The ancient rabbis expressed their great reverence for the Sabbath by stating that "More than the Jews have kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept the Jews." Whether or not we believe this to be literally true, it is certainly true that a weekly day of rest is a Jewish gift to the world enshrined in the biblical story of creation. And thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor and foundation funding, the JCC is able to give the gift of Shabbat to the community.
R&R: Shabbat at the JCC
An antidote to our 24/7 lifestyle. A day to step out of the frantic pace of everyday life. Join us on Saturdays, 2:30–5:30 pm, from November 5–March 31 (except January 21), for programs that respect all levels of observance. Come in from the ordinary and experience Shabbat. It's an ancient solution to a modern dilemma; so priceless we've made it free.
Shabbat Shabbang: Friday Night Dinners at the JCC
Thanks to the generosity of a donor, we are pleased to continue this program which was so successful last year. Each month, from September to May, the community is invited to an evening that includes Shabbat rituals, delicious dinners, and engaging programs for all levels of observance.
In 5772 the Jewish New Year began at sundown on Wednesday, September 28, almost the latest the holidays have ever begun. That's because in 5771 the holidays began two days after Labor Day (the earliest they ever start!). Centuries ago, an ancient genius figured out a system for the Hebrew calendar so that the holidays—based on an agricultural solar calendar—could co-exist with the lunar calendar. The solution was a luni-solar calendar which keeps the two systems aligned through the periodic addition of an extra month (called Adar 2) during a leap year. So why were the holidays late in 5772 when they were so early in 5771? Because 5771 was a leap year and that extra month brought the holidays to the end of September rather than the end of August!
One more thing: the period between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur is called Aseret Y'mei T'shuvah (the Ten Days of Repentance), the most solemn time on the Jewish calendar, when tradition requires us to make amends to those we have wronged before asking for divine forgiveness.
The Jewish calendar is "front loaded"—so many holidays in just three weeks! In ancient times, the holiday cycle was organized around Sukkot, the fall harvest festival. The first day of Tishrei, the month of all these holidays, is unique in the Torah simply because it is announced by "loud blasts" (i.e. shofar blasts). Later, the day grows in importance and becomes Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, traditionally observed for two days. In ancient times, Yom Kippur served to rid the Temple and community of the impurities of sin before the celebration of the all important Sukkot festival. But after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, Yom Kippur became a day to atone for our personal wrongdoing.
It is the custom of many Jews to use the sukkah only during the first seven days of Sukkot in order to create a distinction between it and Shemini Atzeret, a distinct holiday according to the Torah. Simchat Torah, added to the holiday cycle during medieval times, marks the end of the High Holiday cycle. Celebrating the holiday by enjoying meals in the JCC sukkah has become increasingly popular each year and while members of the community are welcome to enjoy the beautiful Roberts Family Rooftop Sukkah, please note that it is not open for public use when JCC programs are in progress. Please bring vegetarian or dairy food only or purchase food in our café, Simply Divine at the JCC.
Beginning at sundown on the first night through sundown on the eighth night we commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE (BCE, or "Before the Common Era," is the Jewish equivalent of BC), following its desecration by Syrian Greeks during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. The Maccabees, led by the five sons of the priest Mattathias, waged a three-year campaign that ended with the cleaning and rededication of the Temple on the 25th of Kislev, the Hebrew date that marks the beginning of Chanukah. The Talmud tells the story of a small amount of oil left after the desecration that was just enough to light the Temple menorah for one night, but lasted eight days. Tradition says that we should "publicize" the miracle of this holiday by putting the menorah where it can be seen by passersby.
For each of the eight nights of Chanukah, we invite you to join us in the JCC Community Lobby for the lighting of the menorah.
The holiday of Tu B'Shevat (literally the 15th day of the month of Shevat) is usually referred to as the New Year for the Trees. Compared to holidays like Rosh HaShanah and Passover, Tu B'Shevat doesn’t stand out much. There aren’t a lot of rituals or liturgy, or even many customs that surround it. But don’t let that fool you. Tu B'Shevat is in fact quite a significant holiday on the Jewish calendar and ought to be celebrated with enthusiasm and hope. In fact, Tu B'Shevat is the Jewish “Earth Day,” the time in our holiday cycle when we focus on the environment and our stewardship responsibilities. It is a time to renew our recycling efforts, to figure out ways to take fewer cabs and more public transportation, and to look for ways to save energy in our home. Like Rosh HaShanah (and our secular New Year’s Day), it is a time for resolutions. What would it look like if everyone in New York unplugged their home phone chargers while they are not in use? Or unplugged everything in their homes with an LCD light (like their clocks and cable boxes) when they went to work? What would it look like if on Tu B'Shevat we determined to use less paper, waste less electricity and gas? It would look like we cared about this earth and understood our role in protecting its future for our children and their children. It would look like we were connected deeply to the Jewish value of caring for the earth and living that value in our daily lives. So plant trees in Israel and wherever you can. Delight in wonderful Israeli products and redouble your efforts to do your part to protect our environment. In that way, we honor Tu B'Shevat and make it the meaningful holiday it deserves to be.
Purim is the Jewish version of Mardi Gras/Carnavale. It shares with such festivals around the world at this time of year an unbridled quality of celebration, costumes, parades, food, and drink. It must be something about the season since spring is in the air. Unlike Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot, which are prescribed in the Torah (along with Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur), Purim is based upon the biblical book of Esther which is not part of the Five Books of Moses. The book is also called the Megillah (literally a scroll but a special one since its reading is central to the holiday) and it celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai, who thwart the plot by Haman, courtier to the Persian King. While the book includes most elements of the holiday—merrymaking, feasting, sending gifts to friends (typically of food, including hamentaschen), and presents to the poor, Purim was not on the Jewish calendar until the ancient rabbis added it. Scholars assume Jews were already observing Purim and it would have been difficult to oppose a holiday that celebrates a Jewish victory over an enemy and includes so many ways to celebrate! The Megillah is read on the eve of Purim and the next morning with great enthusiasm and with noisemakers to drown out the name of the dreaded Haman.
Pesach was the critically important spring harvest festival in ancient times which is called Hag Aviv (literally, the spring holiday) in some places of the Torah. While the seder plate references the spring season with parsley and an egg, the holiday has become the quintessential celebration of liberation. The story of deliverance from slavery that we read in the haggadah has been a central theme in Jewish tradition and a source of inspiration for other peoples seeking freedom. For Jews, it also represents our emergence as a people destined for a homeland. And while food is an important part of Jewish celebrations, it becomes a veritable obsession before and during Passover, given the very complicated dietary rules and regulations associated with this holiday of liberation.
Spiritual and Material Preparation for Passover
Join Rabbi Saul Berman as he turns his attention to our preparations for Passover: ridding ourselves of hametz, eating and "living" matzah, and what we tell ourselves and our children at the seder.
3 Wednesdays, Mar 14–28, 8:15–9:30 pm, $50/$60
Passover: The Path to Inner Freedom
Join us for this very special evening of meditation and teaching with Rabbi Yoel Glick, a guest teacher from Israel.
Tue, Mar 20, 7–9 pm, $15 all
Delectable Parve Passover Desserts + Confections
Chef Jennifer Abadi will teach you how to create elegant, decadent desserts and sweets that are pareve (free of flour, baking powder, yeast, and dairy).
Fri, Mar 23, 10 am–12:30 pm, $85/$95
Italian Jewish Recipes for a Delicious Passover
Join Alessandra Rovati as she demonstrates the preparation of dishes that will transform your Passover menus and delight your guests! Check out her website at dinnerinvenice.com. With the support of JICNY–Jewish International Community of New York.
Mon, Mar 26, 7–8:30 pm, $20/$25
Lotsa Matzah: Easy Passover-Friendly Dishes for 20's + 30's
From fritters and soup to pies and dessert, Chef Jennifer Abadi will teach you fun and easy ways to use matzah to create some of the best Passover dishes you’ve ever had!
Tue, Mar 27, 7–9:30 pm, $55/$65
From Oppression to Freedom: Passover Themes to Support Our Journey Toward Re-Employment
Explore teachings about the Exodus story and sections of the Passover Haggadah as tools for sustaining hope and building resilience in the journey towards re-employment. With Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub.
Tue, Apr 3, 2:30–4 pm, Free all
After we celebrate the liberation of Israel from bondage in Egypt and just before we celebrate the founding of the state of Israel, we remember the darkest days of Jewish history. On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jews who perished during the Shoah. The Upper West Side community will gather to read names of those among the six million.
Food for Thought: Recipes Remembered, a Celebration of Survival
More than just a cookbook, Recipes Remembered is a treasury of stories from 80 Holocaust survivors recounting their origins. Book presentation by author June Hersh and post-event book signing to follow.
Mon, Apr 16, 7–9 pm, $7/$10
Reading of the Names: A Yom HaShoah Commemoration
For the 13th consecutive year, the Upper West Side community will gather to read the names of those among the six million murdered Jews.
Wed, Apr 18–Thu, Apr 19, 10 am-6 pm
Saviors on the Screen: A Film Series in Commemoration of Yom HaShoah
Join us for our annual series of top films about the experiences of Jews during the Shoah.
Wed, Apr 18, 7:30-9:30 pm; Thu, Apr 19, 6:30–7:45 pm & 8-9:30 pm
The Israeli national holiday is also celebrated throughout the diaspora on the 5th of Iyar on the Hebrew calendar, commemorating the declaration of independence which was announced by David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948, establishing the new State of Israel in what had been the British mandate of Palestine since World War I, an in ancient times, the biblical land of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
Taste of Israel with Jennifer Abadi
Celebrate Israeli Independence Day by preparing all your favorites—felafel, eggplant dip, chummus, sesame paste dressing, fried squash, roasted red peppers, Moroccan carrot salad, red pepper salad, bulgur wheat salad, and cold melon-mint yogurt drink.
Thu, Apr 19, 7–9:30 pm, $85/$95
Israel in Short
Join us for the sixth annual view of Israel through the lenses of internationally acclaimed short films.
Tue, Apr 26, 7:30 pm, $9/$11
Just 49 days after Passover (the period known as the Sefira or the Counting of the Omer), the JCC will present The Paul Feig Tikkun Leil Shavuot at The JCC in Manhattan, a spectacular holiday celebration—an updated version of the ancient festival of Shavuot, when the ancient Israelites stayed awake all night at Sinai anticipating the revelation. Shavuot, coming so soon after Passover and lasting only two days, has tended to be less known of the three festivals or haggim (the fall festival of Sukkot being the third). But the JCC’s Tikkun has certainly created a buzz around Shavuot! Join more than 2,000 others for FREE study, film, music, dance, yoga, meditation, cheesecake, and more, throughout the building, throughout the night, and into the early morning. Come for an hour or seven!
Save the date and stay tuned for more info: Sat, May 26–Sun, May 27, 10 pm–5 am
The Tikkun Leil Shavuot is generously supported in memory of Paul Feig. Additional funding provided by UJA-Federation.
