Member Mingle Events

Unlock the Language of the Prophets—In Just Six Weeks.

Stop skimming and start reading. This free Hebrew Reading Crash Course is designed for those who want to go from “Aleph” to “Fluent Reader” without the years of school. In partnership with the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP), we provide a streamlined, high-impact curriculum that works.

• Fast-Track Learning: Master the entire alphabet and basic phonetics in 6 sessions.

• Expert Guidance: Perfect for beginners or those needing a refresher.

• Community Focused: Learn in a supportive, small-group environment.

Reserve Your Spot. Space is limited to ensure personalized instruction. Pre-registration is required. Join us

Plan ahead for a season of growth at the JCC. Our fall 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.

Fall Program Guide | Click Here

• Expert-led classes across multiple disciplines
• Programs tailored by age and developmental stage
• Opportunities to build confidence, skills, and friendships
• Secure your spot early for our most popular neighborhood fall programs

Registration opens

• • May 12 for Members
  • May 19 for the Public

Explore Programs:

• • Infants + Toddlers
  • Fall Afterschool Clubhouse
  • Fall Swim Classes
  • Enrichment Classes

Summer is coming and it’s never too late to work on your swimming! Registration is now open for adult summer 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.
LEARN MORE

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.
LEARN MORE

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.
LEARN MORE

Don’t wait to register, spots are limited! Arthritis Water Exercise classes are already sold out.

Join us for some summer fun on the JCC roof! Professional instructors will lead beginner-friendly lessons in Dance Your Way to Happiness, Nia Dance, Yoga, 5Rhythms® Emerging Waves, and Salsa. Enjoy mocktails and light snacks while you mingle with other participants. Bring a friend or make new ones at this fun evening out. All levels welcome. Part of Summer of Light.

Schedule
Click below to learn more and register.

May 18 | Dance Your Way to Happiness

Aug 10 | Salsa

Get an insider’s look at how digital media is transforming Jewish storytelling through 18 dynamic new projects. Join the Jewish Writers’ Institute to explore the work of the 2026 Digital Storytellers Lab Fellows, who are telling stories about Bukharian food, Ladino music, heroines of Torah, and talking pickles on platforms including YouTube, Webtoon, Instagram, TikTok, and podcasts. Clips and conversations from leading experts in media will highlight the new opportunities, frustrations, and audiences for Jewish stories. Meet the creators and share a toast at a brief reception following the conversation.

Join us for a vibrant evening with acclaimed chef and four-time James Beard Award nominee Hillary Sterling as she celebrates the release of her long-awaited debut cookbook, Ammazza!

A love letter to a life in food, Ammazza! brings together over 100 seasonal recipes shaped by Sterling’s journey, from her Brooklyn upbringing in a spirited, food-centered Jewish household to her deep connection with Italian cuisine, and her rise through some of New York’s most celebrated kitchens. Now at the helm of Ci Siamo, she has earned widespread praise for cooking that is both technically precise and deeply soulful.

Ballerina Boys is a portrait of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (The Trocks), an all-male ballet company known worldwide for blending classical technique with comedy and satire. For over 50 years, they’ve performed en pointe and in drag, challenging ballet’s rigid gender norms and championing equality, inclusion, and social justice. Inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Riots, their work reflects the defiant, creative spirit of the gay rights movement.

Dir. Martie Barylick, Chana Gazit

THE FLOATERS follows struggling musician Nomi, who accepts a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend Mara: mentoring misfit campers, the “Floaters,” at their childhood Jewish summer camp.

Dir. Rachel Israel 

Part of the JCC’s Summer of Light.

We’re excited to offer the following free Member Mingle events for JCC Health Club + Pool members!

Join us for these casual gatherings where you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Connect and schmooze with fellow members
• Meet our directors from our fitness, aquatics, and membership team
• Learn more about programs and get tips on favorite classes
• Enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks

SCHEDULE
Please click the dates to add to your calendar. When RSVP is available, please do so.

Wed, May 27, 3:30-5 pm | Chair Massage, light bites, and wine | RSVP HERE

Thu, Jun 11, 10-11:30 am | Celebrate our new app with coffee, pastries, and fruit

September TBD| Mingle in our Sukkah

October TBD | Morning mingle

November TBD | Pre-thanksgiving mingle

December TBD | Chanukah themed mingle

Stay tuned to this page for more information!

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)

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!

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