On Thursday, December 3 beginning at 8:15 a.m., the Active Adult Department at the JCC in Scotch Plains will travel to the culturally rich Lower East Side Tenement Museum and Eldridge Street Synagogue in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
The Tenement Museum, located on Orchard Street in the heart of the Lower East Side, was founded by Ruth Abram, historian and social activist. The actual tenement was built in 1863 and housed nearly 7,000 working class immigrants. This groundbreaking museum honors these poor working class immigrants and tells their moving story.
This day trip continues to explore Jewish immigrant life on the Lower East Side at the beautifully restored Eldridge Street Synagogue. The Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first built in America by eastern European Jews. The synagogue’s history and authenticity is awe-inspiring, and the sanctuary overwhelms guests with its warmth and power. Lunch is included at Katz’s Delicatessen, "New York’s oldest and best delicatessen."
The tours require climbing stairs. Bus leaves from the JCC in Scotch Plains at 1391 Martine Avenue. Tickets for JCC members are $60 and $70 for the community. Advance reservation is required.
As always, the JCC’s Senior and Active Adult Department will be celebrating the upcoming holidays. The Thanksgiving celebration is on Tuesday, November 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Ronald MacCloskey, as Groucho Marx, will entertain the audience. This program is sponsored by the Caring, Sharing Network which includes Right at Home, Visiting Physicians, Beltone Hearing Care Centers, Center of Hope Hospice & Palliative Care and Moving Mavens.
Mark Levy will help celebrate Hanukkah and the New Year with his holiday program Oy, Hanukkah on Wednesday, December 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Listen as Levy plays guitar and eastern drum and sings Hanukkah songs in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino and English. A Kosher holiday lunch will be served at both events.
The cost for JCC social members is $6, $8 for JCC members and $10 for the community. Advance reservations are needed by Friday, November 13 for the Thanksgiving program and by Thursday, December 3 for the Hanukkah program. For more information, contact Barbara Weisbart, Adult Enrichment Director, at 908-889-8800 ext. 207 or bweisbart@jccnj.org. Online registration is available at www.jccnj.org.
The JCC of Central New Jersey is located at 1391 Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains. The JCC of Central New Jersey is a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, United Way and the United Fund of Westfield. Financial assistance is available for membership and various programs.