Havdalah + Kids Night Out

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.

What Is Queer Food? What makes food queer, and who gets to define it?

This panel brings together writers and tastemakers to explore how LGBTQIA+ chefs, hosts, and dining spaces have shaped culinary culture, created community, and claimed space through food. From iconic queer gathering spots to evolving ideas of identity, pleasure, and politics on the plate, our panelists will discuss the past, present, and future of queer food.

About ReelAbilities

Family Passover Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Explore the Passover story inside the Met’s Egyptian Wing through ancient artifacts, storytelling, and guided discovery for families with young children.

Led by museum educators and Jewish learning specialists, this interactive tour connects history, freedom, and tradition in a way kids can understand and enjoy.

Meet: Museum steps at 82nd St + Fifth Ave
Ages: Best for children 3–8
Registration: Required per person (adults and children)
Note: Children must attend with an adult

A guided teen discussion explores the history behind today’s headlines and the events shaping Israel and the region.

This program examines the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the rise of early Zionism, and the different narratives that shape the story today.

Teens will connect historical events to current developments after October 7. They will develop critical thinking skills and practice respectful discussion in a structured setting.

Rabbi Nadia Gold leads the session. She creates a supportive space for teens ages 13 to 18 to ask questions, engage in dialogue, and explore complex topics.

Participants receive dinner during the program.

Families can request financial assistance to join the program.

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

In 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest sibling of a large family. Roland is born with a clubfoot and Esther devotes herself to ensuring that he will be able to walk and live life to the fullest. Spanning decades of hardships and miracles, this film is the story of an incredible destiny and the greatest love of all: a mother’s love for her child.

Marty Mauser, a young man with a dream no one respects, goes to hell and back in pursuit of greatness.

Auditorium doors open approximately 30 minutes prior to the start, and screenings will begin promptly at their start time. Seating is first come, first served. If a screening is sold out, there is a possibility that your seat may be given up if you arrive more than 10 minutes after the film begins.

Rush Tickets will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening are sold out or no longer available. The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form outside the auditorium approximately 30 minutes prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin 5-10 minutes after program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.

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.

Honoring Board Members

Shelly Kivell, Philanthropist

Ilana Ruskay-Kidd, Founder and Head of The Shefa School

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. 

More details to be announced soon. We can’t wait to see you this spring!

Add to Calendar

Sharon Ann Musher is the author of Promised Lands: Hadassah Kaplan and the Legacy of American Jewish Women in Early Twentieth Century Palestine, which was selected for the Jewish Women’s Archive’s Summer Book List and twice for Hadassah Magazine’s Shabbat Bookshelf.

The book draws on a rich personal archive of diary entries, photographs, and letters to follow Hadassah Kaplan’s journey to Palestine and illustrate how travel shaped a cohort of American Jewish women who went on to shape American Jewry.

Join the JCC Health Club or Pool in February with $0 Initiation Fee!* 

Resolutions fade. The JCC is where better routines begin! Everything you need in one place to reset your fitness journey. Enjoy the use of two pools, a spacious fitness center, gymnasium with two basketball courts, unlimited group exercise classes, pickleball games, discounts on other JCC programs, friendly staff, and warm community!

Learn more about this limited time offer. Have questions? Email joinjcc@mmjccm.org or call 646.505.4414.

*Restrictions apply.

Cast members from the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Ragtime will spend an evening at the JCC discussing the music, the story, and the dynamic production now on stage at Lincoln Center.

Collaboratively produced by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and The Apollo Theater, we’ll explore the rich storylines featuring Jewish characters and Black characters who seek to thrive in early 1900s America. Featuring cast members Julie Benko, Ben Levi Ross, and John Clay III, as well as a music historian. The conversation will be moderated by Lonnie Firestone, founder and co-director of Exploring The Narrative.

Winter Teen + Tween classes at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan bring together movement, hands-on learning, and peer-driven experiences for ages 10 to 18. Programs run throughout the winter season and offer consistent opportunities for participation beyond the school day in New York City. Our winter lineup supports families seeking reliable youth programming that encourages skill development, personal growth, and ongoing participation across multiple interests.

Sports Classes + Leagues Ages 5 to 13
Basketball, volleyball, and league-based programs focused on skill progression, teamwork, and game play.

Volunteering + Community Service Ages 10+
Ongoing service programs connecting teens to local initiatives and values-driven participation.

Fitness + Pilates Ages 10 to 18
Training and Pilates classes centered on strength, movement awareness, and long-term wellness.

Pottery + Arts Classes Ages 5 to 13
Ceramics instruction using handbuilding techniques, kiln firing, glazing, and surface design.

Community Cooks Ages 10 to 18
Culinary programs focused on technique, collaboration, and confidence in the kitchen.

Explore more Teen + Tween programs designed to support growth, curiosity, and connection this year at JCC Manhattan.

Join us for a screening of the award-winning shorts We Should Eat, Catalogue of Noses, Anne, Miriam, and Babka, films that mine Jewish identity for laughs, pathos, and cultural insight. Together they reveal the evolving landscape of Jewish life today.

Screening followed by Q+A with filmmakers.

Put on your costumes and jump into the fun at our Purim Carnival and Shabbat Celebration for Families in NYC, where you can bounce, play, and enjoy colorful carnival games and snacks before coming together to welcome Shabbat with a live musical band and joyful community energy.

Designed especially for young families, this event features two age-specific carnival experiences:

• Ages 2 to 4

• Ages 4 and up

Every child and adult attending must be registered individually. Be sure to select the correct age group when purchasing tickets.

Celebrate Purim. Welcome Shabbat. Make it a memory.

A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balances their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.

Join us for an electrifying Purim screening of KPop Demon Hunters! Dress up, light up your lightsticks, and sing along to killer KPop anthems as the idols-by-day become demon-slayers-by-night in this tale of music, monsters, and friendship. 

Dir. Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

(US/Canada, 2025, 95 min)

Life changes when Charlie, a 57-year-old talented graphic designer, father, and charismatic community leader, discovers that his recent fogginess is due to Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. His wife of 30 years, Heidi Levitt, is determined to better understand the disease, learn how to live their best life with it, forge a new path forward, and document every step along the journey.

This screening will be shown with open captions, but no audio description is available for this title.

If you require ASL interpretation for the live conversation following the screening, please contact access@reelabilities.org before March 12.

Screening followed by Q+A with director Heidi Levitt.

Co-presented by ReelAbilities. Co-sponsored by CaringKind.

Dir. Heidi Levitt

(US, 2025, 90 min)

In the days following October 7, a jazz musician struggling to make ends meet is given a mission of the highest importance: to compose the music for a rousing, ruthless new national anthem.

Dir. Nadav Lapid

(France/Cyprus/Germany/Israel, 2026, 150 min)

In his new book, author Dan Okrent gives us a revelatory look at the complex inner world of one of the twentieth century’s most beloved theatrical composers. He will be in conversation with Bill Goldstein.

Music performance by Jazz vocalist Meital Waldmann.

Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.

Gather together at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan for Havdalah + Kids Night Out, an evening designed for children in Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Families begin with a brief Havdalah service from 6:45 to 7 pm. After the service, children stay for a night of fun while caregivers enjoy time on their own.

Kids jump into a neon party, enjoy a dessert bar, create camp crafts, and watch a live performance. Each activity keeps children engaged, social, and entertained in a safe, supervised setting.

This event combines Jewish tradition with high-energy programming, offering kids a memorable night out.

Jazz vocalist Meital Waldmann celebrates the release of her new EP, Kisufim, with a performance that returns to iconic Israeli classics through a contemporary jazz lens. Drawing on her roots in Israel and Brazil, alongside her life in the New York jazz scene, Waldmann brings a personal and modern approach to these timeless melodies.

She has performed at leading venues in New York and Tel Aviv, including Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Ornithology, The Triad, and Shablul Jazz Club, and is a frequent presence at the JCC, as well as at galas and special events across the United States.

Looking for something new and interesting to do as a family or with friends? R&R is an amazing weekly free opportunity to be together as a community: an incredible, inclusive alternative to the typical New York Saturday. Make your Shabbat afternoon feel special with art, yoga, meditation, music, lectures, film, open play, and more.

R&R devotees already know the magic of this program, and we are thrilled to invite new families and adults to drop in for programs celebrating the best of the JCC. Join us for programs for babies, children, and adults that respect all levels of Shabbat observance.

Every Saturday, Jan 10-Mar 14, 2-5 pm

NEW DATE! Free Children’s Book Fair | Sun, Mar 8, 1–4 pm | JCC Lobby

Join us for a free book fair where every child gets to build their own home library. Browse tables of gently used books—available at no cost to families. Just bring an empty bag and leave with stories to last all year.

Children’s Book Drive | Jan 19–23 | JCC Lobby

Give the gift of imagination! Donate new and gently used children’s books (ages 0–13) to be shared at our free Community Book Fair. In partnership with the Office of NYC Council Member Gale A. Brewer. Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.

We especially need:

• Children’s books in Spanish, French, and Russian
• Picture books, early readers, and chapter books in good condition

We cannot accept:

• Books for adults, encyclopedias, textbooks, or magazines
• Damaged books (ripped, written in, moldy, etc.)

Volunteer shifts are available for both the drive and the fair. 

Registration is now open for adult winter swim classes. Save your spot in the pool and choose from beginner through advanced swim clinics. For more information, contact us at jccswimschool@mmjccm.org.

Adult Beginner 1
Come learn the fundamentals of swimming and water safety in a supportive and relaxed group setting in our Adult Beginner 1 Swim Clinic. In this weekly clinic we will introduce safe swimming foundations such as breath control and learning to float, as well as rudimentary freestyle and backstroke technique. This class has no prerequisites and is suitable for all beginner swimmers.
LEARN MORE

Adult Beginner 2
Continue your progress from our Beginner 1 Swim Clinic or join us if you meet the prerequisites below. In this weekly clinic we will continue to build on our rudimentary knowledge of freestyle and backstroke as we are well on our way toward mastering those skills. This class will focus on precision and efficiency in each stroke as well as breath control, while continuing to emphasize important water safety skills. Prerequisites: Swimmers must be comfortable fully submerging, and have learned the foundations for flutter kicks and pulling.
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Adult Intermediate
Join us in our Intermediate swim clinic! Whether you’ve graduated from our beginner clinics or already meet our prerequisites we’ll help you become a confident, capable, and courteous lap swimmer. Our excellent instructors will give you tips and tricks to sharpen your technique while building endurance and speed in the water. Prerequisites: Swimmers must be able to swim 50 meters of freestyle and backstroke continuously.
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Adult Advanced
Our advanced swim clinic is for swimmers looking to build their endurance while following a 45 minute swim workout. Work with our expert coaches on drills to develop your core strength, stroke timing, and stamina. Classes will include a mix of drills, instruction, and continuous swimming. Prerequisite: Swimmers must be able to swim 50 meters of freestyle and backstroke continuously and follow a 45 minute swim workout without pause.
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Don’t wait to register, spots are limited!

Private Swim Lessons

The JCC offers private swim lessons for adults and children ages 6 months and up. Book now with one of our expert instructors!

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, March 22
Morning Show (11 am-noon) | Afternoon Show (2-3 pm)

Sunday, May 3
Morning Show (11 am-noon) | Afternoon Show (2-3 pm)

Security That Feels Like Belonging
The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is more than a building. It is a home — a place where people gather, belong, and feel safe.

At the heart of this commitment is our role as Shomer — the Hebrew word for guardian and protector. Security here is not just about cameras or walls, but about safeguarding lives and creating a true sense of welcome.

Since 2023, our costs have risen by $700,000 as we adapt to evolving threats and best practices.

That’s why we’ve launched the Shomer Fund — to ensure safety is never static but always advancing.

Your support makes possible:

• Highly trained guards who know our members by name
• Fortified entrances and exits
• Emergency readiness through evolving protocols
• Continuous upgrades to technology, infrastructure, and training

Protect the traditions, programs, and people that make our community strong.

Every Safeguard Starts with You. Be a Shomer.

Looking for something else? Learn more about other ways to donate, or contact a member of our team at development@mmjccm.org.