Film | My Underground Mother

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

Screening followed by Q+A with Sam Harris.

Interviewing Sam Harris will be fellow co-founder of the Illinois Holocaust Museum Rick Salomon, who also chairs the Board of Senior Fellows of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and sits on the Advisory Board of the Renew Democracy Initiative. Like Sam some years earlier, Mr. Salomon was recently named one of the 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients.

(Canada, 2025, 85 min)

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

Swim, sweat, swish! 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!

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

*Restrictions apply.

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

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 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 true story of an incredible destiny and the greatest love of all: a mother’s love for her child.

Art House New York Cinema Week is providing free tickets funded by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to eligible New Yorkers. To see eligibility requirements and reserve tickets, click here.

Screening followed by Q+A with Vanessa Chalme, the niece of Roland Perez.

Dir. Ken Scott

(France/Canada, 2025, 102 min)

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.

More details to be announced soon. 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
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
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

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 and John Clay III, as well as Fredara Hadley, Ethnomusicologist at The Juilliard School. 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.

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 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.

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.