2017-18 Winter Program Guide

315-445-2360 | www.jccsyr.org
PJ Library in CNY gives back
PJ makes a difference! When our country
was struck by natural disasters in
September, PJ Library started a Hurricane
Harvey book drive to send books to those
families and institutions affected by
Harvey in Houston, Texas. This book drive
took place in communities throughout the
country, and Syracuse also participated via
PJ Library in CNY, a program of the JCC
of Syracuse.
In one week’s time, local
residents donated over 300
of their old PJ books to
PJ Library in CNY. Those
books were then sorted
by age and content and
divided into packages of
12 books per age group.
Syracuse sent 288 books
to Houston, which was the
equivalent of a year’s supply
of books for 24 different
children! With the help of
PJ communities throughout
the country, Houston has
received enough books
for at least 75 children in every age range
(6 months to 8 years old) to receive a
year’s supply of books. These books are
intended to replace books that families
and institutions lost in the flooding of
Hurricane Harvey.
Thank you to everyone locally who
contributed books for such a wonderful
cause! We are always collecting extra PJ
Library books, so if you are interested in
donating your books for future needs,
please contact Carolyn Weinberg at
pjcny@jccsyr.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS...
On Dec. 10 from 2–3 p.m. we will be
having a special “Build a Bear Donation
Party.” Families are asked to purchase
bears in advance that will then be
completed at Build a Bear in Destiny USA
and donated to children at Gollisano
Children’s hospital.
Look for details coming
soon on a January Tu
B’shevat planting party!
For more information
about any of the upcoming
PJ Library in CNY events,
please contact Carolyn at
pjcny@jccsyr.org.
PJ Library (PJ for pajamas)
is a nationally acclaimed
literacy program started by the
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
that gives free Jewish bedtime
stories, CDs and DVDs
to families raising Jewish
children. The PJ Library in
CNY chapter is a program of the JCC of Syracuse
and supported by the Pomeranz, Shankman
and Martin Charitable Foundation, Jewish
Federation of Central New York, Congregation
Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, Shaarei Torah
Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse, Syracuse
Hebrew Day School, Temple Adath Yeshurun
and Temple Concord. The PJ Library in CNY
serves children from 6 months to 8 years old
in Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego
Counties.
For more information and to sign up, visit
www.pjlibrary.org or email pjcny@jccsyr.org.
JCC accepts SilverSneakers and Silver&Fit programs
Let your light
shine for all
By Rabbi Daniel Fellman
Short days and long nights, cold weather
and slippery roads—all are a part of the
beauty of winter in Central New York.
But look a little closer and you will see
light and joy, warmth, smiles and hope too.
Winter has its challenges, but it also has
more than its share of blessings.
We Jews gather at the darkest time of the
year to light the Chanukah candles. The
lights glow with joy and beauty, reminding
us of challenges faced and overcome. And
the lights beckon us to do more, to reach
out, to connect with others.
Chanukah celebrates the victory of a small
band of Jews over a much larger foe. But
the holiday celebrates much more than
that historical occurrence.
Chanukah calls us to support those who
are facing challenges. Chanukah calls us to
reach out and interact with each other,
celebrating survival and the freedom
to believe and practice as we see fit.
Chanukah calls us to join together with
others, to see that the real beauty of the
light shines most brightly when it shows
people trading darkness and isolation for
light and connection.
The JCC is one such place to experience
the light and joy we need on short winter
days. Look through the pages of this book
and see all that is possible. Then make a
choice to be a part of it all, and shine your
light with all of us!
Did you know that if you have a certain type of
health insurance plan, you can workout at the
JCC for little or no cost? The JCC’s Neulander
Family Sports & Fitness Center
is a participating gym in both
the SilverSneakers and Silver&Fit
programs for seniors.
SilverSneakers is an insurance
benefit included in more than
65 Medicare health plans. Many
health plans from companies
such as Humana, Aetna, MVP, UnitedHealthcare
and others, as well as group retirement
plans, provide SilverSneakers gym memberships
to their insureds, at no additional cost.
For further information, visit
www.silversneakers.com.
Silver&Fit is another gym program for seniors
similar to SilverSneakers.
Silver&Fit is offered through
various health insurers including
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
and Aetna. For details, visit
www.silverandfit.com.
For more information about SilverSneakers
and Silver&Fit, and to
see if you’re eligible, contact the JCC’s Nick
Finlayson, membership director, at 315-445-2040,
ext. 140, or nfinlayson@jccsyr.org.
8 JCC of Syracuse | 2017-18 Winter Program Guide