody Guthrie – was hailed by Pete Seeger, as “a piece of genius.” Lisa’s playing and stories are fun and poignant, and her voice has been praised by the LA Times as “hauntingly emotional.”
Therese Folkes Plair
Therese Folkes Plair, an award-winning performing artist, is a classically trained singer who in 1979 changed her artistic direction from opera to world music and storytelling. Her research, performances, and teaching focus on the music and the oral and written literature of people of African descent. A graduate of in from Sarah Lawrence College, Ms. Plair has been on the forefront of developing arts education in Westchester Country and Tri-State New York areas since 1980. Her roles have included conducting residencies, integrating core curriculum with music, and storytelling for students of all ages.
This event is made possible by a generous grant from Verve 55+ Living/UJA Federation of NY.

Walter Schwartz presents The Brooklyn Dodgers: The Inside Stories
2024-04-15 10:00 - 11:30
Join us on Jackie Robinson Day to celebrate the contributions of Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was not only a great athlete but a civil rights champion and American icon. We’ll reminisce about his accomplishments through literature and music, all dedicated to the first Black American to play in organized baseball.
