Arts&Talks at JCCMW: Bringing world-class arts & culture to the heart of Westchester




Arts&Talks is the JCC’s unique program for adults interested in the arts, current events, ideas, culture, conversation and more. Arts&Talks offers adults in Westchester films screenings, book talks with the authors, expert speakers on a range of topics, panel discussions, community events like the annual Challah Bake and more.
Arts&Talks Sponsorships
Arts & Talks Sponsorships help the JCC of Mid-Westchester produce a season filled with enriching events for the community. Position yourself or your organization as a community leader by sponsoring our arts & culture season. For sponsorship opportunities, click here to make a donation online.
New! Creativity Circle
Join our first virtual cohort of mature adults to connect through innovative sessions combining mindfulness, social-emotional learning and creative expression. Basic zoom and internet experience needed. All supplies, virtual support and full facilitation for all sessions provided for this insular group meeting. Every Tuesday in February & March 2021, 11am-12pm. Free but limited spots available.
Register today HERE!!
In partnership with
Book Festival of the MJCC In Your Living Room



Don’t miss our upcoming Virtual Book Festival Events! Join us for Book Festival In Your Living Room LIVE on Zoom. Book Festival of the MJCCA Presents Virtual Author Talks LIVE!
Click on the links below to sign up!









Wednesday, January 27th @ 8pm – Scott Turow, The Last Trial
https://www.showclix.com/event/scott-turow-the-last-trial/tag/scarsdale
Wednesday, February 24 at 8pm – Bill Gates, How to Avoid A Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and The Breakthroughs We Need
https://www.showclix.com/event/bill-gates-climate-disaster/tag/scarsdale
Arts, Culture & Learning Adult Programs in partnership with Osher Marin JCC



Terrific Tastings
Partnering with family-owned businesses, many of which may be struggling during this challenging period, we are delighted to create our live, online, educational tasting experiences. Each month features a different specialty & a different guest who bring unique insights to the tasting. Come for the treats, stay for the fun!
Benevolent Brownies & Blondies
Sunday, January 24, 2021, 4-5:30pm
For details & tickets, click here.
Bubbles & Bites Part I: Sparkling & Cherries/Chocolates
Sunday, February 14, 5-6:15pm (EST). Order by Jan 31 For details & tickets, click here.
Bubbles & Bites Part II: Sparkling & Cheeses
Sunday, February 28, 5-6:15pm (EST). Order by Feb 14. For details & tickets, click here
Bubbles & Bites Part III: Sparkling & Chips
Sunday, March 7th, 5-6:15pm (EST). Order by Feb 21.
For details & tickets, click here.
In partnership with
Still Traveling
Would you like to still travel? Now you can without leaving your home – just stay still! Let us whisk you away for an interesting, educational & fun live, guided group tour in a destination beyond your front door! Join a guide from one of our popular Cultural Arts Trips to explore a topic or site at a distant destination as (s)he Zooms across the time zones to lead us. Live Q&A, photos, graphics and video clips (when available) will transport us to the destination! Your ticket purchase helps support not only our programs, but also our special guests – professional guides – who are mostly or completely out of work.
Virtual Music & Morsels
Bring coffee/tea & dessert to your computer, take your front row seat, and join us for a 1-hour live concert with a special guest artist who will not only perform, but also offer insights into the program’s pieces. Live Q&A enriches the experience! Your ticket purchase helps support not only our programs, but also our guest artists(s) whose schedule(s) and income(s) have been severely cut by this challenging period.
Broadway Backstage
Let us sneak you in the Stage Door to go backstage on Broadway! A different, special guest theater professional who brings his/her unique expertise, experiences, and insights to our discussion will be featured at each of these exclusive, behind-the-scenes visits. Live Q&A and photos/video clips (when available) will enrich our experience. Your ticket purchase helps support not only this program, but also our special guests – theater professionals – who are mostly or completely out of work.
Exploring Opera with James Sokol
Whether an opera newcomer or a long-time fan, join us for a single session or a full series of our popular classes. Put down your opera glasses, take your front row seat, and explore this gorgeous, if sometimes intimidating, art form. Join James Sokol who started his career under Beverly Sills at NYCOpera, worked on projects with Opera Company of Philadelphia, then moved to work at San Francisco Opera. With years of in-theater and teaching experience, backstage anecdotes, beautiful video performance clips, and a down-to-earth perspectives, Sokol creates classes that always delight.
Still Traveling: Sensational Seville
Mondays, January 4-25, 2021 : 2-3:15pm via zoom
Would you still like to travel? Now you can without leaving your home – just stay still! Let us whisk you away for an “armchair adventure” on an interesting, educational, fun & live, guided group tour in a destination beyond your front door. Many tourists to southern Spain race to Grenada to visit the Alhambra, but overlook the capital and largest city of the region of Andalusia – Seville! Join Trip Leader James Sokol and our wonderful, professional, local guide to discover an array of fascinating and stunning facets of this sensational, yet quaint city. “Tours” Include:
- Historical Overview & the Alcazar (Jan 4)
- The Cathedral & Giralda (Jan 11)
- Barrio Santa Cruz & Jewish Seville (Jan 18)
- Modern Seville (Jan 25)
For details & tickets, click here.
Broadway Backstage
Thursdays, January 7-28, 2021 : 4-5:30pm
Let JCC Program Director & Broadway/opera instructor James Sokol sneak you in the Stage Door to go “backstage” on Broadway! Meet special guest theater professionals – who bring unique expertise, experiences & insights to the discussion – at our exclusive, live, behind-the-scenes visits. Photos/video clips (when available) will enrich the experience. January guests include:
- Kelli Barrett – The One to Watch (Jan 14)
- James Moye – The Actor/Director (Jan 21)
- Carolee Carmello – The “Go to Gal” (Jan 28)
Come learn, off-stage, what makes the magic happen on-stage!
For details & tickets, click here.
Exploring Opera: Sensational Seville
Monday, January 25, 2021 : 4:30pm-6pm via zoom
The glorious capital of Andalusia is the setting of more than 100 operas! Of course, there’s Rossini’s famous The Barber of ________ (can you fill in the blank?) with its sparkling vocal fireworks, but there are works by Bizet, Mozart, Verdi, and others with equally beautiful music. Join popular San Francisco Bay Area opera appreciation instructor & trip leader James Sokol for an operatic journey though Seville, seeing a few of the works’ sites and basking in performance video clips of some of these musical masterpieces!
For details & tickets, click here
Cocktails & Cabalettas: Operatic Happy Hours
Wednesdays, January 6-27, 2021 : 6-7pm via zoom
B.Y.O.C. and let’s kick-off the New Year with some musical festivities! Stir, shake, pour your preferred cocktail, wine or other libation and join popular San Francisco Bay Area Opera Instructor James Sokol for a happy hour of beautiful music, interesting tidbits, and lively banter; maybe a behind-the scenes story or two thrown in for good measure! Who knows, we might even have special guests drop in for a “toast.” Video performance clips bring the magic of opera into our festivities. Come for the music; stay for the fun!
For details & tickets, click here.
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The Surprising Global Legacy of Anne Frank” An inspirational and timely take on the well known Anne Frank story
January 26, 2021, 1:30pm-2:30pm via zoom



Gillian Perry will speak about her remarkable book “The Legacy of Anne Frank’” which explores Anne Frank’s story through a new lens. Learn how a Jewish girl’s experiences in the Holocaust have had a redemptive and healing effect in some of the world’s most turbulent and violent regions. Find out how Anne Frank has given young people in some of the poorest and most challenging regions aspiration and hope for their own futures. Gillian will relate fascinating stories about spending a night at the Academy Awards with the heroic helper of the Anne Frank family and how Audrey Hepburn became involved in her charity.
Registration free – click here to register
In partnership with



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Biden's Presidency
Our liberal leaning fan-favorite instructor, Sue Myers, returns for this insightful look at the Biden presidency and world politics.
2 Wednesdays, February 10th & 17th @ 10:30-11:30am
$20pp
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Cooking with Chef Cyndi
Savory Hamentashen
Join us and create 3 savory hamentashen while learning more about the festive holiday of Purim. Recipes and ingredient list emailed upon registration.
February 16, 6:30-7:30pm
and
Cook up a Purim Party with your children or grandchlldren
Dripped, drizzled and creative fillings – hamentashen your way! Recipes and ingredient list emailed upon registration. Sunday, February 21 4:00-5:00pm $20pp (includes both programs)
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Songs of Love: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of Valentine’s Day
Sunday, February 14 at 2-3:15pm (EST)
It’s said that “love is a many-splendored thing!” But so, too, is music, no? Celebrate Valentine’s Day by joining popular San Francisco Bay Area instructor James Sokol to journey through a diverse array of music – Broadway, pop, opera & more! – exploring the theme of love along the way. Audio & video clips bring the beauty of music into our discussion! For details & tickets, click here.
In partnership with Osher Marin JCC
Songs of Victory & Triumph: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of Purim
Thursday, February 25 at 2-3:15pm (EST)
Celebrate Esther and Mordecai’s triumph by joining popular San Francisco Bay Area instructor James Sokol to journey through a diverse array of music – Broadway, pop, opera & more! – exploring the theme of victory & triumph along the way. Audio & video clips bring the joy of music into our discussion! For details & tickets, click here.
In partnership with Osher Marin JCC
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Other Adult Programs
In addition to the Arts & Talks program, the JCC has a number of other classes and events for adults:
Social: social groups meeting virtually to connect, share and discuss current events
Judaic: Cooking, Hebrew, Holiday & Art Programs
Volunteering: find out how to support JCCMW
Technology: JTech Coaches Program