This talk explores the history of Jewish life in Auburn and Cayuga County, tracing the story of Congregation B’nai Israel from its beginnings in the late 19th century to its closure in 2013. Drawing on archival research, personal narratives, and community records, This conversation will highlight the contributions of Jewish residents to Auburn’s civic, cultural, and economic life, including key figures such as George Michaels, a former member of New York State Assembly, and Maurice Schwartz, a former mayor of Auburn. We’ll also examine the challenges faced by small Jewish communities in upstate New York, the role of interfaith collaboration, and how B’nai Israel’s legacy continues through charitable initiatives, Holocaust remembrance efforts, and local historical preservation. This presentation invites reflection on the broader story of small-town Jewish life in America and the enduring impact of communities that may no longer exist physically but remain vital parts of our shared history. Austin Reid is a writer and historian whose work focuses on documenting hidden Jewish histories and legacies, with a particular interest in small-town Jewish communities in the United States and beyond. His research has been featured in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Post-Standard, and he has presented […]

People are living longer and longer, which means more people are or will be in the place of taking care of a parent, spouse or other relative as they age. While caring for a loved one is often fulfilling, it can also be an overwhelming task that puts strain on the caretakers and creates a maze of family dynamics as everyone’s roles shift. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Recognizing the ups and downs of caregiving, the JCC has put together a 5-week lecture series in which you will learn about resources you and your givee may be eligible for, how to handle the hard moments and the ways to find fulfillment in this role. Whether you have just begun your caregiving journey or are years in, you are invited to join us to the below presentations. Each presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A as well as time for attendees to ask one-on-one questions to the speakers and mingle with each other. Visit jccsyr.org/cp to see the full list of topics and speakers.

Join Next Gen CNY for a night of trivia at PressRoom Pub! Bring yourself, a friend or a colleague!  

More details to follow.

People are living longer and longer, which means more people are or will be in the place of taking care of a parent, spouse or other relative as they age. While caring for a loved one is often fulfilling, it can also be an overwhelming task that puts strain on the caretakers and creates a maze of family dynamics as everyone’s roles shift. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! Recognizing the ups and downs of caregiving, the JCC has put together a 5-week lecture series in which you will learn about resources you and your givee may be eligible for, how to handle the hard moments and the ways to find fulfillment in this role. Whether you have just begun your caregiving journey or are years in, you are invited to join us to the below presentations. Each presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A as well as time for attendees to ask one-on-one questions to the speakers and mingle with each other. Visit jccsyr.org/cp to see the full list of topics and speakers.

Idan Chabasov, The Challah Prince, was born and raised in Tel Aviv. He has always been an artist with a background in professional dancing and video production. Idan’s mission is to bring art into the baking world and demonstrate the beauty of every piece of Challah. The Challah Prince has been dedicating himself to community; sharing his creations and unique ways of braiding dough while personally communicating with community members.

Event Description Join the JCC for a Book Talk by Dr. Michael Gordon on his book, The Book of David which shares his experiences and life lessons learned from caring for his special needs brother. "Caring for a sibling with special needs presents families with a gauntlet of challenges and responsibilities. But while the downsides of sibling caregiving understandably take center stage, few books consider how managing the less-than-perfect among us can also enrich us all-individually, within our families, and across the community at large. This "memoir as self-help" book addresses what goals and principles we should set for ourselves and our special needs siblings. With humor and affection, the author uses his brother's life history to address issues that arise around education, employment, health care, family functioning, and religious observance. Dr. Gordon, a child psychologist, parlays his extensive clinical experience to explore the many trials and triumphs that can arise when one sibling cares for another."

Join Next Gen for a casual, festive Shabbat dinner as we celebrate Lag BaOmer around a bonfire! We’ll gather at a private home in Dewitt (address shared upon registration) for an evening of good food, great company, and warm conversation under the stars. This is a potluck-style dinner with an Israeli Mediterranean theme — please bring a dish to pass and a drink to share. There will be s’mores by the fire and plenty of outdoor seating.

De-stress with the art of Zentangle at the JCC! Bring your creativity and join the JCC for a two-hour introduction to Zentangle, a relaxing and meditative ink drawing method that transforms simple patterns into works of art. No artistic experience is required. This class will be given by Linda Markell, a Certified Zentangle Teacher and retired public health educator. Linda has previously taught Zentangle at the Marcellus Library and the Womens Retreats at Chautauqua Institute.

The Yiddish Book Center is now offering masked tours of Yiddish: A Global Culture, our permanent exhibition. Visitors can experience the incredible story of Yiddish on this 45-minute tour. Masked tours are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on: Monday, May 19 Monday, June 30 Monday, July 28 The tour guide as well as all guests on the tour will be masked. There is no additional charge for these tours and no advance registration required. If you have any questions about our Masked Tours, please email us at access@yiddishbookcenter.org. Suggested donation: $12 We also offer tours that do not require masks on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/events-and-store/plan-your-visit-hours-and-directions Yiddish Book Center hours: Sunday–Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Address: 1021 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 Phone number: 413.256.4900

Join the JCC as we show the 1973 French-Italian comedy The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob.

Board meeting, 3rd Wednesday each month

Shining Stars honors members of the Menorah Park family who brighten the world for all of us! The event is open to the community.

A very special Oneg will follow Shabbat services on Friday evening May 23rd as we wish farewell to our Executive Director Diane Sacks. Open to the community. Services begin at 6:00 pm

Dessert Reception to celebrate 10 years of excellence at Syracuse Community Hebrew School.