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.
An Oprah Book Club selection and one of the most talked-about novels of the year, Culpability is both a page-turning drama and a mirror for our times. Join us for a conversation with author Bruce Holsinger, whose work challenges how we define guilt, grief, and control in the modern world.
Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
Gather together at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan for Havdalah + Kid 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.
Spend a camp-filled winter morning at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan during Day Camp Winter Family Day. This seasonal family event invites young children and caregivers to play, explore, and connect.
Families enjoy a sports class, an interactive sing-along, camp crafts, sensory play, and favorite camp treats. Camp staff lead each activity and create a fun, welcoming atmosphere throughout the morning.
Families can tour our facilities and speak directly with our camp team. These conversations help families learn more about our day camp programs and values.
This event welcomes enrolled and prospective Day Camp families with children ages 3 to 5.
In collaboration with Council Member Gale Brewer, we’re partnering with the New York Blood Center to host a blood drive. This is one of the most challenging times of the year for blood collections, yet the need for blood remains constant. This seasonal drop creates a critical shortage, making your participation more important than ever.
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.
What does it take to create a world that feels as vivid as the one outside your door? This panel brings together visionary creators to explore the art of world-building across musical theater, theater, TV, film, and literature.
Join an inspiring conversation moderated by actor Michael Zegen, known for his roles in Rescue Me, Boardwalk Empire, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, featuring a panel of extraordinary speakers:
Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
How can one find beauty in the darkness of war? Can it even hold meaning when humanity is surrounded by shadows?
In this lecture, curator Ya’ara Keydar takes the audience on an intimate journey behind the scenes of creating “Heroines: Fashion and Hope in World War II”, currently on view at Design Museum Holon. She will share both the curatorial process and her personal experience of engaging with such a complex subject in the aftermath of October 7, and tell the story of how a tiny thimble inspired an entire exhibition.
Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
Join hosts J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong (Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!) for a special Books That Changed My Life edition of the hit trivia podcast Go Fact Yourself, a celebrity game show produced in collaboration with the Maximum Fun network (Bullseye). Celebrities, artists, and thinkers will test their knowledge.
Guests will be:
Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
Make 2026 the year of you! Get the one-on-one attention you deserve during our New Year’s Personal Training + Massage Sale happening now through Jan 16 only!
Now’s the perfect time to try personal training at the JCC! Save 15% off PT + IT levels: 1, 6 + 12 packs. Use discount code HAPPY26
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Relax with a massage, or a few! Save 15% on a massage packages of 5 or 10 with code MASSAGE26
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Questions? Email personalservice@mmjccm.org. Not to be combined with any other discounts. Restrictions apply.
Give your child a fun and enriching February Break while school is out.
February Break Minicamp offers age-appropriate activities, creative projects, games, and social time that keep kids active, engaged, and connected throughout the week. It is an ideal option for NYC families seeking structured programming that strikes a balance between fun and enrichment.
Families can choose full-week enrollment or select single days, with flexible options designed to fit your schedule. Our minicamp offers a safe and supportive environment where children can build friendships, explore new interests, and enjoy their break.
Explore February Break Minicamp
February 16–20, 2026
Nursery 3s-5s
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Specialty Theater Minicamp Ages 5-10
Specialty Film Minicamp Ages 11-13
Join us once again for a deep dive into the heart of Kabbalah on the topic “End of Life to After Life.” Combining academic excellence with opportunities for experiential learning, the Day of Kabbalah will stimulate your mind and fill your heart. Kosher breakfast included, lunch available for purchase.
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
Join us for a deliciously wicked conversation as New York Times best-selling author Emma Rosenblum, the queen of rich-people satire, discusses her steamy, twisty novel Mean Moms.
Emma will be in conversation with Stephanie Butnick, the founder of the Jewish lifestyle newsletter GOLDA. She hosted the hit Jewish podcast Unorthodox, and is the author of The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia: From Abraham to Zabar’s and Everything in Between.
Part of the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
Whether you’re a born-and-bred New Yorker, a recent transplant, or somewhere in between – get ready to experience Jewish New York like never before. Jew York, New York! is an immersive adventure through the flavors, stories, neighborhoods, and cultural gems that shaped – and continue to shape – Jewish life in the city that never sleeps.
Join a tight-knit cohort of 20s + 30s as we explore iconic museums, wander historic streets, taste our way through legendary eateries, and celebrate the vibrant, ever-evolving Jewish culture of NYC.
Chapter 1 includes guided tours of Ellis Island and the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a group dinner at Laser Wolf in Brooklyn, and a happy hour at the JCC.
3 Sundays, Jan 25, Feb 8 + 22, and Thu, Mar 5
Please note that space for this program is limited, and we expect spots to fill quickly.
Join us on Sun, Feb 8 from 9 am-2:45 pm for a free day of fitness and bring a friend! Sample classes and workshops to shake things up and reimagine your routine for the new year. Some programs will also be available virtually and noted below.
Schedule:
Click the classes below to register. For help registering, email boxoffice@mmjccm.org or call 646.505.5708.
9 am
Doors Open, Mix and Mingle Coffee + Conversation
9:15-9:55 am
Keynote | PUSH: The Science of Staying Strong, Active, and Motivated at Any Age with Dr. Jordan Metzl
Dr. Jordan Metzl is a renowned sports medicine physician at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery and a nationally recognized expert on fitness, motivation, and longevity. He is the bestselling author of The Exercise Cure and four other books.
Everyone wants to live longer and better — but few know what actually works. Drawing from his new book PUSH, Dr. Metzl shares why healthy longevity doesn’t require extreme treatments or trends. You’ll leave with practical, science-based tools to build strength, motivation, and confidence at any age. (Virtual Sign Up)
10-10:25 am
Balance and Bones | In Person
Strengthen your balance and protect your bones with simple, effective exercises designed for all fitness levels. (Virtual Sign Up)
10:30-10:55 am
Fall Stop…Move Strong | In Person
Build strength and agility while learning practical strategies to help prevent falls and stay active. (Virtual Sign Up)
11-11:25 am
Nia Dance Jam | In Person
Energize your body and mind through this joyful blend of dance, martial arts, and mindfulness. (Virtual Sign Up)
11:30-11:55 am
Salsa Dance Half Time Jam | In Person
Shake, step, and groove in this lively session that’s fun for all experience levels. (Virtual Sign Up)
Noon-12:25 pm
Cardio Made Simple | In Person
Easy-to-follow cardio that boosts endurance, energy, and heart health. (Virtual Sign Up)
12:30-12:55 pm
Tai Chi for Leg Strength | In Person
Gentle, flowing movements to strengthen your legs, improve balance, and support mindful movement. (Virtual Sign Up)
1-1:25 pm
Pilates | In Person
Tone your core, improve posture, and build functional strength for everyday life. (Virtual Sign Up)
1:30-1:55 pm
Yoga for Back Health | In Person
Release tension and support spinal health with gentle yoga designed to improve posture and flexibility.
2 pm
Closing Event | From Awareness to Action: Taking Charge of Your Health | In Person
Join authors Gila Pfeffer (Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences) and Rebecca Bloom (When Women Get Sick) for a humorous, engaging, and empowering conversation with me about prevention, genetics, self-advocacy, and self-care. You’ll leave with practical tools, trusted resources, and a reminder that laughter really is great medicine. (Virtual Sign Up)
Sponsored by JScreen, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring access to preventive genetic testing and genetic counseling for adults across the United States. JScreen offers at-home genetic testing and telehealth counseling to help individuals understand reproductive and hereditary cancer risks and make informed choices that support healthier futures.
Join the JCC Health Club
Come take a tour and learn about membership. Don’t want to wait? Check out our current membership promotions now!
Step into the 2026 Books That Changed My Life Festival and let the magic of stories take you on a journey. Join inspiring conversations with authors, artists, and thinkers as they share the books that have guided, challenged, and transformed their paths.
Jan 8 | Opening Party
Jan 15 | Mean Moms: Emma Rosenblum in Conversation with Stephanie Butnick
Jan 22 | Secrets of Heroines: Ya’ara Keydar
Jan 26 | Go Fact Yourself (Live Podcast)
Feb 5 | Behind the Aisles: The Stories of Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Beyond
Feb 9 | Creating Worlds: How a Story Comes to Life
Feb 23 | Culpability: Bruce Holsinger in Conversation
Other highlights include a book drive, films, children’s storytimes, panel discussions, and a week-long author-in-residence.
Your next great journey begins with a single page.
She died more than four decades ago, but even today, Leah Goldberg remains an enigmatic figure—Israel’s most beloved poet, a powerful woman who reinvented herself from the ashes of World War I through her magical poetry. This documentary is a cinematic fantasy in five acts, celebrating the fascinating story of Leah Goldberg.
In partnership with the Books That Changed My Life Festival 2026 and Aleph, celebrating Hebrew International Language Day.
Screening followed by Q+A with director Yair Qedar and award-winning authors Maya Arad and Ruby Namdar.
Dir. Yair Qedar
(Israel, 2011, 50 min)
Henrietta Szold is among the most influential American Jewish women who ever lived. After founding Hadassah in 1912, she became a major force in early twentieth-century Palestine, establishing its healthcare system and shaping its education system. In a crowning achievement, Szold helped organize Youth Aliyah, which successfully rescued thousands of Jewish children from Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe during the 1930s and transported them to Palestine.
Screening followed by Q+A with director Abby Ginzberg.
Dir. Abby Ginzberg
(US, 2025, 79 min)
Azar Nafisi, a former professor at Tehran University, secretly gathers seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. As fundamentalists seize control, the women remove their veils and speak about their intimate hopes, loves, disappointments, femininity, and search for a place in an increasingly oppressive society. By reading Lolita in Tehran, they celebrate the liberating power of literature in revolutionary Iran and form their own future.
In partnership with the Books That Changed My Life Festival 2026.
Screening followed by Q+A with director Eran Riklis.
Dir. Eran Riklis
(Italy/Israel, 2024, 108 min)
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:
We cannot accept:
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.
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.
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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!
The JCC offers private swim lessons for adults and children ages 6 months and up. Book now with one of our expert instructors!
Join the JCC Health Club by January 31 + Save $300! Or Join the Pool + Save $150 Off! $0 Enrollment Fee.*
This New Year experience the JCC’s holistic approach to fitness and the warmest place to work out. 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.
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.”
Presented in partnership with the Books That Changed My Life Festival.
Dir. Emmanuel Finkiel
(Israel/France/Hungary/Belgium, 2025, 131 mins)
Every day, Sarah cares for other people’s babies at the Children’s Health Center in Haifa, but she also yearns for a child of her own. After years of failed fertility treatments, her desperate desire for motherhood collides with the struggles of a young mother, culminating in a risky decision with potentially devastating consequences.
Screening followed by Q+A with director Sophie Artus.
Dir. Sophie Artus
(Israel, 2025, 102 min)
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.
Screening followed by Q+A with director Jamie Kastner and cultural property lawyer/ art restitution expert Ray Dowd. Moderated by Richard Salomon, one of the co-founders of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.
Dir. Jamie Kastner
(Canada, 2024, 104 min)
An unsung hero of the Holocaust, Erno “Zvi” Spiegel risked everything to save dozens of young twins from almost certain death at Auschwitz. Under the shadow of Dr. Josef Mengele’s horrific experiments, Spiegel used his courage, compassion, and ingenuity to shield the most vulnerable—the sets of twins targeted for brutal medical experimentation. The Last Twins brings to life the voices of those who survived because of Spiegel’s defiance. Narrated by Liev Schreiber.
Screening followed by Q+A with film subject Dr. Judith Richter.
Opening remarks provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Dir. Perri Peltz, Matthew O’Neill
(2025, 80 min)
Learn more about our incredible summer program for children ages 3–10 at Day Camp @ The JCC!
Join one of our virtual information sessions this fall and winter to discover our camp divisions, daily activities, dates, rates, and what makes our community-focused summer experience so special.
Day Camp Information Sessions by Division:
Lower Division (ages 3–5)
• December 2 at 7 pm
• January 6 at 7 pm
• January 21 at 9:45 am
Middle Division (ages 6–7)
• November 20 at 9 am
• December 3 at 7 pm
• January 7 at 9:45 am
Upper Division (ages 8–10)
• November 20 at 9:45 am
• December 3 at 7:45 pm
• January 7 at 10:30 am
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the session.
Explore More About Day Camp @ The JCC
Visit our Day Camp page for full program details, dates, rates, and FAQs.
For additional questions, contact:
Day Camp @ The JCC Director, Alyssa Blackman, at ablackman@mmjccm.org.
Keep your child active, curious, and connected this season with Winter/Spring classes at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. From art, dance, and sports to swim lessons, STEM programs, and Jewish life classes, our children’s classes nurture growth, confidence, and creativity in every age group, from infants to teens. Led by caring, expert instructors, each class provides hands-on learning in a warm and welcoming community setting.
Click below to explore classes by age and category:
View All Winter Classes in Our Program Grid Today!
Registration is now open—save your spot today and make this season one to remember!
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:
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.
Give your child the ultimate sports experience right here on the Upper West Side. Our youth sports programs in NYC combine expert coaching, exciting games, and a supportive community where kids build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of sports. From basketball and soccer to volleyball, tennis, pickleball, and training classes, there’s a place for every child to shine—whether they’re just starting out or ready to level up.
Don’t wait—spots fill fast. Register today and get your child in the game!
Give your child confidence, safety skills, and a love of the water this fall at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Our expert instructors make learning to swim fun while helping children build coordination, strength, and independence.
Playful, age-appropriate lessons introduce little ones to the water and set the foundation for safe swimming:
Progressive levels that grow with your child, from first strokes to advanced technique:
JCC Swim Club (by instructor placement)
Register today and watch your child build lifelong skills in a safe, supportive environment.
The JCC offers private and semi-private swim lessons to children ages 6 months and up. Book now with one of our expert instructors!
Fall Teen Fitness Classes at The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
Help your tween or teen build strength, confidence, and lifelong healthy habits in our youth fitness programs on the Upper West Side. Our classes offer a variety of options, including small-group training, personal training, Pilates for focus and core strength, private swim lessons, and more. Teens can also join basketball membership + classes and competitive leagues, all led by certified youth coaches in a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.
Encourage your teen to stay active, develop skills, and make friends while enjoying expert-led programs designed for their growth and wellness.
Basketball Leagues
Competitive and recreational leagues for teens to develop skills and teamwork.
Pilates 4 Attention + Mindfulness
Pilates-based classes focusing on improving focus and mindfulness.
Teen Pilates
Pilates sessions designed to enhance core strength and flexibility.
Tween Fit Lab
A dynamic program combining fitness training with fun activities.
Personal Training
One-on-one sessions tailored to individual fitness goals.
Private Swim Lessons
Personalized swim instruction focusing on technique and confidence.
Stay connected and be the first to know about exciting opportunities in Arts + Film, Jewish Life, Fitness + Wellness, and more—tailored to your interests and delivered straight to your inbox!