News Archive

Inaugural Spring Break Basketball Invitational

During the April spring break, the Y opened it's doors in a unique and unprecedented way. We hosted our first ever Middle School Basketball Invitational Tournament for six teams, bringing in nearly 100 youth from our community. Players, parents, school administrators, and members of our community raved about the opportunity and commended the Y for coordinating this opportunity for our community youth.

A Night Different from All Other Nights

This year we got an early start to Passover. On Wednesday, April 5 PJ Library Cooks and Creates, Y Beginnings Parenting Center, Bubbie’s Kitchen, and Building Bridges co-hosted a family seder and it was one for the books!

The Challenge and Blessing of Giving

Last month when we celebrated Purim, our thoughts turned to “tzedakah" -- giving to the poor -- one of the traditions associated with the holiday, but how should we carry that sentiment with us throughout the rest of the year?

Costume Change: A Purim Coin Drive

For a holiday measured by costumes and general silliness, at the Y we take our Purim obligations pretty seriously. According to Jewish tradition, there are four primary observances to making a complete Purim. Four specific ways to internalize some of the hidden and revealed messages embedded within the holiday. When planning the Purim celebration at the Y, we decided to give extra attention to one of the four obligations that is often most overlooked: matanot l'evyonim, gifts to the poor. Tradition tells us this can be gifts of money, food and drink, or even clothing.

Gloria Clavijo Turns 80, Celebrates with her Students

“Amazing!” exclaimed Gloria Clavijo, a member of the Center for Adults Living Well (CALW), the Y's program for ages 60 and older. As staff rolled a giant pink birthday cake with a matching potted hyacinth into her yoga class, she leaped into the air -- an impressive move for anyone. But Gloria, a silver-haired runner and yoga instructor, had just turned 80.

Hanukkah and Washington Heights: These are Two of My Favorite Things

There has been a convergence of local fame brewing in the neighborhood and it is time to recognize this special moment in history. And it all revolves around Hanukkah! If you are a lover of Broadway, Hanukkah, a cappella, Washington Heights or any combination of silly, inspiring, or creative music, this music video is a must-view.

Renovations for Improved Services

This past summer, the Y broke ground on its next phase of renovations. This includes a gut renovation of our kitchen, and significant work in our auditorium and connected meeting space. 

Why I Love Sukkot

There is no other holiday on the Jewish or Gregorian calendar that combines child-like adventurism with semi-pro carpentry, alongside radical hospitality all shaded by an emotional imperative. Just as the weather gets colder and the skies begin to get darker earlier, this holiday, deep in symbolism around the preciousness of life, comes to push pause on our lives for eight days.

Why Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah?

I always remember my bubbe’s challah from when I was a little boy. Throughout the year she would braid the oblong loaf six times; the act of braiding signified the unity of everyone coming together to celebrate Shabbat and six represented the six days of the week. But for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, she would braid the challah differently: into a circle.

Remembrance and Goals for the New Year

We are just fresh off of the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Olympics represent many different things for different people: pride, celebration, hard work, and success. Winning medals is not just all about an individual athlete’s solo performance during the Olympics itself, but about the time and effort spent training for that performance, and about the goals set, met, and surpassed.

Like the world’s Olympians who now have the opportunity to step back and evaluate their time in Rio, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, encourages us to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves last year to see if we met them, and to see where we can improve. The High Holiday is also akin to training for the Olympics. It is a time to think deeply and introspect, and see where we want to go from here. Establishing goals to work towards is the first step to getting where we want to go, both on an individual level and on a communal level.

SYEP Program Grows Nearly 20%

We successfully closed out the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) for 2016! We enrolled an additional 100 youths this summer bringing our enrollment allocation to 650 participants.

Bubbie's Kitchen on the Go

While technically they never leave the grounds, the campers taking the Bubbie’s Kitchen activity at Camp Twelve Trails are transported across the globe as they discover new foods and cultures. Over the weeks they’ve jetted off to Israel to mix up Israeli salad (students took home the ingredients and recipe so they could make this with their families at home!), visited Morocco to taste cumin scented carrot salad with golden raisins (recipe at the end of this article), and explored Russia as they made apple and beet slaw -- you may be surprised to learn that Twelve Trails campers don’t have an aversion to beets, they loved the slaw!

Introducing the Y at WHEELS!

The YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood is proud to present its newest addition to the Youth and Family Department: the Y at WHEELS! 

Honoring the Hands That Help us Serve

In June the Center for Adults Living Well @ the Y held its annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony.

The Y's Centennial Celebrations Have Begun

In 1917 the Y opened its doors and nearly 100 years later the Y is thriving as it serves the local community. July 1 marks the beginning of our new fiscal year, so as we enter FY17 we’re entering celebration mode. And we have so much to celebrate and be proud of!

Shavuot at the Y

On June 12 and 13 the Y will observe the Jewish Holiday, Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).

Around the World with Bubbie and The Covenant Foundation

Smearing rounds of floured dough with onion-laced mashed potatoes was the easy part. Folding the dough over to pinch and seal the ends was a messier challenge.

The Y and the Sports for Youth Initiative

Every year the UJA-Federation of New York hosts an event for their Sports for Youth initiative and the Y was excited to accept an invitation to this year’s luncheon honoring Howard Katz, COO of NFL Films and SVP of NFL Broadcasting.

Reflections from a Social Work Intern

As part of the UJA fellowship that pays a portion of my tuition for the Graduate school of Social Work at Touro College, I was required to attend monthly learning seminars at the UJA headquarters. At those morning workshops I would often overhear my peers in the UJA fellowship complain about their respective field placement sites. Grievances ranged from a supervisor suddenly leaving, to not having anything to do all day, to being forced to work with uncooperative clients. Over a cup of coffee and a hardboiled egg that’s included in the UJA’s breakfast, I would think to myself how lucky I was to have been granted a placement at the Y. Even if I fished around deep enough, I couldn’t find one honest complaint to compare.

Reflecting at Passover

Each year at Passover we celebrate the Jewish people’s deliverance from slavery and captivity in Egypt. At our Seders we retell the story of the Exodus and remember the Jewish people’s suffering. Dipping bitter herbs into salt water symbolizing tears, reminds us of the slaves’ pain; charoset signifies the mortar they used when they were forced to build the pyramids; and eating matzo connects us to their hasty departure once they were freed. These traditions allow us to acknowledge the suffering the Israelites endured, which in turn enables us to more fully celebrate their liberation. 

Chag Purim Sameach!

In honor of the Jewish people’s salvation in Ancient Persia, Purim is a holiday of generosity where we celebrate, feast, and rejoice. We got a jump start on the celebration this past Sunday when we hosted our annual carnival at the Y – and what a celebration it was! It was our best carnival yet with a record-breaking 400 people streaming through our doors in the course of three hours.

Introducing Bubbie's Kitchen!

The Y is thrilled to be launching "Bubbie's Kitchen" on Sunday at our Purim Carnival! Generously sponsored by The Covenant Foundation, Bubbie's Kitchen is an innovative program that uses food and stories to teach Jewish customs, values, traditions, and history from across the world. Stay tuned for more information about this new educational series!

Author Talks @ the Y!

On Thursday, April 7 we will be launching a new series of author talks here at the Y!

Thank you for your light and love, Liz.

A renowned, award winning composer, writer and director, a passionate advocate for human justice and human rights, a caring and emphatic person, who despite her painful life experiences, brought hope and light to the world- those are only a fraction of words that describe Liz.

PUTTING THE GIVING BACK INTO THANKSGIVING

We all know the typical cliché that this is the time of year of giving. It’s the time where we try to take from the good we have and share it with our neighbors and friends. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but something we all strive for.