Storytelling + Art from Ethiopia to Israel

This annual free day of pampering and renewal is designed to lift the spirits while pampering the body. The day’s sessions may include self-massage, Zentangle art therapy, and mind/body exercises including yoga, meditation, and Moving for Life, all specifically designed for women living with cancer.

This program has been named in loving memory of Shirley Kohn by the support of her friends and family. This program was created in partnership with Dr. Alison Estabrook, a nationally recognized breast cancer surgeon, and is co-sponsored by SHARE, Sharsheret, The NIA Technique, and Moving for Life.

Don’t miss our 2026 Shirley Kohn Spa Evening of Mindfulness on Mon, June 22. Registration coming soon!

Become a JCC Health Club, Pool, or Basketball Member in May + Score $0 Initiation Fee!* 

Belong to something stronger. More than a gym, you belong here! The JCC has everything you need in one place. 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!

Book a tour now and get a free trial. Have questions? Email joinjcc@mmjccm.org or call 646.505.4414.

*Restrictions apply.

Secure Your Spot: 2027-2028 Nursery School Tour

Get ahead of the admissions rush! Join the JCC Nursery School for a tour of our classrooms and a deep dive into our curriculum for the upcoming 2027-2028 school year.

When:  9:30 am – 11 am

Where: The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Highlights: Meet our educators, explore our facilities, and simplify your application process.

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan Wechsler Center for Modern Aging is pleased to announce its annual Week of Wechsler (WoW), a week-long programming initiative for our modern aging population, from May 7–14, 2026.

Each day features interesting speakers, gatherings, and unique opportunities for learning, exploration, and connection, culminating in an in-person Wechsler Wellness Fair on Thursday, May 14. Registration is recommended to secure your spot.

Looking for a reason to ditch the desk and elevate your evening? We’re hosting an exclusive rooftop happy hour designed specifically for the 20s + 30s crowd. We’re skipping the lukewarm beer and heading straight for the clouds with a boozy twist on a childhood favorite. Join us this June for a boozy ice cream rooftop happy hour!

Sheitel shines a light on the world of Orthodox Jewish women and the practice of hair covering, revealing the deeper significance of this tradition as an expression of cultural identity, faith, and female empowerment.

Screening followed by Q+A with director Lynda Medjuck Suissa.

Dir. Lynda Medjuck Suissa

(Canada/US/Israel, 2026, 86 min)

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)

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.

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!

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

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.

Get your tickets below!

Donate now to help make the next 20 years possible.
Click here to see our community in action!

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

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