No matter what your connection to Judaism is, you'll find activities, programs, events and celebrations that appeal to you at the Albany JCC!
Once Upon a Tea Party
Friday, December 26, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 2:30pm
Step into a world of imagination and inspiration at our charming tea party with Jacqueline Dembar Greene, celebrated American Girl author of the Rebecca Rubin series! This delightful afternoon invites children to sip tea (or juice), enjoy sweet treats, make a special craft for themselves and their doll, and share in the magic of storytelling. Autographed paperback books will be available for advance purchase at a special discounted price of $5 per book. Cost: $15.35 per person. All children must be accompanied by a grown-up.
Torah with a Twist
Friday, January 2, 2026 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Enjoy a warm cup of tea as we explore timeless Jewish wisdom through the lens of Mussar—an ethical tradition focused on cultivating traits like humility, patience, and gratitude. Through thoughtful discussion and personal reflection, this monthly class offers practical insights for living with greater mindfulness, intention, and integrity.
Whether you're new to Mussar or deepening an existing practice, you'll find a welcoming space to engage with Torah in a way that’s both intellectually rich and spiritually nourishing. No prior experience required—just an open heart and a curious mind. Free and open to the community.
Living the Jewish Calendar: TuB'Shevat - How We Grow
Friday, January 9, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Tu B'Shevat is an agricultural new year in Israel, but for most of us this is a date we mark metaphorically. It is yet another opportunity on the Jewish calendar to mark a new 'milestone' or starting point on the calendar, and in this session we want learners to see Tu B?Shevat as an opportunity - through it's symbolism of the tree - to consider where they are and where they are growing. Free and open to the community.
Living the Jewish Calendar: Purim - The Lasting Legacy of What We Cannot See
Friday, February 6, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
The Purim story ties into some of the most significant questions we live with: How does one have a spiritual life in a world where divinity can be so difficult to access? Free and open to the community.
Torah with a Twist
Friday, February 13, 2026 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Enjoy a warm cup of tea as we explore timeless Jewish wisdom through the lens of Mussar—an ethical tradition focused on cultivating traits like humility, patience, and gratitude. Through thoughtful discussion and personal reflection, this monthly class offers practical insights for living with greater mindfulness, intention, and integrity.
Whether you're new to Mussar or deepening an existing practice, you'll find a welcoming space to engage with Torah in a way that’s both intellectually rich and spiritually nourishing. No prior experience required—just an open heart and a curious mind. Free and open to the community.
Annual Purim Carnival
Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Get ready to experience the joy of Purim! Costume contest, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, kosher food and more!
Living the Jewish Calendar: Pesach - The Stories We Tell
Friday, March 6, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
What is the difference between history and memory? Can you create history? Can you 'create' memories? What is the different power each of these forces have on our life? What is the difference in feeling and moral weight between remembering an event and living through it?
Torah with a Twist
Friday, March 13, 2026 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Enjoy a warm cup of tea as we explore timeless Jewish wisdom through the lens of Mussar—an ethical tradition focused on cultivating traits like humility, patience, and gratitude. Through thoughtful discussion and personal reflection, this monthly class offers practical insights for living with greater mindfulness, intention, and integrity.
Whether you're new to Mussar or deepening an existing practice, you'll find a welcoming space to engage with Torah in a way that’s both intellectually rich and spiritually nourishing. No prior experience required—just an open heart and a curious mind. Free and open to the community.
Living the Jewish Calendar: The Omer - The Discipline of Counting the Days
Friday, March 27, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Counting time is an act with an aspiration. We hope by quantifying something as fluid as time, we can gain a control of it and dedicate it to some higher purpose. We count days to make days count. How do we count, quantify, and dedicate in our lives? Free and open to the community.
Israel
At the JCC, we have a special connection to Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.
