November Newsletter 2014

F INovember 2014 (Cheshvan-Kislev) 5775 News from The Riverdale Y

In This IssueY!Notes 2Best of the Y! 3Honoring Berta 4Y! Performances 5 Fitness, Sports & Swim 6Early Childhood 7After School 7Adults 60+ 8Scroll of Honor 9

Bring a Friend MonthSaturday Hours Begin Get physical before

winterCompetitive Sports for all ages November Shows

Music, Theater and Art

andHonoring Berta Davidovitz-Rubinsztejn

5625 Arlington AvenueBronx, NY 10471718.548.8200www.riverdaley.org

(Valid for new members only)

When you bring a friend and they join the Y, you get one month’s extension on your membership. Your friend gets 50% off the initiation fee.

Membership entitles you to all the benefits of Riverdale’s Fitness Center including group fitness classes, cardio workout center, free weight room, and expert staff to set and help you reach your goal. You will also receive discounted rates for most classes and programs described in our Program Guide. Come in for a tour and a talk. We’ll show you how easy it is to become a member of our full-service community center.

• Indoor heated 25-yard pool• Fully-equipped fitness facility• Personal Training• Group Fitness Classes• Gymnasium• Racquetball

Visit the Y’s Fitness Center Today!

Find out more… Visit riverdaley.org/fitnesscenterBecome a member! Visit riverdaley.org/membershipRefer-a-Friend bonus valid for current members only

November is full of announcements and change.

Mark your calendars! Winter hours take effect Friday, November 7th.Fridays the Y! will close at 4 PM, but will have special Saturday hours from 6:30 PM to 10 PM.

The Sunday Market’s last day will be November 23rd. Our vendors will offer a wide range of specialty items just for Thanksgiving, so come early!

Based on feedback we’ve recieved, the Y! Newsletter, FY!I will be changing to a quarterly delivery in 2015, offering more in-depth articles, advice from our program experts, and lots more photos. For the most current information, follow us on Facebook /RiverdaleYMYWHA or /RiverdaleYKids, subscribe to our eblasts, and visit our website.

Stay tuned for our new and improved Y! program guide in December!

2 — FYI — Riverdale Y Newsletter — November 2014

NOVEMBER IS FRIEND BRING A FRIEND MONTH!

FriendBring aFriend

Y! Notes

FYI — Riverdale Y Newsletter — November 2014 — 3

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1Get ready to roll back the clocks!

2Music at the Market: Tom Chapin

31st Day of Kitah l’Kulanu Jewish Enrichment

4Election Day Vacation Day Program at the Y!

5Experiencing Aromatherapy: 1 PM Senior Center workshop

6Honoring Berta Davidovitz-Rubinsztejn

7Y! Winter Hours: Closing Fridays at 4 PM

8Y! Winter hours: open Saturdays 6:30 PM–10 PM

9Gallery 18 reception for Olga Kitt

10Senior Trip to the Edward Hopper House

11Veterans Day Vacation Day Program at the Y!

12Foundations of Strength fitness class at 7:15 PM

13NYC Public School 1/2 day

14Cardio Fusion fitness class at 9:15 AM

15Last evening show of How To Succeed…

16Senior Open Sunday & Adult Indoor Triathlon

17Healthy Living Workshop with IHouse begins

18Remarkable Jewish Supreme Court Justices lecture

19Vinyasa Flow fitness class at 8:15 PM

20Project Renewal Scan Van

21The Phoenix Ensemble Woodwind Trio

22Sabbath

23Riverdale Rapids vs. Tarrytown. GO RAPIDS!

30Thanksgiving Weekend: no classes

24Meditative Yoga fitness class at 9:15 AM

25Thanksgiving Lunch in the Senior Center

26Thanksgiving Eve: the Y! closes at 8 PM

27Thanksgiving! No classes or after school

28Thanksgiving Friday: no classes

29Sabbath

Best of the Y! in November

Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn, 92, was born in Volove, Czechoslovakia, and fled with her family across the Carpathian Mountains into still unoccupied Hungary where Jews were not yet being rounded up. In 1942, Rubinsztejn made her way to Budapest where she joined the Zionist youth movement Habonim Dror, volunteering later to participate in its underground rescue activities. She, along with other Habonim Dror members, assumed a Gentile identity and wore a crucifix around her neck. The undercover members would then meet in a park to plan operations and weapons smuggling. As Rudolf Kastner — a leader of the Jewish Aid and Rescue Committee — negotiated in the summer of 1944 with SS officer and Holocaust mastermind Adolf Eichmann the departure of a trainload of Jews from German-occupied Hungary to neutral Switzerland, the goal of Habonim Dror became to put as many orphaned children onto the train after identifying them in the streets of Budapest. Meir Brand, one of the children Berta rescued, will be in attendance at this event.

Berta emigrated from Israel to the United States in 1960, where she currently resides with her family. She was very involved with many organizations including the Bronx Democratic Party, and counts former New York City mayors Abraham Beame, Ed Koch, David Dinkins and former New York Governor Mario Cuomo among her acquaintances.

Berta is an active member of the Riverdale YM-YWHA , to which she comes daily. She spearheaded the monthly “Café Europa” gathering of Holocaust survivors, and still leads many of the monthly sessions. At Berta’s request, B’nai B’rith will confer the citation upon her at the Riverdale Y . We are honored to have been chosen.

Also present will be award-winning film documentarian Gaylen Ross, who has written, produced, and directed documentaries on Nazi Germany and has also recorded Ms. Rubinsztejn’s personal history. There will be a special Q&A session after the awards where the audience can learn about Ms. Rubinsztejn’s courage, Mr. Brand’s story, and Ms. Ross’s experience as a film maker.


Join us in honoring BERTA DAVIDOVITZ-RUBINSZTEJNAs she receives the Jewish Rescuers Citation

a joint project of the B’nai B’rith World Center and the Committee to Recognize the Heroism of Jews Who Rescued Fellow Jews During the Holocaust

Thursday, November 6th1PM

The Riverdale YM-YWHA

RSVP’s REQUIRED. Call 212-490-3290 or email [email protected]


November & December Theater

NOW ON STAGEThe Riverdale Repertory Company presents:How To Succeed Saturday, November 1 8:00 PM Opening Night!Sunday, November 2 3:00 PMSaturday, November 8 8:00 PMSunday, November 9 3:00 PMSaturday, November 15 8:00 PMSunday, November 16 3:00 PM

BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT RIVERDALEY.ORG/H2S$15 for adults$10 for students/seniorsService fees apply.

DOOR PRICING:$20 for adults$15 for students/seniors

COMING IN DECEMBERThe Riverdale Rising Stars present:A Chorus LineSaturday, December 6 8:00 PM Opening Night!Sunday, December 7 3:00 PMThursday, December 11 7:30 PMSaturday, December 13 8:00 PMSunday, December 14 3:00 PMSaturday, January 3 8:00 PMSunday, January 4 3:00 PM

BUY TICKETS ONLINE AT RIVERDALEY.ORG/CHORUS$13 allin honor of the Riverdale Rising Stars upcoming Bar Mitzvah celebration. Service fees apply.

DOOR PRICING:$13, in honor of the Riverdale Rising Stars upcoming Bar Mitzvah celebration.

Performing Arts


ZUMBA for Kids!Tuesdays & Thursdays with Isabella Maldonado5 PMLiven up after school with catchy music, awesome dance moves, and amazing and motivating teacher. This class is free for Kids’ Space kids and $5 general admission.

Foundations of StrengthWednesday nights with Hillary Glaus7:15 PMFocus on total body strengthening to improve joint mobility, coordination and flexibility. All levels welcome.

FITNESS, SPORTS & SWIM

NEW FITNESS CLASSES!!!

Riverdale’s premier youth basketball league!

Play on organized teams, participate in structured practices and basketball clinics — structured to build skills and have fun. Each team plays a minimum of 8 games. League fee includes t-shirts and trophies.

Games begin January 4. League finals March 29.

$225 / $175 Y Members

The newest competitive adults basketball league is at the Y!Build your own team. Compete in the March Madness playoffs. Win the league trophy. Season runs November 22–March 28.Minimum 5 players, max 10 per roster.Minimum 8 games played per team.Open to players aged 18+ years old.

Certified referees at every game.$800 per team. Team T-shirts provided

riverdaley.org/adultsports riverdaley.org/stanleylaneSTANLEY LANE

BASKETB ALL LEAGUE

GET ACTIVE

GET COMPETITIVE

GET IN THE WATER

LEARN TO SAVE LIVES!Fall Session II Lifeguarding course — open for registration!

Sundays 9 AM–2 PMNovember 2–30

learn more at riverdaley.org/learnarc

The Rapids have voted!Congratulations to the new swim captainsGirls: Alicia Russo & Amelia FlintBoys: Ben Basseches & Leo Shatzoff

Mark your calendars for the next Rapids swim meet!

Sunday, November 23 — HOMERapids vs. Tarrytown

2:30 PM Warm up


KITAH l’KulANu STARTS THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3RDThe Y! has created a new children’s Jewish enrichment after school class introducing the Jewish holidays, basic Hebrew language and Jewish traditions through song and crafts. This interactive class will be led by Dorit Niven. Dorit has been the kindergarten teacher for 46 years (!) at Kinneret Day School.Designed specifically for our UPK students whose regular days do not include Jewish heritage activities, this class is open to all 3-year-olds in our school and in the community.The program runs for 8 Monday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:15 PM. It will take place in the Blue Room of the Early Childhood Center. The cost of the 8 week program is $120 / $96 Y Members.To learn more, email Milissa Finkel, ECC Director at [email protected]

2015 CAMP DEAlS IN 2014Register now and save up to $240 on a full summer registration!

Labor Day 2015 is September 7th, so we’ve extended our programs to keep the fun going all summer long. Camp Kulanu (Early Childhood), RYDC (Riverdale Y Day Camp) and Teen Travel will all offer eight week programs. Summer Stage, our theater camp, will extend to seven weeks and Camp Kehilla & Kehilla Seniors will run 7½ weeks.

Teen Travel will offer four, two week opportunities and one will include a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. For the final week of RYDC, we will take campers to our campgrounds in Rockland County each day.

As the holidays approach, give the gift of Riverdale’s finest summer programs. With five camp options including Early Childhood, Theater, Teen Travel and two general day camp opportunities, we have a program to fit your needs.

There are many more changes and additions for Summer 2015. Stay tuned for more details and learn about all our camps at riverdaley.org/camp

Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11

9:00am-5:00pm(with early and late stayavailable for add’l fee)

School closed? We’re open!

Vacation DayPrograms

riverdaley.org/vacation

After School & Out of School Days

Early Childhood


Highlights in NovemberTravelEdward Hopper House TourlNovember 10th, leaving at 1 PMA guided tour of the artist’s early works and memorabiliaFEE: $20

HealthMammography Scan Van @ the Y!November 20th @ 1:30–4 PM Project Renewal’s mobile screening van visits the YFREE with appointment

SocialThanksgiving Communal LunchNovember 25th, 11:45 AMAspecial holiday luncheon followed by music and dance at 1:15 PMSUGGESTED FEE: $4

For information about the Riverdale Y!’s programs for the 60+ visit riverdaley.org/over60

The Senior Center is honored to be a part of the ceremony celebrating the courage of one of our members — Berta Davidovitz Rubinsztejn on November 6th. Members of our Café Europa will be in attendance of her award ceremony at the Y, and there is still space for additional members interested in attending. RSVP required.

Join us on our Open Sunday on November 16th for a day of fun and friendship. The Senior Center doors open at 9:30 AM, and the day starts with a screening of Draft Day, with Kevin Costner. Bring your dance shoes for music and dancing after lunch!

For more information on Senior Center membership, programs and events, email Director Sharon Asherman at [email protected] or call 718-548-8200 x230

The exhibit of unique, original pastels drawn during historical musical and dance performances. Ms. Kitt’s gestural pastel drawings capture the motion of specific artists in the moment of creating their art. Ms. Kitt has documented seminal moments for dancers and musicians of the American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, dancing in the Streets Festival of Wave Hill, and more.

Pictured: Polyphonia, a New York City ballet, drawn during the performance on January 6, 2011

Gallery 18

November Artist of the Month

Olga KittMeeting the Muses

on display November 2–30

20% of art sales go to the Riverdale Y


Platinum “Nedivim” ($10,000 or more)January and Harold AkselradHarvey BekerThe Derfner FoundationBradd GoldMiriam and Alan GoldbergThe Geoffrey Gund FoundationRobert JacobsDaniel Rose, Rose Associates Inc.Janet and Gilbert SpitzerGold “Bonim” ($5,000-$9,999)William AbramsonArthur BloomHarry FederGerald GoldsmithJack GormanSarah GundSusan HinksonJoan and Jerome R. Jakubovitz FoundationEsther JoelJudy KaufthalDavid LibmanHenry Nias FoundationMiriam WestheimerSilver “Shomrim” ($2,500-$4,999)Dr. Paul HertzBruce Lane

Bronze “Machzikim” ($1,000-$2,499)Educational Jewish Center and Talmud Torah, Inc.Miriam HelbokThe New Kalman Sunshine FundKeelan KavanaghThe Schorsch Family

It is with gratitude we thank our growing list of major supporters for the 2014-2015 fiscal year:Your contributions make our agency’s programs, scholarships, repairs and renovations possible. Thank you for helping us keep our community strong and vibrant.

If you are interested in pledging a gift to support Riverdale Y programming, please contact our CFO, Kenneth Tauber at [email protected].

What could be a better tribute than supporting your Jewish community center? A card will be sent to those you honor, telling them of your gift to support the Y’s important programming.

For information, contact Marilyn Raider [email protected] or (718) 548-8200, ext. 211.

OfficersBradd Gold, PresidentWilliam Abramson*, ChairmanGerald P. Goldsmith, Vice President Janet Spitzer, Vice PresidentDavid Libman, TreasurerSusan Hinkson, Secretary

TrusteesArthur BloomHarry Feder*Jack GormanRobert JacobsEsther JoelJudy Kaufthal* Miriam Westheimer*

President’s Advisory CouncilHarvey BekerJeffrey A. Moerdler*Daniel Rose*

Honorary TrusteesAndrew CohenRuben Diaz, Jr.Jeffrey DinowitzJune EislandEliot Engel Adriano EspaillatG. Oliver Koppell* Past President

Senior Management StaffDeann Forman Chief Executive OffficerJacob Rosenberg Chief Operating OffficerKenneth Tauber Chief Financial Officer

Donors “Tomchim” (under $1,000)Michael AdlerAnne Claire Lester FoundationPhyllis BookspanNaomi EricksonMichael Michalofsky

In Honor of Leo LandisJanet and Gilbert Spitzer

month’s tribute donor:

Documents

November Newsletter 2014