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Author: Jack K

3 people on yoga mats
Discover Your Inner Calm: A Special Invitation to “Finding a Haven Within” (date changed again)

Discover Your Inner Calm: A Special Invitation to “Finding a Haven Within” (date changed again)

Life moves fast, doesn’t it? In a world that feels like it’s constantly shifting, it can betough to find a moment of true stillness. If you’ve been searching for a way to tradethe noise for a little more inner joy, we have something special waiting for you. We invite our wonderful community to join us for the Master Class: “Finding aHaven Within” on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Date changed to March 1, 2026. Date changed to March 15, 2026, at 12PM….

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An Appeal from the Met Council for SNAP help

An Appeal from the Met Council for SNAP help

The Met Council on Jewish Poverty has issued the following, which is being reproduced here in its entirety.       Right now, one in five people in our NYC community are facing an immediate crisis. The federal government shutdown promises to cut off SNAP benefits this Saturday, November 1. More than 1.73 million city residents – mostly children, the elderly and the disabled – will not receive the lifeline that helps them put food on the table each month. We cannot close the gap,…

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Events Calendar taken offline

Events Calendar taken offline

Update: The errors have been resolved and the calendar is back online. Because of multiple errors in the September 2025 Events Calendar that are proving difficult to resolve, it has been taken off line until fixed.

Passing of Bob Gillman

Passing of Bob Gillman

The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center regrets to inform you of the passing of our longstanding member, longtime President, and current Vice President, Bob Gillman. Bob died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday night. A graveside funeral will be held on Sunday, September 7, at 11 AM at Sharon Gardens Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Ave, Valhalla, NY. Shiva will be observed Monday through Wednesday, from 1 to 3 PM and 6 to 8 PM, at apartment 3G, 3965 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY…

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2025 High Holiday Greetings

2025 High Holiday Greetings

As we have done for many years, we are giving you the opportunity to wish your friends and neighbors “L’Shana Tova Tikasevu” – “May you be inscribed for a good year” with an ad in the Center Light.  This year, we are repeating the option that we successfully initiated last year of offering you the option of having your Center Light Rosh Hashannah Greetings in color, including a Rosh HaShannah image. Many of you took advantage of that wonderful option…

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A Series of Classes on Stress Management & Guided Meditative Relaxation

A Series of Classes on Stress Management & Guided Meditative Relaxation

We will be hosting a series of four 1-hour classes teaching simple, effective techniques to reduce everyday stress and deepen one’s sense of peace, clarity, and well-being. The classes are appropriate for teens, adults, and anyone looking to manage daily stress, address insomnia, or explore deeper mind-body awareness. No previous experience needed. The classes will include stretching exercises that will be best done on the floor with a yoga mat, but which can also be done in chairs. If you…

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Sonja Geismar presenting a lecture on the Holocaust.
Yom HaShoah Observance

Yom HaShoah Observance

4/27/25 at noon at VCJC. We will host a Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance) Lecture on Sunday, April 27 at 12:00 PM. The featured speaker will be Sonja Geismar, who will recount her family’s harrowing journey aboard the MS St. Louis, the refugee ship that was tragically turned away by several nations—including the United States—in 1939 as Jewish passengers fled Nazi Germany, and more little known stories ofher family’s escape. This deeply personal and moving lecture is part of VCJC’s ongoing commitment…

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IN MEMORY OF NEIL HARROW

IN MEMORY OF NEIL HARROW

We are saddened to announce the passing of Neil Harrow, an invaluable member of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center and longtime member of the DeWitt Clinton High School family. Neil passed away peacefully at the age of 87 after years of physical complications from various ailments. A Bronx native who spent his entire life in the borough, Neil attended PS 94, JHS 80, and DeWitt Clinton High School, from which he graduated in 1955. After Clinton, Neil pursued his undergraduate…

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Selling Chametz – Passover 2025

Selling Chametz – Passover 2025

The form for selling your chametz (chometz) is available as a pdf. Please download it, fill it in and get it back to the VCJC office. You can download the form and then print it out and bring it to the office, If you wish and are so equipped, you can download and fill it in on your computer and email it to president@vcjewishcenter.org. In either case, please do so no later than Weds., April 9 so that it can…

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Cover of Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through Tradition and Celebration
Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through Tradition and Celebration – a VCJC book

Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through Tradition and Celebration – a VCJC book

Do you sometimes find yourself: VCJC has you covered! We’ve created a comprehensive, easy-to-read, but compact book that covers these issues and more. Its sixteen chapters explore the Torah derived holidays, the holidays stemming from ancient traditions and events, and the more modern holidays such as those related to Israel and recent events. Each chapter covers a holiday with sections on history, development, customs and practices, themes, and expected behaviors. It’s been written as a handy guide and is meant…

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