Purim Begins Today!
Purim begins this Thursday! Find out how we're celebrating the holiday at the JCC... This year, we're sending traditional Purim food to Holocaust survivors and food pantry recipients so that they can celebrate at home. Students in our daycare and Learning Bridges programs will participate in fun Purim-themed activities this week. Join us on Thursday for a free lunchtime lecture on Purim with Rabbi Mendy Katzman! You can also find online Purim resources and activities in our J at Home e-blasts this week! Finally, since we can't be together in person, we're having a Virtual Purim Costume Parade! Show us your family's Purim costumes to be featured on our social media! Tag us on Facebook or Instagram, or email your photos to JCC@SIJCC.com. Chag Sameach! UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - THIS WEEK: SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel Through February 26, 10:30am We are excited to bring you a NEW virtual experience! Each day this week, join us for a virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! No passport or mask necessary! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
- TODAY: SAJE Presents... Jewish Holiday Rabbi Series: Secrets of the Megillah with Rabbi Katzman, 1pm Join Rabbi Mendy Katzman for a FREE, virtual lunchtime lecture in celebration of Purim! Register here. Zoom ID: 870 7649 4215 Password: 0AkgEr - "What Do You Stand For?": A Youth Art Exhibit on Social Justice Friday, February 26, 5pm Join us for a virtual youth art exhibit on social justice presented by our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center. The program is facilitated by Marina Alvarez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. - Blacks in Business: A Speed Networking Event for Black-Owned Businesses Friday, February 26, 7:30pm JCC Beacon at I.S. 49 presents a virtual speed networking opportunity for Black-owned businesses! Join us on Zoom: Meeting ID: 93317443589 Password: Parents49 For more information, contact Malkeya Sears at MSears@SIJCC.com. - Healing and Hope: A Jewish Community Gathering Marking One Year of COVID Tuesday, March 2, 5pm It’s been one year since COVID-19 changed the landscape of the world as we knew it. We are proud to partner with UJA as the Jewish community gathers at this meaningful moment in time, both to commemorate the collective loss we’ve experienced and to honor our resilience and strength. This 30-minute program will include messages of hope and healing from rabbinic leaders across our community; a memorial tribute led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, UJA’s Pearl and Ira Meyer scholar-in-residence; and music by Neshama Carlebach, international singer and educator, accompanied by singers of all ages from our day schools and community centers. Register here. - Vaccine Town Hall Thursday, March 4, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on the COVID-19 vaccines, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Register for this FREE virtual event here. Email any questions for Dr. Otterbeck to jcc@sijcc.com. - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS Protecting Holocaust Survivors During the Pandemic Thank you to the Borough President’s Office for helping us get 80 Holocaust Survivors and seniors vaccinated over the weekend! We are grateful for their support with keeping our Holocaust Survivors safe during this difficult time. - Next Week’s Fitness Center & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Slots for March 1 - March 7 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - ECE Registration Is Open! Pre-K For All and 3-K For All registration is open! Any New York City resident can apply. Our amazing Early Childhood Education staff is dedicated to giving your child the best start! We are licensed by the NYC Bureau of Daycare, follow all COVID protocols, and offer programs at 4 convenient locations across the island. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. - Money Management for Kids This week, students in our Learning Bridges program at the Richmond Terrace Community Center learned about managing money and made their very own ceramic piggy banks! - Voting Ends TOMORROW: Help us Win a Grant! The voting period for the NYC Civic Engagement Commission contest ends tomorrow. We are just outside of the top 5 projects, so we need your votes to help us win $20,000 to fund our Career and College Exploration Hub! Our Career and College Exploration Hub will help youth navigate the college application process, identify their interests, and build workforce readiness skills. We are excited about this opportunity to help the young people we serve get the support they need to build brighter futures! In order to make our idea a reality, we need your votes! Voting is open to NYC residents ages 9-24. Simply register and vote on our project, "Career and College Exploration Hub," now through tomorrow here. - Support Our Kosher Food Pantry While You Shop! We are pleased to partner with two local Stop & Shop stores to raise money for our Kosher Food Pantry! Beginning tomorrow through March, the food pantry will receive a $1 donation for every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker purchased at the Stop & Shop store located at 1351 Forest Avenue, Staten Island NY. Throughout March, the food pantry will also receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Stop & Shop store located at 1441 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island NY. Thank you to Stop & Shop for helping us fight hunger on Staten Island! - Last Chance for Camp Early Bird Prices The Early Bird pricing period for summer camp ends on Sunday! Register here today to secure your child's spot in camp at a discounted rate. - COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. You can also find vaccine locations near you here. Adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions are now eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Grounding: First Steps in Mindfulness Friday, March 5, 1pm In this workshop you will learn 2 fundamental skills of Somatic Psychotherapy to help you to calm, soothe and strengthen your nervous system to deal with the stresses of your life. Jacob Winkler, LCSW, CGP, CAMS-II is a psychotherapist in private practice in Highland Park, NJ. He leads workshops on Somatic Psychotherapy and runs groups that help people be more embodied in their lives. Registration is required. To register, email your full name to JSalerno@sijcc.com Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 973 6365 5614 Passcode: CLLDSP - Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - 30-Day Push-Up Challenge Build upper body strength and endurance in a month-long push-up challenge by Livestrong! Over the month, you'll challenge yourself by increasing the number of push-ups you do each day. - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Core 24 Basketball Academy Winter Programs Sign up for winter basketball programs here! - Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: How Krav Maga Helped to Change the Mentality of the Jewish People Wednesday, March 24, 7pm Join us for a fascinating lecture by Steve Lerner on the history and influence of Krav Maga, a self-defense and fighting system developed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene International Purim Celebration The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents a week-long celebration of Purim with virtual events you can watch for free on demand here! Programs include a tutorial on conversational Yiddish, a performance of Yiddish Purim songs by Zalmen Mlotek, a cabaret performance by up-and-coming talents, and a reading of the Megillah in Yiddish. - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC The Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part III: Big Stars in Early Musicals Wednesday, March 10, 1pm Our series continues as Sam & Candy Caponegro discuss early Hollywood musicals! Beginning with, "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, movie musicals changed the entertainment industry forever. Clips from the period include performances by Mae West, Bing Crosby, and the extravaganzas of Busby Berkeley. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - The Poetic Language of Jazz Tuesday, March 16, 2:30pm Join us for a FREE virtual jazz jam session for teens! Learn practice techniques and performance tips while you jam with jazz musician Mark Sherman. Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music for Healing Wednesday, March 17, 1pm-1:45pm Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Join Joelle Cohen, MT-BC, for a creative, healing music experience on Zoom! Use any household instruments you may have (wooden spoons, plastic containers, rice in a water bottle, keys, etc) or just hands for clapping! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute offers both in-person and virtual lessons for students of all ages and a variety of instruments! As one of our youngest students shows us in this video, you can even learn all the piano notes in just two lessons with our instructors! Learn more and sign up for lessons here! - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - Purim Sing-Along Check out this playlist of Purim songs for kids and have a family sing-along! KIDS AND FAMILIES Purim Puppet Groggers Follow along with this video to make puppets that you can use to re-tell the Purim story! Best of all, the puppets are groggers too! CAMP The Weekly Schmooze: A Summer of… Friendship At JCC Day Camp, we pride ourselves on helping kids create unforgettable summer memories full of friendship, discovery, and fun! This week, we’re highlighting friendship. Our camp gives kids a chance to socialize without social media, developing interpersonal skills that they will carry with them well beyond childhood. Because our camp is values-driven, we celebrate friendship, kindness, inclusivity, and respect. Parents often tell us that their kids wait all year for camp to begin so they can see their friends again. In fact, lots of our campers form friendships that last a lifetime! In a world where social distancing has become the new normal, so many kids are missing out on formative childhood experiences—school, playdates, and extracurricular activities. That’s why it’s more important than ever to know that kids have a safe place to spend their summer reuniting with old friends and making new ones here at JCC Day Camp. Sign your child up for a summer of friendship by registering here today! SOCIAL SERVICES Navigating Legal and Financial Decisions with NYLAG: Stimulus Payment Questions Did you know the JCC can help you get assistance with legal and financial planning through our partnership with NYLAG? Need help with stimulus payment questions, including understanding eligibility, applying for payments, and tracking payments? NYLAG can help! For more information on this and other social services, contact Devorah Weiss at 718.475.5245 or DWeiss@sijcc.com. - Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - Caregivers Weekly Zoom Chat Thursdays, now through June, 4:15pm - 5pm We are offering FREE Weekly Zoom Chats for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers! Chat with speech-language pathology graduate students and participate in fun memory-related activities! For more information and to register, contact Stefanie Schechter at 718.475.5244 or SSchechter@sijcc.com - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TODAY: JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), 12pm Join the JCC Association of North America for a program in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Today's topic will be "A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home." Learn more and register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Tradition! The Making of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish Monday, March 1, 7pm Join the Wagner College Holocaust Center for a conversation with Roy Gabay, producer of the Yiddish version of Sholem Aleichem’s work, Fiddler on the Roof, along with two actors, Jennifer Babiak and WCT graduate, Jonathan Quigley. Babiak played Golde, the mother of five daughters. A brief clip of Quigley in the “bottle dance” will be shown. We’ll discuss how the Yiddish production came to be, the hurdles the cast had to overcome and the meaningful experiences for all involved. Register here. Still Traveling: Beguiling Buenos Aires Mondays in March Join the Osher Marin JCC for a series of armchair adventures to beautiful Buenos Aires! Register here. Discussion on Primo Levi, Holocaust Survivor Thursday, March 4, 7pm How can one find the words to describe the trauma and agony suffered at Auschwitz after one’s humanity has been taken away? Francesco Bonavita will explore Holocaust survivor Primo Levi’s life; how Italian Jews saw themselves vis-à-vis the rise of fascism; his experience at Auschwitz; and his commitment to keep alive the narrative of the Holocaust. Register here. Ceiling Breakers and History Makers: The Legacy of Jewish Women and Justice Wednesday, March 10, 7pm In celebration and honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, and inspired by the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, join authors Debbie Levy, Elaine Weiss, and Marlene Trestman for a virtual conversation about women who made their passion, profession, and purpose to seek justice and repair the world. Register here. Yonina: See and Hear Jerusalem Like Never Before Sunday, March 14, 11am UJA presents a special music event during Jewish Music Month! Join Yonina, the Israeli-American musical duo famous for their incredible harmonies, as they blend their voices in Jewish, Israeli, and international song with a musical tour of Jerusalem. This live acoustic performance featuring classic covers and original songs, will be complemented by a very special virtual musical journey to ancient Jerusalem filled with interesting facts, personal stories, and lots of anecdotes. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! Beyond Your Bubbie's Brunch with Jake Cohen Sunday, March 14, 10am It’s time to get your brunch on in a whole new way with always-hungry, nice Jewish boy, Jake Cohen. Jake’s famous on Instagram and TikTok (@jakecohen) for his scrumptious reworkings of classic Jewish food. On March 14th, he’ll join The Nosh to show us how he creates his brunch essentials. Sunday brunch may never be the same. Watch here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - THIS WEEK: SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel Through February 26, 10:30am We are excited to bring you a NEW virtual experience! Each day this week, join us for a virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! No passport or mask necessary! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
- TODAY: SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 4, 1pm Do you miss traveling and exploring museums? Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home with our Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe series led by your guide, Peter Whitehouse! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. - TODAY: 2nd Annual Black History Performance: "Heroes in Black History: Then and Now," 5pm Our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center is proud to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. The performance is facilitated by Kayla Hernandez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. - Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! - SAJE Presents... Jewish Holiday Rabbi Series: Secrets of the Megillah with Rabbi Katzman Thursday, February 25, 1pm - 2pm Join Rabbi Mendy Katzman for a FREE, virtual lunchtime lecture in celebration of Purim! Register here. Zoom ID: 870 7649 4215 Password: 0AkgEr - "What Do You Stand For?": A Youth Art Exhibit on Social Justice Friday, February 26, 5pm Join us for a virtual youth art exhibit on social justice presented by our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center. The program is facilitated by Marina Alvarez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. - Blacks in Business: A Speed Networking Event for Black-Owned Businesses Friday, February 26, 7:30pm JCC Beacon at I.S. 49 presents a virtual speed networking opportunity for Black-owned businesses! Join us on Zoom: Meeting ID: 93317443589 Password: Parents49 For more information, contact Malkeya Sears at MSears@SIJCC.com. - Healing and Hope: A Jewish Community Gathering Marking One Year of COVID Tuesday, March 2, 5pm It’s been one year since COVID-19 changed the landscape of the world as we knew it. We are proud to partner with UJA as the Jewish community gathers at this meaningful moment in time, both to commemorate the collective loss we’ve experienced and to honor our resilience and strength. This 30-minute program will include messages of hope and healing from rabbinic leaders across our community; a memorial tribute led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, UJA’s Pearl and Ira Meyer scholar-in-residence; and music by Neshama Carlebach, international singer and educator, accompanied by singers of all ages from our day schools and community centers. Register here. - Vaccine Town Hall Thursday, March 4, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on the COVID-19 vaccines, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Register for this FREE virtual event here. - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS ECE Registration Opens TOMORROW Pre-K For All and 3-K For All registration opens tomorrow, February 24! Any New York City resident can apply. Our amazing Early Childhood Education staff is dedicated to giving your child the best start! We are licensed by the NYC Bureau of Daycare, follow all COVID protocols, and offer programs at 4 convenient locations across the island. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. - Celebrating Purim Purim begins this Thursday! Find out how we're celebrating the holiday at the JCC... This year, we're sending traditional Purim food to Holocaust survivors and food pantry recipients so that they can celebrate at home. Students in our daycare and Learning Bridges programs will participate in fun Purim-themed activities this week. Join us on Thursday for a free lunchtime lecture on Purim with Rabbi Mendy Katzman! You can also find online Purim resources and activities in our J at Home e-blasts this week! Finally, since we can't be together in person, we're having a Virtual Purim Costume Parade! Show us your family's Purim costumes to be featured on our social media! Tag us on Facebook or Instagram, or email your photos to JCC@SIJCC.com. Chag Sameach! - Support Our Kosher Food Pantry While You Shop! We are pleased to partner with two local Stop & Shop stores to raise money for our Kosher Food Pantry! Beginning February 26 through March, the food pantry will receive a $1 donation for every $9.99 Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker purchased at the Stop & Shop store located at 1351 Forest Avenue, Staten Island NY. Throughout March, the food pantry will also receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Stop & Shop store located at 1441 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island NY. Thank you to Stop & Shop for helping us fight hunger on Staten Island! - Recap: Our Man in Damascus On Sunday, our Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) hosted a wonderful virtual lecture by Abraham Cohen, brother of Israeli hero Eli Cohen. We were pleased to have more than 70 people tune in to the lecture, joining us not only from around New York City, but also from Israel and the United Arab Emirates! It was a wonderful program commemorating Eli Cohen's heroism. - Camp Early Bird Period Extended! Good news! We've extended Early Bird pricing for summer camp until the end of the month! Register today here! - Vote for Our Grant Proposal! We need your votes to help us get funding for our Career and College Exploration Hub, through a contest by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission! Our Career and College Exploration Hub will help youth navigate the college application process, identify their interests, and build workforce readiness skills. We are excited about this opportunity to help the young people we serve get the support they need to build brighter futures! In order to make our idea a reality, we need your votes! Voting is open to NYC residents ages 9-24. Simply register and vote on our project, "Career and College Exploration Hub," now through February 26 here. The 5 projects with the most votes will receive $20,000 in funding! - COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. You can also find vaccine locations near you here. Adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions are now eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. - COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Grounding: First Steps in Mindfulness Friday, March 5, 1pm In this workshop you will learn 2 fundamental skills of Somatic Psychotherapy to help you to calm, soothe and strengthen your nervous system to deal with the stresses of your life. Jacob Winkler, LCSW, CGP, CAMS-II is a psychotherapist in private practice in Highland Park, NJ. He leads workshops on Somatic Psychotherapy and runs groups that help people be more embodied in their lives. Registration is required. To register, email your full name to JSalerno@sijcc.com Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 973 6365 5614 Passcode: CLLDSP - Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - Desk Workout Working from home? Check out these quick, simple exercises you can do near your desk. It's important to take a few minutes to move, stretch, and re-focus throughout the day! - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Core 24 Basketball Academy Winter Programs Sign up for winter basketball programs here! - Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - Virtual Meet & Greet with a Star from Broadway's Company Sunday, March 7, 1pm 🎶 Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company! 🎶 Join us for a private, virtual meet & greet with a surprise star from Broadway's Company! Hear from a Tony Award-nominated actress about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on Broadway and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about her career! Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Spots are extremely limited, so register today! The program will run about 45 minutes via Zoom. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: How Krav Maga Helped to Change the Mentality of the Jewish People Wednesday, March 24, 7pm Join us for a fascinating lecture by Steve Lerner on the history and influence of Krav Maga, a self-defense and fighting system developed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene International Purim Celebration The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene presents a week-long celebration of Purim with virtual events you can watch for free on demand here! Programs include a tutorial on conversational Yiddish, a performance of Yiddish Purim songs by Zalmen Mlotek, a cabaret performance by up-and-coming talents, and a reading of the Megillah in Yiddish. - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC The Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part III: Big Stars in Early Musicals Wednesday, March 10, 1pm Our series continues as Sam & Candy Caponegro discuss early Hollywood musicals! Beginning with, "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, movie musicals changed the entertainment industry forever. Clips from the period include performances by Mae West, Bing Crosby, and the extravaganzas of Busby Berkeley. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - The Poetic Language of Jazz Tuesday, March 16, 2:30pm Join us for a FREE virtual jazz jam session for teens! Learn practice techniques and performance tips while you jam with jazz musician Mark Sherman. Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music for Healing Wednesday, March 17, 1pm-1:45pm Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Join Joelle Cohen, MT-BC, for a creative, healing music experience on Zoom! Use any household instruments you may have (wooden spoons, plastic containers, rice in a water bottle, keys, etc) or just hands for clapping! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute offers both in-person and virtual lessons for students of all ages and a variety of instruments! As one of our youngest students shows us in this video, you can even learn all the piano notes in just two lessons with our instructors! Learn more and sign up for lessons here! - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - Jews and Music of the Mahgreb In this program from the National Museum of American Jewish History, McGill University professor Christopher Silver provides a musical tour of the North African Jewish past through sounds traditional and popular. KIDS AND FAMILIES Hamantaschen Recipes to Make with Kids Check out these super easy hamantaschen recipes to make with kids for Purim! SUNRISE DAY CAMP Sunrise Shout-Out After rallying community support across Facebook and matching the funds he raised, Cory Schifter of Casale Jewelers made a generous donation of $7,500 to Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! Thank you to Cory and to everyone who donated for helping us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! SOCIAL SERVICES Navigating Legal and Financial Decisions with NYLAG: Health Care Proxy Did you know the JCC can help you get assistance with legal and financial planning through our partnership with NYLAG? If you need to appoint someone to make your health care related decisions for you during your lifetime if, and only if, you are unable to do so yourself, you should ask about getting a Health Care Proxy. A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint a trusted person (your Health Care Agent) to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are not able to do so yourself, due to illness or injury. You may choose any person over the age of 18 to be your Health Care Agent, including your spouse, children or friend. It is important to discuss your wishes with your Health Care Agent concerning all medical issues and preferences. Without proper legal documents, your family or friends may not be able to make medical decisions for you. For more information on this and other social services, contact Devorah Weiss at 718.475.5245 or DWeiss@sijcc.com. - Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - Caregivers Weekly Zoom Chat Thursdays, now through June, 4:15pm - 5pm We are offering FREE Weekly Zoom Chats for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers! Chat with speech-language pathology graduate students and participate in fun memory-related activities! For more information and to register, contact Stefanie Schechter at 718.475.5244 or SSchechter@sijcc.com - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Thursdays in February Join the JCC Association of North America on Thursdays in February for a series of programs in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Topics include: February 25 - A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home Learn more and register here. TODAY: Narcan/Naloxone Training, 3pm Narcan is a nasal spray that reverses opioid emergencies. Learn how to save a life with this free, virtual training session by Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA). Email Sean@sipcw.org to register. TODAY: Addressing Racial Inequities in Health Care, 3:30pm A panel of health experts will discuss how inequities in our health care system are affecting communities of color, with a focus on COVID19, life expectancy, and maternal care. Register here. TODAY: Staten Island Peer Collaborative Network Meeting, 6pm The Staten Island Peer Collaborative Network strengthens and supports the peer workforce on Staten Island by creating a space for peer professionals to learn and share ideas, information, resources, employment, and training opportunities. Email Jason Pisano at Jason@sipcw.org to register for the meeting. TODAY: Genetic Testing: The Roadmap to Your Health, 8pm Join UJA Healthcare, CommUnity, and UJA Young Leaders for a panel discussion that will explore the evolving field of genetic testing as it relates to identifying “silent” genetic carriers and allowing these carriers to determine appropriate options for family planning and health management. The panelists will discuss risk factors among Jewish populations, Jewish ethics about our obligation to stay healthy, and the bioethics of testing. Register here. Around the World with UJA Young Leaders: Italy Wednesday, February 24, 5:30pm Miss traveling? Get on board with UJA Young Leaders for a virtual mission series exploring some of the best destinations in the world. Take this digital adventure, guided by UJA's overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, to experience the Jewish life and culture of Italy, Greece, and Israel. No passport or mask required! The first trip in this 3-part series takes you to Italy! Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Friedl Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. Dicker-Brandeis was killed in Auschwitz yet saved the art of her students, over 4,000 children's drawings. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Tradition! The Making of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish Monday, March 1, 7pm Join the Wagner College Holocaust Center for a conversation with Roy Gabay, producer of the Yiddish version of Sholem Aleichem’s work, Fiddler on the Roof, along with two actors, Jennifer Babiak and WCT graduate, Jonathan Quigley. Babiak played Golde, the mother of five daughters. A brief clip of Quigley in the “bottle dance” will be shown. We’ll discuss how the Yiddish production came to be, the hurdles the cast had to overcome and the meaningful experiences for all involved. Register here. Discussion on Primo Levi, Holocaust Survivor Thursday, March 4, 7pm How can one find the words to describe the trauma and agony suffered at Auschwitz after one’s humanity has been taken away? Francesco Bonavita will explore Holocaust survivor Primo Levi’s life; how Italian Jews saw themselves vis-à-vis the rise of fascism; his experience at Auschwitz; and his commitment to keep alive the narrative of the Holocaust. Register here. Ceiling Breakers and History Makers: The Legacy of Jewish Women and Justice Wednesday, March 10, 7pm In celebration and honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, and inspired by the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, join authors Debbie Levy, Elaine Weiss, and Marlene Trestman for a virtual conversation about women who made their passion, profession, and purpose to seek justice and repair the world. Register here. Yonina: See and Hear Jerusalem Like Never Before Sunday, March 14, 11am UJA presents a special music event during Jewish Music Month! Join Yonina, the Israeli-American musical duo famous for their incredible harmonies, as they blend their voices in Jewish, Israeli, and international song with a musical tour of Jerusalem. This live acoustic performance featuring classic covers and original songs, will be complemented by a very special virtual musical journey to ancient Jerusalem filled with interesting facts, personal stories, and lots of anecdotes. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! Hamantaschen Hacks: Creating Sweet & Savory Purim Flavors with Jamie Geller Wednesday, February 24, 10am Join the Virtual JCC to celebrate Purim with the world’s most trusted kosher foodie, Jamie Geller, who will be sharing her favorite Hamantaschen Hacks. From sweet to savory, treat yourself to Jamie’s unique take on traditional Purim-inspired baked-goods and discover delicious recipes you can create for your family. Watch here. Beyond Your Bubbie's Brunch with Jake Cohen Sunday, March 14, 10am It’s time to get your brunch on in a whole new way with always-hungry, nice Jewish boy, Jake Cohen. Jake’s famous on Instagram and TikTok (@jakecohen) for his scrumptious reworkings of classic Jewish food. On March 14th, he’ll join The Nosh to show us how he creates his brunch essentials. Sunday brunch may never be the same. Watch here. As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events!
TODAY: February Book Club Meeting, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm We are proud to partner with the Tucson JCC to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. Join us for a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
Tickets are $15 per day OR $60 for the entire week and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. Sponsored by Dr. Sheldon Blackman. SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 4 Tuesday, February 23, 1pm Do you miss traveling and exploring museums? Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home with our Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe series led by your guide, Peter Whitehouse! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. 2nd Annual Black History Performance: "Heroes in Black History: Then and Now" Tuesday, February 23, 5pm Our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center is proud to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. The performance is facilitated by Kayla Hernandez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! The Magic of Flute Wednesday, February 24, 4pm Not sure which instrument is right for your child? We're offering FREE, virtual presentations and performances on different instruments to help you and your children discover the magic of music! Join us on February 24 for a flute performance and Q&A featuring our resident flute teacher, Nicole Auriti! Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord Thursday, February 25, 7pm Join us for a presentation and performance by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, harpsichord artist and Bach specialist, who has received wide acclaim for his interpretation of German Baroque composers. Dr. Eisenberg will delight the audience with beautiful music selections by Bach and highlight the unique qualities of the harpsichord! Dr. Eisenberg has been presented in recitals of Baroque repertoire by Carnegie Hall, performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild roster, and has performed on stages and broadcasting services across the globe. He has also served on the Columbia University and Fordham University music faculties. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. "What Do You Stand For?": A Youth Art Exhibit on Social Justice Friday, February 26, 5pm Join us for a virtual youth art exhibit on social justice presented by our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center. The program is facilitated by Marina Alvarez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. Blacks in Business: A Speed Networking Event for Black-Owned Businesses Friday, February 26, 7:30pm JCC Beacon at I.S. 49 presents a virtual speed networking opportunity for Black-owned businesses! Join us on Zoom: Meeting ID: 93317443589 Password: Parents49 For more information, contact Malkeya Sears at MSears@SIJCC.com. Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! Next Week’s Fitness Center & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Slots for February 22 - February 28 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Race Our "We Love Our Seniors" virtual race is going strong! The Richmond Rockets running club has shared some great photos of participants with us. Several members of our staff also walked in the Bernikow gymnasium this week to show their support! The race is promoting fitness while also raising money to help us resume our program to feed seniors during the pandemic. There is still time to participate before the race ends on February 20! Simply register and run or a 5K or 10K at your own pace, anywhere. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register here! Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month: First Foot Forward February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month! Our First Foot Forward program is dedicated to assisting preschool-aged children with developmental needs. First Foot Forward offers a warm, nurturing environment where all children can meet their fullest potential through individualized instruction and therapy. Celebrating Love Around the World Our ECE students have been celebrating Love Around the World! This month, they learned about different cultures around the world to show that love unites us all! Honoring Black History Month Students in our Learning Bridges and Cornerstone after school programs have been working on special projects in honor of Black History Month! Students in the Learning Bridge at the Gerard Carter Center recently learned about freedom quilts that were used by slaves to communicate code messages as they escaped via the Underground Railroad. What's Cooking, Day Hab? Our Day Hab participants are having so much fun with their virtual cooking class! Last week, they baked cupcakes! Camp Early Bird Period Extended! Good news! We've extended Early Bird pricing for summer camp until the end of the month! Register today here! ECE Registration Opens February 24 Pre-K For All and 3-K For All registration opens on Wednesday, February 24! Any New York City resident can apply. Our amazing Early Childhood Education staff is dedicated to giving your child the best start! We are licensed by the NYC Bureau of Daycare, follow all COVID protocols, and offer programs at 4 convenient locations across the island. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. Vote for Our Grant Proposal! We need your votes to help us get funding for our Career and College Exploration Hub, through a contest by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission! Our Career and College Exploration Hub will help youth navigate the college application process, identify their interests, and build workforce readiness skills. We are excited about this opportunity to help the young people we serve get the support they need to build brighter futures! In order to make our idea a reality, we need your votes! Voting is open to NYC residents ages 9-24. Simply register and vote on our project, "Career and College Exploration Hub," now through February 21 here. The 5 projects with the most votes will receive $20,000 in funding! COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. You can also find vaccine locations near you here. Adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions are now eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. Grounding: First Steps in Mindfulness Friday, March 5, 1pm In this workshop you will learn 2 fundamental skills of Somatic Psychotherapy to help you to calm, soothe and strengthen your nervous system to deal with the stresses of your life. Jacob Winkler, LCSW, CGP, CAMS-II is a psychotherapist in private practice in Highland Park, NJ. He leads workshops on Somatic Psychotherapy and runs groups that help people be more embodied in their lives. Registration is required. To register, email your full name to JSalerno@sijcc.com Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 973 6365 5614 Passcode: CLLDSP Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT 20-Minute Cardio Kickboxing Workout This cardio kickboxing workout won't take long, but it will get your heart rate up, burn calories, and build endurance! Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! Core 24 Basketball Academy Winter Programs Sign up for winter basketball programs here! Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! Virtual Meet & Greet with a Star from Broadway's Company Sunday, March 7, 1pm 🎶 Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company! 🎶 Join us for a private, virtual meet & greet with a surprise star from Broadway's Company! Hear from a Tony Award-nominated actress about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on Broadway and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about her career! Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Spots are extremely limited, so register today! The program will run about 45 minutes via Zoom. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents: How Krav Maga Helped to Change the Mentality of the Jewish People Wednesday, March 24, 7pm Join us for a fascinating lecture by Steve Lerner on the history and influence of Krav Maga, a self-defense and fighting system developed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. Explore the Bayeux Tapestry Online The Bayeux Tapestry tells the epic story of the conquest of England in 1066 by the Duke of Normandy. Now, for the first time, you can explore the tapestry online in high resolution imaging! Discover the tapestry here. Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! The Magic of Violin Tuesday, March 9, 6pm Not sure which instrument is right for your child? Join us for a FREE virtual violin presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our violin faculty member, Larisa Vollis! Zoom information to follow registration. Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute offers both in-person and virtual lessons for students of all ages and a variety of instruments! As one of our youngest students shows us in this video, you can even learn all the piano notes in just two lessons with our instructors! Learn more and sign up for lessons here! Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. All About Bach Festival: Gabriel Prokofiev & Hiyoli Togawa Check out the latest concert installment in Only Stage's All About Bach Festival! Gabriel Prokofiev performs two pieces by Bach arranged for electronics, while special guest Hiyoli Togawa plays the viola. Hidden Figures Read-Aloud In honor of Black History Month, check out this read-aloud of the picture book adaptation of Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race! The Weekly Schmooze: Marvin's Camp February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month. Check out the latest Weekly Schmooze to learn about our Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs! We can't wait to welcome our Marvin's campers back again this summer! Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Thursdays in February Join the JCC Association of North America on Thursdays in February for a series of programs in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Topics include: TODAY: February 18 - A Dream Never Dreamed: Kalman Samuels Shares a Story of Hope, Courage, and Leadership February 25 - A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home Learn more and register here. TODAY: On Jews, Judaism, and the Pursuit of Social Justice, 7:30pm Join ALEPH: The Institute of Jewish Ideas for a virtual discussion with Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay (Jewish Theological Seminary). Rabbi Ruskay and Kendell Pinkney will discuss social justice as a core Jewish value and deconstructing the dominant narrative of the straight, white male Jew. Register here. Narcan/Naloxone Training Tuesday, February 23, 3pm Narcan is a nasal spray that reverses opioid emergencies. Learn how to save a life with this free, virtual training session by Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA). Email Sean@sipcw.org to register. Addressing Racial Inequities in Health Care Tuesday, February 23, 3:30pm A panel of health experts will discuss how inequities in our health care system are affecting communities of color, with a focus on COVID19, life expectancy, and maternal care. Register here. Staten Island Peer Collaborative Network Meeting Tuesday, February 23, 6pm The Staten Island Peer Collaborative Network strengthens and supports the peer workforce on Staten Island by creating a space for peer professionals to learn and share ideas, information, resources, employment, and training opportunities. Email Jason Pisano at Jason@sipcw.org to register for the meeting. Genetic Testing: The Roadmap to Your Health Tuesday, February 23, 8pm Join UJA Healthcare, CommUnity, and UJA Young Leaders for a panel discussion that will explore the evolving field of genetic testing as it relates to identifying “silent” genetic carriers and allowing these carriers to determine appropriate options for family planning and health management. The panelists will discuss risk factors among Jewish populations, Jewish ethics about our obligation to stay healthy, and the bioethics of testing. Register here. Around the World with UJA Young Leaders: Italy Wednesday, February 24, 5:30pm Miss traveling? Get on board with UJA Young Leaders for a virtual mission series exploring some of the best destinations in the world. Take this digital adventure, guided by UJA's overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, to experience the Jewish life and culture of Italy, Greece, and Israel. No passport or mask required! The first trip in this 3-part series takes you to Italy! Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Friedl Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. Dicker-Brandeis was killed in Auschwitz yet saved the art of her students, over 4,000 children's drawings. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Tradition! The Making of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish Monday, March 1, 7pm Join the Wagner College Holocaust Center for a conversation with Roy Gabay, producer of the Yiddish version of Sholem Aleichem’s work, Fiddler on the Roof, along with two actors, Jennifer Babiak and WCT graduate, Jonathan Quigley. Babiak played Golde, the mother of five daughters. A brief clip of Quigley in the “bottle dance” will be shown. We’ll discuss how the Yiddish production came to be, the hurdles the cast had to overcome and the meaningful experiences for all involved. Register here. Healing and Hope: A Jewish Community Gathering Marking One Year of Covid Tuesday, March 2, 5pm It’s been one year since COVID-19 changed the landscape of the world as we knew it. We are proud to partner with UJA as the Jewish community gathers at this meaningful moment in time, both to commemorate the collective loss we’ve experienced and to honor our resilience and strength. This 30-minute program will include messages of hope and healing from rabbinic leaders across our community; a memorial tribute led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, UJA’s Pearl and Ira Meyer scholar-in-residence; and music by Neshama Carlebach, international singer and educator, accompanied by singers of all ages from our day schools and community centers. Register here. Discussion on Primo Levi, Holocaust Survivor Thursday, March 4, 7pm How can one find the words to describe the trauma and agony suffered at Auschwitz after one’s humanity has been taken away? Francesco Bonavita will explore Holocaust survivor Primo Levi’s life; how Italian Jews saw themselves vis-à-vis the rise of fascism; his experience at Auschwitz; and his commitment to keep alive the narrative of the Holocaust. Register here. Ceiling Breakers and History Makers: The Legacy of Jewish Women and Justice Wednesday, March 10, 7pm In celebration and honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, and inspired by the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, join authors Debbie Levy, Elaine Weiss, and Marlene Trestman for a virtual conversation about women who made their passion, profession, and purpose to seek justice and repair the world. Register here. Yonina: See and Hear Jerusalem Like Never Before Sunday, March 14, 11am UJA presents a special music event during Jewish Music Month! Join Yonina, the Israeli-American musical duo famous for their incredible harmonies, as they blend their voices in Jewish, Israeli, and international song with a musical tour of Jerusalem. This live acoustic performance featuring classic covers and original songs, will be complemented by a very special virtual musical journey to ancient Jerusalem filled with interesting facts, personal stories, and lots of anecdotes. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! TODAY: Valley of Tears: Solidarity and Sacrifice, 8pm Inspired by true events around the 1973 Arab-Israeli War (the Yom Kippur War), when Israel was caught off guard on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and feared total destruction, the new hit Israeli TV series, Valley of Tears, reveals the intensity, anxiety and trauma of that fateful war, and how it re-shaped Israel forever. The Virtual JCC will present retired IDF Colonel, Miri Eisin and Valley of Tears star, Lior Ashkenazi, who will share the impact of that war and how the new series has many Israelis revisiting old wounds, as well as educating the younger generation on the leadership failures that led to the surprise attack and the solidarity and sacrifice that allowed Israel to prevail. Valley of Tears is a 10-part series streaming on Hollywood Suite and HBO Max. Watch here. Purim Lessons & Tapping Into the Power of the Hidden with Adrienne Gold Davis Monday, February 22, 9pm The heroine of the Purim story, Queen Esther, faces a moment of deep fear and moves forward despite it. This story teaches us much about "That which is Hidden", and how to tap into the power of the soul and the body working in cooperation! What are the timeless lessons available to us through understanding the message of the Purim story, and how can we rise to the challenge of our own Esther Moments? Watch here. Hamantaschen Hacks: Creating Sweet & Savory Purim Flavors with Jamie Geller Wednesday, February 24, 10am Join the Virtual JCC to celebrate Purim with the world’s most trusted kosher foodie, Jamie Geller, who will be sharing her favorite Hamantaschen Hacks. From sweet to savory, treat yourself to Jamie’s unique take on traditional Purim-inspired baked-goods and discover delicious recipes you can create for your family. Watch here. As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events!
TODAY: SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 3, 1pm Do you miss traveling and exploring museums? Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home with our Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe series led by your guide, Peter Whitehouse! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. SAJE Presents... Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams with Fred Grieco: Part 4 Wednesday, February 17, 7pm In the final installment in our series on Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams, Fred Grieco will discuss Kander & Ebb, the duo famous for shows like Chicago, Cabaret, and more. If you missed the previous lectures, you can also purchase a recording that you can watch on demand! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. February Book Club Meeting Thursday, February 18, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books Songs for Sweethearts Thursday, February 18, 4pm Tune in from home with your sweetheart to hear Gary Negbaur perform love songs next Thursday! Can't be with your special someone in person this year? You can enjoy this lovely serenade together virtually! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm We are proud to partner with the Tucson JCC to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. Join us for a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. 2nd Annual Black History Performance: "Heroes in Black History: Then and Now" Tuesday, February 23, 5pm Our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center is proud to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. The performance is facilitated by Kayla Hernandez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. "What Do You Stand For?": A Youth Art Exhibit on Social Justice Friday, February 26, 5pm Join us for a virtual youth art exhibit on social justice presented by our JCC Cornerstone at the Richmond Terrace Community Center. The program is facilitated by Marina Alvarez. Tune in and watch the program on Instagram Live here. For more information, contact Mickell Garraway at MGarraway@SIJCC.com. Blacks in Business: A Speed Networking Event for Black-Owned Businesses Friday, February 26, 7:30pm JCC Beacon at I.S. 49 presents a virtual speed networking opportunity for Black-owned businesses! Join us on Zoom: Meeting ID: 93317443589 Password: Parents49 For more information, contact Malkeya Sears at MSears@SIJCC.com. Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Races Now through - February 20 In honor of Healthy Heart Month, we're partnering with our friends from the Richmond Rockets running club to promote fitness while also raising money to continue feeding seniors during the pandemic. Register and run a 5K or 10K at your own pace, outdoors at a local park or indoors on a treadmill. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register for a virtual 5K or 10K here! Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! In Memoriam: Betsy Dubovsky Last week, we lost a true champion for Staten Island non-profits, Betsy Dubovsky. Through her work as Executive Director of the Staten Island Foundation, she helped improve life for so many in our borough. She believed in the power of collective impact and was devoted to assisting non-profits doing work in education, health, arts and culture, and other community services. Under her leadership, the Foundation helped fund many of our programs, focusing on education and literacy, children’s health, and emergency services. At the JCC, we were lucky to not only be the beneficiaries of much of the Staten Island Foundation's work but also to be able to work closely with Betsy on many projects. She was a powerhouse leader and a true force for good in our community. We will miss her and share our condolences with her family and friends. You can read more about her extraordinary life here. Last Chance for Camp Early Bird Prices! Good news! We've extended Early Bird pricing for summer camp until the end of the month! Register today here! ECE Registration Opens February 24 Pre-K For All and 3-K For All registration opens on Wednesday, February 24! Any New York City resident can apply. Our amazing Early Childhood Education staff is dedicated to giving your child the best start! We are licensed by the NYC Bureau of Daycare, follow all COVID protocols, and offer programs at 4 convenient locations across the island. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. Beacon Students Broadway-Bound We are excited to announce that our Beacon program at I.S. 49 has been selected to participate in a citywide creative arts program! The program will showcase students' talents as they re-imagine history through song, musical theater, spoken word, rap, visual arts, and storytelling. They will also compete in a national competition for a trip to see a performance of Broadway's hit show Hamilton when theaters reopen. We are so proud of our students for their hard work and dedication, and we wish them luck in this exciting competition! Celebrating Lunar New Year Our ECE students celebrated Lunar New Year by making lanterns! Vote for Our Grant Proposal! We need your votes to help us get funding for our Career and College Exploration Hub, through a contest by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission! Our Career and College Exploration Hub will help youth navigate the college application process, identify their interests, and build workforce readiness skills. We are excited about this opportunity to help the young people we serve get the support they need to build brighter futures! In order to make our idea a reality, we need your votes! Voting is open to NYC residents ages 9-24. Simply register and vote on our project, "Career and College Exploration Hub," now through February 21 here. The 5 projects with the most votes will receive $20,000 in funding! Sending Love to Nursing Home Residents Last week, you read that students in our Learning Bridges and Cornerstone after school programs were showing nursing home residents some love by making Valentine's Day cards for them. We wanted to update you on their project and let you know that they were able to give 325 handmade cards and crafts to seniors at two local nursing homes! We are so proud of all our students for keeping seniors in their hearts during these difficult times. COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. Adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions are now eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT Strength & Endurance Workout for Seniors & Beginners Try this workout to build strength and endurance! Dumbbells are optional and the instructors demonstrate modifications if you'd prefer to exercise while seated. Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! Core 24 Basketball Academy Winter Programs Sign up for winter basketball programs here! Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
Tickets are $15 per day OR $60 for the entire week and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. Sponsored by Shelly Blackman. Virtual Meet & Greet with a Star from Broadway's Company Sunday, March 7, 1pm 🎶 Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company! 🎶 Join us for a private, virtual meet & greet with a surprise star from Broadway's Company! Hear from a Tony Award-nominated actress about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on Broadway and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about her career! Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Spots are extremely limited, so register today! The program will run about 45 minutes via Zoom. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents: How Krav Maga Helped to Change the Mentality of the Jewish People Wednesday, March 24, 7pm Join us for a fascinating lecture by Steve Lerner on the history and influence of Krav Maga, a self-defense and fighting system developed by the Israeli Defense Forces. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. Staten Island African American Heritage Tour Experience Staten Island’s African American history and discover the many untold stories of Staten Island's rich African American past with this virtual tool created by historian and genealogist Debbie-Ann Paige. Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! Discover the Magic of Music Not sure which instrument is right for your child? We're offering free, virtual presentations and performances on different instruments to help you and your children discover the magic of music! The Magic of Flute Wednesday, February 24, 4pm Join us for a FREE virtual flute presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our resident flute teacher, Nicole Auriti! Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. The Magic of Violin Tuesday, March 9, 6pm Join us for a FREE virtual violin presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our violin faculty member, Larisa Vollis! Zoom information to follow registration. Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord Thursday, February 25, 7pm Join us for a presentation and performance by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, harpsichord artist and Bach specialist, who has received wide acclaim for his interpretation of German Baroque composers. Dr. Eisenberg will delight the audience with beautiful music selections by Bach and highlight the unique qualities of the harpsichord! Dr. Eisenberg has been presented in recitals of Baroque repertoire by Carnegie Hall, performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild roster, and has performed on stages and broadcasting services across the globe. He has also served on the Columbia University and Fordham University music faculties. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has officially re-opened for individual, in-person instrumental lessons! Lessons will take place on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 3pm-7pm. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early. Sign up here! All lessons will follow CDC guidelines. Read more about precautions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff here. We look forward to seeing our musicians in person again soon! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ela Seeley at ESeeley@sijcc.com. Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. Black Musicians of Yesteryear In honor of Black History Month, test your knowledge of trailblazing Black musicians with some trivia questions from the Royal Conservatory. Winter Break Fun with NYC Historic House Museums Historic Richmond Town and other historic house museums across the city are putting together free virtual activities for kids to do during winter break this week. Kids can learn how spies sent secret messages during the Revolutionary War, make and play early American board games, and make crafts! Learn more and register here. Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Thursdays in February Join the JCC Association of North America on Thursdays in February for a series of programs in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Topics include: February 18 - A Dream Never Dreamed: Kalman Samuels Shares a Story of Hope, Courage, and Leadership February 25 - A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home Learn more and register here. Journey of the Soul: Demystifying Death Mondays, February 15 - March 22, 7:30pm Chabad of Staten Island is offering a new course with Rabbi Mendy that examines life's journey. At once practical and powerful, reflective and relatable, Journey of the Soul teaches a Jewish perspective on life that begins before birth and lasts well after a person’s passing. Learn more about the class and register here. Genetic Testing: The Roadmap to Your Health Tuesday, February 23, 8pm Join UJA Healthcare, CommUnity, and UJA Young Leaders for a panel discussion that will explore the evolving field of genetic testing as it relates to identifying “silent” genetic carriers and allowing these carriers to determine appropriate options for family planning and health management. The panelists will discuss risk factors among Jewish populations, Jewish ethics about our obligation to stay healthy, and the bioethics of testing. Register here. Around the World with UJA Young Leaders: Italy Wednesday, February 24, 5:30pm Miss traveling? Get on board with UJA Young Leaders for a virtual mission series exploring some of the best destinations in the world. Take this digital adventure, guided by UJA's overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, to experience the Jewish life and culture of Italy, Greece, and Israel. No passport or mask required! The first trip in this 3-part series takes you to Italy! Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Healing and Hope: A Jewish Community Gathering Marking One Year of Covid Tuesday, March 2, 5pm It’s been one year since COVID-19 changed the landscape of the world as we knew it. We are proud to partner with UJA as the Jewish community gathers at this meaningful moment in time, both to commemorate the collective loss we’ve experienced and to honor our resilience and strength. This 30-minute program will include messages of hope and healing from rabbinic leaders across our community; a memorial tribute led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, UJA’s Pearl and Ira Meyer scholar-in-residence; and music by Neshama Carlebach, international singer and educator, accompanied by singers of all ages from our day schools and community centers. Register here. Ceiling Breakers and History Makers: The Legacy of Jewish Women and Justice Wednesday, March 10, 7pm In celebration and honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, and inspired by the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, join authors Debbie Levy, Elaine Weiss, and Marlene Trestman for a virtual conversation about women who made their passion, profession, and purpose to seek justice and repair the world. Register here. Yonina: See and Hear Jerusalem Like Never Before Sunday, March 14, 11am UJA presents a special music event during Jewish Music Month! Join Yonina, the Israeli-American musical duo famous for their incredible harmonies, as they blend their voices in Jewish, Israeli, and international song with a musical tour of Jerusalem. This live acoustic performance featuring classic covers and original songs, will be complemented by a very special virtual musical journey to ancient Jerusalem filled with interesting facts, personal stories, and lots of anecdotes. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! Navigating the Media: Always Consider the Source Wednesday, February 17, 7:30pm In today’s media maze, it can be challenging to stay abreast of the information reported in a 24-hour news cycle and, more importantly, to understand the reliability of the content. Media literacy, recognizing misinformation/disinformation and fake news, has become more important than ever. Join us for this insightful presentation and discussion with international expert, Emmy Award-winning freelance journalist and Assistant Director at Trusting News, Lynn Walsh and moderator, retired CBS News White House Correspondent, Peter Maer. Watch here. Valley of Tears: Solidarity and Sacrifice Thursday, February 18, 8pm Inspired by true events around the 1973 Arab-Israeli War (the Yom Kippur War), when Israel was caught off guard on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar and feared total destruction, the new hit Israeli TV series, Valley of Tears, reveals the intensity, anxiety and trauma of that fateful war, and how it re-shaped Israel forever. The Virtual JCC will present retired IDF Colonel, Miri Eisin and Valley of Tears star, Lior Ashkenazi, who will share the impact of that war and how the new series has many Israelis revisiting old wounds, as well as educating the younger generation on the leadership failures that led to the surprise attack and the solidarity and sacrifice that allowed Israel to prevail. Valley of Tears is a 10-part series streaming on Hollywood Suite and HBO Max. Watch here. Purim Lessons & Tapping Into the Power of the Hidden with Adrienne Gold Davis Monday, February 22, 9pm The heroine of the Purim story, Queen Esther, faces a moment of deep fear and moves forward despite it. This story teaches us much about "That which is Hidden", and how to tap into the power of the soul and the body working in cooperation! What are the timeless lessons available to us through understanding the message of the Purim story, and how can we rise to the challenge of our own Esther Moments? Watch here. Hamantaschen Hacks: Creating Sweet & Savory Purim Flavors with Jamie Geller Wednesday, February 24, 10am Join the Virtual JCC to celebrate Purim with the world’s most trusted kosher foodie, Jamie Geller, who will be sharing her favorite Hamantaschen Hacks. From sweet to savory, treat yourself to Jamie’s unique take on traditional Purim-inspired baked-goods and discover delicious recipes you can create for your family. Watch here. We would like to wish everyone a safe and restful February break. As you and your family enjoy your time off, please continue to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Should you decide to travel out of the tri-state area for more than 24 hours during this time, we ask that you follow the following NYS guidelines before reentering JCC in-person programs:
You can learn more about the guidelines here. In order to help keep our JCC family safe, please stay home if you are not feeling well, have been exposed, or are living with someone who is experiencing symptoms. Though we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, until the vaccine is readily available, we still need to be vigilant about protecting our community. With your continued cooperation, we can keep each other safe and healthy. Wishing you and your families a happy break! UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - Camp Virtual Open House Sunday, February 14 Join us virtually on Sunday for our second Open House! Meet our camp staff and find out why so many families choose JCC Day Camp year after year! Book your appointment here! Already decided on our camp? You can sign up here now to secure your child's spot with Early Bird pricing! - Core 24 Presidents' Week Clinic February 15 & 16, Bernikow JCC Join us for our Core 24 Presidents' Week Clinic! We have one-day and two-day options for players in pre-school through grade 8. Learn more and register here! You can also sign up for our other winter programs at the link above. - SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 3 Tuesday, February 16, 1pm Do you miss traveling and exploring museums? Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home with our Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe series led by your guide, Peter Whitehouse! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. - SAJE Presents... Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams with Fred Grieco: Part 4 Wednesday, February 17, 7pm In the final installment in our series on Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams, Fred Grieco will discuss Kander & Ebb, the duo famous for shows like Chicago, Cabaret, and more. If you missed the previous lectures, you can also purchase a recording that you can watch on demand! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - February Book Club Meeting Thursday, February 18, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books - Songs for Sweethearts Thursday, February 18, 4pm Tune in from home with your sweetheart to hear Gary Negbaur perform love songs next Thursday! Can't be with your special someone in person this year? You can enjoy this lovely serenade together virtually! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Races Now through - February 20 In honor of Healthy Heart Month, we're partnering with our friends from the Richmond Rockets running club to promote fitness while also raising money to continue feeding seniors during the pandemic. Register and run a 5K or 10K at your own pace, outdoors at a local park or indoors on a treadmill. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register for a virtual 5K or 10K here! - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS Next Week’s Fitness Center & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Slots for February 15 - February 21 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month: Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month! This month, we’ll be highlighting some of the many ways the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island fosters inclusivity and welcomes people of all abilities in our community. At the JCC, we believe that camp is an essential part of the childhood experience, and one that everyone should feel included in, regardless of ability. Our Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs is committed to providing an educational, creative, social, and safe environment for kids and teens with special needs! We are currently accepting registrations for Marvin’s Camp. Learn more about the camp here. To register, contact Laura Irizarry at LIrizarry@sijcc.com. The JCC also offers an inclusion program in its traditional camp for those who would benefit from it. Interview required for inclusion enrollment. - Vote for Our Grant Proposal! We need your votes to help us get funding for our Career and College Exploration Hub, through a contest by the NYC Civic Engagement Commission! Our Career and College Exploration Hub will help youth navigate the college application process, identify their interests, and build workforce readiness skills. We are excited about this opportunity to help the young people we serve get the support they need to build brighter futures! In order to make our idea a reality, we need your votes! Voting is open to NYC residents ages 9-24. Simply register and vote on our project, "Career and College Exploration Hub," now through February 21 here. The 5 projects with the most votes will receive $20,000 in funding! - Sending Love to Nursing Home Residents Students in our Learning Bridges and Cornerstone after school programs are spreading the love this month by making Valentine's Day cards and crafts for seniors in local nursing homes! Many nursing home residents have been experiencing isolation and loneliness due to the pandemic, and this is a special way for students to let them know they are thinking of them. - COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. Beginning February 15, adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions will be eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. - Zoom Updates Throughout these challenging times, Zoom has allowed us to continue to offer amazing programs and connect with our community. To ensure that Zoom is running optimally so you can continue to enjoy our programs, we encourage you to make sure your Zoom app is up-to-date. Follow these simple steps:
COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Canceled: Sunday Virtual Yoga Class Our virtual yoga classes scheduled for Sundays are canceled until further notice. Thank you for understanding. - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - Israeli Folk Dance Workout This Israeli folk dance video from the Israeli Dance Institute is a great way to get moving! - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. - SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm We are proud to partner with the Tucson JCC to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. Join us for a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
Sponsored by Shelly Blackman. - Virtual Meet & Greet with a Star from Broadway's Company Sunday, March 7, 1pm 🎶 Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company! 🎶 Join us for a private, virtual meet & greet with a surprise star from Broadway's Company! Hear from a Tony Award-nominated actress about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on Broadway and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about her career! Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Spots are extremely limited, so register today! The program will run about 45 minutes via Zoom. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Off Broadway in the Boroughs Tune in here on Friday night after 8pm to see an episode of Off Broadway in the Boroughs that was recorded in Staten Island last fall. The performance, recorded outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, features many entertainers, including chorus members from our friends at IlluminArt Productions. - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! - The Magic of Flute Wednesday, February 24, 4pm Not sure which instrument is right for your child? Join us for a FREE virtual flute presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our resident flute teacher, Nicole Auriti! Email Ela Seeley at ESeeley@SIJCC.com to register for this free event. Zoom information to follow registration. - The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord Thursday, February 25, 7pm Join us for a presentation and performance by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, harpsichord artist and Bach specialist, who has received wide acclaim for his interpretation of German Baroque composers. Dr. Eisenberg will delight the audience with beautiful music selections by Bach and highlight the unique qualities of the harpsichord! Dr. Eisenberg has been presented in recitals of Baroque repertoire by Carnegie Hall, performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild roster, and has performed on stages and broadcasting services across the globe. He has also served on the Columbia University and Fordham University music faculties. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has officially re-opened for individual, in-person instrumental lessons! Lessons will take place on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 3pm-7pm. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early. Sign up here! All lessons will follow CDC guidelines. Read more about precautions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff here. We look forward to seeing our musicians in person again soon! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ela Seeley at ESeeley@sijcc.com. - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - Japanese New Year: Taiko Drumming Celebrate Japanese New Year with this video about taiko drumming from the Boston Children's Museum! You'll learn how to make your own bachi drumsticks so that you can play at home! KIDS AND FAMILIES Valentine's Day Cards for St. Jude's Patients Spread some love by sending a virtual Valentine's Day card to a patient at St. Jude's Children Hospital! - Show You Care with Art This Valentine's Day, celebrate love and kindness with your little ones! Check out this guide from PBS Kids that features creative crafts and activities to reflect on friendship, caring, and love with children. CAMP The Weekly Schmooze: 20 Weeks Until Camp! We are just about 20 weeks away from the start of our 2021 summer camp season and we are so excited! After these long winter months indoors, we can't wait to get outside and spend another summer of fun in the sun with good friends, old and new! Register for camp here! Don't miss your last chance for Early Bird prices! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID Supplies and Other Needs Assessment Survey Our partners at the Staten Island Not for Profit Association (SINFPA) and the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) are conducting a survey to assess the COVID-related needs of local nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and other community agencies. Please take a few moments to complete the survey here. - Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School UPCOMING EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Thursdays in February Join the JCC Association of North America on Thursdays in February for a series of programs in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Topics include: TODAY - A Culture of Belonging: Arts, Culture, and Play February 18 - A Dream Never Dreamed: Kalman Samuels Shares a Story of Hope, Courage, and Leadership February 25 - A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home Learn more and register here. TODAY: Encouraging & Supporting Low Income Entrepreneurship on Staten Island: 10am The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) invites you to a virtual policy forum today. This event will explore whether low-income entrepreneurship should be among the strategies city policymakers pursue to help those hardest hit by the pandemic boost incomes and generate wealth. It will discuss what’s needed to support first-time entrepreneurs from low-income communities on Staten Island, and examine how to ensure that more of the Staten Islanders from low-income backgrounds who do turn to entrepreneurship have the tools and resources to succeed. The forum will feature a panel of Staten Island-based entrepreneurs from lower-income backgrounds in conversation with local entrepreneurship experts and city officials. Register here. Journey of the Soul: Demystifying Death Mondays, February 15 - March 22, 7:30pm Chabad of Staten Island is offering a new course with Rabbi Mendy that examines life's journey. At once practical and powerful, reflective and relatable, Journey of the Soul teaches a Jewish perspective on life that begins before birth and lasts well after a person’s passing. Learn more about the class and register here. Genetic Testing: The Roadmap to Your Health Tuesday, February 23, 8pm Join UJA Healthcare, CommUnity, and UJA Young Leaders for a panel discussion that will explore the evolving field of genetic testing as it relates to identifying “silent” genetic carriers and allowing these carriers to determine appropriate options for family planning and health management. The panelists will discuss risk factors among Jewish populations, Jewish ethics about our obligation to stay healthy, and the bioethics of testing. Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Healing and Hope: A Jewish Community Gathering Marking One Year of Covid Tuesday, March 2, 5pm It’s been one year since COVID-19 changed the landscape of the world as we knew it. Join UJA as the Jewish community gathers at this meaningful moment in time, both to commemorate the collective loss we’ve experienced and to honor our resilience and strength. This 30-minute program will include messages of hope and healing from rabbinic leaders across our community; a memorial tribute led by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, UJA’s Pearl and Ira Meyer scholar-in-residence; and music by Neshama Carlebach, international singer and educator, accompanied by singers of all ages from our day schools and community centers. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Enter a contest to win a private Zoom cooking class with Chef Solomonov by filling out this form by January 31! Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! TODAY: The Kabbalah of The Beatles, 7:30pm Rock Historian, Seth Rogovoy, will explore the secret Jewish history of the Beatles with Boston University music professor Jeremy Yudkin, who grew up in North London during the height of Beatlemania. John Lennon once said, “Show business is an extension of the Jewish religion.” While the four members of The Beatles did not themselves have any Jewish lineage, the circle of personal and professional colleagues surrounding them was heavily Jewish, from their manager, Brian Epstein, to filmmaker Richard Lester to their hairdresser, Leslie Cavendish. Watch here. Navigating the Media: Always Consider the Source Wednesday, February 17, 7:30pm In today’s media maze, it can be challenging to stay abreast of the information reported in a 24-hour news cycle and, more importantly, to understand the reliability of the content. Media literacy, recognizing misinformation/disinformation and fake news, has become more important than ever. Join us for this insightful presentation and discussion with international expert, Emmy Award-winning freelance journalist and Assistant Director at Trusting News, Lynn Walsh and moderator, retired CBS News White House Correspondent, Peter Maer. Watch here. We would like to wish everyone a safe and restful February break. As you and your family enjoy your time off, please continue to do your part to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Should you decide to travel out of the tri-state area for more than 24 hours during this time, we ask that you follow the following NYS guidelines before reentering JCC in-person programs:
You can learn more about the guidelines here. In order to help keep our JCC family safe, please stay home if you are not feeling well, have been exposed, or are living with someone who is experiencing symptoms. Though we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, until the vaccine is readily available, we still need to be vigilant about protecting our community. With your continued cooperation, we can keep each other safe and healthy. Wishing you and your families a happy break! UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TODAY: SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 3, 1pm Our virtual museum tours continue today! Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. - TODAY: A Conversation with NYC Community Leaders About Building Trust and Confidence for Older New Yorkers to Get COVID-19 Vaccinated, 2:30pm Join us for a conversation addressing concerns seniors have about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Register here. - SAJE Presents... Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams with Fred Grieco: Part 3 Wednesday, February 10, 7pm Join us for Part 3 in our lecture series on the legendary Jewish composing teams who helped define the Broadway musical! This week, Fred Grieco will discuss the musical-comedy duo Comden and Green. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Songs for Sweethearts Thursday, February 18, 4pm Join singer, pianist, & composer Gary Negbaur for a special virtual celebration & discussion of love songs & stories behind them. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Camp Virtual Open House Sunday, February 14 Join us virtually on Sunday for our second Open House! Meet our camp staff and find out why so many families choose JCC Day Camp year after year! Book your appointment here! Already decided on our camp? You can sign up here now to secure your child's spot with Early Bird pricing! - Core 24 Presidents' Week Clinic February 15 & 16, Bernikow JCC Join us for our Core 24 Presidents' Week Clinic! We have one-day and two-day options for players in pre-school through grade 8. Learn more and register here! You can also sign up for our other winter programs at the link above. - Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Races Now through - February 20 The 'We Love Our Seniors" virtual race kicked off this past weekend! In honor of Healthy Heart Month, we're partnering with our friends from the Richmond Rockets running club to promote fitness while also raising money to continue feeding seniors during the pandemic. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register for a virtual 5K or 10K here! - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS Celebrating Black History Month February is Black History Month! This month, students in our Learning Bridges and Cornerstone after school programs will honor Black History Month by learning about African American icons and celebrating diversity. We'll be sharing some of the special projects they're working on here. To kick off Black History Month, students in our Todt Hill Cornerstone program created a mural featuring African American icons. They also worked on a collage of handprints to show that everyone is welcome at the JCC! Our JCC is committed to celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity in all that we do. - Sunrise Day Camp Virtual Comedy Show We had such a great time at our Virtual Comedy Show last week! More than 60 households tuned in to watch the show and share some laughs. Best of all, you helped us exceed our fundraising goal and raise over $7,000 for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! We are grateful to our donors and attendees, as well as our awesome comedians for entertaining us! We would also like to give a special shout-out to our sponsors for our Virtual Comedy Show: The Von Agency, Jay Chazanoff, North Central Kiwanis Club of Staten Island, David Harris Collection, and the Unity Games! We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for helping to make this event such a success! - COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. Beginning February 15, adult New Yorkers with certain pre-existing conditions will be eligible to receive the vaccine when available. Click here for a list of included conditions. Please be aware that you will need a doctor's note or medical information evidencing the comorbidity. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. - Zoom Updates Throughout these challenging times, Zoom has allowed us to continue to offer amazing programs and connect with our community. To ensure that Zoom is running optimally so you can continue to enjoy our programs, we encourage you to make sure your Zoom app is up-to-date. Follow these simple steps:
COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Canceled: Sunday Virtual Yoga Class Our virtual yoga classes scheduled for Sundays are canceled until further notice. Thank you for understanding. - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - Healthy Heart Chair Exercises It's Healthy Heart Month! Try out this gentle chair workout that combines cardio, strength training, and stretching. - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Re-Certification Courses Complete your re-certification for Lifeguard Training without needing to take the full content course again. Sign up here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - February Book Club Meeting Thursday, February 18, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books - SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. - SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm We are proud to partner with the Tucson JCC to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. Join us for a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
- Virtual Meet & Greet with a Star from Broadway's Company Sunday, March 7, 1pm 🎶 Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company! 🎶 Join us for a private, virtual meet & greet with a surprise star from Broadway's Company! Hear from a Tony Award-nominated actress about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on Broadway and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about her career! Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. Spots are extremely limited, so register today! The program will run about 45 minutes via Zoom. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Native Dish In this series from NYC Media, New York City immigrants from around the world share their favorite cuisines from home. In this episode, a member of the Bukharian Jewish community in Queens shares his family's ancient recipe for bakhsh, a rice dish. - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! - The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord Thursday, February 25, 7pm Join us for a presentation and performance by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, harpsichord artist and Bach specialist, who has received wide acclaim for his interpretation of German Baroque composers. Dr. Eisenberg will delight the audience with beautiful music selections by Bach and highlight the unique qualities of the harpsichord! Dr. Eisenberg has been presented in recitals of Baroque repertoire by Carnegie Hall, performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild roster, and has performed on stages and broadcasting services across the globe. He has also served on the Columbia University and Fordham University music faculties. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has officially re-opened for individual, in-person instrumental lessons! Lessons will take place on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 3pm-7pm. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early. Sign up here! All lessons will follow CDC guidelines. Read more about precautions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff here. We look forward to seeing our musicians in person again soon! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ela Seeley at ESeeley@sijcc.com. - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - What's in My Case? In the latest installment of a series from the NY Philharmonic, Associate Principal Oboe Sherry Sylar shows what's in her oboe case and demonstrates how she makes her own reeds. KIDS AND FAMILIES Valentine's Day Cards for St. Jude's Patients Spread some love by sending a virtual Valentine's Day card to a patient at St. Jude's Children Hospital! CAMP Marvin's Camp Many of you have been asking so we wanted to update you on Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs. We plan on running the full 7 weeks of Marvin's Camp this summer, starting on July 6! Contact Laura at LIrizarry@sijcc.com to apply. We are awaiting further guidance from the NYC Department of Health and the CDC, in regards to offering transportation options and going on trips. While registration is open for Marvin’s On The Road Everyday (MORE), we cannot fully guarantee that we will be permitted to operate that division. We will pass along any information as we receive it. SOCIAL SERVICES Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! JCCA Honors Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) Thursdays in February Join the JCC Association of North America on Thursdays in February for a series of programs in honor of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Topics include: February 11 - A Culture of Belonging: Arts, Culture, and Play February 18 - A Dream Never Dreamed: Kalman Samuels Shares a Story of Hope, Courage, and Leadership February 25 - A Culture of Belonging: At the JCC, at Camp, and at Home Learn more and register here. The Israel Summit Now through February 11 The Israel Summit is an international movement dedicated to fostering an important dialogue on the State of Israel. The summit is virtual this year, so you'll have a chance to hear from all of the amazing speakers! Register here. TODAY: Life, Love, and Loss with Rabbi Steve Leder, 1pm Join UJA for a conversation between Rabbi Steve Leder and Abigail Pogrebin and discover a new way to think about loss, how we can learn from it, and how it can make our lives more meaningful--even beautiful. As the head of one of the world’s largest synagogues and a rabbi who presided at more than a thousand funerals, Rabbi Leder thought he knew how to cope with death--until his own father passed away. This life-altering experience inspired him to write his newest book, The Beauty of What Remains. Register here. TODAY: Witness Project Kickoff: A Conversation with Father Patrick Desbois, Holocaust Investigator, 8pm Join UJA at the 2021 Witness Project Kickoff for a conversation with Father Patrick Desbois. Father Patrick Desbois has led a historic undertaking to uncover the location of more than 2,900 killing sites and has documented more than 7,000 witness testimonies to the war crimes of the Nazi death squads. To get a deeper understanding of this work, take a look at this video. You’ll also learn more about how UJA is serving survivors by securing their comfort, dignity, and independence during these challenging times and how you can help support Witness Project. Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb. 10 and Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Enter a contest to win a private Zoom cooking class with Chef Solomonov by filling out this form by January 31! Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! The Kabbalah of The Beatles Thursday, February 11, 7:30pm Rock Historian, Seth Rogovoy, will explore the secret Jewish history of the Beatles with Boston University music professor Jeremy Yudkin, who grew up in North London during the height of Beatlemania. John Lennon once said, “Show business is an extension of the Jewish religion.” While the four members of The Beatles did not themselves have any Jewish lineage, the circle of personal and professional colleagues surrounding them was heavily Jewish, from their manager, Brian Epstein, to filmmaker Richard Lester to their hairdresser, Leslie Cavendish. Watch here. Navigating the Media: Always Consider the Source Wednesday, February 17, 7:30pm In today’s media maze, it can be challenging to stay abreast of the information reported in a 24-hour news cycle and, more importantly, to understand the reliability of the content. Media literacy, recognizing misinformation/disinformation and fake news, has become more important than ever. Join us for this insightful presentation and discussion with international expert, Emmy Award-winning freelance journalist and Assistant Director at Trusting News, Lynn Walsh and moderator, retired CBS News White House Correspondent, Peter Maer. Watch here. UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TODAY: Sunrise Day Camp: Virtual Comedy Show Fundraiser, 7pm Don't miss our Virtual Comedy Show in support of Sunrise Day Camp! Enjoy a night of laughs wherever you are with stand-up comedians Dean Edwards, Joe DeVito, Regina DeCicco, and Richie Redding. By attending our virtual event, you'll be helping us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings from Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! Get your tickets here! - Eat This, Not That Friday, February 5, 1pm In this class, our wonderful nutritionist from the ShopRite supermarkets, Samantha Telle, will be discussing food choices for snacking, cooking, and dining. This informative class will help you make the right decisions nutritionally and economically. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 919 3036 1581 Passcode: CLLDSP - Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Races February 6 - February 20 The 'We Love Our Seniors" virtual race kicks off this weekend! In honor of Healthy Heart Month, we're partnering with our friends from the Richmond Rockets running club to promote fitness while also raising money to continue feeding seniors during the pandemic. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register for a virtual 5K or 10K here! - SAJE Presents... Jewish Film Series with Dr. Julia Wagner: Part 5 Sunday, February 7, 12pm Our amazing online course on Jewish cinema concludes on Sunday with Part 5, I'll Have What She’s Having: Trailblazers & Comediennes, focusing on Jewish women in film. If you missed any of the previous lectures and would like to catch up, you can also purchase access to recordings you can watch on demand below! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $50 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - Music Making for Families featuring Music With Patrick Mondays, 5pm Join us for a NEW series for families featuring Music with Patrick! Mr. Patrick--along with his guitar and his silly puppet friends-- will lead a fun-filled, family-friendly performance that will have you singing, laughing, clapping and dancing around the room. Check out a clip from our demo session here! Tickets are $10 per class or $35 for all 4 weeks! Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse: Part 2 Tuesday, February 9, 1pm Our virtual museum tours continue on Tuesday! Don't miss your chance to see the wonders of Europe from home! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. - A Conversation with NYC Community Leaders About Building Trust and Confidence for Older New Yorkers to Get COVID-19 Vaccinated Tuesday, February 9, 2:30pm Join us for a conversation addressing concerns seniors have about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Register here. - The Magic of Flute Wednesday, February 10, 4pm Not sure which instrument is right for your child? Join us for a virtual flute presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our resident flute teacher, Nicole Auriti! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS Next Week’s Fitness Center & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Slots for February 8 - February 14 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month: Day Hab February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month! This month, we’ll be highlighting some of the many ways the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island fosters inclusivity and welcomes people of all abilities in our community. Our Day Habilitation Without Walls program engages young adults with disabilities in opportunities to be healthy, social, and active members of the community with a maximum degree of independence. Day Hab fosters a spirit of community inclusion with fun trips, music classes, volunteer opportunities, and more! This week, Day Hab participants enjoyed a virtual cooking class, where they learned how to make cinnamon sugar muffins! - COVID-19 Vaccines We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. Currently, there are no new first dose appointments in NYC available due to low supply. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments once the next set of vaccine doses are available. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. - Zoom Updates Throughout these challenging times, Zoom has allowed us to continue to offer amazing programs and connect with our community. To ensure that Zoom is running optimally so you can continue to enjoy our programs, we encourage you to make sure your Zoom app is up-to-date. Follow these simple steps:
COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Virtual Yoga Class Sundays, 11am-12:15pm Join us for a new virtual yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! The class will meet weekly on Zoom and will include deep relaxation, breathing exercises, and meditation along with the physical practice of yoga. In addition to a yoga mat, we recommend that you also have 2 blankets, a pillow, a strap, and a yoga block or thick book. Join us on Zoom here! - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - Beatles Power Walk Power walk your way across Abbey Road with this fun dance workout set to hits by the Beatles! - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Core 24 Winter Programs Sign up for Core 24 Basketball Academy February programs here! We offer classes and lessons for players in all grades, as well as our NEW Core 24 Sports Mentoring Program for children who are new to sports. - Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Certification Courses Want to learn skills that will help you save lives? Become a certified lifeguard! We have lifeguard certification courses, as well as re-certification courses, starting soon! Learn more here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - SAJE Presents... Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams with Fred Grieco: Part 3 Wednesday, February 10, 7pm Join us for Part 3 in our lecture series on the legendary Jewish composing teams who helped define the Broadway musical! This week, Fred Grieco will discuss the musical-comedy duo Comden and Green. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - February Book Club Meeting Thursday, February 18, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books - SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. - SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm We are proud to partner with the Tucson JCC to present a special performance in honor of Black History Month. Join us for a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
- SAJE Presents... Miami Art Deco Virtual Walking Tour with Ronnit Vasserman Wednesday, March 10, 4:30pm Can you imagine Miami Beach without its Art Deco buildings? Thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, Miami remains home to the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture. Join us for a virtual walking tour where we'll explore iconic buildings like the Colony Theater, The Fillmore, The Cadillac, and more... No flights necessary! Along the way, you'll learn about key features and architects in the Art Deco movement, the decline of Miami tourism, and the people responsible for saving these architectural gems from the wrecking ball. Presented in partnership with JCC Tenafly. Tickets are $16 for JCC members and $20 for non-members. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Music Month Online March is Jewish Music Month! Join us virtually for 2 wonderful programs sponsored by Hillel at CSI! SAJE Presents... Musical Intersections in Muslim & Jewish Cultures Thursday, March 11, 7pm Dr. Samuel Torjman Thomas will explore the role of music in fostering Judeo-Muslim approaches to ritual practice, philosophical & theological thought, & aesthetics in this special virtual performance! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Klezmer for the 21st Century Tuesday, March 16, 7pm March is Jewish Music Month! Celebrate with a live, interactive performance and Q&A by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo! The San Francisco Yiddish Combo performs a unique brand of Klezmer music, infused with the musicians' backgrounds in jazz, blues, folk, and hip-hop music. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents: Jewish Genealogy Workshop Monday, March 15, 12pm-1:30pm Join Rabbi Scott Kalmikoff for a virtual workshop on genealogy! Rabbi Kalmikoff will discuss the tools you can use to discover your family's history and learn more about who you are. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Making the Met Check out this digital exhibition, Making the Met, which celebrates 150 years of the Metropolitan Museum of Art! - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC Songs for Sweethearts Thursday, February 11, 4pm Join singer, pianist, & composer Gary Negbaur for a special virtual celebration & discussion of love songs & stories behind them. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Golden Age of Movie Musicals Part II: From Stage to Screen Wednesday, February 24, 1pm We are excited to have Sam and Candy Caponegro back with us for another lecture on movie musicals! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! - The Unusual Glamour of the Harpsichord Thursday, February 25, 7pm Join us for a presentation and performance by Dr. Michael Eisenberg, harpsichord artist and Bach specialist, who has received wide acclaim for his interpretation of German Baroque composers. Dr. Eisenberg will delight the audience with beautiful music selections by Bach and highlight the unique qualities of the harpsichord! Dr. Eisenberg has been presented in recitals of Baroque repertoire by Carnegie Hall, performed as a member of the Metropolitan Opera Guild roster, and has performed on stages and broadcasting services across the globe. He has also served on the Columbia University and Fordham University music faculties. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has officially re-opened for individual, in-person instrumental lessons! Lessons will take place on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 3pm-7pm. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early. Sign up here! All lessons will follow CDC guidelines. Read more about precautions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff here. We look forward to seeing our musicians in person again soon! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ela Seeley at ESeeley@sijcc.com. - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - TED Talks: The Evolution of Music Take a journey through time, sound, and rhythm with this selection of TED Talks on the evolution of music. Topics include music and architecture, emotion, sampling, and vinyl records. KIDS AND FAMILIES Winter Wonderland Terrarium Get inspired by the winter wonderland outside and create a small terrarium using an empty glass jar, found objects, and art supplies! Follow the instructions here so you can enjoy the beauty of winter all year long! - IlluminArt Theatre Club Our friends at IlluminArt Productions are offering virtual after school theatre classes! Learn more here. CAMP Summer Camp Dreaming To escape from the winter storm this week, we were daydreaming about sunny summer camp days! We asked campers to tell us what they miss most about camp. Head over to our Instagram page and check out our story highlights to see what they said! Are you missing camp as much as we are on these cold winter days? Register now for summer 2021 and get Early Bird prices... June 28 will be here before you know it! If you missed our first Open House, don't worry! Our next Virtual Open House will take place on Sunday, February 14 by appointment. Email Glenn Wechsler at GWechsler@SIJCC.com for more information. - Marvin's Camp Many of you have been asking so we wanted to update you on Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs. We plan on running the full 7 weeks of Marvin's Camp this summer, starting on July 6! Contact Laura at LIrizarry@sijcc.com to apply. We are awaiting further guidance from the NYC Department of Health and the CDC, in regards to offering transportation options and going on trips. While registration is open for Marvin’s On The Road Everyday (MORE), we cannot fully guarantee that we will be permitted to operate that division. We will pass along any information as we receive it. SOCIAL SERVICES Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus through March 5. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! How to Raise an Anti-Racist Child Sunday, February 7, 11am & Wednesday, February 10, 8pm Join UJA Westchester Young Families and UJA grantee Repair the World for a two-part workshop designed to guide parents in proactively raising children to understand racism and discrimination, modeling kindness and tolerance, and helping our children be a force for anti-racist change in the world. Sunday's family event will allow families to engage in an interactive program and lay the groundwork for promoting racial equity and inclusion. Wednesday's follow-up session for parents will provide tools and insight on how to talk to your kids about racial justice and provide support as we learn how to navigate these issues and difficult conversations. Register here. Life, Love, and Loss with Rabbi Steve Leder Tuesday, February 9, 1pm Join UJA for a conversation between Rabbi Steve Leder and Abigail Pogrebin and discover a new way to think about loss, how we can learn from it, and how it can make our lives more meaningful--even beautiful. As the head of one of the world’s largest synagogues and a rabbi who presided at more than a thousand funerals, Rabbi Leder thought he knew how to cope with death--until his own father passed away. This life-altering experience inspired him to write his newest book, The Beauty of What Remains. Register here. Witness Project Kickoff: A Conversation with Father Patrick Desbois, Holocaust Investigator Tuesday, February 9, 8pm Join UJA at the 2021 Witness Project Kickoff for a conversation with Father Patrick Desbois. Father Patrick Desbois has led a historic undertaking to uncover the location of more than 2,900 killing sites and has documented more than 7,000 witness testimonies to the war crimes of the Nazi death squads. To get a deeper understanding of this work, take a look at this video. You’ll also learn more about how UJA is serving survivors by securing their comfort, dignity, and independence during these challenging times and how you can help support Witness Project. Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb. 10 and Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. The Artist as Holocaust Heroine: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis Wednesday, February 24, 1pm Join the Wagner Holocaust Center for a presentation by Elena Makarova, a freelance writer, educator, historian, and exhibit curator who specializes in Jewish spiritual resistance in the Terezin (Theresienstadt) concentration camp, particularly through art. Ms. Markova will talk about Dicker-Brandeis' exceptional work as a teacher and her impact on modern art therapy. This event will be moderated by Professor Lori R. Weintrob, who will discuss how Dicker-Brandeis' political commitments informed her educational vision. Register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Enter a contest to win a private Zoom cooking class with Chef Solomonov by filling out this form by January 31! Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! TODAY: The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan, 7:30pm Seth Rogovoy, termed “American Jewry’s greatest Dylan scholar” by Religion News Service and the author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet,” will explore Bob Dylan's profound connections to his Jewish roots in life and song. Dylan grew up in a Yiddish-speaking home in a family that was at the nexus of his hometown's Jewish community. Watch here. The Kabbalah of The Beatles Thursday, February 11, 7:30pm Rock Historian, Seth Rogovoy, will explore the secret Jewish history of the Beatles with Boston University music professor Jeremy Yudkin, who grew up in North London during the height of Beatlemania. John Lennon once said, “Show business is an extension of the Jewish religion.” While the four members of The Beatles did not themselves have any Jewish lineage, the circle of personal and professional colleagues surrounding them was heavily Jewish, from their manager, Brian Epstein, to filmmaker Richard Lester to their hairdresser, Leslie Cavendish. Watch here. Navigating the Media: Always Consider the Source Wednesday, February 17, 7:30pm In today’s media maze, it can be challenging to stay abreast of the information reported in a 24-hour news cycle and, more importantly, to understand the reliability of the content. Media literacy, recognizing misinformation/disinformation and fake news, has become more important than ever. Join us for this insightful presentation and discussion with international expert, Emmy Award-winning freelance journalist and Assistant Director at Trusting News, Lynn Walsh and moderator, retired CBS News White House Correspondent, Peter Maer. Watch here. UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TODAY: SAJE Presents... Mesmerizing Moments at the Museums of Europe with Peter Whitehouse, 1pm Tuesday, February 2, 1pm Join us on Tuesdays at 1pm to journey across Europe without ever leaving the comfort of your home & see the treasures on display at some of the world's greatest museums! We'll be exploring museums including the Hermitage, the Louvre, the Prado, Museo di Capodimonte, Kunsthistorisches, Musee des Beaux-Arts, and more! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $60 for the 6-part series and can be purchased here. Zoom link will follow your registration. - SAJE Presents... Broadway's Great Jewish Composing Teams with Fred Grieco: Part 2 Wednesday, February 3, 7pm Join us for a lecture series on the legendary Jewish composing teams who helped define the Broadway musical! This week, we're excited to have Broadway historian and author John Kenrick with us to discuss Lerner & Loewe. Upcoming lectures will focus on Comden & Green, and Kander & Ebb. Don't miss it! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. If you miss a lecture, your ticket includes access to a recording you can watch at any time! Purchase tickets here. - Sunrise Day Camp: Virtual Comedy Show Fundraiser Thursday, February 4, 7pm Don't miss our Virtual Comedy Show in support of Sunrise Day Camp on Thursday! Enjoy a night of laughs wherever you are with stand-up comedians Dean Edwards, Joe DeVito, Regina DeCicco, and Richie Redding. By attending our virtual event, you'll be helping us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings from Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! Get your tickets here! - SAJE Presents... Jewish Film Series with Dr. Julia Wagner: Part 5 Sunday, February 7, 12pm Our amazing online course on Jewish cinema concludes on Sunday with Part 5, I'll Have What She’s Having: Trailblazers & Comediennes, focusing on Jewish women in film. If you missed any of the previous lectures and would like to catch up, you can also purchase access to recordings you can watch on demand below! Tickets are $12 per lecture or $50 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. Purchase tickets here. - Music Making for Families featuring Music With Patrick Mondays, 5pm Join us for a NEW series for families featuring Music with Patrick! Mr. Patrick--along with his guitar and his silly puppet friends-- will lead a fun-filled, family-friendly performance that will have you singing, laughing, clapping and dancing around the room. Check out a clip from our demo session here! Tickets are $10 per class or $35 for all 4 weeks! Register here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Richmond Rockets 'We Love Our Seniors' Virtual Races February 6 - February 20 Check out this SILive feature on the upcoming "We Love Our Seniors" virtual race! In honor of Healthy Heart Month, we're partnering with our friends from the Richmond Rockets running club to promote fitness while also raising money to continue feeding seniors during the pandemic. Your registration fee will provide 3 healthy, pre-packaged meals to seniors in need! Register for a virtual 5K or 10K here! - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS COVID-19 Vaccines A few of our JCC staff members who do essential work or are over 65 were able to get vaccines at Richmond University Medical Center last week. They took this picture together in front of a picture of our beloved late board member, Allan Weissglass, who was instrumental in connecting us to RUMC. We are grateful to RUMC and to our essential staff members, who are protecting themselves and others by getting vaccinated! We know getting appointments for the vaccine has been very difficult for many. We have been getting hundreds of requests for help finding vaccine appointments. Currently, there are no new first dose appointments in NYC available due to low supply. We will continue to work with our partners in government to help eligible people find appointments once the next set of vaccine doses are available. Click here to sign up here to be notified of new pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics. We will let you know about clinics as we hear of them. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, you can also fill out this screener. - Recap: The Golden Age of Movie Musicals Last week, we hosted a virtual lecture on the Golden Age of Movie Musicals with musical enthusiasts Sam and Candy Caponegro! Our participants loved watching selections from these classic films and enjoyed the insights from the lecturers' commentary. We are so excited to have Sam and Candy back with us for another lecture on February 24! This time, they'll be discussing scenes from musicals that originated on Broadway before being adapted for the silver screen in the 1950s, including Oklahoma!, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, to name a few! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a ticket to view a recording of it on demand! - We Choose the JCC! Last week, students in our Early Childhood Education Center celebrated National School Choice Week by showing their school spirit! - Seniors in Need We are sad to report that our Grab-and-Go meal distribution program is paused indefinitely due to a lack of funding. If you would like to help us resume our program and continue to feed vulnerable seniors in our community, you can donate here. - Zoom Updates Throughout these challenging times, Zoom has allowed us to continue to offer amazing programs and connect with our community. To ensure that Zoom is running optimally so you can continue to enjoy our programs, we encourage you to make sure your Zoom app is up-to-date. Follow these simple steps:
COVID Testing Sites Find out where you can get tested here. You can also view estimated wait times at various testing sites here. WELLNESS Eat This, Not That Friday, February 5, 1pm In this class, our wonderful nutritionist from the ShopRite supermarkets, Samantha Telle, will be discussing food choices for snacking, cooking, and dining. This informative class will help you make the right decisions nutritionally and economically. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 919 3036 1581 Passcode: CLLDSP - A Conversation with NYC Community Leaders About Building Trust and Confidence for Older New Yorkers to Get COVID-19 Vaccinated Tuesday, February 9, 2:30pm Join us for a conversation addressing concerns seniors have about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Register here. - Virtual Tai Chi Classes Join us for virtual Tai Chi classes with Lisa! These classes include exercises to improve your balance, breathing, and flexibility to offer you fun and enjoyment while learning Tai Chi forms. We offer weekly sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. Zoom information for each session is as follows. Mondays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 1 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 926 0178 9469 Passcode: CLLDFIT Wednesdays, 11am: Evidence Based Tai Chi for Arthritis 2 Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 965 8552 4160 Passcode: CLLDFIT - Virtual Yoga Class Sundays, 11am-12:15pm Join us for a new virtual yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! The class will meet weekly on Zoom and will include deep relaxation, breathing exercises, and meditation along with the physical practice of yoga. In addition to a yoga mat, we recommend that you also have 2 blankets, a pillow, a strap, and a yoga block or thick book. Join us on Zoom here! - Virtual Chair Yoga Classes Fridays, 10am We are excited to bring you a new virtual chair yoga class, open to all JCC and CLLD members! Chair yoga is a gentle, relaxing practice that can help you improve your core strength and balance. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 951 7046 6404 Password: CLLDFIT - Barre-Inspired Chair Workout Try this full-body chair workout inspired by the toning benefits of barre! It's perfect for beginners and seniors, or anyone looking to change up their workout routine! - Ongoing Classes & At-Home Workouts Check out our virtual classes, open to all CLLD and JCC members! These low-impact classes will help you get moving and stay fit at home! Check out our website for a full schedule of all our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Winter Tennis Session Registration is open for the February tennis session! Sign up here! - Core 24 Winter Programs Sign up for Core 24 Basketball Academy February programs here! We offer classes and lessons for players in all grades, as well as our NEW Core 24 Sports Mentoring Program for children who are new to sports. - Winter Gymnastics Session Register for our winter gymnastics session here! For more information, please contact Mary Fontana at 917.975.5347 or mfontana@sijcc.com. AQUATICS Lifeguard Certification Courses Want to learn skills that will help you save lives? Become a certified lifeguard! We have lifeguard certification courses, as well as re-certification courses, starting soon! Learn more here. ARTS AND CULTURE Did you know? If you miss one of our amazing virtual seminars, you can still purchase a ticket to watch it on demand! Tickets for past and upcoming virtual programs are available here! - February Book Club Meeting Thursday, February 18, 12:30pm Join us at our next virtual Book Club meeting! We will be reading the 2020 National Book Award-winning novel Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We hope to see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 811 5243 2048 Password: books - SAJE Presents... Our Man in Damascus: A Presentation by Abraham Cohen, Brother of Eli Cohen Sunday, February 21, 11am Abraham Cohen will give insight into the life and times of his brother, Eli, who lived in the areas of Egypt, Israel, and Syria. His important contributions and sacrifices led to Israel's security in the promised homeland. His work played a key role in Israel's victory in the Six-Day War. Register here. Zoom Meeting ID: 934 3937 3699 Passcode: JCCSPY Sponsored by: Global Gold & Silver: Sell Gold, Silver, Diamonds in NYC & NJ, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, Susan & Jack Bender, and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island. Donations are suggested. Please support Cultural Arts at the JCC. - SAJE Presents... Amplifying Voices Series: Ritual Intersections in the Music Studio Sunday, February 21, 6pm Tune in to a musical Freedom Seder featuring the Afro-Semantic Experience in celebration of what unites the Jewish, Black, and Jewish-Black communities. Presented in partnership with the Tucson JCC. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Biblical Bus Tour of Israel: A NEW Virtual Experience! February 22 - February 26, 10:30am Join us for a weeklong virtual bus tour, where you'll discover ancient biblical sites with tour guide & explorer Dani Margolis of Dani Eco Tours! During our bus tour, we'll be "visiting" the following sites:
- American Masters Interviews Over the last 34 years, the PBS American Masters series has shed light on the lives and legacies of cultural icons. Did you know that 96% of the interview footage recorded for the series is never used? Now, you can check out the American Masters digital archive, featuring hundreds of never-before-seen interviews with beloved stars and influential cultural figures! You can search the archive by episode here to see all the interviews filmed on each subject. - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC The Magic of Flute Wednesday, February 10, 4pm Not sure which instrument is right for your child? Join us for a virtual flute presentation, performance, and Q&A featuring our resident flute teacher, Nicole Auriti! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Songs for Sweethearts Thursday, February 11, 4pm Join singer, pianist, & composer Gary Negbaur for a special virtual celebration & discussion of love songs & stories behind them. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Music Institute Open for In-Person Lessons The Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute has officially re-opened for individual, in-person instrumental lessons! Lessons will take place on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 3pm-7pm. Spaces are limited, so make sure to register early. Sign up here! All lessons will follow CDC guidelines. Read more about precautions we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff here. We look forward to seeing our musicians in person again soon! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ela Seeley at ESeeley@sijcc.com. - Scholarship Opportunities We have several scholarship opportunities available for deserving music students! Partial scholarships are open to students entering grades 5-12 who have some prior training on their instrument. Our Harmony Club scholarship program is open to highly motivated students in grades 9-12. “Harmony Club” students will take free private lessons and ensemble classes. Students will also participate in master classes, and solo and group recitals. This program is made possible through a grant from UJA-Federation of New York. To apply for scholarship programs, please email a 1-2 minute performance audition video to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@SIJCC.com. Learn more about the programs here. - The Art of Interpretation: Debussy and Stravinsky The husband and wife duo piano team of Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung perform and discuss Stravinsky and Debussy pieces written for piano, four hands. Watch here. KIDS AND FAMILIES Happy Groundhog Day! Will the groundhog see his shadow? Try out these 5 fun STEM activities to celebrate and learn about Groundhog Day with kids! Check out the Staten Island Zoo's Facebook page to find out what Staten Island Chuck predicts! - IlluminArt Theatre Club Our friends at IlluminArt Productions are offering virtual after school theatre classes! Learn more here. CAMP Don't Let Summer Be a Bummer! The 2021 summer camp season begins on June 28! Last summer, we demonstrated that we could give kids a fun and unforgettable summer camp experience while also keeping our campers and staff members safe. We can't wait for another summer full of adventure! Register today for Early Bird Pricing here! If you missed our first Open House, don't worry! Our next Virtual Open House will take place on Sunday, February 14 by appointment. Email Glenn Wechsler at GWechsler@SIJCC.com for more information. - Marvin's Camp Many of you have been asking so we wanted to update you on Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs. We plan on running the full 7 weeks of Marvin's Camp this summer, starting on July 6! Contact Laura at LIrizarry@sijcc.com to apply. We are awaiting further guidance from the NYC Department of Health and the CDC, in regards to offering transportation options and going on trips. While registration is open for Marvin’s On The Road Everyday (MORE), we cannot fully guarantee that we will be permitted to operate that division. We will pass along any information as we receive it. SOCIAL SERVICES Connect to Recovery Check out this great SILive feature on Connect to Recovery! Connect to Recovery is our one-stop shop for all of resources you need to help you through these difficult times. For more information about Connect to Recovery services, contact Carolyn at COVID19@sijcc.com or 718.475.5264. - Office of the New York City Comptroller Summer Internship Program The Office of the New York City Comptroller will accept undergraduate and graduate student applications for 2021 summer internships for its various bureaus from January 7 - March 5, 2021. Interns participate in hands-on departmental projects as well as an enrichment program that includes networking opportunities, professional development programming, and community service activities. Learn more and apply here. - Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Internship The Wiesenthal Government Advocacy Program is accepting applications for its 2021 class. This internship program will expose students to public policy, legislation, and advocacy to combat anti-Semitism, fight bigotry and stereotyping, and ensure proper legal and de-facto treatment of minority communities. Learn more and apply here. - COVID-19 Bereavement Support Group New group forming soon UJA-Federation of New York’s Partners in Caring presents a virtual Covid-19 bereavement support group for family caregivers. Please contact Karen Factor at KFactor@sijcc.com or 718.508.3884 to register. - Free ESL and HSE Classes If you need assistance with the English Language, you should take advantage of this FREE Program on Staten Island! We offer online morning and night classes, and our staff is always here to help get you where you need to be! Come and join us for a great opportunity to advance your language skills! If you have any questions, please call us at 718.508.3885 If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, you can join our online program for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 Or email us at hcirnigliaro@sijcc.com for more information *Students must be 18 years old or older, and no longer enrolled in High School COMMUNITY EVENTS If you're interested in listing your community event or advertising in J at Home, please contact Allison Cohen at ACohen@sijcc.com. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (Feb. 10 and Feb 24, March 10 and March 24, and April 7) The Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center at the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hill Long Island invites cancer survivors to a free virtual series! The series, which features oncology dieticians, focuses on healthy habits--including healthy eating, stretching, and meditation--that cancer survivors can easily incorporate into their lives at any point through their continuum of care. Register here. The Clint Edwards Show Wednesday, February 3, 7pm JCC Rockland invites you to an evening of light classical, jazz, and Broadway music with composer and pianist Clint Edwards. Register here. Clean Energy Academy: Free Training Monday, February 22 - Saturday, March 20 This is a FREE energy efficiency technical training, combined with an online Dynamic Learning Management System delivery method. The program focuses on energy efficiency outreach, education and implementation assistance initiatives for small commercial properties. The 60 hours of free training will cover building Thermal Systems in depth with five key areas of focus: Green Economy; Building Envelope; Domestic Hot Water Systems; Heating Systems; and Energy System Modeling. Learn more and register here. Bringing Israel Home with Chef Michael Solomonov Wednesdays, through April 28, 8pm We are excited to partner with the JCC Association of North America to present a free digital culinary series with Chef Michael Solomonov. Each week, Chef Solomonov will chat with prominent Israelis and bring a taste of Israeli food culture into your homes! Participants can view recipes viewers in advance through Jewish Food Society, here. Enter a contest to win a private Zoom cooking class with Chef Solomonov by filling out this form by January 31! Watch Bringing Israel Home here. Follow the show on Instagram here. Virtual JCC with the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC During these challenging times, the entire JCC community across North America has come together to share unique, engaging content with members. You can make a free Virtual JCC account to access a variety of live, virtual events. We'll be sure to keep sharing our favorites with you! Check it out here! The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan Thursday, February 4, 7:30pm Seth Rogovoy, termed “American Jewry’s greatest Dylan scholar” by Religion News Service and the author of “Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet,” will explore Bob Dylan's profound connections to his Jewish roots in life and song. Dylan grew up in a Yiddish-speaking home in a family that was at the nexus of his hometown's Jewish community. Watch here. The Kabbalah of The Beatles Thursday, February 11, 7:30pm Rock Historian, Seth Rogovoy, will explore the secret Jewish history of the Beatles with Boston University music professor Jeremy Yudkin, who grew up in North London during the height of Beatlemania. John Lennon once said, “Show business is an extension of the Jewish religion.” While the four members of The Beatles did not themselves have any Jewish lineage, the circle of personal and professional colleagues surrounding them was heavily Jewish, from their manager, Brian Epstein, to filmmaker Richard Lester to their hairdresser, Leslie Cavendish. Watch here. Navigating the Media: Always Consider the Source Wednesday, February 17, 7:30pm In today’s media maze, it can be challenging to stay abreast of the information reported in a 24-hour news cycle and, more importantly, to understand the reliability of the content. Media literacy, recognizing misinformation/disinformation and fake news, has become more important than ever. Join us for this insightful presentation and discussion with international expert, Emmy Award-winning freelance journalist and Assistant Director at Trusting News, Lynn Walsh and moderator, retired CBS News White House Correspondent, Peter Maer. Watch here. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2021
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LocationSBERNIKOW/MID-ISLAND
1466 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5200 ABERLIN/NORTH SHORE
485 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10301 718.475.5290 |
AVIS/SOUTH SHORE
1297 Arthur Kill Road Staten Island, NY 10312 718.475.5270 BERMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
2221 Richmond Ave. Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5100 |
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