IN THE NEWS
Thank you for supporting SunriseWALKS! Even though our walk looked different this year, we truly felt the magic of Sunrise during our SunriseWALKS Virtual Celebration on Sunday! Thank you so much to all who helped us raise awareness and funds so that our Sunrise families can have a special camp experience at home this summer. We are also grateful for our generous camp sponsors! If you missed our celebration on Sunday, you can watch the video and donate to Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island here! - Congratulations to our Adult Education students! As the school year ends, we would like to congratulate our Adult Education students who are about to receive their diplomas! While the last few months have been difficult, we are so proud of all of our students who persevered and quickly adapted to continuing their studies online. Our Adult Education department hopes to see their students soon and celebrate them with these special t-shirts they made to recognize their achievements! WELLNESS Dance Workout Dancing is a great way to get your heart rate up, burn calories, strengthen your muscles, and just have fun! Check out this 30 minute dance workout! - At-Home Workouts Check out this link for a variety of workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS No Ladder? No Problem! Many coaches have their players train with an agility ladder to work on speed and footwork. Even if you don't have an agility ladder at home, you can still get all the benefits of ladder drills by using some imagination! Check out this video from LA Clippers Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Daniel Shapiro to find out how! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
ARTS AND CULTURE Google Arts & Culture Presents: The Art of Tie and Dye Lots of people have tried tie-dying shirts as a fun activity during quarantine! Learn all about adire, or the art of tie and dye, in traditional and modern fashion expressions of the Egba people of Yorubaland with this interesting Google Arts & Culture exhibit. - 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! We are excited to announce our newest online class: Muddy Hands, Happy Hearts Thursdays, 10am Muddy Hands Happy Hearts is a hand-building ceramic program designed for students of all levels to explore the world of hand-built ceramics. Darren Corona is a local ceramicist that has been creating his own work, along with leading workshops and seminars for over two decades. Darren will teach various techniques, and give valuable insight to those participating. In this first session, Darren will be doing a wheel demo while taking questions. Join us on Zoom Zoom Meeting ID: 579 496 5827 MUSIC Music Trivia Challenge In honor of the upcoming holiday weekend, we have a special Fourth of July-themed question for this week's Music Trivia Challenge! One of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, this Founding Father is also widely acknowledged as the first successful poet-composer of the United States of America. Who was he? Check your answer in Thursday's J at Home! - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Global Gala The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra hosted its gala virtually this week! Watch here as Dame Helen Mirren introduces Maestro Lahav Shani and iconic soloists and conductors for an exceptional Global Gala! - Virtual Brazilian Drumming Workshops Wednesdays, starting July 15, 6-week session Join Philip Galinsky for a 6-week Brazilian drumming workshop! Bring your own drum and join call-and-response games, learn new techniques and rhythms, and play along with a world-renowned educator and performer of samba percussion. Children ages 6-10 years old: Wednesdays 4pm Adults: Wednesdays 5pm Fee: $60 Register here You will receive a Zoom invite to participate following your registration. - Virtual Instrumental Lessons Beginning July 1 When we first closed our doors to the public back in March, the faculty members of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute didn't waste any time and quickly adapted to the new normal! Our teachers helped their students transition to taking virtual lessons so that they could continue to benefit from their expertise in music. We are going to continue with our online instrumental lessons this summer, beginning July 1, and we hope that you'll join us virtually! Email Ela Seeley at eseeley@sijcc.com for more information. - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP Can you believe that we are less than ONE WEEK away from the start of our 2020 camp season?!?! After spending months at home, we are so excited to get outside and have fun with all of our camp friends! If you haven't registered for camp yet, there's still time! Register here! - Summer in the Cloud If you aren't planning on sending your child to camp this summer, we have a great virtual opportunity for you! We are proud to partner with Camp Settoga, New Country Day Camp, and Camp Twelve Trails for a collaborative New York area JCC experience: Summer in the Cloud. Summer in the Cloud is a unique virtual summer experience bringing together the best of our camp staffs, values, and programming for Summer 2020! Summer in the Cloud is offered weekly, Monday-Friday, from 9:30am-Noon, with optional activities Monday through Thursday from 4-5 pm. It is open to campers entering kindergarten through 6th grade. Learn more here Sunrise We are grateful to our friends at the Mannix-owned ShopRite stores on Staten Island for hosting a fundraiser for Sunrise Day Camp! When you're doing your 4th of July grocery shopping, be sure to make a donation at the register. All money raised will support our camp! KIDS AND FAMILIES Pick Your Plate! Travel around the world with Plato to learn about building healthy meals. Eat avocado toast in Australia, baobab fruit in Benin, and more! Yum! Pick your favorite plates for morning, midday, and evening meals. Be sure to meet your daily nutritional needs while not going over your budget! Play the game here! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed by July 15, individuals will have coverage effective August 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TODAY: Health Care Proxy: PRIDE Edition Workshop, 2pm Join Say Ah!, a nonprofit that offers health literacy programs, for a free webinar for the LGBTQ+ community. Learn how to choose and educate a trusted person to make health care decisions for you when you can't make them for yourself. Register here TONIGHT: Maccabi USA--Giving Back to the Community, 8pm Join Maccabi USA athletes for a panel discussion on inspiring acts of selflessness. In these tumultuous times, be inspired by Maccabi USA alumni practicing the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Register here Moment Magazine Presents: Lessons from My Father: The Teachings of Elie Wiesel Remembered with Elisha Wiesel Thursday, July 2, 4:30pm Join Elisha Wiesel on the fourth anniversary of his father’s passing as he shares stories and reflections on the lessons he learned from his dad, Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. Wiesel will be in conversation with Nadine Epstein, Moment editor-in-chief and editor of Elie Wiesel: An Extraordinary Life & Legacy. Moment is pleased to host this special Zoominar to honor the memory of Elie Wiesel who co-founded the magazine 45 years ago. Register here Celebrating Freedom & Serving Others: Jewish Community Honors July 4th The JCC Association of North America and the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council have put together a great collection of resources for honoring the upcoming 4th of July holiday! The resources offer a Jewish lens through which we can view the holiday, explore its meaning to us as Americans and as Jews, and take actions to make our country and our world a better place, a Jewish concept known as tikkun olam (repair of the world). Check it out 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! Dare to Inspire: How to Create Inspiration During Uncertain Times Thursday, July 2, 8pm Join Allison Holzer, co-author of Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life. She will guide you through a roadmap of how to speak and sustain inspiration to achieve your goals and successfully navigate through the unknown future. Allison will answer your questions at the end of the discussion. Watch here - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were able to help two seniors who are the primary caregivers for their teenage grandchildren. While they receive Social Security benefits, it's not enough to feed the family of four. We were able to provide them with food from our Kosher Food Pantry. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one.
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IN THE NEWS
Join our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration this weekend! Our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration is THIS SUNDAY at 10am! We hope you will join us for a celebration featuring celebrity guests, surprise performances, and most importantly, our Sunrise campers! Register for SunriseWALKS and donate what you can to help give summer back to kids with cancer and their siblings here. Already registered? The link to join our Virtual Celebration will be emailed to you! Stay tuned for more information. - Celebrating Outgoing CEO David Sorkin Last week, our Caregivers department presented retiring CEO David Sorkin with a special banner and gift to thank him for his leadership these past 15 years! WELLNESS Gentle Chair Yoga Follow along with this gentle chair yoga video! It's great for seniors and beginners! - At-Home Workouts Check out this link for a variety of workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! AQUATICS Aquatics Camp Registration for our JCC Trident Swim Camp closes TOMORROW! Be sure to register soon! At swim camp, our primary goal is to bring out the very best in every swimmer we coach! Whether you are entering the pool for the first time, a new swimmer looking to become more comfortable in the water, an aspiring competitive swimmer who is almost there, or a competitive swimmer looking to build endurance, we have a spot for you. We're so excited for another great summer in the pool! Click here for more information and to register for Aquatics Camp. - Strength-Building Dryland Workout This workout focuses on building total body strength so that you're more equipped to maintain optimal body positioning in the water. Complete four rounds of the following exercises, taking minimal rest between exercises and rounds. Click on the exercise for a demonstration.
SPORTS Registration for our summer Sports Camps closes TOMORROW! Register here! Core 24 Basketball Camp Our new-and-improved basketball camp will help your child become the best player they can be, and it's a great opportunity for them to have fun and stay active after months at home! Visit our website for more information and to register. Gymnastics Camp Our USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Training Program teaches skills in each Olympic event. Led by our staff of highly trained coaches, campers will work on the uneven parallel bars, balance beam, vault, floor, and trampoline. Other fun activities include obstacle courses, games, and contests. Gymnastics camp is a fun and healthy way to learn new skills and make lots of new friends! Learn more and register here! JCC Soccer Academy Camp Alejandro Jimenez, our Head Coach and Soccer Camp Coordinator, has created a new curriculum that is specifically designed to ensure all our players are able to enjoy the beauty of the game while testing and teaching them skills under the guidance of professional trainers and coaches. At soccer camp, our primary goal is to bring out the very best in every player we coach! We will have access to the outdoor field, indoor gymnasiums, and outdoor pool, where we will do skills & drills, strength & conditioning, and just have plain old fun! Our camp offers three levels—Recreational, Travel, and Elite—to ensure that every type of player gets the right kind of attention! Learn more and sign up for Soccer Camp here! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
ARTS AND CULTURE Recap: JCC Senior Boomers Ensemble's Virtual Variety Show Last week, IlluminArt Productions and the JCC's Senior Boomers Ensemble put on a fabulous virtual variety show! It was a great way for the participants to (virtually) get together and showcase their wonderful talents! Check out some photos from the show here. - Recap: SAJE Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series On Tuesday, we enjoyed a wonderful program presented by our Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE)! Rebbetzin Katzman gave an insightful lecture on Women and Empowerment in Judaism. If you missed it, you can watch the lecture here! - All Balanchine Program Lincoln Center is streaming a collection of landmark works by George Balanchine from rarely seen New York City Ballet performances. Check out the All Balanchine Program here! - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! MUSIC Music Trivia Challenge This week's Trivia Challenge asked... The supposition that this renowned conductor and composer poisoned Mozart, his musical rival, became the basis of an opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and an Oscar-winning 1984 film. Who was he? Antonio Salieri (1750-1825). Born in Italy, Salieri went to Vienna with his mentor Florian Glassman. Succeeding Glassman as music director for the royal court during a golden age in Austrian classical music, Salieri fostered the talents of many promising students, including Beethoven (whom he taught without charge for a decade) and one of Mozart’s sons. Beethoven dedicated his Violin Sonata No. 3, op. 12 (1798) to Salieri. Salieri also composed many well-received operas, including Tarare (1787), which the Viennese initially favored over Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Although many still debate the possibility, there is little hard evidence to substantiate the supposedly lethal rivalry between Salieri and Mozart that serves as the basis for Rimsky-Korsakov’s 1898 opera Mozart and Salieri, or to support the notion that Salieri harbored a seething animosity for Mozart, as portrayed in the play and film Amadeus (1980; 1984). Stay tuned for next week's Trivia Challenge! - Virtual Brazilian Drumming Workshops Wednesdays, starting July 15, 6-week session Join Philip Galinsky for a 6-week Brazilian drumming workshop! Bring your own drum and join call-and-response games, learn new techniques and rhythms, and play along with a world-renowned educator and performer of samba percussion. Children ages 6-10 years old: Wednesdays 4pm Adults: Wednesdays 5pm Fee: $60 Register here You will receive a Zoom invite to participate following your registration. - Virtual Instrumental Lessons Beginning July 1 When we first closed our doors to the public back in March, the faculty members of the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute didn't waste any time and quickly adapted to the new normal! Our teachers helped their students transition to taking virtual lessons so that they could continue to benefit from their expertise in music. We are going to continue with our online instrumental lessons this summer, beginning July 1, and we hope that you'll join us virtually! Email Ela Seeley at eseeley@sijcc.comfor more information. - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. Camp starts in less than 2 weeks and our staff is working hard to prepare for another amazing season! We can't wait!!! CAMP If you haven't registered for camp yet, there's still time! Register here! NEW: Performing Arts Specialty Summer Camp The stage is set for our newest specialty summer camp—Performing Arts! Campers will dive into an imagination zone, where they’ll get hands-on experience in all aspects of theater including acting, improvisation, dance, and music. Our young thespians will even create an original play to perform for their fellow campers and family members! Performing Arts Camp, run by IlluminArt Productions, is a great way to make new friends, build self-confidence, and express yourself! Registration for Performing Arts Camp is closing soon, so be sure to sign up now! Register here! SunriseWALKS We can't wait to celebrate with you virtually at our SunriseWALKS Celebration THIS SUNDAY, June 28 at 10:00 AM. Our online, virtual celebration will consist of a short program that you can watch from any device, and will feature celebrity guests, surprise performances, and most importantly, our Sunrise campers. The link to watch the virtual celebration will be emailed to you later this week. After the program, we encourage you to put on your favorite Sunrise swag and walk in your home, safely in your community, or celebrate with your team your way, and make a difference, no matter where you are! Register and donate here! - Sponsor Shout-Outs! Thank you to our sponsors, A-List Janitorial Supplies, New York Community Bank, and ShopRite for supporting Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! We'd also like to give a special shout-out to the Emergency Children's Help Organization, our Camp-in-a-Box sponsor! Thanks to your generosity, our amazing campers will be receiving boxes full of fun camp activities all summer! KIDS AND FAMILIES NaNoWriMo We all have a story to tell! NaNoWriMo helps kids tell their story by encouraging to complete daily writing challenges, ultimately working towards writing an entire novel! Check it out and start writing here! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed by July 15, individuals will have coverage effective August 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TODAY: TYSA Presents: Narcan Training by CHASI, 3pm Want to learn how to save lives and reverse an opioid emergency at home? Attend this free Narcan/Naloxone training workshop! Email abigail@sipcw.org to sign up. TODAY: Virtual Bake-Along with Chef Lindsay, 7pm As the summer officially kicks off, Lindsay Culinary and her sweet sous-chef daughter Valerie invite you to a special evening of 'Stars & S'Mores' where they will lead you through baking delicious S'mores Brownies. Get the recipe and watch live 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! Virtual JCC: "Juggling in Challenging Times: What To Do If I Drop the Ball?" with Lori Palatnik Monday, June 29, 10am Lori Palatnik is the Founding Director of Momentum. She is a world-renowned Jewish educator, speaker, writer, and media personality. Watch here - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were able to help an older woman who is out of work due to the pandemic. She was working for Amazon, but she had to quit because she is at high risk of catching COVID-19 due to preexisting conditions. We were able to provide her with food from our Kosher Food Pantry and referred her for SNAP food benefits. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
Join our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration this weekend! We are less than one week away from our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration! We hope you will join us on Sunday, June 28, at 10am for a celebration featuring celebrity guests, surprise performances, and most importantly, our Sunrise campers! Register for SunriseWALKS and donate what you can to help give summer back to kids with cancer and their siblings here. Already registered? The link to join our Virtual Celebration will be emailed to you this week! Stay tuned for more information. - Meet our New Board Members! Last week, we installed three new board members at our Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting took place virtually. The newest members of the Board of Directors are Bryn Biren, R. Randy Lee, and Ana Oliveira. Incoming CEO Orit Lender said, "I want to thank our newest members and our entire Board for volunteering their time and talents—we appreciate everything you do to help the JCC continue to serve the Staten Island community.” Read all about our new board members here! - Annual Report During our virtual Annual Meeting, we also debuted our 2019-2020 Annual Report. You can read it here! - Delivering Meals to Holocaust Survivors The JCC is proud to help seniors—and especially Holocaust survivors—facing food insecurity. Check out this video from UJA highlighting our food distribution. A special thank you to an anonymous donor who contributed $20,000 to this program in honor of Jay and Lucille Chazanoff. Thanks to your support, we can continue to feed and provide services to Holocaust survivors on Staten Island. WELLNESS 34 Lower-Body Exercises You Can Do at Home These 34 moves will tone your legs and glutes, while also strengthening your lower back! Choose a few of them for leg day or add some into your existing workout routine for variety! - At-Home Workouts Check out this link for a variety of workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! AQUATICS Aquatics Camp Registration for our JCC Trident Swim Camp closes this Friday! Be sure to register soon! At swim camp, our primary goal is to bring out the very best in every swimmer we coach! Whether you are entering the pool for the first time, a new swimmer looking to become more comfortable in the water, an aspiring competitive swimmer who is almost there, or a competitive swimmer looking to build endurance, we have a spot for you. We're so excited for another great summer in the pool! Click here for more information and to register for Aquatics Camp. SPORTS Registration for our summer Sports Camps closes this Friday! Be sure to register soon, as space is limited. Register here! Core 24 Basketball Camp Our new-and-improved basketball camp will help your child become the best player they can be, and it's a great opportunity for them to have fun and stay active after months at home! Visit our website for more information and to register. Gymnastics Camp Our USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Training Program teaches skills in each Olympic event. Led by our staff of highly trained coaches, campers will work on the uneven parallel bars, balance beam, vault, floor, and trampoline. Other fun activities include obstacle courses, games, and contests. Gymnastics camp is a fun and healthy way to learn new skills and make lots of new friends! Learn more and register here! JCC Soccer Academy Camp Alejandro Jimenez, our Head Coach and Soccer Camp Coordinator, has created a new curriculum that is specifically designed to ensure all our players are able to enjoy the beauty of the game while testing and teaching them skills under the guidance of professional trainers and coaches. At soccer camp, our primary goal is to bring out the very best in every player we coach! We will have access to the outdoor field, indoor gymnasiums, and outdoor pool, where we will do skills & drills, strength & conditioning, and just have plain old fun! Our camp offers three levels—Recreational, Travel, and Elite—to ensure that every type of player gets the right kind of attention! Learn more and sign up for Soccer Camp here! - Essential Soccer Drills for Kids Try out these soccer drills to get ready for Soccer Camp! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
ARTS AND CULTURE Recap: Virtual Tour of the Derfner Judaica Museum and Art Collection at the Hebrew Home Our Cultural Arts department decided that since we can't visit museums, museums can visit us instead! The JCC's Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) invited our participants for an amazing virtual tour of the Derfner Judaica Museum and Art Collection at the Hebrew Home, led by brilliant art educator Elana Kaplan. The founding gift to the museum was made by Leuba and Ralph Baum, European émigrés who amassed a collection of more than 800 Jewish ceremonial objects. The permanent collection today comprises more than 1400 fine art pieces. Our audience enjoyed the virtual program last week and is looking forward to more virtual explorations to come! - TODAY: Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - 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 Trivia Challenge The supposition that this renowned conductor and composer poisoned Mozart, his musical rival, became the basis of an opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and an Oscar-winning 1984 film. Who was he? Check your answer in Thursday's edition of J at Home! - From the Vault: Full Concerts from Jazz at Lincoln Center Lincoln Center releases a filmed jazz concert from their archives vault every Wednesday! Check them out here! - Virtual Brazilian Drumming Workshops Wednesdays, starting July 15, 6-week session Join Philip Galinsky for a 6-week Brazilian drumming workshop! Bring your own drum and join call-and-response games, learn new techniques and rhythms, and play along with a world-renowned educator and performer of samba percussion. Children ages 6-10 years old: Wednesdays 4pm Adults: Wednesdays 5pm Fee: $60 Register here You will receive a Zoom invite to participate following your registration. - Virtual Instrumental Lessons Beginning July 1 Join us (virtually!) at the Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute this summer for online instrumental lessons, beginning July 1. Email Ela Seeley at eseeley@sijcc.comfor more information. - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP Registration for camp is now open again here! NEW: Performing Arts Specialty Summer Camp The stage is set for our newest specialty summer camp—Performing Arts! Campers will dive into an imagination zone, where they’ll get hands-on experience in all aspects of theater including acting, improvisation, dance, and music. Our young thespians will even create an original play to perform for their fellow campers and family members! Performing Arts Camp, run by IlluminArt Productions, is a great way to make new friends, build self-confidence, and express yourself! Registration closing soon, so be sure to sign up now! Register here! SunriseWALKS This summer, Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island will go completely virtual. It's hard to imagine a summer without the sounds of joy and laughter at our campgrounds, but this summer we'll have to use our imaginations more than ever as we bring the magic of Sunrise to our campers at home. Virtual programming experts have created a Sunrise experience that will take our campers on great adventures and thrilling escapades designed to delight them all day, every day, in every way. To get a taste of what our campers will be experiencing this summer, check out this video! We are in the final stretch as we approach our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration this Sunday at 10am. To help make our Virtual Camp experience a memorable and magical one, please donate what you can here. - Sponsor Shout-Outs! Today, we'd like to thank some of our sponsors, Global Container Terminals New York and Avis Dental, for their support of Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! We'd also like to give a special shout-out to the Vincent Gruppuso Foundation and JVN Restoration for co-sponsoring the tablets our campers will be using this summer for their virtual Sunrise camp experience! KIDS AND FAMILIES Frontiers for Young Minds Check out this free scientific journal written by scientists and edited by kids and teens! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed by July 15, individuals will have coverage effective August 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TONIGHT: To Life! To Life! L’Chaim!, 7pm Our friends at UJA Westchester invite you to join them for an evening with the cast of the recent hit production of Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof. Sing along with your favorite songs and hear how this fresh take on a classic went from a 6-week limited run to an 18-month-long off-Broadway hit. Register here Maccabi USA Presents: Lunch and Learn: Overcoming Challenges During a Time of Crisis Wednesday, June 24, 11:30am An inspirational and inspiring session featuring Noam Gershony, 2012 Paralympics Gold Medal Winner in Wheel Chair Tennis & former IDF Pilot in the 2006 Lebanon War, and, Elad Roth, Manager of the ITECenter in Akko and Founder of the ITEC Wheel Chair Tennis program for children. Register here Young Adults (21+) Wine Tasting Wednesdays with UJA Wednesday, June 24, 5:30pm Join us for a series of Israeli wine tastings and food pairings led by experts in the field. We will learn about a variety of delicious wines and ways to create the authentic flavors of Israel in our own kitchens. This week's event focuses on white wine and cheese boards. Register here Maccabi USA Presents: The Accidental Talmudist Wednesday, June 24, 8pm Join Maccabi USA for an interesting virtual event featuring,Salvador Litvak, also known as The Accidental Talmudist. Sal has spent the past 10 years enriching the lives of Jews around the world through storytelling and Jewish knowledge. After completing the 7.5 year Daf Yomi cycle, Sal started the Accidental Talmudist to share Jewish wisdom, faith, culture, history and stories. His social media presence has over one million followers on Facebook, and thousands more through other platforms. Register here TYSA Presents: Narcan Training by CHASI Thursday, June 25, 3pm Want to learn how to save lives and reverse an opioid emergency at home? Attend this free Narcan/Naloxone training workshop! Email abigail@sipcw.org to sign up. Virtual Bake-Along with Chef Lindsay Thursday, June 25, 7pm As the summer officially kicks off, Lindsay Culinary and her sweet sous-chef daughter Valerie invite you to a special evening of 'Stars & S'Mores' where they will lead you through baking delicious S'mores Brownies. Get the recipe and watch live here - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were able to help a single mother and her sister, both immigrants from Sri Lanka who lost their jobs as home health aids during the pandemic. They do not qualify for any government benefits due to their immigration status, but we were able to give them food from our Kosher Food Pantry to help them get through this difficult time. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. WELLNESS
15-Minute Workout for Senior Adults This 15-minute workout is great for helping senior adults build their strength, balance, and flexibility! - At-Home Workouts Check out this link for a variety of workouts you can do from the comfort of your own home! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! AQUATICS Power Output Dryland Workout This workout focuses on your ability to create powerful starts and turns. Complete three rounds of the following exercises. Take minimal rest between exercises and two minutes of rest between rounds. You can utilize a sturdy chair, box, or step for these movements. Click on the exercise for a demonstration.
Aquatics Camp We are pleased to announce that we will be opening JCC Trident Swim Camp this summer! At swim camp, our primary goal is to bring out the very best in every swimmer we coach! Whether you are entering the pool for the first time, a new swimmer looking to become more comfortable in the water, an aspiring competitive swimmer who is almost there, or a competitive swimmer looking to build endurance, we have a spot for you. We're so excited for another great summer in the pool! Click here for more information and to register for Aquatics Camp. SPORTS Core 24 Basketball Camp We are pleased to announce that we will be opening the JCC’s Core 24 Basketball Camp this summer at the Avis/South Shore Building! Our new-and-improved basketball camp will help your child become the best player they can be, and it's a great opportunity for them to have fun and stay active after months at home! Visit our website for more information and to register. - Core 24 Basketball Academy Presents: Basketball Drills! Check out this video from one of our Core 24 Basketball Academy trainers! We can't wait to see you back on the court this summer at basketball camp but until then, you can work on your game at home! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
- Sports Camps Did you know that we offer four different sports camps in the summer? In addition to basketball and aquatics, we also have soccer and gymnastics programs! Not only will your child improve their skills, but sports will teach your child how to be a good teammate, the value of hard work, and the power of a positive attitude! Learn more here! ARTS AND CULTURE Broadway Fridays: One Act Tune into Lincoln Center's next "Broadway Friday" performance! A recording of James Lapine's One Act will be available to stream for two weeks, beginning tomorrow night at 8pm. One Act tells the story of Broadway legend Moss Hart's rise to fame. Watch it here. - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - 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 Trivia Challenge This week's trivia challenge asked... One of the towering figures in the history of classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach was married twice and the father of twenty children. Several of his sons also became noted musicians. Can you name any of the younger generation of musical Bachs? Four of Johann Sebastian’s sons became noted musicians. They are: Wilhelm Friedemann (commonly called Friedemann, 1710-1784), who held many important musical posts. His unhappy life inspired a novel, Friedemann Bach, by Albert Brachvogel. Carl (or Karl) Philipp Emanuel (commonly called C. P. E Bach, 1714-1788), author of the influential book The True Manner of Keyboard Performance, was a prolific composer and one of the originators of the sonata-symphony form. Johann Christoph Friedrich (called the "Buckeburg Bach," 1732-1795) composed in a wide variety of modes, including chamber music and symphonies. Johann Christian (called the “English Bach,” 1735-1782) became an opera and concert director and music master to the family of England’s George III. His compositions range from operas and symphonies to simple works for the harpsichord. - Learn with Carnegie Hall: Musical Explorers for Families Join New York City–based artists as they introduce children (ages 4–8) to music from around the world. Brianna Thomas shares jazz, father-daughter duo Juan Gutiérrez and Julia Gutiérrez-Rivera introduce the musical expressions of bomba and plena, and Fabiana Masili explores the Brazilian sounds of Carnival. Watch the concert here! - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP Registration for camp is now open again here! Wondering what activities your children can look forward to at camp this summer? We plan to offer most of our traditional camp activities with modifications when necessary, including: swimming, animal exploration with Brian Lark, sports, archery, nature, arts and crafts, music, fun science, drama, yoga, and celebratory events such as weekly Shabbat, July 4th, Israel Day, Day of Caring and Sharing, and Maccabi Games. What is your camper most excited for?! - We've received some questions about our policies and procedures this summer. We will be putting out a parent handbook, developed by our new camp medical committee, closer to camp starting. For other questions, please contact Glenn at gwechsler@sijcc.com SunriseWALKS Check out a special message from one of our counselors, Kyle, about what Sunrise means to him. As a cancer survivor himself, Kyle knows first-hand that the magic of Sunrise is giving kids with cancer the chance to just be kids again. Together, we can bring that magic to our campers this summer. Register to "walk" with us at our Virtual SunriseWALKS Celebration on June 28 and donate to support Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island here! - Sponsor Shout-Outs! We'd like to give a shout-out to Richmond Wealth Management, The Internicola Law Firm, P.C., Casale Jewelers, RTR Financial Services, Stout Homes Building and Remodeling, Master Realtors, and Investors Bank! Our generous sponsors are helping us bring the magic of Sunrise to our amazing campers when they need it most! KIDS AND FAMILIES iCivics iCivics is a non-partisan online collection of free games that teach kids how to become engaged citizens! Learn how laws are made, vote on Supreme Court cases, run a presidential campaign, and more here! - What's Jewish About Chocolate? Monday, June 22, 1pm From cacao beans to yummy treats... what can we learn from chocolate? Join our friends at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford for a free online event for families with elementary school-aged children. There is a maximum of 20 attendees so be sure to register here to save your spot! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed by July 15, individuals will have coverage effective August 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TONIGHT: Maccabi USA President's Forum with Olympic and Maccabiah Champion Anthony Ervin, 8pm Hosted by Maccabi USA President Jeff Bukantz, the President’s Forum features intimate conversations with distinguished guests across the global Jewish community. The next featured guest is US Olympic and Maccabiah Swimming Champion, Anthony Ervin. Anthony was a member of the U.S. Swim Team at the 2000, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. In 2017, Anthony was a member of the US Maccabiah Open Swimming team and was given the highest honor – lighting the torch at the Opening Ceremony to officially begin the Games. Register here. TOMORROW: Tips and Tricks for a Father’s Day BBQ from Izzy Eidelman, CEO and Pit Master of Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse, 4pm Father's Day is this weekend! Learn some tips and tricks for a Father’s Day BBQ from Izzy Eidelman, CEO and Pit Master of Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse. Join the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC for a free livestream! It wasn’t until the tender age of 26 that Sruli “Izzy” Eidelman had his first bite of BBQ. Kosher barbecue to be exact. For Izzy, it was love at first bite. He started smoking briskets in his parents' backyard in Brooklyn and amassed a knowledge that helped him open Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse, the first kosher BBQ restaurant in NYC. Izzy will share his story, mission, advice for success and some tips for your home BBQ. You won’t want to miss this one! Watch here. Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were able to help a senior couple who are the parents of two sons in college. One parent became unemployed due to the pandemic, and the other has applied for disability benefits but was denied. We were able to connect them with food from our Kosher Food Pantry as well as legal services to help them navigate their benefits. They told us they are incredibly grateful for our help during this difficult time. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
Supporting our Soccer Families When we learned that several of the families in our soccer program were struggling because of the coronavirus, we knew we had to do something to help. Now, our Kosher Food Pantry is providing weekly donations of food to over 100 individuals affiliated with the program! We are grateful to all who support our Families in Need COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which makes services like this possible. As Sports & Recreation Director Mike Reape says, "It’s part of our values at the JCC to help the community, and that starts with being there for our own participants and members when they need us. I’m so glad we are able to help these families." Read more about how we are serving our local community during this difficult time here. - ECE Photo Challenge Our weekly ECE Photo Challenges are helping our students keep learning and stay connected while they are at home. Last week's challenge was to find something in each color of the rainbow. Check it out here! WELLNESS 10-Minute Pilates Workout for Strong Abs Do you have 10 minutes to spare? Try out these 10 Pilates moves for just a minute each to build a stronger core! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! UPDATE: Dr. Bloomfield's Q&A on Tuesdays will be canceled until further notice. We are taking suggestions on what topics our senior participants would like to discuss next. if you have something important you'd like to talk about or learn about, please email aarmao@sijcc.com. Dr. Bloomfield will still be hosting his weekly Thursday classes! See the class information below. Listen to Your Heart, Online: Thursdays, 1pm Dr. Dennis Bloomfield is here to discuss the risk of heart disease and heart-healthy habits. At the end of each lecture, he will open up the floor to any of you who have specific questions pertaining to your current health situations. Join Zoom meeting Meeting ID: 914 380 9061 Password: wellness1 SPORTS NBA All-Star Virtual Field Trip Go behind the scenes to meet NBA storytellers and learn all about their careers! This virtual field trip demonstrates how pro basketball players use math to play their best! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
- Sports Camps Did you know that we offer four different sports camps in the summer? We have soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and aquatics programs! Not only will your child improve their skills, but sports will teach your child how to be a good teammate, the value of hard work, and the power of a positive attitude! Learn more here! ARTS AND CULTURE Digital Resources from the Morgan Library and Museum Explore the Morgan from home, with this website featuring virtual tours, talks, and online exhibitions. - TODAY: Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents Highlights from the Derfner Judaica Museum, 12:30pm Join us for a fascinating virtual presentation on the Derfner Judaica Museum Art Collection and the Hebrew Home! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 822 0934 9877 Password: 897974 - TOMORROW: Virtual Variety Hour with Lloyd Lerner, 10:30am Join us for this special virtual variety hour presented by the JCC and IlluminArt Productions! Join us on Zoom here Meeting ID: 257 296 9967 Password: ILLUMINART - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - Ongoing Cultural Arts Classes We miss all of our enriching Cultural Arts classes, but we are so excited to be able to offer some of them virtually! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual programming! The Art of Broadway with Fred Grieco Our Art of Broadway class with Fred Grieco was one of our first classes to go virtual this spring, and it has been such a success! Last Friday's class, which featured special guest John Kendrick, was a great reminder that even while we are far apart, we are still brought together by the things we love—like the cultural performances that move us. Thank you to instructor Fred Grieco for continuing to show your dedication to teaching and your passion for theater through this amazing online class! Be sure to join us for this week's class on Friday at 11am! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 115 119 374 Password: 265999 MUSIC Music Trivia Challenge One of the towering figures in the history of classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach was married twice and the father of twenty children. Several of his sons also became noted musicians. Can you name any of the younger generation of musical Bachs? Check your answer in Thursday's J at Home! - Young People's Concerts Play! The New York Philharmonic Orchestra has some great resources available for kids! This Young People’s Concert, Jean Sibelius: Music of a Hero, Music of a Nation, is accompanied by educational videos and activities that get kids thinking about music composition. Then, you can try an interactive game that allows you to play with different variations on Sibelius’ themes! - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. As we announced last week, we are so excited that JCC Day Camp will be open this summer! We know that your children have been eagerly awaiting getting outside and playing in the sun with their friends, and we are just as excited to welcome them back to camp this summer! CAMP Registration for camp is now open again here! We've received some questions about our policies and procedures this summer. We will be putting out a parent handbook, developed by our new camp medical committee, closer to camp starting. For other questions, please contact Glenn at gwechsler@sijcc.com SunriseWALKS We had a great time at our friend Jessica Caracciolo's virtual dance party last month! Her party raised over $1,000 for Sunrise! Here are some other great ideas for DIY fundraisers! With your help, we can continue to bring the joys of summer back to children with cancer and their siblings. To host your own DIY fundraiser, email Stefanie at SRacano@sijcc.com. - Sponsor Shout-Outs! Thank you to our sponsors, NRG Energy, Zaremba Brown, S&S Manufacturing, Valpak of Staten Island and Greater Brooklyn, Scaran, and TGI Office Automation, for supporting Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! KIDS AND FAMILIES Science Fun for Everyone Check out these fun science experiments! You can do them at home, with supplies you likely have around the house! - What's Jewish About Chocolate? Monday, June 22, 1pm From cacao beans to yummy treats... what can we learn from chocolate? Join our friends at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford for a free online event for families with elementary school-aged children. There is a maximum of 20 attendees so be sure to register here to save your spot! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed, individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! TODAY: Discovering Your Family Secrets with Esther Safran Foer, interviewed by Robert Siegel, 4:30pm Join Esther Safran Foer, author of the recently released I Want You to Know We’re Still Here, as she shares her deeply moving story about her journey to learn more about her father’s family. It was not until Esther was an adult that she discovered her father had a previous wife and daughter, both killed in the Holocaust. Interviewed by her dear friend and former NPR All Things Considered host, Robert Siegel, Esther will reveal how she became a detective and traveled the world in search of the family she never knew she had. Register here. TODAY: Debate Defends Democracy: Democracy in a Time of Crisis, 5pm Debate Defends Democracy is a new public program series produced by the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy in partnership with New York University and the National Park Service, presented for free on Zoom. Programs will take place on Tuesday nights, beginning tonight. The series seeks to provide critical historical context around the nature of our democracy and our individual rights. It will be an ever-evolving arena for — civic and civil—public discourse, where we will sometimes agree, disagree and we hope, find common ground. Read more and register here. TOMORROW: Virtual Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival - Shared Legacies, 8pm Join Joshua Abbey, Las Vegas Jewish Film Festival Director and Dr. Shari Rogers, director, Shared Legacies, for a LIVE Webinar and discussion on this important film. Shared Legacies presents historical lessons of Black-Jewish cooperation in an utterly fascinating, urgent call to action. To receive the link to view the film, email Neil at neil@jewishnevada.org. Register for the Webinar here. Maccabi USA President's Forum with Olympic and Maccabiah Champion Anthony Ervin Thursday, June 18, 8pm Hosted by Maccabi USA President Jeff Bukantz, the President’s Forum features intimate conversations with distinguished guests across the global Jewish community. The next featured guest is US Olympic and Maccabiah Swimming Champion, Anthony Ervin. Anthony was a member of the U.S. Swim Team at the 2000, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. In 2017, Anthony was a member of the US Maccabiah Open Swimming team and was given the highest honor – lighting the torch at the Opening Ceremony to officially begin the Games. Register here. Tips and Tricks for a Father’s Day BBQ from Izzy Eidelman, CEO and Pit Master of Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse Friday, June 19, 4pm Father's Day is this weekend! Learn some tips and tricks for a Father’s Day BBQ from Izzy Eidelman, CEO and Pit Master of Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse. Join the Schwartz/Reisman Centre and Prosserman JCC for a free livestream! It wasn’t until the tender age of 26 that Sruli “Izzy” Eidelman had his first bite of BBQ. Kosher barbecue to be exact. For Izzy, it was love at first bite. He started smoking briskets in his parents' backyard in Brooklyn and amassed a knowledge that helped him open Izzy’s Brooklyn Smokehouse, the first kosher BBQ restaurant in NYC. Izzy will share his story, mission, advice for success and some tips for your home BBQ. You won’t want to miss this one! Watch here. - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We recently were able to help a family of immigrants from South America as they faced food insecurity. The breadwinner of the family lost her job working in a nail salon due to the pandemic, and because the family members aren't citizens, they don't qualify for food stamps or unemployment benefits. We were apply to provide them with food from our Kosher Food Pantry, which will hold them over until the family is able to work again. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
Last week, JCC staff members past and present celebrated outgoing CEO David Sorkin with a retirement parade! Check out the video here! - This video is sure to make you smile! Girl Scout Troop 5227, which is comprised of girls with disabilities, usually holds their meetings at our Avis Building. Since they haven't been able to meet in person due to the coronavirus, troop leaders visited the scouts at their homes with bags filled with goodies! WELLNESS Low-Impact Aerobics This 25-minute, low-impact aerobic workout is great for seniors and beginners! It's fun and easy to follow along with from home! - 100 Days of Summer Fitness Challenge May 31 - September 7 We're partnering with JCCs across the continent to get fit together this summer! Go head-to-head with other participants in your favorite form of exercise. Whether you’re into strength training, running, group exercise, swimming, or something else, you’ll have a chance to test your mettle. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to join the #JCCSummerFitChallenge by emailing Justine Bergen at fitnessSpa@sijcc.com. We'd love to see photos of all our participants-- be sure to send them to us at jcc@sijcc.com or tag us on social media to be featured! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! NEW! Virtual Classes with Suzanne One of our group exercise instructors, Suzanne, is doing virtual classes via Zoom to stay connected and stay healthy! Spin (or Cardio on any device) Saturdays, 10am Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30pm Cardio Kickboxing/Zumba Fusion Sundays, 9:30am Meeting ID: 416 473 1506 Password: 093288 SPORTS Training Tips Check out these tips for at-home strength and conditioning workouts from the U.S. Tennis Association. These are great to keep in mind while staying in shape for any sport!
Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
ARTS AND CULTURE Movement and Art Exercise Our friends at IlluminArt Productions have shared another great video, perfect for senior adults, with us! Break up your everyday routine with some movement exercises and a cathartic drawing activity with teaching artist Cara. - TODAY: Virtual Book Club Meeting, 12:30pm Join us for our next Virtual Book Club meeting, where we'll be discussing Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 833 4287 3802 - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents Highlights from the Derfner Judaica Museum Tuesday, June 16, 12:30pm Join us for a fascinating virtual presentation on the Derfner Judaica Museum Art Collection and the Hebrew Home! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 822 0934 9877 Password: 897974 - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - 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! - TOMORROW: Art of Broadway: Special Guest Speaker! 11am Our Art of Broadway class will have a guest speaker this week! John Kenrick will talk about Broadway Musicals of the 1980s: A Changing of the Guard. John gives talks on theatre and film history, has appeared in numerous documentaries, and is the author of Musicals101.com, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur Theatricals, and the textbook Musical Theatre: A History. His college courses have included the History of Musical Theatre, Great Broadway Songwriters, and Rodgers & Hammerstein. He has taught at New York University's Steinhardt School, The New School University, Marymount College Manhattan and The Philadelphia University of the Arts. He has also offered courses on Hollywood Legends, The History of Screen Musicals, and The Golden Age of MGM, among others. John has lectured at Wagner College, Molloy College and Pace University. John served as personal assistant to six Tony-winning producers, working on such productions as the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit Rentand the first revival of Grease. He also assisted in the management of numerous national tours, including Damn Yankees with Jerry Lewis, Crazy for You, Victor/Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde and Busker Alley. We hope you'll join us for what looks to be a very special lecture! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 115 119 374 Password: 265999 - We had so much fun at our Virtual Art Gallery Tour! Contemporary expressionist Jill Krutick walked us through some of her paintings, which were influenced by her love of old masters such as Van Gogh and Monet. If you missed the tour, you can check it out here. MUSIC Music Trivia Challenge Check your answer to our latest trivia question: In what brief composition, originally titled “Petit Chien,” did Frederic Chopin intend to musically depict small dog chasing its tail? The composition was... The “Minute Waltz,” or Waltz in D-flat Major (1847), sometimes called the “Dog Waltz.” According to a sometimes-disputed legend, while watching the tail-chasing frenzy of a little dog belonging to his amour, George Sand (Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin), Chopin began improvising this frenetic waltz to reflect the little canine’s intense movements. Animal nicknames have become attached to works by other classical composers, including Hayden’s “Hen Symphony” (no. 83) and “Frog Quartet” (op. 50, no. 6), Mozart’s “Sparrow Mass” (K. 220), and Schubert’s “Trout Quintet” (Piano Quintet in A, op. 114). - "The Unexpected Solace in Learning to Play Piano" For illustrator Christoph Niemann, learning to play the piano as a hobby has been an unexpected source of comfort throughout these difficult times. Check out his story about the challenges and wonders of playing piano here. - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP We have some great news to share! JCC Day Camp will be open this summer! Read the full announcement, which includes modifications to our programming, here. Please note that registration for camp is closed until Tuesday, June 16th as we update our system to reflect new pricing. Beginning Tuesday, you will be able to either register your child for camp or update your current registration. SunriseWALKS Sunrise Day Camp is going to look different this year but, as Mark shows us in this video, Sunrise is so much more than a physical campground—it's the friendship, laughter, and joy that keep our campers smiling all year round! You can help us bring that magic to kids with cancer and their siblings this summer, when they need it most, by registering for our virtual SunriseWALKS celebration and donating what you can here! - Sponsor Shout-Outs! Today's Sponsor Shout-Out goes out to Kamco Supply Corp, Mark's Bake Shoppe, Michael's Happiness, Inc., and Becker's School Supplies! Thank you so much for supporting Sunrise Day Camp-Staten Island! KIDS AND FAMILIES Sesame Street Resources Our friendly neighbors from Sesame Street have put together some great resources for helping children understand and cope with a health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for articles, videos, activities, and more that will help you help your little ones through this challenging time. SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed, individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! Naloxone/Narcan Training: Thursday, June 11, 3pm Want to learn how to save lives and reverse an opioid emergency at home? Attend this free Narcan/Naloxone training workshop on Thursday, June 11th at 3 pm. Email abigail@sipcw.org to sign up. Communicating with your Child/Teenager: Friday, June 12, 11am Interested in developing more skills on how to speak with your teen? Attend this free interactive workshop on Friday, June 12th at 11 am. Email Abigail at abigail@sipcw.org to receive the link. Yeshurun in 6 Chapters: A Discussion with the Filmmaker: Sunday, June 14, 2pm NYU's Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies presents a virtual discussion with filmmaker Yair Qedar about his documentary, Yeshurun in 6 Chapters, part of the series The Hebrews. The discussion will focus on the Hebrew poet Avoth Yeshurun (1904-1992), his life and works, and the series The Hebrews more broadly. Register here. Once you have registered, you will receive an automatic email with instructions for joining the event. You will receive an additional email with a link to screen the video for free in Hebrew with English subtitles. The link with the film will remain open from June 11 through June 14. Please plan to screen the film on your own before joining the discussion on June 14th, as they will not be screening the film as group during the event. If you have any questions about the film or the event, please email gsas.hebrewjudaic@nyu.edu. - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were able to recently help a family who are suffering financially due to the pandemic. Both the husband and wife have been out of work since the crisis started. In order to help them and their 12 year old son, we were able to provide them with food from our Kosher Food Pantry, as well as connecting them to other services that could help them during this difficult time. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
On Friday, JCC staff members surprised outgoing CEO David Sorkin with a special retirement parade to celebrate his 15 years with the agency. After planning a regular retirement party, the staff had to quickly shift plans as circumstances changed. They came together to make the parade a unique, unforgettable celebration for an unforgettable CEO! Read all about it here! - We are grateful for the generosity of the DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development) and the Mannix family, which allowed our Adult Education department to purchase over 200 gift cards from ShopRite this week. The Adult Education department mailed these gift cards, worth over $8,800 total, to their students to help them buy groceries for their families during these difficult times. We are so proud of all our students' dedication to their education by continuing their studies online during the pandemic! - Our Teacher of the Week is Rachel Sanchez! One of Rachel's favorite quotes is by Aristotle: "He who dares to teach must never cease to learn." Rachel has embodied this quote in her 5 years of teaching High School Equivalency classes at the JCC and believes that she has learned so much from her students. She is astounded that, despite their many obstacles, her students are determined to achieve an education. She is especially proud of how hard they have worked during the pandemic, as they continue their own education while also teaching their own children at home. Thank you for inspiring your students, Rachel! WELLNESS Full-Body Workout at Home Try out this full-body workout that's easy to follow at home! These compound exercises will activate multiple muscle groups at the same time, helping you get a more efficient workout! - 100 Days of Summer Fitness Challenge May 31 - September 7 We're partnering with JCCs across the continent to get fit together this summer! Go head-to-head with other participants in your favorite form of exercise. Whether you’re into strength training, running, group exercise, swimming, or something else, you’ll have a chance to test your mettle. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to join the #JCCSummerFitChallenge by emailing Justine Bergen at fitnessSpa@sijcc.com. We'd love to see photos of all our participants-- be sure to send them to us at jcc@sijcc.com or tag us on social media to be featured! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! AQUATICS Here's a great warm-up to do before doing any dry land workout! These will help you improve your range of motion for swimming and prepare you for more intense training. Complete two rounds of the following exercises, taking minimal rest between exercises and rounds. Click on the links for a demonstration of each exercise. Quadruped shoulder circles x 8 on each side Ankle press x 8 Multi-planar lunge x 3 of each type on each side - 3-Shot Challenge If you have access to a basketball hoop, try out the 3-Shot Challenge! See how long it takes you to make the three shots shown in this video! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
- "Jews in Hollywood" Presented by The Genesis Prize Foundation Check out this video highlighting contributions to Hollywood made by Jewish individuals! Some of the talent featured in the video includes: Barbra Streisand, Paul Newman, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kirk Douglas, Milos Forman, Steven Spielberg, and many more. - TONIGHT: Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A Virtual Studio/Gallery Tour, 7pm Grab a glass of wine and join us on an artist studio tour from your couch! Westchester-based artist Jill Krutick will discuss her work, art practice and journey. From finance to fine art, Jill's stories will entertain and provide a "walking tour" of her latest virtual exhibition. For a preview of this exciting event, check out Jill Krutick's work on her website here! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 869 6864 4540 Password: 0jMyir - Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, June 11, 12:30pm Join us for our next Virtual Book Club meeting, where we'll be discussing Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 833 4287 3802 - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents Highlights from the Derfner Judaica Museum Tuesday, June 16, 12:30pm Join us for a fascinating virtual presentation on the Derfner Judaica Museum Art Collection and the Hebrew Home! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 822 0934 9877 Password: 897974 - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - 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! Art of Broadway: Special Guest Speaker! Friday, June 12, 11am Our Art of Broadway class will have a guest speaker this week! John Kenrick will talk about Broadway Musicals of the 1980s: A Changing of the Guard. John gives talks on theatre and film history, has appeared in numerous documentaries, and is the author of Musicals101.com, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amateur Theatricals, and the textbook Musical Theatre: A History. His college courses have included the History of Musical Theatre, Great Broadway Songwriters, and Rodgers & Hammerstein. He has taught at New York University's Steinhardt School, The New School University, Marymount College Manhattan and The Philadelphia University of the Arts. He has also offered courses on Hollywood Legends, The History of Screen Musicals, and The Golden Age of MGM, among others. John has lectured at Wagner College, Molloy College and Pace University. John served as personal assistant to six Tony-winning producers, working on such productions as the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit Rentand the first revival of Grease. He also assisted in the management of numerous national tours, including Damn Yankees with Jerry Lewis, Crazy for You, Victor/Victoria, Jekyll & Hyde and Busker Alley. We hope you'll join us for what looks to be a very special lecture! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 115 119 374 Password: 265999 MUSIC Music Trivia Challenge In what brief composition, originally titled "Petit Chien," did Frederic Chopin intend to musically depict small dog chasing its tail? Check your answer in Thursday's edition of J at Home! - Interactive Drumming Video We invite all our young percussion enthusiasts to find their drum and join Mr. Tony in an instructional drumming video about Bomba music from Puerto Rico. - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP We hope you will consider registering for camp again this year, as we intend to have another wonderful summer. Registration is ongoing at camp.sijcc.org. As we adjust to the shifting landscape of this crisis, we will inform you about any changes to our programming. In the event that we have to make the heartbreaking decision not to open camp in 2020, you will receive a full refund. SunriseWALKS While we aren’t able to gather for large-scale events, there are still so many ways you can contribute to SunriseWALKS right from the comfort of your own home! Virtual DIY events are a great way to connect with your friends and have fun, all while raising money to bring the magic of Sunrise to our campers this summer. If you're interested in hosting a DIY event, email Stefanie at sracano@sijcc.com. Check out some great event ideas here! - Sponsor Shout-Outs! We'd like to give a huge thank you to our sponsors, Rab Wilkinson Foundation, Broadway Stages, Staten Island Parent, and Rogers Surveying, PLLC, for their support! These are just some of our amazing sponsors who are helping us deliver a wonderful virtual summer camp experience to our Sunrise campers this year! KIDS AND FAMILIES ChopChop Cooking Club Cooking is a fun and practical way to learn plenty of important life skills! ChopChop Cooking Club is a free, online club that helps kids challenge themselves as they learn how to cook. Check it out and get cooking here! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed, individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! Hasidic Tales for Adults Wednesday, June 10, 8:30pm Join Nevada's Congregation Ner Tamid as Rabbi Sanford Akselrad leads this interesting discussion of Hasidic Tales! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 501 821 9623 Password: 181818 - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were recently able to help a man who is currently out of work. He relies on social security and food stamps, which barely allow him to cover his monthly expenses. We provided him with food from our Kosher Food Pantry and are in the process of helping him find other resources to help during this difficult time. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
During this time, we are making sure that our CLLD participants have everything they need. Recently, we got to see a few of them while distributing our grab-and-go meals! WELLNESS Sit-ercise Workout Try out this chair workout! It's a fun way for senior adults to stay active at home! - 100 Days of Summer Fitness Challenge: May 31 - September 7 We're partnering with JCCs across the continent to get fit together this summer! Go head-to-head with other participants in your favorite form of exercise. Whether you’re into strength training, running, group exercise, swimming, or something else, you’ll have a chance to test your mettle. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to join the #JCCSummerFitChallenge by emailing Justine Bergen at fitnessSpa@sijcc.com. We'd love to see photos of all our participants-- be sure to send them to us at jcc@sijcc.com or tag us on social media to be featured! - Working from Home: Reducing Pain and Improving Posture Try out these tips to help make working from home healthier and more comfortable! - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Tag, You're It! Playing tag isn't just for the schoolyard— it can be a great way to exercise and have fun with the whole family! This video demonstrates different cardio variations on the traditional game of tag. And while the video was originally meant for tennis players, the games demonstrated are great for working on the explosiveness, footwork, and coordination needed to excel on any court or field! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
- Sports Camps Did you know that we offer four different sports camps in the summer? We have soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and aquatics programs! Not only will your child improve their skills, but sports will teach your child how to be a good teammate, the value of hard work, and the power of a positive attitude! Learn more here! ARTS AND CULTURE Broadway Fridays from Lincoln Center Fridays at 8pm, beginning June 5 Lincoln Center is offering free online streams of select Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts featuring Broadway productions from Lincoln Center Theater and the New York Philharmonic. A different performance will be released every Friday and remain available to watch on demand. The series kicks off this Friday, and initial broadcasts include Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Douglas Carter Beane’s The Nance, and James Lapine’s Act One. Enjoy this curated series of archival gems, created especially for fans of beloved musical theater and stage play classics. Tune in here! - "Jews in Music," Presented by The Genesis Prize Foundation Check out this short, informative video celebrating outstanding achievements by Jewish individuals in music throughout history. Some of the musicians featured include Leonard Cohen, Carole King, Vladimir Vysotsky, Idan Raichel, Martha Argerich, Paul Simon, Evgeny Kissin, Billy Joel, Adam Levine, Drake, and many more. - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A Virtual Studio/Gallery Tour Tuesday, June 9, 7pm Grab a glass of wine and join us on an artist studio tour from your couch! Westchester-based artist Jill Krutick will discuss her work, art practice and journey. From finance to fine art, Jill's stories will entertain and provide a "walking tour" of her latest virtual exhibition. For a preview of this exciting event, check out Jill Krutick's work on her website here! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 869 6864 4540 Password: 0jMyir - Virtual Book Club Meeting Thursday, June 11, 12:30pm Join us for our next Virtual Book Club meeting, where we'll be discussing Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 833 4287 3802 - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents Highlights from the Derfner Judaica Museum Tuesday, June 16, 12:30pm Join us for a fascinating virtual presentation on the Derfner Judaica Museum Art Collection and the Hebrew Home! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 822 0934 9877 Password: 897974 - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - 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 Trivia Challenge Check your answer to our latest trivia question: A celebrated organist and composer early in her career, this Frenchwoman later devoted herself to teaching composition and became one of the most influential figures in 20th century classical music. Who was she? She was... Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979). Born in Paris to a family that encouraged both her and her sister’s musical talents, Nadia studied to be a composer. A protégé of Gabriel Faure, she later turned her energies to teaching, eventually counting among her international roster of pupils American composers Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson, Leonard Bernstein, and Walter Piston. - How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain In this video, Anita Collins explains the fireworks that go off in musicians’ brains when they play, and examines some of the long-term positive effects of this mental workout! - Scholarship Auditions We are currently holding scholarship auditions for the 2020-2021 school year! If your child is ages 12-18 and has some prior music training, please email a 1-2 min video of your performance (to include a scale and musical selections) to Ela Seeley, Music Institute Director, at eseeley@sijcc.com. CAMP The Weekly Schmooze: Celebrating Our Camp Counselors This week, we'd like to give a shout out to all of our wonderful camp counselors! Our counselors are encouraging, thoughtful, and enthusiastic leaders who make every day at camp fun. They are positive role models who demonstrate values like kindness and empathy, and inspire our campers to reach their greatest potential. One of the most special things about our camp is that many of our counselors grew up attending camp here and now return summer after summer to the place they loved so much as children. Thank you to all of our camp counselors. JCC Day Camp is the best place to be because of your hard work, dedication, and care! - We hope you will consider registering for camp again this year, as we intend to have another wonderful summer. Registration is ongoing at camp.sijcc.org. As we adjust to the shifting landscape of this crisis, we will inform you about any changes to our programming. In the event that we have to make the heartbreaking decision not to open camp in 2020, you will receive a full refund. SunriseWALKS This year we are reimagining our SunriseWALKS event to be a Virtual Campaign & Celebration designed to provide our supporters an array of opportunities to support our mission. Your participation can help us raise critical funds and awareness for our vital programs. Although, for now, we are physically distanced, we have never felt more connected as a community! Please take the next step by hosting a virtual DIY event, setting up a Facebook Fundraiser, or donating today to help our campers! You can do all of this and more here! The SunriseWALKS team is here to work with you every step of the way. For more information on how to get started, email Stefanie at SRacano@sijcc.com KIDS AND FAMILIES Wonderopolis Check out today's "Wonder of the Day" on Wonderopolis! Posing questions about history, science, and more, this is a nice educational resource that's sure to spark kids' curiosity and teach them something new every day! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Building Resiliency and Coping Through Art Tuesdays, beginning June 16th, 2pm Join us for 6 weeks of adults only art therapy sessions. Sessions will focus on building resiliency and coping through art! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Self-Expression Through Art Thursdays, beginning June 18th, 2pm Children ages 9-12 are welcome to join us for 6 weeks of art therapy sessions that encourage self-expression! Please contact Sarah McMahon at smcmahon227@gmail.com or (908) 963-6740 by June 12, 2020 to register. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed, individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other organizations around the country! UnLonely Film Festival: Sunday, June 7, 7pm The Foundation for Art and Healing presents the 4th annual UnLonely Film Festival, beginning on Sunday at 7pm. The festival, and its collection of 35 short-narrative, animated, and documentary films dealing with the issue of loneliness, is a wonderful way to celebrate the power of the arts to connect in a time when feeling connected is more important than ever. - Maccabi USA Book Club: Monday, June 8, 1pm The Maccabi USA Book Club will be reading Palestine Posts: An Eyewitness Account of the Birth of Israel, by Daniel S. Chertoff. This powerful first person account allows us to re-experience a momentous turning point in Jewish history. This event will be hosted by Don Kent, Maccabi USA alum and First Vice President. Join us for author Daniel Chertoff's presentation and a discussion to follow! Register here - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were recently able to help a single mom whose son has special needs. When her son's school closed due to the pandemic, she was no longer able to work because she needed to care for her son at home. Without her modest income, she turned an occasional visit to our Food Pantry into a weekly visit. Read more about how the JCC is serving those in need and inspiring others to do the same here. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. IN THE NEWS
Supporting Our Community at the Carter Center Last week, the Carter Center had the opportunity to provide over 120 families with cooked and packed food, personal protective equipment, and household necessities. Thank you to the participants who came out to help, NYCID for organizing this event, and Assemblyman Charles Fall, Staten Island Justice Center, Food Foundation, and MetroPlus for collaborating on this event. We are always more than happy to be able to support our community during these uncertain times. - Face Shields Donation We are so grateful to MakerSpace NYC for their generous donation of 40 face shields for our staff! We want to thank Scott Van Campen, the Executive Director of Makerspace, and the Borough President's Office for facilitating this donation. - ECE Photo Challenge Even though our ECE classrooms are empty right now, the learning continues! Our ECE families have been participating in weekly photo challenges, which are bringing all of our students and teachers together even though they are apart right now. This week's challenge was to take a picture with something that starts with the first letter of your name. Check it out here! - Teacher of the Week Our Teacher of the Week this week is ESL instructor Jennifer Aleman. Thank you, Jennifer, for your dedication! WELLNESS 30-Day Abs Challenge Get stronger, more toned abs in just a month with this challenge from Livestrong! These workouts are great for strengthening your core and can be done in just a few minutes a day with no equipment! - 100 Days of Summer Fitness Challenge May 31 - September 7 We're partnering with JCCs across the continent to get fit together this summer! Go head-to-head with other participants in your favorite form of exercise. Whether you’re into strength training, running, group exercise, swimming, or something else, you’ll have a chance to test your mettle. If you haven't signed up yet, be sure to join the #JCCSummerFitChallenge by emailing Justine Bergen at fitnessSpa@sijcc.com. We'd love to see photos of all our participants-- be sure to send them to us at jcc@sijcc.com or tag us on social media to be featured! - Improving Your Mental Health It can be easy to feel lonely during these challenging times. This article shares 7 tips to overcome loneliness and improve your mental health. - Ongoing Wellness Classes We have several virtual wellness classes throughout the week! From exercise to nutrition to medical care questions and more, there's sure to be a class to help you stay well and stay connected during this time! Check out our website for a full schedule of all of our virtual wellness programming! SPORTS Core 24 Academy Presents: Basketball Drills! In this video, you'll find a variety of drills to help you work on shooting, dribbling, footwork, and more! Try them out! - Free Esports Tournaments Do you love gaming? Try out these free games for teens ages 13-18! Compete with friends and make new ones, from around the corner and around the world. Maccabi USA has partnered with Lost Tribe Esports to present free tournaments
- Sports Camps Did you know that we offer four different sports camps in the summer? We have soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and aquatics programs! Not only will your child improve their skills, but sports will teach your child how to be a good teammate, the value of hard work, and the power of a positive attitude! Learn more here! ARTS AND CULTURE Broadway Fridays from Lincoln Center Fridays at 8pm, beginning June 5 Lincoln Center is offering free online streams of select Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts featuring Broadway productions from Lincoln Center Theater and the New York Philharmonic. A different performance will be released every Friday and remain available to watch on demand. The series kicks off this Friday, and initial broadcasts include Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Douglas Carter Beane’s The Nance, and James Lapine’s Act One. Enjoy this curated series of archival gems, created especially for fans of beloved musical theater and stage play classics. Tune in here! - Virtual Programming from the Guggenheim Museum The Guggenheim offers a wide variety of virtual programming, including online classes and tours. Check out the full schedule of events here! - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A Virtual Studio/Gallery Tour Tuesday, June 9, 7pm Grab a glass of wine and join us on an artist studio tour from your couch! Westchester-based artist Jill Krutick will discuss her work, art practice and journey. From finance to fine art, Jill's stories will entertain and provide a "walking tour" of her latest virtual exhibition. For a preview of this exciting event, check out Jill Krutick's work on her website here! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 869 6864 4540 Password: 0jMyir - Dr. Esther Grushkin Seminars for Adult Jewish Education (SAJE) presents A JCC Virtual Rabbi/Rebbetzin Series Tuesday, June 23, 12:30pm Join us for a FREE Zoom lecture by Rebbetzin Katzman, who will discuss "Women and Empowerment in Judaism." Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7275 6018 Password: 5hG03U - Music for Healing Monday, June 29, 3pm Our first Music for Healing program last month was so wonderful and we can't wait for the next one! Join us on June 29 for another special Music for Healing session with Joelle Cohen. We hope to (virtually) see you there! Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 898 2986 3021 Password: 8KahXz - 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 Trivia Challenge A celebrated organist and composer early in her career, this Frenchwoman later devoted herself to teaching composition and became one of the most influential figures in 20th century classical music. Who was she? - Learn with Carnegie Hall: Beethoven Master Classes TOMORROW: Wednesday, June 3, 2pm Learn with Carnegie Hall is an online series that highlights engaging programs for families and educators to share with children of all ages, invites aspiring musicians to gain insights from the world’s leading artists, and pulls back the curtain on the powerful role music can play in all of our lives. Tune in here! CAMP The Weekly Schmooze: Learning to Swim with the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy What’s summer without swimming? Our traditional day camp has 3 Olympic-sized swimming pools and proudly offers daily swimming lessons under the direction of the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg formed his swim program in 2005, with the goal of teaching kids water safety. The hallmark of the program is the Swim Right Method, which incorporates the swim-float-swim technique and features progressive levels that help swimmers continually grow their skills. Campers will move from the beginning stages of swimming and progress to all four major strokes—freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. As they master each new skill, swimmers’ progress is recorded on a report card, which is given to parents at the end of the summer. While the program aims to help kids become more confident swimmers, parents will also gain the confidence of knowing that their children are learning how to be safe and have fun in the pool! - We hope you will consider registering for camp again this year, as we intend to have another wonderful summer. Registration is ongoing at camp.sijcc.org. As we adjust to the shifting landscape of this crisis, we will inform you about any changes to our programming. In the event that we have to make the heartbreaking decision not to open camp in 2020, you will receive a full refund. SunriseWALKS We're so excited about our upcoming virtual SunriseWALKS on Sunday, June 28! This fundraiser will help us deliver our Sunrise magic to our campers safely at home this summer. Read all about it here! What is the magic of Sunrise Day Camp? Like one of our counselors, Haley, says in this video, it’s experiencing the joys of childhood like every child should! Now more than ever, our campers need that magic. Virtually “walk” with us to help give that to them by registering here! KIDS AND FAMILIES Sesame Street Monster Meditation Try out this great meditation featuring some lovable Sesame Street monsters to help kids deal with frustration! SOCIAL SERVICES COVID-19 Connect to Recovery Do you need help accessing social services related to COVID-19 relief? We recently launched our COVID-19 Connect to Recovery program, a one-stop shop for Staten Islanders to access social services that will help them recover from the effects of the current crisis. Read more about this new program and get information on accessing these social services here! - Resource Navigator Program We are excited to be chosen to be part of the City’s Resource Navigator program to assist those who have tested positive for COVID-19. You can see the Mayor’s announcement and learn more here. The #NYCTestandTrace Corps’ first group of contact tracers have made their first calls! They’re reaching out to New Yorkers who have tested positive for #COVID19 or have been exposed to the virus. This is how we stop the spread of the virus. Learn more: http://testandtrace.nyc - Bereavement Support Group Tuesdays, beginning May 26, 10am-11:30am If you are interested in joining this 6-week online Bereavement Support Group, contact Sandy Haft, LMSW, at shaft@sijcc.com or 718-475-5274. - Special Enrollment Period for Health Insurance New York State announced a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who may have lost their health insurance as a result of their employment ending due to Coronavirus. If enrollment in Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health Marketplace is completed, individuals will have coverage effective April 1, 2020. Enrollment into Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus is open year-round. Consumers can apply for coverage through JCC NYSOH Navigators by phone at 718.981.1400 or 718-475-5271. COMMUNITY EVENTS Combating Anti-Semitism Coronavirus has unfortunately led to a serious spike in anti-Semitic activity on social media and is impacting local Jewish communities. Dedicated experts and researchers at the Simon Wiesenthal Center are working around the clock to find, expose, and combat anti-Semitism and hate. We cannot afford to allow such hate to go unchallenged. Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti-Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com. - CovidWatcher Survey UJA-Federation of New York has partnered with Columbia University, which is conducting a survey to track COVID-19’s impact on New York City neighborhoods in real time, filling in critical gaps in knowledge of the virus to better understand the needs across our communities. Ultimately, CovidWatcher will enable public officials, policymakers, and medical institutions better coordinate their response and target resources during the pandemic and the critical period that will follow. The survey is intended for everyone to fill out, regardless of symptoms or concerns about exposure. The ultimate goal is for every New Yorker to complete this survey. You can complete the survey here. If you have any questions, please contact CovidWatcher@columbia.edu. - U.S. Census 2020 If you haven’t filled out the census yet, now is the time to do it! It is vital that we are ALL counted to secure funding for housing, transportation, schools, and other services we rely on. It takes less than 10 minutes and is confidential. You can fill it out by mail, online or by calling (844) 330-2020. - Be sure to check out these additional programs from our friends at other Jewish organizations around the country! Maccabi USA Book Club: Monday, June 8, 1pm The Maccabi USA Book Club will be reading Palestine Posts: An Eyewitness Account of the Birth of Israel, by Daniel S. Chertoff. This powerful first person account allows us to re-experience a momentous turning point in Jewish history. This event will be hosted by Don Kent, Maccabi USA alum and First Vice President. Join us for author Daniel Chertoff's presentation and a discussion to follow! Register here. - Every year, the JCC serves over 6,000 people in crisis. This year, that number has grown as Staten Islanders experience hardships related to COVID-19. Here’s the story of a family directly affected by the COVID-19 crisis that we were able to help: We were recently able to help a husband and wife struggling financially and emotionally during the crisis. After losing his brother to the virus, the husband lost his call center job and needed help applying for unemployment online, since he doesn't have a home computer. We were able to refer him to a financial counselor, who was able to help him apply. His wife is disabled, so we referred her to legal counseling to help her apply for disability benefits. We also supplied the family with food from our Kosher Food Pantry and referred them to a SNAP specialist to get additional food. Donate to our Families in Need campaign here to help families like this one. |
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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