This email blast is sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care.
UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TONIGHT: ENT Town Hall, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on ENT conditions and allergies, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Christopher Lisi of RUMC will discuss:
Meeting ID: 925 6331 5522 Passcode: CLLDSP - UJA's Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am In tough times, community is everything. Join UJA for their annual breakfast celebrating the Staten Island community and the people who exemplify strong leadership. UJA CEO Eric S. Goldstein will be in conversation with the JCC’s own CEO Orit Lender to talk about UJA’s work in response to COVID-19. They will also discuss how UJA is serving Staten Island's diverse and dynamic community by supporting important network agencies and community partners. We are proud to honor Iris Baum at the event for her work on our CLLD Advisory Council. Other honorees from community organizations are Joel Brooks, Ellen Steinberg, Cheryl Weisberg, Tamar Owens, Michael Schoen, Scott Maurer, Brenda Perelman, Cheryl Levine, Judith Pessah, and Sheldon Schwartz. The event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Register here. - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner, Part 2 Sunday, May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Join us for the second installment in our lecture series. Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a recording to watch on-demand. - SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Sponsored by Max and Helena Gottlieb Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Abby Stein: Her Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Tuesday, May 4, 8-9pm EST We are pleased to partner with Boulder JCC to present Abby Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, as she shares her powerful story. She will take us through her journey from being born and raised in a Hasidic family of rabbinic descent to completing a rabbinical degree to leaving the Hasidic world to explore a self-determined life. Abby came out as a woman of trans experience in 2015. Since coming out, she has been working to raise support and awareness for trans rights and those leaving Ultra-Orthodoxy. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, through May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. If you missed the previous lecture, you can also purchase a recording to watch on-demand. - The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents... Celebrating Naples: A Journey Through History with Anita Sanseverino Thursday, May 6, 7pm Naples has been called “the stepchild of Italy” – and Anita Sanseverino is determined to change that undeserved perception. Join our friends from the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a special event highlighting the history and culture of what Anita calls a "quintessential" Italian city. Register 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, Group Exercise, & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Fitness Center, Group Exercise, and Indoor Pool slots for May 3 - May 9 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for a Group Exercise class here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Bread of Life Food Drive Check out this great feature on the Bread of Life Food Drive, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last week! The Bread of Life Food Drive supports our Kosher Food Pantry. We are grateful to all who donated and volunteered to support Staten Islanders in need. - Day Hab Goes Bowling Our Day Hab participants had a great time bowling together earlier this month! - Kosher Food Pantry Request: Diapers Several of our Kosher Food Pantry recipients are new parents in need of diapers, particularly sizes 3, 4, and 5. If you would like to donate diapers, please contact Sara Cohen, Food Pantry Coordinator, at sacohen@sijcc.com or 718.475.5242. - Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccines Available for New Yorkers 16+ Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations for New Yorkers ages 16 years & older are now available at City-run vaccine sites. Please see below details provided by the NYC Vaccine Command Center. New Yorkers 16+ will be able walk into any of these designated sites without an appointment. The City-run sites offering walk-up appointments to New Yorkers 16 and older (please note Moderna is 18+ only) are: Former Babies R Us - Staten Island Mall (Pfizer) Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex (Moderna, ages 18+) Empire Outlets (Pfizer) St. Thomas St. Joseph's School (Pfizer) If you are not 50+ and need an appointment, visit: nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. SUNRISE DAY CAMP ECE Spring Craft Fair for Sunrise Last week, the JCC's Early Childhood Education program hosted a craft fair, selling crafts lovingly made by students with all proceeds to benefit Sunrise Day Camp! We are proud of our littlest Sunrise supporters for doing their part to help children with cancer and their siblings! - Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! SPECIAL EVENTS 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. WELLNESS The Right and Wrong Way to Stretch Stretching is key not only for fitness performance, but also for everyday functional tasks! It's especially important to know the proper way to stretch to avoid injury. Check out this article on maintaining flexibility! - 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 Register for Summer Sports Camps! We offer specialty summer camps in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and aquatics for kids at all skill levels! Learn more and sign up here! We hope to see you at our Sports Camp Open House at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4pm!* *Masks are required and social distancing will be observed during our Open House. - Core 24 Basketball Academy Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents...Opera and Lunch in the Afternoon Thursday, May 13, 12pm-4pm Join the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a three-course lunch paired with two opera films. Opera Educators Lou Barrella and Dr. Snjezana Smodlaka will introduce and offer commentary on Tosca's Kiss, a documentary, and Quartet, a comedy-drama. Register here. - SAJE Presents... The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: 1940s-1960s, A Lecture Series by Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 12-1pm EST | 5-6pm BST (Note: No class on 6/20) This series is sponsored by Aaron Richman. Join us wherever you are for a 5-part online course exploring the films that brought audiences around the world to fall in love with Italian cinema! Film studies scholar Dr. Julia Wagner will examine the politics, style & aesthetics of Italian filmmaking during the landmark decades that saw new directions in storytelling on screen. Tickets are $12 per lecture / $50 for series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Scroll Down: Classical Jewish Texts From Parchment to Internet, A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, May 24, 7pm This series is sponsored by Iris Baum. Join us on May 24 for "Scroll Down: Classical Jewish Texts From Parchment to Internet," the second in our series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. - SAJE Presents... Great Jewish Fiddlers: A Lecture by Dr. Dan Auerbach Thursday, May 27, 7pm This program is sponsored by Stephanie Mizrahi. Dr. Auerbach, Assistant Professor at the College of Staten Island - CUNY, will discuss a few of his personal "heroes"—famous Jewish violinists such as Heifetz, Elman, and Seidel—and the secrets to their success. Dr. Auerbach will reveal their conception of artistry, in addition to aesthetic and technical aspects of the way they played. He will also discuss their personal philosophy of violin mastery, as well as tips on efficient practice, improving bow technique, and refining intonation. Register here. Donations are suggested. - 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 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! - Philharmonia Orchestra Family Concert Celebrate inspirational and pioneering women, and introduce your children to the wonderful world of the orchestra, with the Philharmonia Orchestra's fun, free concert for families. Watch the concert here. KIDS AND FAMILIES Poem in Your Pocket Day Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day! Check out these collections of poems for kids curated by the Academy of American Poets! CAMP Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! - The Weekly Schmooze: A Camp With Values Values are at the heart of everything we do at JCC Day Camp. Our summer camp experience is not only fun and full of adventure, but also provides a safe, nurturing environment where kids can grow. In all of our activities, we promote positive values like kindness, perseverance, and respect that campers carry with them well beyond their summers at camp. Read more about the values that make our camp so special here! - Camp Kick Off Sunday, May 16, 2-4pm Summer is just around the corner, but we can't wait to see all of our camp friends again! Let's kick off the summer early this year with an afternoon of fun activities and a special visit from Wild Side Zoo! Tickets are $10 per child. Register here by May 12. *COVID safety protocols will be followed: Social distancing, required mask wearing, temperature check & health screening upon arrival* Rain date: May 23 - Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Children are encouraged to join us, as we will have a Super Silly Sunday Sing-Along led by Music with Patrick at 3pm! Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. SOCIAL SERVICES 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 - Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! Liberation75: A Global Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, Descendants, Educators, & Friends Tuesday, May 4 through Sunday, May 9 The Liberation75 global gathering will honor survivors, teach lessons of the Holocaust, and empower the next generation to fight hate. Attendees will connect directly with survivors from across the globe to learn about their experiences and to discuss how the lessons of the Holocaust apply today. The schedule, which includes more than 80 programs, features world-renowned Holocaust educators and keynote speakers as well as art, music, dance, cinema, state-of-the-art technology, and exhibits from Holocaust organizations from around the world. Register here. America in the Eyes of Immigrants Wednesday, May 5, 11:30 am Consider the experience of arriving in a new country — from learning a new language to adjusting your expectations and customs. Join Roya Hakakian and Ruby Namdar — two award-winning authors — in conversation about their experience immigrating to America, what they miss about their homelands, their literary lives, and the Jewish ideal of welcoming the stranger. Register here. Standing With Our Neighbors: A Jewish Gathering to #StopAsianHate Thursday, May 6, 4pm Every New Yorker knows that if you see something, you say something. And when it comes to standing up to hate, the Jewish community knows that we are stronger when we all stand together. In light of an alarming increase in violent attacks against the Asian American community, join UJA for a timely panel during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We’ll hear personal stories from Asian Americans, discover the historical and contemporary context of the Asian American experience, and learn how the Jewish community can best lend support to our neighbors. Register 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! Jewish Gems of Pop Culture Part 1 Thursday, April 29, 8pm For decades, Seth Rogovoy and his boyhood friend and fellow music journalist Harold Lepidus have been collecting little-known Jewish stories of pop culture. Join Seth and Harold as they swap secret Jewish tales, play songs with surprising Jewish lyrical and musical references, and make you reconsider artists including the Who, the Eagles, Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley, and Tupac Shakur. Watch here. At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue During the Holocaust Sunday, May 2, 7pm Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Azrieli Foundation’s recent publication, At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue during the Holocaust. At Great Risk is an anthology that focuses on rescue and survival, and the honor of being named as Righteous Among the Nations. Watch here.
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This email blast is sponsored by
Home Instead Senior Care. As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! TODAY: Stress Reduction Lecture, 1pm April is Stress Reduction Month! In this past year, we have all experienced a great deal of stress. Please join Nancy Wagner-Wetzel, NYS Licensed Psychologist, for a lecture on how to reduce stress. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 962 8589 0626 Passcode: JCC TODAY: Diabetes Health Town Hall, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, through May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. If you missed the previous lecture, you can also purchase a recording to watch on-demand. ENT Town Hall Thursday, April 29 at 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on ENT conditions and allergies, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Christopher Lisi of RUMC will discuss:
Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 925 6331 5522 Passcode: CLLDSP UJA's Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am In tough times, community is everything. Join UJA for their annual breakfast celebrating the Staten Island community and the people who exemplify strong leadership. UJA CEO Eric S. Goldstein will be in conversation with the JCC’s own CEO Orit Lender to talk about UJA’s work in response to COVID-19. They will also discuss how UJA is serving Staten Island's diverse and dynamic community by supporting important network agencies and community partners. We are proud to honor Iris Baum at the event for her work on our CLLD Advisory Council. Other honorees from community organizations are Joel Brooks, Ellen Steinberg, Cheryl Weisberg, Tamar Owens, Michael Schoen, Scott Maurer, Brenda Perelman, Cheryl Levine, Judith Pessah, and Sheldon Schwartz. The event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Register here. SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner, Part 2 Sunday, May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Join us for the second installment in our lecture series. Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. If you missed the first lecture, you can also purchase a recording to watch on-demand. SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. SAJE Presents... Abby Stein: Her Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Tuesday, May 4, 8-9pm EST We are pleased to partner with Boulder JCC to present Abby Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, as she shares her powerful story. She will take us through her journey from being born and raised in a Hasidic family of rabbinic descent to completing a rabbinical degree to leaving the Hasidic world to explore a self-determined life. Abby came out as a woman of trans experience in 2015. Since coming out, she has been working to raise support and awareness for trans rights and those leaving Ultra-Orthodoxy. 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! L'Dor V'Dor Awards Honor Extraordinary Women We thank everyone for joining us at our Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards last week. The event was truly a beautiful testament to the work our honorees—Ruth Greenwald, Ilene Pappert, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito—have done to make our community a better place. We were so proud to be able to honor these four incredible women and highlight Nancy's legacy. We are grateful to all who supported the event so far. We are so close to our goal of $25,000, and it's not too late to donate! If you haven't done so yet, you can donate here. If you missed the live stream, you can watch the event here. We've also added some additional journal ads in support of our honorees. You can see all of them here. JCC Vaccine Efforts Make International News Ever since the COVID-19 vaccines became available, we have been proud to do our part and help members of our community get vaccinated. We are excited to share that i24 News, an Israel-based international news network, stopped by one of our recent clinics at the Bernikow JCC to cover our efforts. You can see the clip, which aired in French, here. Kosher Food Pantry Request: Diapers Several of our Kosher Food Pantry recipients are new parents in need of diapers, particularly sizes 3, 4, and 5. If you would like to donate diapers, please contact Sara Cohen, Food Pantry Coordinator, at sacohen@sijcc.com or 718.475.5242. Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccines Available for New Yorkers 16+ Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations for New Yorkers ages 16 years & older are now available at City-run vaccine sites. Please see below details provided by the NYC Vaccine Command Center. New Yorkers 16+ will be able walk into any of these designated sites without an appointment. The City-run sites offering walk-up appointments to New Yorkers 16 and older (please note Moderna is 18+ only) are: Former Babies R Us - Staten Island Mall (Pfizer) Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex (Moderna, ages 18+) Empire Outlets (Pfizer) St. Thomas St. Joseph's School (Pfizer) There will also be a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for individuals ages 50 and up TODAY from 10am-2pm at the Stapleton Senior Center. Vaccines are first come, first served. The center is located at 189 Gordon Street. Please bring identification and your insurance card (if applicable). If you are not 50+ and need an appointment, visit: nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. Announcing Our Presenting Sponsor We are pleased to announce that our SunriseWALKS virtual celebration will be presented by Freedom Mortgage! We are grateful to Freedom Mortgage for helping us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! 2 Months Until SunriseWALKS! SunriseWALKS is 2 months away! If you haven't done so already, now is the time to create your team and rally your friends and family to support Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island. Our campers are so excited to go back to in-person camp and, with your support, we can make this their best summer yet! Register for SunriseWALKS here! 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. Cardio Exercises for Arm Strength These 8 cardio exercises will get your heart rate up and burn calories while also toning and strengthening your arms. Try them out! 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! Register for Summer Sports Camps! We offer specialty summer camps in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and aquatics for kids at all skill levels! Learn more and sign up here! We hope to see you at our Sports Camp Open House at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4pm!* *Masks are required and social distancing will be observed during our Open House. Core 24 Basketball Academy Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. Celebrating the Remarkable Last week, we partnered with Americans for Ben-Gurion University to present Celebrating the Remarkable, a record-breaking event that reached more than 2,000 participants from across the U.S. and internationally. If you missed the program, you can watch it here. The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents... Celebrating Naples: A Journey Through History with Anita Sanseverino Thursday, May 6, 7pm Naples has been called “the stepchild of Italy” – and Anita Sanseverino is determined to change that undeserved perception. Join our friends from the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a special event highlighting the history and culture of what Anita calls a "quintessential" Italian city. Register here. The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents...Opera and Lunch in the Afternoon Thursday, May 13, 12pm-4pm Join the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a three-course lunch paired with two opera films. Opera Educators Lou Barrella and Dr. Snjezana Smodlaka will introduce and offer commentary on Tosca's Kiss, a documentary, and Quartet, a comedy-drama. Register here. SAJE Presents... The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: 1940s-1960s, A Lecture Series by Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 12-1pm EST | 5-6pm BST (Note: No class on 6/20) This series is sponsored by Aaron Richman. Join us wherever you are for a 5-part online course exploring the films that brought audiences around the world to fall in love with Italian cinema! Film studies scholar Dr. Julia Wagner will examine the politics, style & aesthetics of Italian filmmaking during the landmark decades that saw new directions in storytelling on screen. Tickets are $12 per lecture / $50 for series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. SAJE Presents... Scroll Down: Classical Jewish Texts From Parchment to Internet, A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, May 24, 7pm This series is sponsored by Iris Baum. Join us on May 24 for "Scroll Down: Classical Jewish Texts From Parchment to Internet," the second in our series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. SAJE Presents... Great Jewish Fiddlers: A Lecture by Dr. Dan Auerbach Thursday, May 27, 7pm This program is sponsored by Stephanie Mizrahi. Dr. Auerbach, Assistant Professor at the College of Staten Island - CUNY, will discuss a few of his personal "heroes"—famous Jewish violinists such as Heifetz, Elman, and Seidel—and the secrets to their success. Dr. Auerbach will reveal their conception of artistry, in addition to aesthetic and technical aspects of the way they played. He will also discuss their personal philosophy of violin mastery, as well as tips on efficient practice, improving bow technique, and refining intonation. Register here. Donations are suggested. 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 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! America's Musical Roots Tune in here tomorrow at 10:30am for the latest National Radio Series program by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. If you miss it, you can stream the program, along with previous installments, at any time at the link above. Spark!Lab Activities Check out this website that challenges kids to imagine, invent, and innovate! Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! Camp Kick Off Sunday, May 16, 2-4pm Summer is just around the corner, but we can't wait to see all of our camp friends again! Let's kick off the summer early this year with an afternoon of fun activities and a special visit from Wild Side Zoo! Tickets are $10 per child. Register here by May 12. *COVID safety protocols will be followed: Social distancing, required mask wearing, temperature check & health screening upon arrival* Rain date: May 23 Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. 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 Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Negotiating Commercial Leases During and After the Pandemic Tuesday, April 27, 12pm During this commercial leasing webinar, David Portal and Ari Glatt will present the most important elements of a lease and how the leasing process can significantly impact a tenant’s operations or business. Participants will learn tips and strategies on negotiating a favorable lease with their landlords and reducing their risk and limiting personal liability. The webinar will cover some typical tenant requested abatement deals, as well as provide guidance on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what current tenants should do going forward. The presentation is designed primarily for nonprofits and those whose operations have been significantly affected by the pandemic. Register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk here. Liberation75: A Global Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, Descendants, Educators, & Friends Tuesday, May 4 through Sunday, May 9 The Liberation75 global gathering will honor survivors, teach lessons of the Holocaust, and empower the next generation to fight hate. Attendees will connect directly with survivors from across the globe to learn about their experiences and to discuss how the lessons of the Holocaust apply today. The schedule, which includes more than 80 programs, features world-renowned Holocaust educators and keynote speakers as well as art, music, dance, cinema, state-of-the-art technology, and exhibits from Holocaust organizations from around the world. Register here. America in the Eyes of Immigrants Wednesday, May 5, 11:30 am Consider the experience of arriving in a new country — from learning a new language to adjusting your expectations and customs. Join Roya Hakakian and Ruby Namdar — two award-winning authors — in conversation about their experience immigrating to America, what they miss about their homelands, their literary lives, and the Jewish ideal of welcoming the stranger. Register 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! Jewish Gems of Pop Culture Part 1 Thursday, April 29, 8pm For decades, Seth Rogovoy and his boyhood friend and fellow music journalist Harold Lepidus have been collecting little-known Jewish stories of pop culture. Join Seth and Harold as they swap secret Jewish tales, play songs with surprising Jewish lyrical and musical references, and make you reconsider artists including the Who, the Eagles, Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley, and Tupac Shakur. Watch here. At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue During the Holocaust Sunday, May 2, 7pm Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Azrieli Foundation’s recent publication, At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue during the Holocaust. At Great Risk is an anthology that focuses on rescue and survival, and the honor of being named as Righteous Among the Nations. Watch here. This email blast is sponsored by VitaCare Pharmacy and Right at Home Staten Island.
UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TODAY: April Virtual Book Club Meeting, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books - TODAY: 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Read about our honorees here. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. - Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. - SAJE Presents... The Bible in Our Hands: A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, April 26, 7pm This series is sponsored by Iris Baum. Join us on April 26 for "The Bible in Our Hands," the first in a new series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Stress Reduction Lecture Tuesday, April 27, 1pm April is Stress Reduction Month! In this past year, we have all experienced a great deal of stress. Please join Nancy Wagner-Wetzel, NYS Licensed Psychologist, for a lecture on how to reduce stress. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 962 8589 0626 Passcode: JCC - Diabetes Health Town Hall Tuesday, April 27, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, through May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - ENT Town Hall Thursday, April 29 at 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on ENT conditions and allergies, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Christopher Lisi of RUMC will discuss:
Meeting ID: 925 6331 5522 Passcode: CLLDSP - 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, Group Exercise, & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Fitness Center and Indoor Pool slots for April 26 - May 2 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for a Group Exercise class here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Therapeutic Music Experiences at the JCC At the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute of the JCC, we believe that music heals and connects us. We've recently offered several music experiences with our wonderful music therapist, Bo! Earlier this week, participants in our Day Hab program enjoyed playing instruments along with Bo! Bo also led a virtual, interactive session for students in the JCC's Early Childhood Education program! The children loved singing along with Bo as she played her guitar and they ended the session with breathing exercises to help cope with stress. - Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccines Available for New Yorkers 50+ Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations for New Yorkers ages 50 years & older are now available at City-run vaccine sites. Please see below details provided by the NYC Vaccine Command Center. New Yorkers 50+ will be able walk into any of these designated sites without an appointment. The City-run sites offering walk-up appointments to New Yorkers 50 and older are: Former Babies R Us - Staten Island Mall Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex Empire Outlets St. Thomas St. Joseph's School There will also be a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for individuals ages 50 and up on Tuesday, April 27 from 10am-2pm at the Stapleton Senior Center. Vaccines are first come, first served. The center is located at 189 Gordon Street. Please bring identification and your insurance card (if applicable). If you are not 50+ and need an appointment, visit: nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. SUNRISE DAY CAMP Touchstone Crystals for Sunrise Check out this online fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! When you purchase Touchstone Crystal jewelry from the link above, including this beautiful sunflower necklace, 20% of all proceeds will support our amazing campers! When you make a purchase, you'll also be entered to win a prize. - Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! SPECIAL EVENTS 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. WELLNESS New Study on Exercise and COVID-19 Looking for another reason to visit the JCC's Fitness Center? Check out this article about a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The study found that people who exercise regularly are far less likely to experience severe COVID symptoms. Reserve your time slot in our Fitness Center and start your journey to better health today! - 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 Register for Summer Sports Camps! We offer specialty summer camps in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and aquatics for kids at all skill levels! Learn more and sign up here! We hope to see you at our Sports Camp Open House at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4pm!* *Masks are required and social distancing will be observed during our Open House. - Core 24 Basketball Academy Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Abby Stein: Her Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Tuesday, May 4, 8-9pm EST We are pleased to partner with Boulder JCC to present Abby Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, as she shares her powerful story. She will take us through her journey from being born and raised in a Hasidic family of rabbinic descent to completing a rabbinical degree to leaving the Hasidic world to explore a self-determined life. Abby came out as a woman of trans experience in 2015. Since coming out, she has been working to raise support and awareness for trans rights and those leaving Ultra-Orthodoxy. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents... Celebrating Naples: A Journey Through History with Anita Sanseverino Thursday, May 6, 7pm Naples has been called “the stepchild of Italy” – and Anita Sanseverino is determined to change that undeserved perception. Join our friends from the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a special event highlighting the history and culture of what Anita calls a "quintessential" Italian city. Register here. - The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere Presents...Opera and Lunch in the Afternoon Thursday, May 13, 12pm-4pm Join the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for a three-course lunch paired with two opera films. Opera Educators Lou Barrella and Dr. Snjezana Smodlaka will introduce and offer commentary on Tosca's Kiss, a documentary, and Quartet, a comedy-drama. Register here. - SAJE Presents... The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: 1940s-1960s, A Lecture Series by Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 12-1pm EST | 5-6pm BST (Note: No class on 6/20) This series is sponsored by Aaron Richman. Join us wherever you are for a 5-part online course exploring the films that brought audiences around the world to fall in love with Italian cinema! Film studies scholar Dr. Julia Wagner will examine the politics, style & aesthetics of Italian filmmaking during the landmark decades that saw new directions in storytelling on screen. Tickets are $12 per lecture / $50 for series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. SAJE Presents... Great Jewish Fiddlers: A Lecture by Dr. Dan Auerbach Thursday, May 27, 7pm This program is sponsored by Stephanie Mizrahi. Dr. Auerbach, Assistant Professor at the College of Staten Island - CUNY, will discuss a few of his personal "heroes"—famous Jewish violinists such as Heifetz, Elman, and Seidel—and the secrets to their success. Dr. Auerbach will reveal their conception of artistry, in addition to aesthetic and technical aspects of the way they played. He will also discuss their personal philosophy of violin mastery, as well as tips on efficient practice, improving bow technique, and refining intonation. Register here. Donations are suggested. 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 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! Beethoven in Beijing Experience the international impact of the Philadelphia Orchestra's historic 1973 trip to China with this PBS Great Performances documentary. Earth Day Activities Today is Earth Day! Check out this guide for Earth Day activities for kids of all ages, including a paper-making project, recycling challenges, and more! Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! The Weekly Schmooze: JCC Soccer Camp At soccer camp, fun is our goal! Children at every level will develop their soccer skills while experiencing the joy of the sport and making new friends! We offer an Early Bird rate when you register for at least 6 weeks of soccer camp by May 15. We also offer sibling discounts. Register here! Camp Kick Off Sunday, May 16, 2-4pm Summer is just around the corner, but we can't wait to see all of our camp friends again! Let's kick off the summer early this year with an afternoon of fun activities and a special visit from Wild Side Zoo! Tickets are $10 per child. Register here by May 12. *COVID safety protocols will be followed: Social distancing, required mask wearing, temperature check & health screening upon arrival* Rain date: May 23 Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. 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 Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son Thursday, April 22, 8pm Join the Gordon JCC in Nashville for a discussion with Michael Ian Black about his recent book, A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son. The book is a poignant look at boyhood, in the form of a heartfelt letter from comedian, actor, author, and father Michael Ian Black to his teenage son before he leaves for college, and a radical plea for rethinking masculinity and teaching young men to give and receive love. Register here. Police Officer Exam Tutorials Saturday, April 24, 11am-2pm & Monday, April 26, 6pm-8pm JCC Cornerstone Gerard Carter Center, 230 Broad Street The NYPD is hosting 2 tutorial sessions to help you prepare for the Police Officer Exam in June. Register for a session here. TYSA Presents: Global Youth Service Day Saturday, April 24, 2pm Youth ages 14 and up are invited to join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual youth-led panel on youth substance abuse. Register here. Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Negotiating Commercial Leases During and After the Pandemic Tuesday, April 27, 12pm During this commercial leasing webinar, David Portal and Ari Glatt will present the most important elements of a lease and how the leasing process can significantly impact a tenant’s operations or business. Participants will learn tips and strategies on negotiating a favorable lease with their landlords and reducing their risk and limiting personal liability. The webinar will cover some typical tenant requested abatement deals, as well as provide guidance on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what current tenants should do going forward. The presentation is designed primarily for nonprofits and those whose operations have been significantly affected by the pandemic. Register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk here. Save the Date: UJA Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am Each year, the Staten Island Community Breakfast celebrates individuals in the community whose efforts and dedication mark them as leaders. We hope you join us this year as we honor those in our community. Stay tuned for more details! Liberation75: A Global Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, Descendants, Educators, & Friends Tuesday, May 4 through Sunday, May 9 The Liberation75 global gathering will honor survivors, teach lessons of the Holocaust, and empower the next generation to fight hate. Attendees will connect directly with survivors from across the globe to learn about their experiences and to discuss how the lessons of the Holocaust apply today. The schedule, which includes more than 80 programs, features world-renowned Holocaust educators and keynote speakers as well as art, music, dance, cinema, state-of-the-art technology, and exhibits from Holocaust organizations from around the world. Register here. America in the Eyes of Immigrants Wednesday, May 5, 11:30 am Consider the experience of arriving in a new country — from learning a new language to adjusting your expectations and customs. Join Roya Hakakian and Ruby Namdar — two award-winning authors — in conversation about their experience immigrating to America, what they miss about their homelands, their literary lives, and the Jewish ideal of welcoming the stranger. Register 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! Leonard Cohen's Mystical Midrash Thursday, April 22, 8pm In this multimedia program incorporating still images, video, and close textual analysis, Seth Rogovoy explores the deep and profound influence of the Jewish background and scriptural roots of the late Leonard Cohen’s life and work. We will see how the legendary rock poet’s familiarity with Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah has worked its way into his songs and public utterances. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and discuss how Cohen can best be seen and appreciated as a Jewish artist. Watch here. Jewish Gems of Pop Culture Part 1 Thursday, April 29, 8pm For decades, Seth Rogovoy and his boyhood friend and fellow music journalist Harold Lepidus have been collecting little-known Jewish stories of pop culture. Join Seth and Harold as they swap secret Jewish tales, play songs with surprising Jewish lyrical and musical references, and make you reconsider artists including the Who, the Eagles, Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley, and Tupac Shakur. Watch here. At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue During the Holocaust Sunday, May 2, 7pm Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Azrieli Foundation’s recent publication, At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue during the Holocaust. At Great Risk is an anthology that focuses on rescue and survival, and the honor of being named as Righteous Among the Nations. Watch here. This email blast is sponsored by VitaCare Pharmacy and Right at Home Staten Island.
UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - TODAY: SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - April Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books - 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Read about our honorees here. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. 50/50 raffle ticket sales end tomorrow afternoon, so make sure to buy one here! Each ticket will also be entered into a drawing for additional raffle prizes. - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. - Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. - SAJE Presents... The Bible in Our Hands: A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, April 26, 7pm This series is sponsored by Iris Baum. Join us on April 26 for "The Bible in Our Hands," the first in a new series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Stress Reduction Lecture Tuesday, April 27, 1pm April is Stress Reduction Month! In this past year, we have all experienced a great deal of stress. Please join Nancy Wagner-Wetzel, NYS Licensed Psychologist, for a lecture on how to reduce stress. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 962 8589 0626 Passcode: JCC - ENT Town Hall Thursday, April 29 at 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on ENT conditions and allergies, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Christopher Lisi of RUMC will discuss:
Meeting ID: 925 6331 5522 Passcode: CLLDSP - Check out our Program Guide—your guide to everything going on, in-person and virtually, in our community! IN THE NEWS Vaccinating Our Community On Friday, we had a vaccine clinic and gave out first doses to over 200 people! Thanks to UJA-Federation of New York and Rossi Pharmacy for partnering with us on this initiative. - Highlighting Our Wonderful Volunteers April is National Volunteer Month! We'd like to tell you a little about some of our amazing Food Pantry volunteers. Meet Fran Perlman and Rubin Warren! Fran, a retired elementary school teacher, and her husband Rubin, a retired accountant, have been volunteering at the Kosher Food Pantry since December. Fran and Rubin enjoy traveling, reading, and walking the parks and streets of Staten Island. They’ve also enjoyed hiking with the JCC Trailblazers. Before the pandemic, Fran served as a volunteer for RUMC, SIUH, and the Staten Island Children's Museum. The couple recently added a rescue puppy named Lily to their family. Thank you, Fran and Rubin, for your dedicated service to our Food Pantry! - Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccines Available for New Yorkers 50+ Walk-up COVID-19 vaccinations for New Yorkers ages 50 years & older are now available at City-run vaccine sites. Please see below details provided by the NYC Vaccine Command Center. New Yorkers 50+ will be able walk into any of these designated sites starting on Saturday, 4/17 without an appointment. The City-run sites offering walk-up appointments to New Yorkers 50 and older are: Former Babies R Us - Staten Island Mall Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex Empire Outlets St. Thomas St. Joseph's School If you are not 50+ and need an appointment, visit: nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. SUNRISE DAY CAMP Touchstone Crystals for Sunrise Check out this online fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! When you purchase Touchstone Crystal jewelry from the link above, including this beautiful sunflower necklace, 20% of all proceeds will support our amazing campers! When you make a purchase, you'll also be entered to win a prize. - Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! UPCOMING EVENTS 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. WELLNESS Mental and Physical Benefits of Cardio Check out this article on the many benefits cardio exercise can have for physical and mental health! Our Group Exercise classes have resumed and we offer several cardio options, including Sweat & Sculpt, HIIT, barre, step, and outdoor Zumba! Sign up for one of our classes here. - 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 Register for Summer Sports Camps! We offer specialty summer camps in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and aquatics for kids at all skill levels! Learn more and sign up here! We hope to see you at our Sports Camp Open House at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4pm!* *Masks are required and social distancing will be observed during our Open House. - Core 24 Basketball Academy Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Abby Stein: Her Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Tuesday, May 4, 8-9pm EST We are pleased to partner with Boulder JCC to present Abby Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, as she shares her powerful story. She will take us through her journey from being born and raised in a Hasidic family of rabbinic descent to completing a rabbinical degree to leaving the Hasidic world to explore a self-determined life. Abby came out as a woman of trans experience in 2015. Since coming out, she has been working to raise support and awareness for trans rights and those leaving Ultra-Orthodoxy. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: 1940s-1960s, A Lecture Series by Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 12-1pm EST | 5-6pm BST (Note: No class on 6/20) This series is sponsored by Aaron Richman. Join us wherever you are for a 5-part online course exploring the films that brought audiences around the world to fall in love with Italian cinema! Film studies scholar Dr. Julia Wagner will examine the politics, style & aesthetics of Italian filmmaking during the landmark decades that saw new directions in storytelling on screen. Tickets are $12 per lecture / $50 for series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. - SAJE Presents... Great Jewish Fiddlers: A Lecture by Dr. Dan Auerbach Thursday, May 27, 7pm Dr. Auerbach, Assistant Professor at the College of Staten Island - CUNY, will discuss a few of his personal "heroes"—famous Jewish violinists such as Heifetz, Elman, and Seidel—and the secrets to their success. Dr. Auerbach will reveal their conception of artistry, in addition to aesthetic and technical aspects of the way they played. He will also discuss their personal philosophy of violin mastery, as well as tips on efficient practice, improving bow technique, and refining intonation. Register here. Donations are suggested. - 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 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! - The Art of Interpretation: Farrenc, Bardac, Boulanger, and Sert The Art of Interpretation, a series by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, combines performance and discussion to reveal how artists interpret musical passages. Watch the latest installment on demand here. KIDS AND FAMILIES Staten Island Children's Museum At Home The Staten Island Children's Museum has a great collection of online resources to help kids learn and discover new things at home! Check it out here for kids recipes, American Sign Language Lessons, fitness videos, and more! CAMP Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! - Camp Kick Off Sunday, May 16, 2-4pm Summer is just around the corner, but we can't wait to see all of our camp friends again! Let's kick off the summer early this year with an afternoon of fun activities and a special visit from Wild Side Zoo! Tickets are $10 per child. Register here by May 12. *COVID safety protocols will be followed: Social distancing, required mask wearing, temperature check & health screening upon arrival* Rain date: May 23 - Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. SOCIAL SERVICES 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 - Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! TYSA Presents: Naloxone/Narcan Training Tuesday, April 20, 3pm Join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual training session where you will learn how to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses opioid emergencies. Email Sean@sipcw.org to receive the link. A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son Thursday, April 22, 8pm Join the Gordon JCC in Nashville for a discussion with Michael Ian Black about his recent book, A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son. The book is a poignant look at boyhood, in the form of a heartfelt letter from comedian, actor, author, and father Michael Ian Black to his teenage son before he leaves for college, and a radical plea for rethinking masculinity and teaching young men to give and receive love. Register here. Police Officer Exam Tutorials Saturday, April 24, 11am-2pm & Monday, April 26, 6pm-8pm JCC Cornerstone Gerard Carter Center, 230 Broad Street The NYPD is hosting 2 tutorial sessions to help you prepare for the Police Officer Exam in June. Register for a session here. TYSA Presents: Global Youth Service Day Saturday, April 24, 2pm Youth ages 14 and up are invited to join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual youth-led panel on youth substance abuse. Register here. Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Negotiating Commercial Leases During and After the Pandemic Tuesday, April 27, 12pm During this commercial leasing webinar, David Portal and Ari Glatt will present the most important elements of a lease and how the leasing process can significantly impact a tenant’s operations or business. Participants will learn tips and strategies on negotiating a favorable lease with their landlords and reducing their risk and limiting personal liability. The webinar will cover some typical tenant requested abatement deals, as well as provide guidance on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what current tenants should do going forward. The presentation is designed primarily for nonprofits and those whose operations have been significantly affected by the pandemic. Register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk here. Save the Date: UJA Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am Each year, the Staten Island Community Breakfast celebrates individuals in the community whose efforts and dedication mark them as leaders. We hope you join us this year as we honor those in our community. Stay tuned for more details! 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! Leonard Cohen's Mystical Midrash Thursday, April 22, 8pm In this multimedia program incorporating still images, video, and close textual analysis, Seth Rogovoy explores the deep and profound influence of the Jewish background and scriptural roots of the late Leonard Cohen’s life and work. We will see how the legendary rock poet’s familiarity with Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah has worked its way into his songs and public utterances. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and discuss how Cohen can best be seen and appreciated as a Jewish artist. Watch here. Jewish Gems of Pop Culture Part 1 Thursday, April 29, 8pm For decades, Seth Rogovoy and his boyhood friend and fellow music journalist Harold Lepidus have been collecting little-known Jewish stories of pop culture. Join Seth and Harold as they swap secret Jewish tales, play songs with surprising Jewish lyrical and musical references, and make you reconsider artists including the Who, the Eagles, Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley, and Tupac Shakur. Watch here. At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue During the Holocaust Sunday, May 2, 7pm Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Azrieli Foundation’s recent publication, At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue during the Holocaust. At Great Risk is an anthology that focuses on rescue and survival, and the honor of being named as Righteous Among the Nations. Watch here. This email blast is sponsored by VitaCare Pharmacy and Right at Home Staten Island.
- Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut! Today, we celebrate Israel's 73rd Independence Day! UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - The Tattooed Torah: Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sunday, April 18, 6pm-7:30pm We are proud to partner with the Boulder JCC to present a FREE program in honor of Yom HaShoah. Join us for a free screening of the award-winning animated short film, "The Tattooed Torah," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and narrator Ed Asner. "The Tattooed Torah" is a profound story of love, bonds across generations, tradition, resilience, and above all – a story of hope. Check out the trailer here. Register for free here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe Tuesday, April 20, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - April Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books - 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Read about our honorees here. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. Purchase a 50/50 raffle ticket here. Each ticket will also be entered into a drawing for additional raffle prizes. - 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, Group Exercise, & Indoor Pool Slots Now Open! Fitness Center and Indoor Pool slots for April 19 - April 25 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for a Group Exercise class here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Partners in Caring We are grateful to the Mannix Family, ShopRite, and General Mills for supporting our Kosher Food Pantry through their Partners in Caring initiative! - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. SUNRISE DAY CAMP Girls' Night Out Featuring Danielle Cabral Thursday, May 6, 6pm-9pm Join us for Girls' Night Out, hosted by funny mom and media personality Danielle Cabral, to benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp- Staten Island! Ladies will enjoy delicious food, entertaining speakers, and a whole lot of laughs while supporting a great cause! All proceeds will support Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island. Tickets are limited, so be sure to get yours today! - Touchstone Crystals for Sunrise Check out this online fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! When you purchase Touchstone Crystal jewelry from the link above, including this beautiful sunflower necklace, 20% of all proceeds will support our amazing campers! When you make a purchase, you'll also be entered to win a prize. - Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! SPECIAL EVENTS 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. WELLNESS JCC Trailblazers Hikes With the weather warming up, we are so happy that we've been able to resume our JCC Trailblazers hikes! Sign up for our next hike at the Greenbelt Nature Center on Tuesday morning here! - Stress Reduction Lecture Tuesday, April 27, 1pm April is Stress Reduction Month! In this past year, we have all experienced a great deal of stress. Please join Nancy Wagner-Wetzel, NYS Licensed Psychologist, for a lecture on how to reduce stress. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 962 8589 0626 Passcode: JCC - Barre Workout for Beginners Check out this full body barre workout for beginners! If you enjoy this, check out our barre class on Wednesday mornings! Reserve your spot in the class here. - 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 Register for Summer Sports Camps! We offer specialty summer camps in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and aquatics for kids at all skill levels! Learn more and sign up here! We hope to see you at our Sports Camp Open House at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4pm!* *Masks are required and social distancing will be observed during our Open House. - Core 24 Basketball Academy Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. - Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. - SAJE Presents... The Bible in Our Hands: A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, April 26, 7pm This series is sponsored by Iris Baum. Join us on April 26 for "The Bible in Our Hands," the first in a new series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Abby Stein: Her Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman Tuesday, May 4, 8-9pm EST We are pleased to partner with Boulder JCC to present Abby Stein, author of Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, as she shares her powerful story. She will take us through her journey from being born and raised in a Hasidic family of rabbinic descent to completing a rabbinical degree to leaving the Hasidic world to explore a self-determined life. Abby came out as a woman of trans experience in 2015. Since coming out, she has been working to raise support and awareness for trans rights and those leaving Ultra-Orthodoxy. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: 1940s-1960s, A Lecture Series by Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, May 23 – June 27, 12-1pm EST | 5-6pm BST (Note: No class on 6/20) This series is sponsored by Aaron Richman. Join us wherever you are for a 5-part online course exploring the films that brought audiences around the world to fall in love with Italian cinema! Film studies scholar Dr. Julia Wagner will examine the politics, style & aesthetics of Italian filmmaking during the landmark decades that saw new directions in storytelling on screen. Tickets are $12 per lecture / $50 for series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. - SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. - 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 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! - TODAY: Independence Celebration Concert with the Israeli Opera, 12pm Watch a livestreamed concert from the Israeli Opera in celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut! The concert will include a musical retrospective of popular Israeli folk songs. Register here. KIDS AND FAMILIES Celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut With Children Check out this guide to celebrating Yom Ha'atzmaut with children, including family-friendly games, resources, and more! CAMP Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! - The Weekly Schmooze: Celebrating Israel at Camp In honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, today is a fitting time to tell you about one of our favorite days at camp each summer—Israel Day! On Israel Day, our campers are "transported" to Israel with fun activities that allow them to explore Israeli history, culture, and geography. We believe our world is a better place when we try to understand and connect with others, and our celebration of Israeli culture helps us do that! You can read all about previous our Israel Day celebrations on the JCC Bulletin blog here! - Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. SOCIAL SERVICES 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 - Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! UJA-Federation Events in Honor of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut April Check out this list of virtual events celebrating the establishment of the Jewish homeland and paying respects to the fallen. TODAY: JFNA Celebrates Israel, 7pm Join the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for a virtual celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut! Israel’s tenth President Reuven Rivlin will deliver a farewell address to the Diaspora community. Special appearances will also be made by Israeli Olympic-gold-medal-hopefuls who are on their way to Tokyo this summer, and Jewish athletes from around the world. Register here. Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Job Fair Saturday, April 17, 12pm-4pm, Clove Lakes Park Basketball Courts Stop by the PBSI Community Job Fair to meet with companies that are hiring, as well as continuing education and training programs. Israeli Dance & Music Convention Sunday, April 18 Join the Rady JCC in Winnipeg for a virtual dance & music convention! In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and the incredible contributions that Israel has made to the world of cultural arts, this full-day virtual event will feature workshops with renowned choreographers and musicians from around the world. Learn more and register here. AIFL Virtual Tour of Upper Galilee Sunday, April 18, 12pm Join the America-Israel Friendship League for a virtual tour of Upper Galilee with Reuven Solomon, Master Tour Guide. Reuven will share photos, maps and stories as he guides us virtually and explores some of the sites in this region and their historical and modern-day significance. We will travel through the mountainous area in Northern Israel, to the Rosh HaNikra grottoes along the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and to the Village of Peki’in where a story of harmony is alive today. Register here. TYSA Presents: Naloxone/Narcan Training Tuesday, April 20, 3pm Join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual training session where you will learn how to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses opioid emergencies. Email Sean@sipcw.org to receive the link. TYSA Presents: Global Youth Service Day Saturday, April 24, 2pm Youth ages 14 and up are invited to join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual youth-led panel on youth substance abuse. Register here. Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Negotiating Commercial Leases During and After the Pandemic Tuesday, April 27, 12pm During this commercial leasing webinar, David Portal and Ari Glatt will present the most important elements of a lease and how the leasing process can significantly impact a tenant’s operations or business. Participants will learn tips and strategies on negotiating a favorable lease with their landlords and reducing their risk and limiting personal liability. The webinar will cover some typical tenant requested abatement deals, as well as provide guidance on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what current tenants should do going forward. The presentation is designed primarily for nonprofits and those whose operations have been significantly affected by the pandemic. Register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk here. Save the Date: UJA Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am Each year, the Staten Island Community Breakfast celebrates individuals in the community whose efforts and dedication mark them as leaders. We hope you join us this year as we honor those in our community. Stay tuned for more details! 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! Leonard Cohen's Mystical Midrash Thursday, April 22, 8pm In this multimedia program incorporating still images, video, and close textual analysis, Seth Rogovoy explores the deep and profound influence of the Jewish background and scriptural roots of the late Leonard Cohen’s life and work. We will see how the legendary rock poet’s familiarity with Torah, Talmud, and Kabbalah has worked its way into his songs and public utterances. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and discuss how Cohen can best be seen and appreciated as a Jewish artist. Watch here. Jewish Gems of Pop Culture Part 1 Thursday, April 29, 8pm For decades, Seth Rogovoy and his boyhood friend and fellow music journalist Harold Lepidus have been collecting little-known Jewish stories of pop culture. Join Seth and Harold as they swap secret Jewish tales, play songs with surprising Jewish lyrical and musical references, and make you reconsider artists including the Who, the Eagles, Aerosmith, the Bee Gees, Elvis Presley, and Tupac Shakur. Watch here. At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue During the Holocaust Sunday, May 2, 7pm Please join us to celebrate the launch of the Azrieli Foundation’s recent publication, At Great Risk: Memoirs of Rescue during the Holocaust. At Great Risk is an anthology that focuses on rescue and survival, and the honor of being named as Righteous Among the Nations. Watch here. This week, we commemorate Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, and celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day! Be sure to check out the Community Events section of this e-mail for online programs in honor of these observances.
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! TONIGHT: Diabetes Health Town Hall, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP Music for Healing Wednesday, April 14, 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! Register for FREE here. Zoom information to follow registration. A Gracie Mansion Conservancy Virtual Art Tour... "Catalyst: Art and Social Justice" Wednesday, April 14, 2:30pm Join us for a virtual tour of an art exhibition housed at Gracie Mansion! The tour will highlight works by New York artists & activists since 1960, celebrating the power of art to spark change & spur progress. *Limited tickets available* Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information will be sent to registered participants one week before the tour. The Tattooed Torah: Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sunday, April 18, 6pm-7:30pm We are proud to partner with the Boulder JCC to present a FREE program in honor of Yom HaShoah. Join us for a free screening of the award-winning animated short film, "The Tattooed Torah," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and narrator Ed Asner. "The Tattooed Torah" is a profound story of love, bonds across generations, tradition, resilience, and above all – a story of hope. Check out the trailer here. Register for free here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe Tuesday, April 20, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series 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! Highlighting Our Wonderful Volunteers April is National Volunteer Month! We'd like to tell you a little about some of our amazing Food Pantry volunteers. Meet Leslie Berg! Leslie is a retired math teacher who lives in Staten Island with her husband Jeffrey and her service dog Trenton. Leslie has a hearing disability and is deaf with cochlear implants. Her dog helps her recognize and locate sounds she needs to hear in her home as well as outside. When Leslie heard that the JCC Food Pantry needed more volunteers, she was eager to jump aboard! Her other volunteer activities include serving as the Treasurer and Chief Communications Officer of Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 New York. Leslie loves retired life, and enjoys playing canasta and mahjongg, cooking and baking, reading, going to movies, and keeping in touch with friends and family. She also keeps physically active at the JCC pool and gym and takes long walks with her dog daily. Thank you for your dedication and compassion, Leslie! JCC Named Top Training Provider The JCC of Staten Island was recently named one of the Top 200 Training Providers by the American Red Cross for the second consecutive year! COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. New York City is providing in-home COVID-19 vaccinations (Johnson & Johnson) to eligible NYC residents who are fully homebound, have not already been vaccinated, and do not already have access to a vaccination program. If you believe you are eligible, please fill out this form. The City will use this information to call back to further discuss your eligibility for the program. Great News for Sunrise Last week, we were thrilled to announce Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island's plans for this summer. Not only will Sunrise resume in-person camp, but it will also be making Staten Island Academy's beautiful 12-acre campus its new home! Read all about this wonderful news here. Girls' Night Out Featuring Danielle Cabral Thursday, May 6, 6pm-9pm Join us for Girls' Night Out, hosted by funny mom and media personality Danielle Cabral, to benefit the Lucille & Jay Chazanoff Sunrise Day Camp- Staten Island! Ladies will enjoy delicious food, entertaining speakers, and a whole lot of laughs while supporting a great cause! All proceeds will support Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island. Tickets are limited, so be sure to get yours today! Touchstone Crystals for Sunrise Check out this online fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! When you purchase Touchstone Crystal jewelry from the link above, including this beautiful sunflower necklace, 20% of all proceeds will support our amazing campers! When you make a purchase, you'll also be entered to win a prize. Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Read about our honorees here. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. Group Ex Classes Are Back! Group exercise classes are back! From yoga to HIIT, and a mix of indoor and outdoor options, there is something for everyone. Check out the schedule and reserve a slot here. Stress Reduction Lecture Tuesday, April 27, 1pm April is Stress Reduction Month! In this past year, we have all experienced a great deal of stress. Please join Nancy Wagner-Wetzel, NYS Licensed Psychologist, for a lecture on how to reduce stress. Join us here, on Zoom Meeting ID: 962 8589 0626 Passcode: JCC Best Body-Weight Exercises Check out this list of the 50 best body-weight exercises for every fitness level and goal! 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 Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. April Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. SAJE Presents... The Bible in Our Hands: A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, April 26, 7pm Join us on April 26 for "The Bible in Our Hands," the first in a new series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. We would like to thank the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere for partnering with us to present this program. SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. 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 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! MET Orchestra Musicians Concert Watch as the MET Orchestra Musicians perform chamber music by Mozart, Puccini, Barber, and Verdi here! Guide: Things That Grow April showers bring May flowers! Check out PBS Kids' activity guide for exploring plants and nature with kids of all ages! Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! Camp Open House Sunday, May 23, 2-4pm We enjoyed seeing so many new faces at our first in-person Open House over the weekend! If you couldn't make it, you can join us at our next Open House on Sunday, May 23 at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds. Again, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed. 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 Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! UJA-Federation Events in Honor of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut April Check out this list of virtual events celebrating the establishment of the Jewish homeland and paying respects to the fallen. Celebrate Israel's Independence Day Through Story and Song Wednesday, April 14, 7:30pm Join the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest for a celebration of Israel's Independence Day! You’ll hear from local friends about Israel travel experiences that feed our souls and from Israeli partners about what our friendship means to them... all mixed in with favorite songs of Israel to sing along to! Register here. Israel at 73 Wednesday, April 14, 7pm Join the Embassy of Israel and Israel's diplomatic missions across the United States to celebrate Israel at 73! Tune in for special guests, music, and more! Watch live on Facebook here. Celebrating 73 Years of Religious Diversity in Israel Thursday, April 15, 9:30am Join AJC New York, AJC Project Interchange, and the Marlene Meyerson JCC of Manhattan for a Yom Ha’atzmaut program celebrating 73 years of religious diversity in Israel. Hear from Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director, International and Interreligious Affairs, Christopher White, National Correspondent, National Catholic Reporter, and Dr. Saba Soomekh, Associate Director, AJC Los Angeles and Scholar of Religious Studies as they reflect on the many facets of religious life in Israel. Register here. JFNA Celebrates Israel Thursday, April 15, 7pm Join the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for a virtual celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut! Israel’s tenth President Reuven Rivlin will deliver a farewell address to the Diaspora community. Special appearances will also be made by Israeli Olympic-gold-medal-hopefuls who are on their way to Tokyo this summer, and Jewish athletes from around the world. Join the event on. Register here. Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Job Fair Saturday, April 17, 12pm-4pm, Clove Lakes Park Basketball Courts Stop by the PBSI Community Job Fair to meet with companies that are hiring, as well as continuing education and training programs. Israeli Dance & Music Convention Sunday, April 18 Join the Rady JCC in Winnipeg for a virtual dance & music convention! In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and the incredible contributions that Israel has made to the world of cultural arts, this full-day virtual event will feature workshops with renowned choreographers and musicians from around the world. Learn more and register here. AIFL Virtual Tour of Upper Galilee Sunday, April 18, 12pm Join the America-Israel Friendship League for a virtual tour of Upper Galilee with Reuven Solomon, Master Tour Guide. Reuven will share photos, maps and stories as he guides us virtually and explores some of the sites in this region and their historical and modern-day significance. We will travel through the mountainous area in Northern Israel, to the Rosh HaNikra grottoes along the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and to the Village of Peki’in where a story of harmony is alive today. Register here. TYSA Presents: Naloxone/Narcan Training Tuesday, April 20, 3pm Join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual training session where you will learn how to administer Narcan, a nasal spray that reverses opioid emergencies. Email Sean@sipcw.org to receive the link. TYSA Presents: Global Youth Service Day Saturday, April 24, 2pm Youth ages 14 and up are invited to join Tackling Youth Substance Abuse (TYSA) for a virtual youth-led panel on youth substance abuse. Register here. Webinars for Wise Nonprofits: Negotiating Commercial Leases During and After the Pandemic Tuesday, April 27, 12pm During this commercial leasing webinar, David Portal and Ari Glatt will present the most important elements of a lease and how the leasing process can significantly impact a tenant’s operations or business. Participants will learn tips and strategies on negotiating a favorable lease with their landlords and reducing their risk and limiting personal liability. The webinar will cover some typical tenant requested abatement deals, as well as provide guidance on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what current tenants should do going forward. The presentation is designed primarily for nonprofits and those whose operations have been significantly affected by the pandemic. Register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk here. Save the Date: UJA Staten Island Virtual Community Breakfast Sunday, May 2, 11am Each year, the Staten Island Community Breakfast celebrates individuals in the community whose efforts and dedication mark them as leaders. We hope you join us this year as we honor those in our community. Stay tuned for more details! 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! Yom HaZikaron: The Power of Jewish Peoplehood Through Personal and Collective Mourning Tuesday, April 13, 8pm Listen to an intimate conversation about loss and the healing power of personal and collective mourning as shared by Israelis who know the heartache and anguish from their own experiences. Watch here. Yom HaAtzmaut: Moments of Pride Through Israeli Innovation Wednesday, April 14, 8pm On the eve of Israel’s 73rd independence celebration, the program will open with a virtual tour of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and an interview with Chemi Peres, the chairman of the Center’s board and the co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango venture capital fund, which invests widely in the technology field, from IT to medicine. The program will also spotlight the country’s undeniable culture of innovation and its ability to overcome obstacles, by visiting three Israeli enterprises and hearing from their founders about how each built the business and what North American Jews can learn from their experiences. Watch here. Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. We will never forget those we lost in the Holocaust and we strive to continue to take care of our survivors, especially during these difficult times.
UPCOMING EVENTS As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - Music Making for Families featuring Music with Patrick Sunday, April 11, 11am Join Mr. Patrick, his guitar, and his silly puppet friends for a fun-filled, family-friendly music class! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - JCC Day Camp: In-Person Open House Sunday, April 11, 2-4pm, Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds Join us for our first In-Person Open House on April 11 to find out why JCC Day Camp is the right choice for your family this summer! Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Already decided on our camp? Register here today! - SAJE Presents..."Toward a Feminist Interpretation of the Akedah": A Lecture by Dr. Wendy Zierler Monday, April 12, 7pm Where can one find the story of the biblical Sarah in the story of the Akedah, Abraham's binding of his son Isaac? Using the tools of feminist theory and midrash, Dr. Zierler of Hebrew Union College will examine the "presence of Sarah's absence" and offer a distinctive reframing of the well-known story of Genesis 22. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Diabetes Health Town Hall Tuesday, April 13, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP - Music for Healing Wednesday, April 14, 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! Register for FREE here. Zoom information to follow registration. - A Gracie Mansion Conservancy Virtual Art Tour... "Catalyst: Art and Social Justice" Wednesday, April 14, 2:30pm Join us for a virtual tour of an art exhibition housed at Gracie Mansion! The tour will highlight works by New York artists & activists since 1960, celebrating the power of art to spark change & spur progress. *Limited tickets available* Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information will be sent to registered participants one week before the tour. - SAJE Presents... Rethinking Meir Kahane in the 21st Century: A Lecture by Shaul Magid, Dartmouth College Wednesday, April 14, 7pm In this lecture, Shaul Magid, Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, will explore Meir Kahane's program for American Jews and analyze his continued influence on American Jewry more than thirty years after his death. 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 Group Ex Classes Are Back! Group exercise classes are back! From yoga to HIIT, and a mix of indoor and outdoor options, there is something for everyone. Check out the schedule and reserve a slot here. Fitness Center and Indoor Pool slots for April 12 - April 18 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - Teen Celebrates Bat Mitzvah with Fundraiser for JCC’s Seniors in Need Thirteen-year-old Tzipora Guttman is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah by raising money for our program to feed seniors in need, including Holocaust survivors. This cause is especially close to her heart, as her paternal grandparents were both Holocaust survivors. We are so proud of Tzipora and grateful that she is thinking of our seniors. You can read all about Tzipora's project here and support her efforts to feed Staten Island seniors in need by donating here! - Autism Awareness Day Last week, our Day Hab participants and staff wore blue in honor of Autism Awareness Day. At the JCC, we pride ourselves on being a caring community where everyone is included! - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. 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. New York City is providing in-home COVID-19 vaccinations (Johnson & Johnson) to eligible NYC residents who are fully homebound, have not already been vaccinated, and do not already have access to a vaccination program. If you believe you are eligible, please fill out this form. The City will use this information to call back to further discuss your eligibility for the program. SUNRISE DAY CAMP Touchstone Crystals for Sunrise Check out this online fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! When you purchase Touchstone Crystal jewelry from the link above, including this beautiful sunflower necklace, 20% of all proceeds will support our amazing campers! When you make a purchase, you'll also be entered to win a prize. - Register for SunriseWALKS Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! SPECIAL EVENTS 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. - 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. WELLNESS Exercises for Arthritis Check out this article on the importance of exercise for those dealing with arthritis, along with the best types of exercises you can do to improve symptoms. - 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 Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - The Tattooed Torah: Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sunday, April 18, 6pm-7:30pm We are proud to partner with the Boulder JCC to present a FREE program in honor of Yom HaShoah. Join us for a free screening of the award-winning animated short film, "The Tattooed Torah," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and narrator Ed Asner. "The Tattooed Torah" is a profound story of love, bonds across generations, tradition, resilience, and above all – a story of hope. Check out the trailer here. Register for free here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe Tuesday, April 20, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - April Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. - Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. - SAJE Presents... The Bible in Our Hands: A Virtual Lecture by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg Monday, April 26, 7pm Join us on April 26 for "The Bible in Our Hands," the first in a new series of virtual lectures by Professor Gary A. Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Jewish Studies at Rutgers University. Tickets are $15 per lecture or $35 for the series of 3 lectures and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Journey to Jewish Rome: A Virtual Tour Tuesday, May 4, 12pm - 2pm Join tour guide and art historian Micaela Pavoncello as she introduces us to the rich history and culture of Jewish Rome! Explore the neighborhood home to the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, visit a famous 200-year old Jewish Bakery, and hear stories from a local guide that won't be found in a travel book! Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. - Resources for Teaching the Holocaust The Jewish Education Project has curated an important guide to Holocaust education, which includes links to resources at Yad Vashem, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Anne Frank House, and more. - 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 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! - A Musical Tribute for Yom HaShoah In this video, Portland Chamber Music performs music composed by musicians and composers who were imprisoned and killed during the Holocaust, including James Simon, Gideon Klein, Erwin Schulhoff, Olivier Messiaen, and Leo Smit. The performance is followed by a conversation with Holocaust survivor Ruth Bolliger. KIDS AND FAMILIES Book List: Holocaust Books for Young Readers Books about the Holocaust can facilitate important conversations and help us teach the next generation so that they never forget. The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center has compiled a list of books about the Holocaust for children of all ages. CAMP Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! - The Weekly Schmooze: Catapult Summer Learning Experience This summer, we are partnering with Catapult Learning to offer our campers a free, optional learning program. This program, which will include 2 weekly sessions (one math, one literacy), is an amazing opportunity to compensate for the loss of learning that many students have experienced during the pandemic. Check out our Weekly Schmooze Blog to learn more about this program, available at no additional cost to our camp families through the generosity of UJA-Federation! - Camp Directors Instagram Takeover Our latest Camp Directors Instagram Takeover was all about K'Ton Ton, our youngest division! Check out the video here! Be sure to follow us on Instagram to learn all about our Teen Division on Sunday! SOCIAL SERVICES 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 - Free ESL and HSE Classes We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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: Legacies of the Holocaust: Anti-Semitism in the 20th and 21st Centuries, 6pm Please join us for this special Yom HaShoah program, presented by Dr. Amy Simon of Michigan State University. Dr. Simon will explore the legacy of the hatred of Jews during the Holocaust and how and why it continues to impact the globe. She will also address the current impact of the evolution of anti-Semitism on perceptions of Zionism and anti-Zionism. Register here. TODAY: Sports as a Microcosm of Society: Race and Antisemitism, 9:30pm Join the Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley for a viewing of the movie Race about African American athlete Jesse Owens' 1936 Olympic victories in Nazi Germany, followed by a panel discussion in observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Register here. All the Horrors of War: A Jewish Girl, a British Doctor, and the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen Friday, April 9, 6pm Please join us tomorrow at 6pm as we join the Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center—CAI virtually to commemorate Yom HaShoah. Author Bernice Lerner will speak about her new book, All the Horrors of War: A Jewish Girl, a British Doctor, and the Liberation of Bergen-Belsen. Join us on Zoom. Meeting ID: 856 4265 8627 Password: AHBJC-CAI UJA-Federation Events in Honor of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut April Check out this list of virtual events celebrating the establishment of the Jewish homeland and paying respects to the fallen. Celebrating 73 Years of Religious Diversity in Israel Thursday, April 15, 9:30am Join AJC New York, AJC Project Interchange, and the Marlene Meyerson JCC of Manhattan for a Yom Ha’atzmaut program celebrating 73 years of religious diversity in Israel. Hear from Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director, International and Interreligious Affairs, Christopher White, National Correspondent, National Catholic Reporter, and Dr. Saba Soomekh, Associate Director, AJC Los Angeles and Scholar of Religious Studies as they reflect on the many facets of religious life in Israel. Register here. Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Job Fair Saturday, April 17, 12pm-4pm, Clove Lakes Park Basketball Courts Stop by the PBSI Community Job Fair to meet with companies that are hiring, as well as continuing education and training programs. Israeli Dance & Music Convention Sunday, April 18 Join the Rady JCC in Winnipeg for a virtual dance & music convention! In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and the incredible contributions that Israel has made to the world of cultural arts, this full-day virtual event will feature workshops with renowned choreographers and musicians from around the world. Learn more and register here. Stars of David from Around the World by Moy Volcovich Tuesday, April 27, 7:30pm Join the Schenectady JCC for a virtual exhibit and talk by award-winning photographer Moy Volcovich. Check out the virtual exhibit here and register for the talk 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! Yom HaZikaron: The Power of Jewish Peoplehood Through Personal and Collective Mourning Tuesday, April 13, 8pm Listen to an intimate conversation about loss and the healing power of personal and collective mourning as shared by Israelis who know the heartache and anguish from their own experiences. Watch here. Yom HaAtzmaut: Moments of Pride Through Israeli Innovation Wednesday, April 14, 8pm On the eve of Israel’s 73rd independence celebration, the program will open with a virtual tour of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and an interview with Chemi Peres, the chairman of the Center’s board and the co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango venture capital fund, which invests widely in the technology field, from IT to medicine. The program will also spotlight the country’s undeniable culture of innovation and its ability to overcome obstacles, by visiting three Israeli enterprises and hearing from their founders about how each built the business and what North American Jews can learn from their experiences. Watch here. UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - DEADLINE: Register for ECE by Tomorrow, April 7! The deadline to apply for Pre-K for All and 3-K For All is tomorrow, April 7! Any New York City resident can apply. Check out this video by UJA Federation highlighting our incredible ECE program! When parents drop their children off for preschool each morning, they feel confident knowing that their little ones will spend the day learning and having fun in a safe, loving environment. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. - Music Making for Families featuring Music with Patrick Sunday, April 11, 11am Join Mr. Patrick, his guitar, and his silly puppet friends for a fun-filled, family-friendly music class! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - JCC Day Camp: In-Person Open House Sunday, April 11, 2-4pm, Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds Join us for our first In-Person Open House on April 11 to find out why JCC Day Camp is the right choice for your family this summer! Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Already decided on our camp? Register here today! - SAJE Presents..."Toward a Feminist Interpretation of the Akedah": A Lecture by Dr. Wendy Zierler Monday, April 12, 7pm Where can one find the story of the biblical Sarah in the story of the Akedah, Abraham's binding of his son Isaac? Using the tools of feminist theory and midrash, Dr. Zierler of Hebrew Union College will examine the "presence of Sarah's absence" and offer a distinctive reframing of the well-known story of Genesis 22. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Diabetes Health Town Hall Tuesday, April 13, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP - Music for Healing Wednesday, April 14, 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! Register for FREE 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 Recap: School's Out... Spring In-To Camp! Last week, we hosted four days of School's Out fun during Spring Break! We were happy to see many of our campers participating and can't wait to see them for camp in just a few months! Check out our Camp Facebook page to see photos from School's Out! - SI Parent Magazine: Marvin's Camp An article about our Marvin's Camp for Children with Special Needs is featured in SI Parent Magazine's April issue! You can read the article on page 22 in the digital edition here! - Grab & Go Meals for Seniors Until we receive more funding, our Grab & Go Meals program for seniors has concluded, for now. If you’d like to donate to our Seniors in Need campaign to fund this program, click here. - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, fill out this screener. 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. New York City is providing in-home COVID-19 vaccinations (Johnson & Johnson) to eligible NYC residents who are fully homebound, have not already been vaccinated, and do not already have access to a vaccination program. If you believe you are eligible, please fill out this form. The City will use this information to call back to further discuss your eligibility for the program. SUNRISE DAY CAMP A New Home for Sunrise After a virtual camp experience last summer, we are happy to announce that Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island will resume in-person camp on July 1st. We are also excited to announce that we have found a new home for Sunrise on the campus of Staten Island Academy. Register for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration to help us give summer back to children with cancer and their siblings! - National Walking Day Tomorrow is National Walking Day and there's no better time to start a Million Step Challenge for Sunrise! Once you register for SunriseWALKS, visit the Million Step Challenge tab, set a fundraising goal, and start walking! Encourage your friends to support your goal by sponsoring you per step or per day leading up to SunriseWALKS on June 27. SPECIAL EVENTS 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. - 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic Presented by IDB Bank Monday, July 12 We hope you’ll join us at our 41st Annual Golf & Tennis Classic on Monday, July 12th! All funds raised at this event allow us to award camp scholarships to children who are desperately in need. Your support will directly impact Staten Island families who need our help the most. Support the event by buying tickets, sponsorships, or raffle tickets here. - You're Invited to a Tupperware Party! We're hosting an online Tupperware party! A portion of proceeds from your purchases will support our Grab & Go meals program for seniors. 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 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 - Walking Your Way to Better Health Tomorrow is National Walking Day! Walking can be an easy way to get in better shape, start your fitness journey, and improve your overall health. Check out these recent articles on walking:
- 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 Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! - Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. - A Gracie Mansion Conservancy Virtual Art Tour... "Catalyst: Art and Social Justice" Wednesday, April 14, 2:30pm Join us for a virtual tour of an art exhibition housed at Gracie Mansion! The tour will highlight works by New York artists & activists since 1960, celebrating the power of art to spark change & spur progress. *Limited tickets available* Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information will be sent to registered participants one week before the tour. - SAJE Presents... Rethinking Meir Kahane in the 21st Century: A Lecture by Shaul Magid, Dartmouth College Wednesday, April 14, 7pm In this lecture, Shaul Magid, Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, will explore Meir Kahane's program for American Jews and analyze his continued influence on American Jewry more than thirty years after his death. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - The Tattooed Torah: Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sunday, April 18, 6pm-7:30pm We are proud to partner with the Boulder JCC to present a FREE program in honor of Yom HaShoah. Join us for a free screening of the award-winning animated short film, "The Tattooed Torah," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and narrator Ed Asner. "The Tattooed Torah" is a profound story of love, bonds across generations, tradition, resilience, and above all – a story of hope. Check out the trailer here. Register for free here. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe Tuesday, April 20, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. - SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. This series celebrates Jewish composers from around the world, including many whose works were suppressed by the Nazis. We will listen to works by Hahn, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Bernstein, Copland, Weill, and Meyerbeer—from household names to those only now starting to receive the recognition they deserve. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - April Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm We are excited to have author Roberta Seret join us for a discussion of her books, Gift of Diamonds and Love Odyssey. Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 834 7608 4132 Passcode: books - SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. - Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. - SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. - Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites From Home Check out this Google Arts & Culture tour of 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites! Click and drag with your mouse for a 360-degree view! - 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 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! - Carnegie Hall: Ensemble Connect Watch members of Carnegie Hall's Ensemble Connect perform the Allegro movement from Sonata No. 1 for Two Violins here. KIDS AND FAMILIES Map Activities for Kids Map reading is a useful tool that involves many important skills, like spatial reasoning, following directions, math, and more! Check out these map reading activities for kids of all ages! CAMP Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! You can also register for our specialty camps—basketball, soccer, gymnastics, aquatics, and performing arts--here! SOCIAL SERVICES Navigating Legal and Financial Decisions with NYLAG: Elder Law Did you know the JCC can help you get assistance with legal and financial planning through our partnership with NYLAG? Need help with Elder law legal services, including Medicaid, Medicare, home care, other public benefits, advance planning, elder abuse, housing, and consumer issues? 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 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. - 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 We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! SINFPA Nonprofit Events & Fundraisers Community Calendar Check out the Staten Island Not for Profit Association's online calendar of upcoming nonprofit events and fundraisers. If you represent a nonprofit or other community partner, you can submit your organization's events to the calendar here. TODAY: Opposition to Nazi Rule in Experience and Memory, 4pm The University of Michigan’s Frankel Center for Judaic Studies hosts Professor Mark Roseman of Indiana University Bloomington, author of “Lives Reclaimed: A Story of Rescue and Resistance in Nazi Germany,” for an online presentation, in partnership with the Ann Arbor JCC. Register here. Hope Valley: A Conversation with Rabbis Haviva Ner David and Danya Ruttenberg Wednesday, April 7, 12pm Join Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg in conversation with Rabbi Haviva Ner-David, author of the debut novel Hope Valley. Hope Valley is about the unexpected friendship between a Palestinian-Israeli and a Jewish-Israeli woman in Galilee. The novel takes place during the summer of 2000, right before the outbreak of the second intifada, with a backstory in 1948, a hidden diary, and other secrets revealed as the story unfolds. Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (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. Legacies of the Holocaust: Anti-Semitism in the 20th and 21st Centuries Thursday, April 8, 6pm Please join us for this special Yom HaShoah program, presented by Dr. Amy Simon of Michigan State University. Dr. Simon will explore the legacy of the hatred of Jews during the Holocaust and how and why it continues to impact the globe. She will also address the current impact of the evolution of anti-Semitism on perceptions of Zionism and anti-Zionism. Register here. Sports as a Microcosm of Society: Race and Antisemitism Thursday, April 8, 9:30pm Join the Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley for a viewing of the movie Race about African American athlete Jesse Owens' 1936 Olympic victories in Nazi Germany, followed by a panel discussion in observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Register here. Celebrating 73 Years of Religious Diversity in Israel Thursday, April 15, 9:30am Join AJC New York, AJC Project Interchange, and the Marlene Meyerson JCC of Manhattan for a Yom Ha’atzmaut program celebrating 73 years of religious diversity in Israel. Hear from Rabbi David Rosen, AJC Director, International and Interreligious Affairs, Christopher White, National Correspondent, National Catholic Reporter, and Dr. Saba Soomekh, Associate Director, AJC Los Angeles and Scholar of Religious Studies as they reflect on the many facets of religious life in Israel. Register here. Patrol Borough Staten Island Community Job Fair Saturday, April 17, 12pm-4pm, Clove Lakes Park Basketball Courts Stop by the PBSI Community Job Fair to meet with companies that are hiring, as well as continuing education and training programs. Israeli Dance & Music Convention Sunday, April 18 Join the Rady JCC in Winnipeg for a virtual dance & music convention! In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and the incredible contributions that Israel has made to the world of cultural arts, this full-day virtual event will feature workshops with renowned choreographers and musicians from around the world. Learn more and register here. Virtual Exercise & Movement: Rock Steady Boxing Saturdays, April 24 - June 5, 11-11:45am The JCC of Greater Boston presents a virtual boxing class to help those with Parkinson's disease feel their best! Led by a Certified Rock Steady Boxing Coach, Rock Steady Boxing incorporates a “tough love” approach with boxing drills, calisthenics, resistance training & more to increase your strength, balance, reaction time and overall fitness while protecting vulnerable neurological points to sustain necessary brain health and function. * Ability to stand for the majority of class with good stability is required subject to assessment. The class is $99 for 6 weeks. Contact Heidi at 617.558.6459 or email hwhite@jccgb.org to register. 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! Yom HaShoah: Honoring Jewish Resilience and Storytelling Wednesday, April 7, 8pm Four international artist-educators will participate in a roundtable conversation about storytelling and Jewish resilience. Weaving together inspiring multimedia from each panelist’s body of work, these artists will engage in powerful conversation about the importance of paying tribute and preserving and elevating cultural memory—from the past into the future. Watch here. Yom HaZikaron: The Power of Jewish Peoplehood Through Personal and Collective Mourning Tuesday, April 13, 8pm Listen to an intimate conversation about loss and the healing power of personal and collective mourning as shared by Israelis who know the heartache and anguish from their own experiences. Watch here. Yom HaAtzmaut: Moments of Pride Through Israeli Innovation Wednesday, April 14, 8pm On the eve of Israel’s 73rd independence celebration, the program will open with a virtual tour of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and an interview with Chemi Peres, the chairman of the Center’s board and the co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango venture capital fund, which invests widely in the technology field, from IT to medicine. The program will also spotlight the country’s undeniable culture of innovation and its ability to overcome obstacles, by visiting three Israeli enterprises and hearing from their founders about how each built the business and what North American Jews can learn from their experiences. Watch here. UPCOMING EVENTS
As always, there's something for everyone at the J! Check out these great upcoming events! - DEADLINE: Register for ECE by April 7! The deadline to apply for Pre-K for All and 3-K For All is Wednesday, April 7! Any New York City resident can apply. Check out this video by UJA Federation highlighting our incredible ECE program! When parents drop their children off for preschool each morning, they feel confident knowing that their little ones will spend the day learning and having fun in a safe, loving environment. Learn more about our programs and find out how to apply here. - Music for Healing Wednesday, April 7, 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 Making for Families featuring Music with Patrick Sunday, April 11, 11am Join Mr. Patrick, his guitar, and his silly puppet friends for a fun-filled, family-friendly music class! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - JCC Day Camp: In-Person Open House Sunday, April 11, 2-4pm, Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds Join us for our first In-Person Open House on April 11 to find out why JCC Day Camp is the right choice for your family this summer! Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. Already decided on our camp? Register here today! - SAJE Presents..."Toward a Feminist Interpretation of the Akedah": A Lecture by Dr. Wendy Zierler Monday, April 12, 7pm Where can one find the story of the biblical Sarah in the story of the Akedah, Abraham's binding of his son Isaac? Using the tools of feminist theory and midrash, Dr. Zierler of Hebrew Union College will examine the "presence of Sarah's absence" and offer a distinctive reframing of the well-known story of Genesis 22. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. - Diabetes Health Town Hall Tuesday, April 13, 7pm Join us for a virtual Town Hall on diabetes health, co-sponsored by Richmond University Medical Center. Dr. Philip Otterbeck of RUMC will provide an overview of diabetes, treatment, and self-management tips for dealing with Type 1 or 2 diabetes Join us on Zoom here. Meeting ID: 987 9346 9853 Password: CLLDSP - 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 April 5 - April 11 are now open! Sign up for a Fitness Center slot here. Sign up for an Indoor Pool slot here. - OnSI Podcast: Highlighting the JCC's Pandemic Efforts Allison Cohen, our Director of Marketing & Communications, was recently a featured guest on the OnSI podcast! She talked about the JCC's work to build community throughout the pandemic, including our efforts to help more than 2,000 Staten Islanders get their COVID-19 vaccines! Check out the podcast episode here. Allison comes in just after the 4-minute mark. - Get Ready for Summer Specialty Camps Check out this great SILive feature on our summer specialty camps! In addition to our traditional day camp, we offer specialized programs for basketball, soccer, gymnastics, swimming, and performing arts. Register for specialty camps here! - Recap: The Poetic Language of Jazz Last week, we hosted an educational presentation by jazz musician Mark Sherman for the Staten Island Tech jazz band! We're looking forward to hosting additional sessions with Mark in the future! - Closing Out Jewish Music Month Last week, we closed Jewish Music Month with a phenomenal virtual program by the San Francisco Yiddish Combo. The combo's Klezmer for the 21st Century put a unique twist on traditional Klezmer music and had all of our participants smiling and dancing at home. Thank you to our event sponsor, Hillel at CSI! - Super Students at Beacon I.S. 49 The students in our Beacon program at I.S. 49 were recently selected to participate in a citywide, DYCD-funded project to create their own comic book. Their final piece will even be published and shared on a national platform! We are so excited that our students have this incredible opportunity and we can't wait to see what they create! - Grab & Go Meals for Seniors Until we receive more funding, our Grab & Go Meals program for seniors has concluded, for now. If you’d like to donate to our Seniors in Need campaign to fund this program, click here. - COVID-19 Testing and Vaccines Need a COVID test? Find testing sites near you here. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines by watching our virtual Town Hall with RUMC's Dr. Otterbeck here. To find out if you're eligible for the vaccine at this stage, fill out this screener. 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. New York City is providing in-home COVID-19 vaccinations (Johnson & Johnson) to eligible NYC residents who are fully homebound, have not already been vaccinated, and do not already have access to a vaccination program. If you believe you are eligible, please fill out this form. The City will use this information to call back to further discuss your eligibility for the program. SUNRISE DAY CAMP Double Your Impact! We are incredibly excited to announce that the Avis Family will graciously match all donations made up to $50K, so you’ll get double bang for your buck! You can make a donation to Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island here or register for our SunriseWALKS virtual celebration on June 27 here. 12th Annual Nancy Avis L'Dor V'Dor Awards Thursday, April 22, 7pm Join us virtually as we honor four extraordinary women and continue the legacy of Nancy Avis. Proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC's Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund. This year, we are pleased to honor Ilene Pappert, Ruth Greenwald, Stephanie Feldman, and Natalie DeVito. Tickets are complimentary, but preregistration is required. Acknowledge our honorees with a journal ad or sponsor the event here. Save the Date for Our Upcoming Events
You're Invited to a Tupperware Party! We're hosting an online Tupperware party! A portion of proceeds from your purchases will support our Grab & Go meals program for seniors. 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 Burpee Challenge Livestrong's 30-Day Burpee Challenge begins today! Burpees target every major muscle group while also getting your heart rate up and building endurance. Join the challenge here! 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 Programs Sign up for basketball programs here! Gymnastics Register for gymnastics 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 missed any of the lectures or programs, you can also purchase access to a recording on demand by buying a ticket! Learn more here. A Gracie Mansion Conservancy Virtual Art Tour... "Catalyst: Art and Social Justice" Wednesday, April 14, 2:30pm Join us for a virtual tour of an art exhibition housed at Gracie Mansion! The tour will highlight works by New York artists & activists since 1960, celebrating the power of art to spark change & spur progress. *Limited tickets available* Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information will be sent to registered participants one week before the tour. SAJE Presents... Rethinking Meir Kahane in the 21st Century: A Lecture by Shaul Magid, Dartmouth College Wednesday, April 14, 7pm In this lecture, Shaul Magid, Distinguished Fellow in Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, will explore Meir Kahane's program for American Jews and analyze his continued influence on American Jewry more than thirty years after his death. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. The Tattooed Torah: Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sunday, April 18, 6pm-7:30pm We are proud to partner with the Boulder JCC to present a FREE program in honor of Yom HaShoah. Join us for a free screening of the award-winning animated short film, "The Tattooed Torah," followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and narrator Ed Asner. "The Tattooed Torah" is a profound story of love, bonds across generations, tradition, resilience, and above all – a story of hope. Check out the trailer here. Register for free here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Derfner Judaica Museum: Impressions of Eastern Europe Tuesday, April 20, 1pm Enjoy a special look at prints from the Derfner Judaica Museum's permanent collection, including lithographs, etchings, engravings and woodcuts by Eastern European artists who participated in some of the most significant art movements of the 20th century. Register here. Donations are suggested. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Jewish Composers: A Lecture Series by Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano Wednesdays, April 21 - May 12, 7pm We are excited to present a new lecture series on Jewish Composers with Deborah Rosengaus, Mezzo Soprano. When she's not busy performing on stages around the world, Deborah is a skilled music history lecturer. A reviewer praised her lectures, saying: "Ms. Rosengaus’ inner performer is present in her lectures, fostering a fun, lighthearted and sometimes irreverent classroom atmosphere, perfect for classical music lovers and amateurs alike." Tickets are $12 per lecture or $40 for the series and can be purchased here. Zoom information to follow registration. SAJE Presents... Shtisel: Freudian Readings of the Hit Israeli Series with Dr. Julia Wagner Sundays, April 25 & May 2, 12-1pm EST/ 5-6pm BST This series is sponsored by Susan and Andrew Hirsch. Shtisel tells stories of love and loss in an Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In this 2-part lecture series, Dr. Wagner will explore the first 2 seasons of Shtisel through a Freudian perspective, enriching our understanding of the emotional drama and its phenomenal audience appeal. No prior reading is necessary but familiarity with Shtisel (seasons 1 & 2) is recommended. Learn more and register here. Tickets are $12 per lecture or $20 for the series. Zoom information to follow registration. Celebrating the Remarkable: Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer Sunday, April 25, 1pm We are pleased to partner with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, to honor Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer as she receives her first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university. From orphan of the Holocaust, to sniper in the Israeli Haganah, to removing sexual stigmas, Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer has spent her life breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for the next generation of strong women. Register for this free virtual event here. SAJE Presents... Never Alone: A Conversation with Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy, Moderated by Amy Posner Wednesday, May 26, 7pm This event is co-sponsored by Hillel at CSI and presented in collaboration with... Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center, Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, Jewish Russian Learning Center, Congregation Toras Emes of Staten Island, Wagner College Holocaust Center, Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan. Join us for a conversation with Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky and historian Gil Troy about their new book, Never Alone. Never Alone is a classic account of courage, integrity, and most of all, belonging. The conversation will be moderated by Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island. Tickets are $25 and include the link to the virtual event, a copy of Never Alone with a signed bookplate, and delivery of the book. *Note: Book must be purchased from the JCC in order to receive Zoom link for event. Purchase tickets here. Donations are welcome. Take the Matzah Challenge In honor of Passover, UJA wants to see your tastiest matzah creations! It’s easy to participate:
From now until April 4, all posts uploaded to social media using the hashtag #MatzahChallenge will be matched with an $18 donation to UJA, thanks to a generous donor. This is a fun and delicious way to celebrate Passover and help UJA continue to help those in need during the pandemic. 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 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! Passover Concert Watch a Passover concert presented by the Embassy of Israel in Switzerland! Passover Puppets Check out this tutorial and learn how to make Passover finger puppets! This activity is a fun way for kids to engage with the Passover story and take part in its retelling! Register for Camp! Summer will be here before you know it! Register for camp today! The Weekly Schmooze: Core 24 Basketball Academy Camp Our Core 24 Basketball Academy Camp is gearing up for its second summer and we can't wait to see our future all-stars out on the court! Register for up to 8 weeks of daily training, contests, scrimmages, team-building activities, and more for players at all levels. Whether you're new to the Core 24 family or you've been enjoying our programs all year long, camp is a great way to stay active and make new friends this summer. Register for basketball camp here! Navigating Legal and Financial Decisions with NYLAG: Social Security Did you know the JCC can help you get assistance with legal and financial planning through our partnership with NYLAG? If you want to appoint someone to act on your behalf regarding Social Security benefits, SSI, SSD, or Medicare, NYLAG can help you appoint a Representative for Social Security. For more information on this and other social services, contact Devorah Weiss at 718.475.5245 or DWeiss@sijcc.com. 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. 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 We offer free, online ESL classes to help advance your language skills! Please call us at 718.508.3885. Get your high school equivalency diploma online for free!* Call us at 718.508.3895 or email 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! Opposition to Nazi Rule in Experience and Memory Tuesday, April 6, 4pm The University of Michigan’s Frankel Center for Judaic Studies hosts Professor Mark Roseman of Indiana University Bloomington, author of “Lives Reclaimed: A Story of Rescue and Resistance in Nazi Germany,” for an online presentation, in partnership with the Ann Arbor JCC. Register here. Healthy Lifestyle Bootcamp: A Program for Cancer Survivors Wednesdays, 2pm (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. Legacies of the Holocaust: Anti-Semitism in the 20th and 21st Centuries Thursday, April 8, 6pm Please join us for this special Yom HaShoah program, presented by Dr. Amy Simon of Michigan State University. Dr. Simon will explore the legacy of the hatred of Jews during the Holocaust and how and why it continues to impact the globe. She will also address the current impact of the evolution of anti-Semitism on perceptions of Zionism and anti-Zionism. Register here. Sports as a Microcosm of Society: Race and Antisemitism Thursday, April 8, 9:30pm Join the Addison-Penzak JCC of Silicon Valley for a viewing of the movie Race about African American athlete Jesse Owens' 1936 Olympic victories in Nazi Germany, followed by a panel discussion in observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Register here. Israeli Dance & Music Convention Sunday, April 18 Join the Rady JCC in Winnipeg for a virtual dance & music convention! In honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut and the incredible contributions that Israel has made to the world of cultural arts, this full-day virtual event will feature workshops with renowned choreographers and musicians from around the world. Learn more and register here. Virtual Exercise & Movement: Rock Steady Boxing Saturdays, April 24 - June 5, 11-11:45am The JCC of Greater Boston presents a virtual boxing class to help those with Parkinson's disease feel their best! Led by a Certified Rock Steady Boxing Coach, Rock Steady Boxing incorporates a “tough love” approach with boxing drills, calisthenics, resistance training & more to increase your strength, balance, reaction time and overall fitness while protecting vulnerable neurological points to sustain necessary brain health and function. * Ability to stand for the majority of class with good stability is required subject to assessment. The class is $99 for 6 weeks. Contact Heidi at 617.558.6459 or email hwhite@jccgb.org to register. 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! Yom HaShoah: Honoring Jewish Resilience and Storytelling Wednesday, April 7, 8pm Four international artist-educators will participate in a roundtable conversation about storytelling and Jewish resilience. Weaving together inspiring multimedia from each panelist’s body of work, these artists will engage in powerful conversation about the importance of paying tribute and preserving and elevating cultural memory—from the past into the future. Watch here. Yom HaZikaron: The Power of Jewish Peoplehood Through Personal and Collective Mourning Tuesday, April 13, 8pm Listen to an intimate conversation about loss and the healing power of personal and collective mourning as shared by Israelis who know the heartache and anguish from their own experiences. Watch here. Yom HaAtzmaut: Moments of Pride Through Israeli Innovation Wednesday, April 14, 8pm On the eve of Israel’s 73rd independence celebration, the program will open with a virtual tour of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and an interview with Chemi Peres, the chairman of the Center’s board and the co-founder and managing general partner of Pitango venture capital fund, which invests widely in the technology field, from IT to medicine. The program will also spotlight the country’s undeniable culture of innovation and its ability to overcome obstacles, by visiting three Israeli enterprises and hearing from their founders about how each built the business and what North American Jews can learn from their experiences. Watch here. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2021
Categories |
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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