NCJW GRS 2024 Recognition Event
2024-05-05 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Irondequoit Country Club, 4045 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14618, United States
Please join us at Irondequoit Country Club on Sunday, May 5th for our 2024 Recognition Event honoring Hannah G. Solomon Award Recipient Karen Morris and NCJW GRS Woman of the Year Amy Stein. Doors open at 10:30. Brunch Event starts at 11:00. In honor of this year’s Hannah G. Solomon recipient, please consider bringing a non-perishable food item to support the MCC DWIGHT food pantry (https://www.monroecc.edu/depts/stucenter/dwight/). In honor of this year’s Woman of Year recipient, please consider bringing a book to donate to the Rochester Education Foundation from the wish list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2F6321JV5FYWQ?ref_=wl_share

I am unable to attend, but here is my tax-deductible contribution

NEW THIS YEAR! NCJW GRS HANNAH G. SOLOMON VIRTUAL AD BOOK

You have the opportunity to send a congratulatory message to either (or both!) of our honorees. This ad book will be displayed electronically at the event as well as on our web site after the event. To place an ad, please complete this form.

NCJW GRS Town Hall Meeting
2024-05-16 19:00 - 21:00
We would like to hear from current and past leaders and members to discuss and share information about the future of NCJW GRS. This is a meeting you don’t want to miss! Join us! Learn about the changes happening with NCJW Greater Rochester Section and help shape future of our community! For more information, please contact us at info@ncjwgrs.org.

NCJW GRS Vote Forward Letter Writing Party May 29th
2024-05-29 19:00 - 20:30
Why is voting important to you? If you can answer this question, please come to a NCJW GRS letter writing party! Vote Forward is an easy but impactful way to get voters to the polls! You will be writing letters to potential voters encouraging them to vote. Help raise voter turnout! Bring a book of stamps to donate or consider donating $18 here to cover the cost of materials and postage to mail approximately 20 letters! Join us Wednesday, May 29th at 7 pm at the home of Vancy Boyar.

NCJW GRS Vote Forward Letter Writing Party June 20th
2024-06-20 19:00 - 20:30
Why is voting important to you? If you can answer this question, please come to a NCJW GRS letter writing party! Vote Forward is an easy but impactful way to get voters to the polls! You will be writing letters to potential voters encouraging them to vote. Help raise voter turnout! Bring a book of stamps to donate or consider donating $18 here to cover the cost of materials and postage to mail approximately 20 letters! Join us Thursday, June 20th at 7 pm at the home of Rikki Brodsky.

Town Hall Meeting
2024-07-10 19:00 - 21:00
Have you heard about some new changes within NCJW? Join us to learn more! We would like to hear from current and past leaders and members to discuss and share information about the future of NCJW GRS. This is a meeting you don’t want to miss! Join us!

NCJW GRS Vote Forward Letter Writing Party July 24th
2024-07-24 19:00 - 20:30
Why is voting important to you? If you can answer this question, please come to a NCJW GRS letter writing party! Vote Forward is an easy but impactful way to get voters to the polls! You will be writing letters to potential voters encouraging them to vote. Help raise voter turnout! Bring a book of stamps to donate or consider donating $18 here to cover the cost of materials and postage to mail approximately 20 letters! Join us Wednesday, July 24th at 7 pm at the home of Arlene Schenker.

NCJW GRS Vote Forward Letter Writing Party August 13th
2024-08-13 19:00 - 20:30
Why is voting important to you? If you can answer this question, please come to a NCJW GRS letter writing party! Vote Forward is an easy but impactful way to get voters to the polls! You will be writing letters to potential voters encouraging them to vote. Help raise voter turnout! Bring a book of stamps to donate or consider donating $18 here to cover the cost of materials and postage to mail approximately 20 letters! Join us Tuesday, August 13th at 7 pm at the home of Barb Orenstein.

Allies For Equality - Men Supporting ERA and Reproductive Access
2024-08-15 18:00 - 20:00
Learn about the ERA initiative on the ballot in November! This is a great opportunity to have some food, fun, beer, and join like-minded individuals to learn what you can do to support ERA and reproductive access! This is a free event and includes beer and food! One drink ticket per person will be provided. Program begins at 6:30. Location will be shared by email prior to event. Advanced registration is required, and you must be over 21 to attend.

NCJW GRS Opening Event Perceptions & Polarizations: How Social Media Shapes Our Worldview
2024-09-17 19:00 - 21:00
What you click on leads to differences between what you and others see and learn on social media, changing your perception of the world. Hear from a panel of experts:

Miranda Stefano, Program Librarian, RCSD

Michael Dobkowski, Chair, Holocaust Studies and Professor, Religious Studies, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

and More!

Please see our Amazon Wish List to purchase items for the P.A.D. Project. Bring donations with you, and take a selfie with your donations to share on social media!

Location will be sent before the event. There will be plenty of free, accessible parking. If you require interpretative services, please let us know.

NCJW GRS Vote Forward Letter Writing Party
2024-09-24 19:00 - 21:00
Through NCJW’s partnership with Vote Forward, advocates have written over 7,500 letters to historically underrepresented groups so far. Be part of it! Join us on Tuesday, September 24th at 7 pm to help write even more letters! Registration Required. Location will be sent by email before event.

Please consider bringing a book of stamps to donate or consider donating $18 to cover the cost of materials and postage to mail approximately 20 letters!

NCJW GRS Shabbat Dinner
2024-11-08 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a Shabbat dinner for NCJW GRS members on Friday, November 8th at 7:00 pm! Special Shabbat Menu by Partyman Catering. You’re also invited to join us for services before dinner at 6:00. Space will be limited. PLEASE REGISTER BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD! Location will be shared with registrants prior to event.

NCJW GRS partners With Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival: My Involuntary Journeys by Hanna Temkin
2024-11-12 12:00 - 14:00 | Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester, 1200 Edgewood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14618, United States
NCJW GRS will community partner with the Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival for a Brown Bag Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, November 12th at noon. My Involuntary Journeys: A Memoir, by Hanna Temkin, is a story of a life journey through some of the most difficult episodes of the 20th Century. It depicts the author’s escape from Poland to the Soviet Union as the Nazi’s invaded in 1939, her life in the Soviet Union during the Holocaust and WWII, her return to Poland and then having to flee again in 1968 as a result of an antisemitic campaign instigated and fueled by the Polish government. In her book, Hanna shares her story for the first time, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of Jewish life and survival in Eastern Europe before, during, and after the Holocaust. Moreover, Hanna’s story is an inspiring tale of female empowerment and serves as a testament to her ability to overcome the worst odds.

Hanna’s daughter, Helena Temkin-Greener, will read passages from her mother’s book, and there will be time for discussion and a Q&A. Helena was born in Warsaw, Poland and left the country as a teenager in 1968, together with her family, fleeing the antisemitic campaign unleashed by the Polish government after the Six-Day Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Helena has been a Rochester, NY resident since 1977. She is a Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Visit the Lane Dworkin Authors + Innovators Festival website for more information and to register. Plan to bring your own lunch or stop by Fox’s at the JCC before the talk.

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NCJW GRS P.A.D. Party
2024-11-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Temple B’rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14618, Rochester, NY, 14618, United States
Help to fight period inequality by providing to those who need it the most! To support people with periods through NCJW’S P.A.D. Project, please bring individually wrapped pads (NOT bladder control) and tampons. Products can be purchased locally or through the NCJW GRS Amazon wish list by clicking here. Please be sure to include your name so we can thank you!

Lobby and Latkes - A Letter Writing Campaign
2024-12-29 16:00 - 18:00
Please join us to Celebrate and Advocate on December 29th at 4:00 pm at the home of Vancy Boyar.

Purim at the JCC
2025-03-09 14:00 - 16:30
Visit the NCJW GRS booth the Purim carnival at the JCC! We will be making a cup of BOBA Advoca-tea as we teach kids how to Be Our Best Advocates like Queen Esther and Vashti!

Be Prepared: Allergy Awareness & Epi-Pen Training Workshop
2025-03-16 13:00 - 14:30
Allergies are on the rise—food, environmental, seasonal, and insect allergies affect more people than ever. In fact, studies show that food allergies in children have increased by 50% since the 1990s.

How can we keep those around us safe? Join us for a 90-minute hands-on workshop where you’ll learn about allergy awareness, what causes anaphylaxis, and the do’s and don’ts in an allergy-related emergency. Most importantly, you’ll gain the confidence to recognize an allergic reaction and properly use an Epi-Pen when it matters most.

Join us on Sunday, March 16th at 1 pm at the JCC in Auditorium A!

You never know when you might need to help—be prepared! REGISTER BELOW so we can have enough epi-pen trainers for everyone to practice.

We hope to see you there!

Learn to Play Mah Jongg
2025-04-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Spiegel Pittsford Community Center, 35 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsford, New York, 14534, United States
Please join us for this fun member event! Instruction available. If you already know how to play, join us too! All are welcome! There will be drinks, snacks, and prizes. Registration is below. If you are not a member of NCJW GRS, please join us and learn to play! Membership opportunities are available here.

An NCJW GRS Evening at JCC CenterStage: An American in Paris
2025-05-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester, 1200 Edgewood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14618, United States
Join NCJW GRS for an evening of theater at the JCC Centerstage! An American in Paris is an epic song and dance extravaganza about an American soldier at the end of WWII. NCJW GRS will hold a pre-show meet & greet with the Artistic Director at 6 pm in the Lipson Lounge. The show will begin at 7. Tickets are $35 for JCC members, $40 for non-members, and $25 for students. Please purchase tickets through the JCC CenterStage website. Enter code NCJW5 before seat selection to receive $5 off on May 7th only!

2025 NCJW GRS Hannah G. Solomon and Woman of the Year Recognition Brunch
2025-06-01 11:00 - 13:30 | Irondequoit Country Club, 4045 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14618, United States
This year’s Hannah G. Solomon and Woman of the Year Recognition Brunch will take place on Sunday, June 1st at 11:00 am at Irondequoit Country Club. Doors open at 10:30 am. Please join us as we honor our 2025 Hannah G. Solomon Award Recipient, Joy Getnick, and our 2025 Woman of the Year, Lisa Waltzer.

Individual tickets cost $72. We are offering an option to donate an extra Pay-it-Forward ticket to ensure everyone has a seat at the table. Please consider sponsorship opportunities as well.

In honor of this year’s Hannah G. Solomon recipient, please bring an item for donation to the Brighton Food Cupboard. Needed items include pasta, sauce, rice, peanut butter, and personal hygiene items, such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste.

Learn To Play Mah Jong!
2025-06-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Spiegel Pittsford Community Center, 35 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsford, New York, 14534, United States
Spiegel Pittsford Community Center, Room 113

Have you always wanted to learn to Play Mah Jong? Play Mah Jong with NCJW GRS! Drinks, snacks, and prizes! No experience necessary. Learn to play with an instructor? Already know how but want to sharpen your skills or play with another group? Join us! OPEN TO EVERYONE, whether you came to our first session, know nothing about Mah Jong, or you’re an experienced player. There is no charge for this event. Donations welcome!

NCJW GRS Officer and Board of Directors Installation
2025-06-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Kings Bend Park North Lodge, 170 West Jefferson Road, Pittsford, New York, 14618
Come and celebrate this very special day with NCJW GRS! Mix and mingle with NCJW friends as we install the new President, Officers, and Board of Directors. Refreshments will be served.

Registration fee is $10.00.

Advocacy 101 With Assemblymember Jen Lunsford - Understanding the New York State Legislative Process
2025-06-24 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for an empowering and informative session with Jen Lunsford, New York State Assemblymember and seasoned advocate, as she breaks down the fundamentals of effective advocacy and how laws are made in New York State. In this session, you will learn: how a bill becomes a law in NYS; how to effectively advocate for the issues you care about; how to engage with your legislators; tips for building lasting relationships with policymaker. Whether you’re new to advocacy or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to make a difference! Pittsford location with available parking. Address will be shared with registrants closer to event.

There is no charge to attend this event. Donations welcome!

Iron Ladies
2025-07-16 18:00 | Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum, 900 East Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14607
Join NCJW GRS, community partners with the Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival, for Iron Ladies on Wednesday, July 16th at 6 pm at the Dryden Theater. At the height of the Cold War, a gutsy group of British and Irish women defied the Soviet Union to champion the rights of persecuted Refusenik Jews seeking liberty in Israel. These extraordinary women organized daring protests, smuggled aid behind the Iron Curtain, and partnered with a covert Israeli agency supporting Soviet Jewry. Through interviews with key women from the movement and other prominent figures like Natan Sharansky, archival footage, and vivid storytelling, this inspirational campaign spotlights the transformative power of grassroots activism.

Purchase tickets and see additional information on the JCC website.

School Supply and Backpack Drive
2025-07-20 12:00
To assist RCSD students of all ages, we are partnering with the Maplewood Community Library to gather a variety of new supplies and backpacks for the 2025-2026 school year. Let’s help school kids be prepared for the next school year! We will be collecting items from Sunday, July 20th until Sunday, July 27th. Items should be dropped off at the homes of these members:

Jane Amstey: 20 Fireside Drive, Rochester (contact Jane at janera1@yahoo.com or 585-747-8795)

Donna Cohen: 28 Chatham Woods, Pittsford (raquet19@aol.com or 585-385-3081)

Rina Schnaufer: 251 Barclay Square Drive, Rochester (rwschnauf@icloud.com or 585-749-1838)

Please contact them first so they will know that you are coming!

Items Needed: NEW backpacks for kids ages 4-17; pens and pencils; markers, colored pencils, crayons, highlighters, dry erase markers; spiral bound notebooks, composition notebooks, wide-ruled loose-leaf paper; folders and 3-ring binders; pencil sharpeners, erasers, and pencil cases; glue and glue sticks; rulers and scissors (safety and regular)

Backpacks and supplies for teens are especially requested.

Screening of Heather Booth: Changing the World
2025-08-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester, 1200 Edgewood Ave, Rochester, NY, 14618, United States
We are honored to be welcoming Heather Booth, renowned organizer, strategist, and activist to speak at the NCJW Greater Rochester Section’s Opening Event in September! Heather has been described as “The most influential person you have never heard of.” We want Rochester to know who she is!

Join us for a one night screening of Heather Booth – Changing the World on Tuesday, August 5th at 7:00 pm at the Louis S. Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester.

NCJW GRS 2025-2026 Opening Event With Heather Booth
2025-09-09 19:00 - 21:00
Tuesday, September 9th at 7 pm at Temple B’rith Kodesh

If We Organize With Love at the Center, We Can Change the World

Please join us for our 2025-2026 Opening Event with Heather Booth! Heather Booth is a lifelong activist, civil rights champion, and feminist icon whose work has shaped some of the most pivotal social justice movements of our time. From her early days organizing for civil rights in the 1960’s to her leadership in the women’s movement and progressive politics, Booth has dedicated her life to advancing equality, justice, and democracy.

A passionate advocate for reproductive rights, Booth founded the Jane Collective, an underground abortion service that provided safe procedures before Roe v. Wade. Her work in political organizing has influenced presidential campaigns, labor rights, and grassroots movements, making her one of the most respected strategists in progressive activism. With decades of experience training and mentoring organizers, Booth continues to inspire new generations of activists, proving that lasting change is built through collective action, moral courage, and unwavering commitment to justice. See More Information About Heather Booth

Heather will speak on the evening of September 9th on the topic If We Organize With Love, We Can Change the World. On the morning of September 10th, she’ll lead a Strategic Planning Workshop on the topic of Combating Voter Disinformation and Safeguarding the Vote. Locations for both events will be shared to you via email within 24 prior to the event.

Tickets for the evening event are available below. Tickets for the strategic planning workshop are available here.

Sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $180. For more information, please see Information on Sponsorship Opportunities.

Strategic Planning Workshop With Heather Booth: Combating Voter Disinformation and Safeguarding the Vote
2025-09-10 08:30 - 12:00
“When I asked how to get organized, I was told two words. Heather Booth.” – Senator Elizabeth Warren when she was looking to establish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and didn’t know where to start

Join us for a very special opportunity to participate in a workshop led by Heather Booth! Heather will walk us through the process of using her Midwest Academy Strategy Chart to organize a campaign supporting legislation that protects voting. Bring a group of co-workers or come on your own, and leave with a plan!

A continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 am. The program will begin at 9 am.

Tickets are $54 for individuals and $27 for non profits. A limited number of tickets are available, so please purchase now! Location will be sent to registrants close to the date of the event.

Please reach out to ncjwgrspresident@gmail.com if cost is a concern.

Community Planning Meeting
2025-10-27 19:00 - 20:00
Join us at 890 Westfall Road, Suite C to plan our campaign for NY State Voting Reforms. This will be an organizing meeting where we will form committees to start doing the work we brainstormed about with Heather Booth. All are welcome, whether you attended the Strategic Planning Workshop or not! Please invite interested friends and colleagues.

Lobby and Latkes
2025-12-17 18:00 - 20:00
Please join us at 6 pm on December 17th at the home of Cindy Finestone to celebrate and advocate! We’ll light the menorah, eat latkes, and enjoy time together while writing letters to protect election integrity.

RSVP below. Cindy’s address will be sent before the event. If you are having difficulty registering, please email NCJWGRS@gmail.com to let us know you’re planning to attend.

Understanding Jewish Experiences in Today's Changing World
2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:00
Led by Joy Getnick, Ph.D. Executive Director, University of Rochester Hillel

In today’s challenging world it can be hard to navigatequestions – at work, from friends – about Jewish identity,antisemitism, and Israel. This program, based on anUnderstanding Jewish Peoplehood training conducted byHillel at the University of Rochester, is designed to helpparticipants better understand evolving Jewish identityand experiences, and gain new skills for effective

communication. All are welcome! Register for the Zoom link!
