Bonfire of the Soul: A Lag B’Omer Gathering

On Lag B’Omer, we gather around the fire of spirit, song, and story.

Join us as we transform the 7th floor of the Marlene Meyerson JCC into a Bonfire of the Soul — an evening of music, mystical learning, meditation, creativity, and shared warmth in community.

We’ll begin together with a Niggun Circle, lifting our voices in wordless melodies to open the heart and set the tone for the night. From there, participants will flow into different spaces across the floor, each offering a unique way to encounter the fire. Move freely between sessions or settle into one that calls to you. We’ll then reunite for a final gathering: a community music jam featuring shared rhythm, harmony, and joy to close out the night together.

Lag B’Omer marks a moment of hidden light and collective renewal. Come kindle your inner flame with us through song, spirit, and sacred play.

This special gathering is a partnership between the Marlene Meyerson JCC, Romemu, and Lab/Shul. 

 

In the darkest days of WWII, Yulia and Hugo, a Jewish mother and son, escape from a Ukrainian ghetto. Fearing for his safety, Yulia entrusts her boy to the care of her friend Mariana, a sex worker living in a brothel. Hugo spends over a year hidden in Mariana’s closet as they form an intimate yet complex bond of love, loyalty and devotion—one that will change their lives forever. Based on Aharon Appelfeld’s masterpiece novel, “Blooms of Darkness.”

Dir. Emmanuel Finkiel

(Israel/France/Hungary/Belgium, 2025, 131 mins)

In one continuous shot, SHTTL shows the lives, loves, and inner conflicts within a Yiddish speaking shtetl on the border between Ukraine and Poland – one day before the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

A young, aspiring filmmaker returns from Kyiv to his rural village on the border between Ukraine and Poland. He plans to run away with his true love who is engaged to another man, disrupting the balance of the whole town. In one unflinching shot, this film presents a day in the life of a Jewish village before it disappears.

SHTTL is the story of the inhabitants of a Yiddish Ukrainian village at the border of Poland, 24 hours before the Nazi invasion, known as Operation Barbarossa. Today, there are no such villages in existence; the production fully reconstructed a traditional ‘Shtetl’ outside of Kyiv, which is planned to be turned into a museum.

Screening followed by a Q+A with actor Moshe Lobel.

Presented as part of Saviors on the Screen, an annual series featuring films honoring heroic tales of the Holocaust in honor of Yom HaShoah. 

Dir. Ady Walter

(Ukraine/France, 2022, 109 min)

The Carole Zabar Center for Film is offering exclusive access to watch The Spoils virtually between April 6 – April 14! 

Ownership, history, and morality collide in this powerful exploration of the ongoing crisis surrounding the restitution of Nazi-looted art. At the center of the film is the case of Max Stern, a German Jewish art dealer who escaped to Canada in 1937 after he was forced by the Nazis to liquidate his gallery. The Spoils offers a gripping, poignant insight into the complex moral and legal dilemmas that continue to shape the art world today.

Join us for a live Zoom Q+A on Tuesday, April 14, at 1 pm ET with director Jamie Kastner and cultural property lawyer Ray Dowd. Moderated by Richard Salomon, one of the co-founders of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Ticketholders will receive a Zoom link in advance.

Presented as part of Saviors on the Screen, an annual series featuring films honoring heroic tales of the Holocaust in honor of Yom HaShoah. 

Dir. Jamie Kastner

(Canada, 2024, 104 min)

 

Summer children’s classes offer a dynamic mix of programs designed for every age and stage, combining creativity, movement, and skill-building in a supportive environment.

• Expert-led classes across multiple disciplines
• Programs tailored by age and developmental stage
• Opportunities to build confidence, skills, and friendships
• Flexible options to fit your summer schedule
  
  Registration opens
  • April 15 for Members
  • April 22 for the Public

Explore Programs:

• Infants + Toddlers
• Summer Swim Classes
• Enrichment Classes
• Day Camp @ the JCC

Join Dr. Gillian Goddard, an acclaimed endocrinologist and author of The Hormone Loop, for a transformative discussion on women’s hormonal health. This engaging talk, moderated by bestselling author Emily Oster, delves into the four key hormone loops—the reproductive, thyroid, growth hormone, and adrenal systems —and their impact on mood, metabolism, fertility, and menopause.

Discover practical strategies for advocating for your health during puberty, perimenopause, and beyond. Empower yourself with scientific insights and real patient stories to navigate your hormonal journey effectively.

Yom HaZikaron is Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. Join us for music, art, and more in remembrance and reflection. In collaboration with UJA Federation, The Jewish Agency, and the Upper West Side Shlichut.

Sharim Zikaron | Mon, Apr 20, 7–8 pm
An evening of song, memory, and shared heart.

Breath: A Community Art Installation | Tue, Apr 21, 9 am–5 pm
Write the name of a fallen Israeli soldier or a victim of a terror attack, and place it inside a transparent box that gradually fills throughout the day. The growing accumulation of names becomes a visible expression of collective remembrance.

Harmony of Remembrance: Music for the Fallen | Tue, Apr 21, noon, 2 pm + 4 pm
Join us in the JCC lobby for profoundly moving music sessions.

 

 

Behind Her Eyes tells the powerful journey of one of the youngest survivors of the Holocaust who uses the power of social media to bridge across generations. Born in Poland in 1938, Tova was one of the few Jewish children to survive the horrors of Auschwitz. Tova proves that understanding how and why hatred erupts can serve as one of the strongest antidotes to building empathy and compassion.

Screening followed by Q+A with Tova Friedman.

Dir. George and Teddy Kunhardt

(US, 2026, 38 min)

Day Camp @ the JCC is right around the corner, don’t miss your chance to join an unforgettable summer experience! Begins, June 16–August 13

This summer, we’re expanding to welcome children ages 3–10 with brand-new divisions:

• Lower Division (Ages 3–5)
• Middle Division (Ages 6–7)
• Upper Division: Specialty Camps (Ages 8–10)

Day Camp @ the JCC delivers the ultimate city camp experience—swimming, sports, arts, cooking, yoga, engineering, and so much more—right here on 76th and Amsterdam, using our world-class facilities: indoor heated pools, culinary + art studios, rooftop playground, and a full gymnasium. Campers also spend time outside each day, and older campers participate in sports every morning in the park.

Upper Division Specialty Campers enjoy concentrated time in the specialty of their choosing each week: Sports, Theater, and Visual + Culinary Arts.

Don’t wait! Secure your child’s spot for an unforgettable summer of growth, fun, and friendship today!

We’re partnering with professional photographer Michelle Gevint of Teeny Panda Photography to offer mini family photo sessions in Riverside Park.

Michelle brings over a decade of experience specializing in family portraiture, and these 15-minute sessions are designed to be quick, easy + enjoyable, capturing authentic family moments against a stunning spring backdrop

You’ll receive 10 high-resolution, professionally edited images.

Click the link to select a time slot for you and your family.

Navigate Parenthood with Expert Guidance + Community

Becoming a parent, whether it is your first or fourth child, is profound, transformational, and often disorienting. Our six-week new parent group at the The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan offers a warm, welcoming space to share honestly and build community during these early months.

Led by Kate Kirschner, LMSW, PMH-C, a psychotherapist specializing in perinatal mental health, each session provides a soft landing to reflect on the themes that matter most:

• Feeding with Compassion: Navigating the choices of breast, bottle, or formula.

• Postpartum Wellness: Finding accessible mental health and self-care.

• Partnership + Connection: Negotiating new roles while staying emotionally close.

• Work + Identity: Navigating childcare transitions and the “Who am I now?” shift.

Come as you are: exhausted, joyful, messy, or uncertain. Whether you’re in love or in doubt, find solidarity in a room of people walking right beside you.

Led by Kate Kirschner, LMSW, PMH-C | 6-Week Series | Upper West Side

Tradition, Braided with Love | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Join us on the Upper West Side for a joyful, multi-generational baking experience. Bond with your grandchild as you learn the hands-on art of making Challah for Shabbat, from measuring and proofing to mastering the perfect braid.

Why Join Our Workshop?

Expert Guidance: Led by a professional culinary instructor.
Mess-Free: We handle the cleanup; you focus on the memories.
Take-Home Tradition: Take home a delicious loaf for your Shabbat table.
Community: Connect with other families in a warm, welcoming space.

Details

Who: Grandparents and children of all ages.
Note: Registration is per person. Please register both the adult and each child attending.

This co-authored memoir follows two lifelong friends, who were born in the same displaced persons camp in US-occupied Germany, in their investigation of their parents’ and other relatives’ stories about surviving the Holocaust in World War II-ravaged Poland. The memoir grapples with themes of acceptance, generational trauma, love, and self-discovery.

Speakers:
Aron Hirt-Manheimer, born in Feldafing D.P. Camp, Germany, moved to the U.S. at age 3, BA UCLA, MA Hebrew Union College, longtime editor of Reform Judaism, co-authored books on the Holocaust and Jewish history.

Marty Yura, also born to Feldafing D.P. Camp parents, BA UCLA, served in IDF during Yom Kippur War, MA California State LA, management consultant, co-founded Vista Yoga.

Moderator: Thane Rosenbaum

This event is being co-produced by the Forum on Life, Culture & Society (FOLCS).

In Person + Virtual. For over 25 consecutive years, the Upper West Side community has gathered to read names of those among the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

We come together this year for the 27th anniversary of our ritual, to read the names on Monday April 13, beginning at 10 pm at Kehilat Hadar Shaare Zedek (210 W 93rd St), until 7 am, Tuesday, April 14. It will then continue from 9 am-5:30 pm at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.

The ritual will close at 4:30 pm with a recitation of El Malei Rachamim and Kaddish for the Six Million, and a special performance by MusicTalks.

A sweeping and deeply intimate portrait of Holocaust survivor Sam Harris, a man who has chosen joy in a life shadowed by unimaginable darkness. Interweaving past and present, the film moves between the horrors that tried to extinguish him and the vibrant life he built in their wake. From the ashes, Sam rose to create a thriving business, help build the third-largest Holocaust museum in the world, and raise a loving family. The film asks what it means to carry unbearable history without becoming consumed by it. It shows that healing is not forgetting; it is building. 

Dir. Lynda Medjuck Suissa

(Canada, 2025, 85 min)

Twenty years after her mother’s death, journalist Marisa Fox begins a deeply personal investigation that uncovers a hidden past more complex—and haunting—than she ever imagined. She knew her mother as Tamar, the fiery redheaded freedom fighter of British Mandate Palestine. But in truth, she was also Hela, a Polish-born survivor of a little-known Jewish women’s forced labor camp in Nazi-occupied Sudetenland. A real-life story of a daughter coming to terms with a woman who went to extraordinary lengths not to be defined by trauma.

Screening followed by Q+A with director Marisa Fox.

Dir. Marisa Fox

(US, 2025, 86 min)

Celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut with a joyful, flavor-forward evening featuring Instagram sensation Ruhama (@RuhamasFood)!

In this live cooking demonstration, Ruhama will prepare some of her favorite dishes while sharing the stories, traditions, and memories that make Israeli food so much more than what’s on the plate. Enjoy drinks and dessert as we raise a glass to Israel, community, and the enduring power of food to bring people together.

About ReelAbilities

A Meaningful Approach to B’nai Mitzvah Preparation

Preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is an important milestone for many families. This program offers a thoughtful and engaging path for students who want to explore Jewish identity, tradition, and community in a supportive learning environment.

Hosted by Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on the Upper West Side, this experience focuses on helping students understand the meaning behind becoming a B’nai Mitzvah while building confidence and connection with peers.

Why Families Choose This Program

• Small cohort learning environment, no affiliation required.
• Discussion-based Jewish learning
• Focus on identity, meaning, and community
• Designed for grades 6 and 7 students
• Alternative to traditional Hebrew school models

Celebrate the vibrant conclusion of Passover at the Upper West Side Moroccan Mimouna! Enjoy an unforgettable evening of music, food, and tradition, featuring the enchanting sounds of Layali El Andalus. Indulge in a rich and colorful Mimouna table, overflowing with handmade sweets, traditional mufletas, and refreshing Moroccan mint tea.

Join us for Remember the Women Institute’s annual “Women, Theater, and the Holocaust” evening of dramatic readings of plays by and about women. A talk-back with directors and playwrights and a reception will follow the readings.

On Monday, June 8, from 6:30–8:30 pm, we will come together at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Diverse Abilities—two decades of inclusive, supportive, and adaptive programming, and a community built on belonging. All are welcome, and we encourage you to invite family members and friends to experience the place so many of us call home.

The evening will include dinner and dancing, activities, interactive experiences, and quiet and sensory-friendly zones.

Following the success of our autumn program, Studio Visits: A Behind-the-Scenes Art Experience, curated and led by Aya Goshen, returns this spring.

Over five sessions, we will travel across New York City to visit artists in their private studios. Each visit offers a unique window into the artist’s world, exploring their practice, their work, and their sources of inspiration, while creating space for engaging dialogue and a glimpse into the art world.

Participants should be comfortable commuting to various locations throughout the city. Space is limited.

Mondays, March 30, April 13 + 27, May 4 + 11, 11 am-1 pm

Photo credit: Avital Burg, work in progress

Plan your child’s first school experience with confidence

Choosing a first school setting for your toddler can feel early and overwhelming. These Turning 2s Information Sessions help you understand exactly how a gentle, play-based drop-off program builds independence, confidence, and readiness before nursery school begins.

You will leave knowing what a class morning looks like, how the program supports early social and emotional growth, and whether Turning 2s is the right first step for your child turning two this fall.

Save Your Seat

Tuesday, February 10 · 9:15 am to 10 am

Tuesday, March 10 · 9:15 am to 10 am

Wednesday, April 22 · 9:15 am to 10 am

Wednesday, May 13 · 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm · Rooftop Playdate

We’re thrilled to announce The Marlene Meyerson JCC Annual Benefit 2026 will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Secure your tickets with a donation today!

PLEASE NOTE: Donations of $1,000 or more receive tickets commensurate with gift levels, which will be communicated via email from the JCC.

We can’t wait to see you this spring!

Add to Calendar

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HONORING
Shelly Kivell, Philanthropist
Ilana Ruskay-Kidd, Founder and Head of The Shefa School

EVENT LEADERSHIP
Event Chairs
Lisa Messinger
Marti Meyerson and Jamie Hooper

Event Vice Chairs
(In Formation)
Lynn Bartner-Wiesel and Elisha Wiesel
Madelyn Bucksbaum Adamson
Tracey and Andy Appelbaum
Janis and Andy Arno
The Aronson Family
The Belfer Family
Robin Bernstein and John Ruskay
Susan and Jonathan Bram
Emily Caslow and Jeff Feig
Lisa Covey and Garry Popossky
Ariel Devine and Michael Lief
Leslie and Mitchell Dorf
Ariela Dubler
Elena Ezratty
Joanne and Duane Fiedler
Cheri Friedman
Bonnie and Peter Gatof
Sheri and David Gellman
Patti Grabel
Rebecca and Larry Grafstein
Ellen and David Horing
Stacey and Curtis Lane
Jennifer Lee and Scott Klein
Jenny and Greg Lyss
Jill Marino
Dorothy Matza
Donna McKay
Eileen and Michael Meyers
Jane and Daniel Och
Ellen J. Odoner
Linda and Seth Plattus
Abby Pomerantz Rothschild
Tina and Steven Price
Dina Pruzansky and Mike Herman
Nina and Ivan Ross
Lenore Ruben
Amy and Richard Ruben
Scott Ruskay-Kidd
Daniel, Emma, and Gabriella Ruskay-Kidd
Sheri and Jimmy Rosenfeld
Drs. Gail and Leonard Saltz
Abby and Jeremy Schiffman
Erica and Eric Schwartz
Beth and Uri Shabto
Amy and Corey Shanus
Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber
Patty and Howard Silverstein
Cathy Taub and Lowell Freiberg
Liz and Dennis Ulrich
Ayala and Ken Usdin
Teri and Barry Volpert
Debra Wasserman and Jason Glasser
Caroline Gittis Werther and Daniel Werther
Lise and Jeffrey Wilks

 

Due to overwhelming success, Sunset Circus is BACK! Experience an immersive circus for audiences of all ages, presented by the physical theater company Parallel Exit.

The extremely popular, New York Times-celebrated Sunset Circus features a company of 5-7 circus artists, including aerialists, jugglers, acrobats, and comedians. The sensational cast will entertain everyone, from kids to parents to grandparents, so bring the whole family!

Sunday, May 3, 11 am-noon