Your Virtual JCC

Group Ex Live on Facebook 

We’ll work together to create a customized training plan, hold you accountable and show you how to train smart – not just hard. Plus, we will help you stay motivated and focused on your goals while you build a relationship with a professional trainer who cares!

• Gain general strength and flexibility
• Improve balance and core strength
• Lose body fat and weight
• Reduce pain or ease back into exercise after an injury
• Customized programs designed to fit your goals

Express Session (30 minutes) Starting at $46
Full Service (50 minutes) Starting at $77

To schedule a session or to learn more, contact Anna Golv, Fitness & Group Exercise Manager at annag@stpauljcc.org

*St. Paul JCC Members Only

Classes by your favorite JCC Group Ex instructors.

Click here for Silver Sneaker workouts, wellness videos and exercise programs.

Click here for Silver & Fit workouts.

Click here for over 90 workouts to get you started.

Click here for the Hebrew Word of the Day!

Sundown May 28 to Sundown May 30

Shavuot, The feast of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah (Five Books of Moses) to the Israelites on Mount Sinai. It is the “giving” that we celebrate, because of the belief that we should be receiving the lessons of the Torah every day, and is observed by two days of synagogue attendance and study. The holiday is also known as Chag Matan Torateinun – the festival of the giving of our Torah. It is customary to eat dairy foods during the holiday, some say as a reference to the idea that Israel is a land flowing with milk and honey.

What To Do: 

• TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT – the practice of staying up the entire night learning Torah
• Read the biblical book of Ruth 
• Recite Yizkor, the memorial prayer
  said on Shavuot morning

What To Eat: 
The tradition is to eat dairy foods on Shavuot, notably cheese blintzes (thin, crepe-like pancakes filled with cheese) and cheesecake.

Days to Celebrate: Demystifying Lesser Known Festivals of the Jewish Calendar
Sundays, May 3 - 24 • 11 AM - Noon
During these trying times, everyone is looking for something to celebrate. Fortunately, the Jewish calendar offers us many such opportunities throughout the current season. This four-part miniseries will enrich your appreciation of these special days. Explore their history, discover their significance, and learn about the traditional observances associated with these days.

For more information and to register, click here

Cultivating Character: Life Wisdom from the Ethics of Our Fathers
Thursdays, April 30 - May 21 • 7:30 - 8:15 PM
Pirkei Avot -Ethics of Our Fathers is a compilation of timeless aphorisms from the sages of old, offering Jewish wisdom on life, morality, and character development. Continuing the ancient tradition of studying its chapters in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, this miniseries brings the poignant teachings of Ethics of Our Fathers to life, allowing its messages to resonate with participants and inspire personal growth.

For more information and to register, click here

By Presidential Proclamation, every year since 2006, May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in recognition of the indelible contributions American Jews have made, and continue to make, to our nation’s history, culture, and society.

Learn how Jews have shaped and been shaped by America across almost four centuries. Spread the word and join in the celebration!

Only In America Stories
Jews have experienced unprecedented freedoms in America even in the face of antisemitism. Here are stories of extraordinary individuals who illustrate the epitome what’s possible when someone is given the chance to dream, dare, and do.

The 25 Greatest Jewish Athletes of All-Time

Click here for family activities

Listen to Stories – Tune in every day at 3:00 pm for a new story.

Click here for a list of educational websites offering free subscriptions.

Scholastic Learn at Home – Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing

Storyline Online – Books and videos for children

GoNoodle – videos encouraging movement, mindfulness, cheers, dances, and family fun

Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE

Click here for Music with Wendy, every Wednesday and Friday at 10:20 am.

Now more than ever it is critical that we imagine, create, share and spread joy to each other. It is in this spirit that we have launched STAGES BEYOND THE STAGE. These FREE virtual Theatre activities for AGES 18 months to 18 years will be designed to get our bodies, voices and imaginations moving and creating!

The Israeli version of Sesame Street has wonderful videos about all sorts of holiday celebrations and this sweet introduction to Shabbat is a wonderful way to all engage together. Click here to watch

Shalom Bayit Call to Artists - All Media & All Ages
The Sabes & St. Paul JCCs invite you to participate in an online exhibition featuring new or existing artworks on the theme of Shalom Bayit (Peace in the Home). This foundational Jewish principle takes on new meaning in our current landscape. As more and more communities are sheltering-in-place, we are redefining what home is and what is means to have peace in the home.

View the Virtual Gallery here.

This is a completely free online festival! Over 10 days we will have a variety of events–workshops & conversations, happy hours, and Shabbat dinners, and so much more–which will take place over Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook. We’ll also be unveiling a library of unique Anytime Content that can be experienced during the festival.

Learn more here

Shalom Bayit Call to Artists - All Media & All Ages
The Sabes & St. Paul JCCs invite you to participate in an online exhibition featuring new or existing artworks on the theme of Shalom Bayit (Peace in the Home). This foundational Jewish principle takes on new meaning in our current landscape. As more and more communities are sheltering-in-place, we are redefining what home is and what is means to have peace in the home.

View the Virtual Gallery here.

Park Square Theatre Presents: The Diary of Anne Frank
By Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett
Directed by Ellen Fenster

In this surreal time, Park Square Theatre invites you experience a unique and powerful Zoom presentation of The Diary Of Anne Frank. Get to know the extraordinary young woman who wrote:

“It’s difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. Yet I still believe that people are truly good at heart.” - Anne Frank, July 15, 1944

STREAM THE PRODUCTION HERE

The ROOTS: Doing Jewish While On A Fertility Journey, is made up of monthly, experiential learning groups for singles, couples and LGBTQ+ folks who are confronting a family building challenge to help them reconnect through hope and healing to their Judaism

Preparing for Father’s Day
May 28 at 7pm CMT

Connecting with Shabbat Traditions
June 25th at 7pm CMT

https://weareuprooted.org/what-we-do/direct-support/the-roots-minneapolis/

For more information, contact Dori Gelfman at DGelfman@weareuprooted.org

Enjoy watching members from our own community, as they perform amazingly funny and poignant stories from their own lives - recorded live at the 2020 Twin Cities Jewish Humorfest.

The search for Jewish film begins and ends with JFI On Demand, an innovative curated streaming service of Jewish films.

Click here for a 30-Day free trial of Menemsha Films' new streaming service dedicated solely to JEWISH themed films and entertainment.

Mideast to Midwest

Zehorit was born in Israel to a Yemenite immigrant family. Growing up in multi-cultural Givat Olga, she experienced Israel’s rich ethnic diversity through food and celebration. Following high school graduation, Zehorit Joined the Israeli army, where she became an officer, finishing her service as a lieutenant. She then majored in English Literature and Political Science at the Tel Aviv University.

While working in a Minneapolis summer camp she met her husband and relocated. Since then Zehorit has been raising her 4 children, teaching cooking classes in both the Jewish and the general communities and volunteering. Zehorit brings to the kitchen her Mediterranean roots, her passion for healthy and flavorful dishes and her love of people and storytelling. Teaching in the Twin cities for the past 10 years, she shares her appreciation for the way in which culture, geography and history shape our food and the way we gather to eat it.

Food is a vehicle to creating community, to shaping memory and to sharing cultural richness. - Zehorit Heilicher

Our Book Group reads a wide variety of texts: novels, memoirs, non-fiction, short stories and everything in-between! The conversations are enlightening and fun; the people are engaged and enthusiastic.

May Book: The Art of Leaving by Ayelet Tsabari

Zoom Book Discussion - Thursday, May 28 • 9:30 AM for Pre Discussion Chat / 10 AM Discussion

Join Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85051607298pwd=NVFnNFBrckw5Tk9KVlpvYUZyN091UT09
Meeting ID: 850 5160 7298
Password: 833786

Hear and learn from inspiring, knowledgeable and prominent individuals of the Twin Cities. Professors, sports figures, entrepreneurs, theater directors and more!

Mondays • 10:30 AM - Noon

Do you have a passion for words? Join like-minded writers in this supportive and uncritical weekly creative writing group.

To join the group, contact Barbie Levine at blevine@stpauljcc.org

Friday, June 5 • Noon - 1 PM
You bring your lunch and all of us will supply the great conversation.

To register, email Barbie Levine at blevine@stpauljcc.org and she will send you a Zoom invite.

Join others for a Zoom group coaching session around the topic of "How do you support your own resilience during the time of COVID-19?" Sessions are strength-based conversations between a small group who learn from one another around key issues. As an individual member, you will have the opportunity to deepen your awareness, set individual goals and share accountabilities.

Sessions led by Ricka Kohnstamm, Nationally Board Certified Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coach

Pick a session that works for you.  Each session has a maximum number of 10 people.

• Tuesday, May 26 • 10 - 11 AM
• Tuesday, June 2 • 10 - 11 AM 

To register, email Barbie Levine at blevine@stpauljcc.org and she will send you a Zoom invite.

Pirke Avot: Ancient Rabbinic Wisdom for Today's World
Pirke Avot, is a collection of pithy sayings on how best to live an ethical life. Come study this ancient work with much to say to our lives today.

Fridays 11 am - Noon on Zoom

Jewish Medical Ethics: End of Life Decision Making
Thursday, May 14 & 21 • 7 - 8:30 PM
Teachers: Rabbi Lynn Liberman and a panel of Doctors - Dr. Richard Heinrich, Dr. Steven Miles and Dr. Sheldon Berkowitz
Our tradition has grappled with issues of end of life decisions for centuries. During the first session, we will explore a rich array of Jewish texts on the topic. In the second session, we will have the opportunity to engage with a panel of doctors about real and present issues in our lives today.

This is co-sponsored by Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, Shir Tikvah, Adath Jeshurun, St. Paul JCC, Hineni

Register here

Circle of Drowning Prevention

Josh the Otter is a great story that covers water safety tips for your family.

RESPECT the Water
Water Safety is still a priority, even if you can't get to the pool today. Check out this page to learn to RESPECT the Water.

NDPA
Educate children and caregivers about water safety. Stay in the know with these Water Safety Steps.

Verbal Cues
Verbal cues are very important to alert your swimmer to a change in activity. This is especially important when preparing to go underwater, as with bobs or jumping in. Counting or saying 'Ready, Set, Go" are excellent ways to verbally prepare your kiddo. Verbal cues also keep young swimmers safe. Learning to wait for a signal before jumping in helps prevent unexpected entries into the water. You can practice the basics with a game of red light, green light or putting your swim in charge of the situation, and you become the "good listener".

Kicking
Practicing kicks without the pool can be fun! Little ones can practice in the tub, lying on their front or back. Older swimmers can lay on the edge of the bed, practicing kicking in the air. Wherever they are, make sure they keep their legs straight but flexible with toes pointed, making little splashes. Kicking should come from the hip, using the entire leg-no bicycle kicks!

Will It Float? 
Have your child select a few item from around the house for bath time and have them guess if they will sink or float. If you use kitchen items (those are my families favorites), you can also pretend to make food as an added bonus. You should really try an orange: Does it float or sink? Peel the orange and try again: What is different? The peel of the orange is like a lifejacket for your swimmers. When you back at the pool, you can also look for what things might float (Hint: PFDs, lifeguard tube, rescue ring).

Deep Dive
The tub can be a great place for your to explore opening your eyes under water. Have a few prizes you can drop to the bottom of the tub and have your swimmer look under the water to try to find them. Want to a add a challenge to the skill: Fill the tub with bubble bath. This is a great way for you to try out a pair of goggles, if you have them. 

Splashing
Gently introducing your young swimmer to water is imperative to having a good relationship with it. Turn this introduction into play time! Using a colander, watering can or a paper cup with holes punched in it, sprinkle water over their head while in the tub. Smile and laugh while doing this, so they associate this activity with positivity. Teach them to wipe their eyes with their hands after getting wet. Progress to poring cups of water over their head and having them wipe their eyes afterwards. This activity will prepare them for their next step, submersions!

Bubbles
Practice blowing bubbles underwater. Start out with teaching your child how to “blow out candles”, then when they are able to breath out through their mouth, have them try this with their nose. To do nose bubbles, encourage your child to hum and breathe out as they put their nose underwater. If they want a challenge, count how many seconds they can make bubbles! 

Water Hokey Pokey
For very young children, acclimate them to water by playing a game of Water Hokey Pokey. Encourage them to put their chin, ears, mouth, and back of their head in the water. Ex: “We put our right hand in, we take our right hand out...”

Submerging
Submerging is an important skill in learning to swim. Not approaching this properly can cause unnecessary fear to be associated with this fundamental skill. Start slow, by putting different parts of the face in the water. Begin with dipping the chin in the water, then move to covering the mouth with water. Next, have them move their head so they can look directly at the bottom, then dip nose in water. Continue this with eyebrows and forehead. Finally, dip entire face in the water. All of this should be done under the child's own power, so they are controlling the activity. With this method, water avoids going up the nose and scaring the child from going underwater again.

Backfloats
Back floats can be challenging! Often, young swimmers do not like the feeling of water in their ears. They will become better with practice once they become more desensitized to the feeling. The bathtub is a great place to get in this practice because of the shallow floor. You can start, just like in the pool, with a hand under the head and back. Help your swimmer practice taking slow breath, getting relaxed, and even tipping their head back with a high chin. They will slowly become more independent, and you can add a little more water to the tub to float higher.

Emergency Preparedness
There is nothing like life altering days to make us think about if our family is ready for an emergency to occur. There are great resources available on https://www.ready.gov/plan to help guide the discussion with your family. If you are going to be socially distancing and getting quality family time in, why not be prepared for now and emergencies that may occur in the future. There are great resources available for kids here, but the Daniel Tiger App for Parents has also been a great tool to help work through life lessons (Chris is using it to potty train this week as well.) 

We also Partner with the American Red Cross for our Health and Safety Classes taught throughout the year. Click the link above to see the resources they recommend for preparing for emergencies. Once we're open, we will be releasing a new round of classes for CPR/AED/First Aid, Lifeguarding and more. Consider checking out a class, and you can learn more about classes at the St. Paul JCC and Sabes JCC.

Click here for a good workout

Dryland training prepares us for life in the pool! Check out these mini sets to do from the comfort of your home!

Set 1
:40 sec on / :10 sec off - 3 x (Mountain climbers / Bird dogs / Burpees / Plank / High knees / Streamline stretch)

Set 2
Streamline stretch / Downward dog/ cobra / Inchworm push-ups—build to 5 / Burpees with 5 X jumping jacks / Burpees with lunges / Plank / Streamline crunches / Plank with shoulder taps / Streamline flutter kicking / Streamline squats + hold / Single, single, double leg lowers / Mountain climbers

Set 3
Streamline stretch / Downward Dog & Cobra / Running in place / High knees / Butt kickers / Lunge hold / Push-ups / Snowboard burpees / Squat burpees / Tuck jump + squat push up / Streamline crunches / Streamline flutter kick

Yoga is one of our favorite compliments to an in water workout. Here is a great resource for swimming specific stretches to improve your skills in the water. Click here to learn more.

At Home Aquatics BINGO!
Join us in a fun game of BINGO while we are away from lessons! You gave from now until we are open to complete the activities on this card. Turn into your aquatics staff in the first seven days we are open to be entered into a raffle for a free session of swim lessons! Download card here

Watch Sidney's Ball Handling Video

Watch Sidney's Shooting Technique Video

Sidney's At Home Workout

Yoga for Basketball Players - Yoga is a great compliment to our gym workout. It helps increase range of motion, flexibility and maximize athleticism.

More Basketball Activities

Watch Coach Hanna's Video

Hanna's Notes for Video

Other Activities
Juggling
Soccer Games
Fun at Home

Yoga for Soccer Players - Yoga is a great compliment to our gym workout. It helps increase range of motion, flexibility and maximize athleticism.

Fly Like a Butterfly

Under the Sea

Jumping Rope Instruction 

Kicking the Ball Activity 

Hand/Eye Coordination 

Gross Motor Activity with a Ball or Balloon

Fine Motor Skills with Cones

Coordination and Balance Motor Exercises

Agility Drills with a Ladder

Speed, Agility and Quickness Drills with Cones

Sports Movies & Documentaries

Family Workout

Getting Fit Counting to 100

Get Moving Bingo
Download Card & Watch Instruction Video

Physical Activity Bracket Challenge

If you are 60 and in need of meals delivered to your home, please contact Jill Grover, with JFS at jgrover@jfssp.org or  651 +315 9167

If you are 60 and over and in need of transportation to essential medial appointments, please contact Anne Rickert at 651 + 255 4743

Want to talk on the phone with a student from HMJDS (Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School)? You will meet some interesting youth and find out how students are spending their time these days. Call Barbie Levine at the St. Paul JCC at 651 + 255 4734, to get in touch with a student.

Certified Metro Mobility customers, can now order groceries and household essentials online from a store that has online shopping and local pick up. Metro Mobility will pick your order up and deliver to for to your house with NO delivery fee.

You can book same day or in advance, for groceries and household essentials, just like you book a ride for yourself. You’ll receive your delivery within 60 minutes of the scheduled pickup time.

Please book rides with your provider. For questions about the service, contact the Metro Mobility Service Center at:
Call 651 + 602 1111
TTY 651 + 221 9886
metromobility@metc.state.mn.us

Grocery assistance - orders can be place online or by phone and will be delivered.
helpatyourdoor.org or 651 + 642 1892

*Sliding fee

Tikkun Olam - Donating Gloves to Health Care Professionals

Have you always wanted to visit a famous museum or park but haven't had the chance? Tour these places from the comfort of your home!

Top 10 Museum Tours

More Famous Museums

Israel Museum in Jerusalem

Rembrandt Museum

National Parks - guided park tours, click and learn

Nature Areas - click and learn

Street Art Tour - graffiti and murals

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

National Museum of Air Force

National Aquarium in Baltimore Click and learn

The MET Museum - Click and drag around during the video for a 360 degree view

Adult Coloring - printable coloring pages  

Daily Doodles - doodle activities with Mo Willems

Digital Color by Number

Storyline Online - books read out loud with animated pictures

Daily Online Crossword Puzzle

Daily Online Jigsaw Puzzle

Home Safari - Fascination and fun animal videos form the Cincinnati Zoo

Sea Curious - Kids ask and learn about animals at the Shedd Aquarium

St. Paul Wellness Program
Are you a current participant in the St. Paul Wellness Program? Contact Anna Golv, at annag@stpauljcc.org, to set up an online session with your personal trainer.

Click here, for Silver Sneaker workouts, wellness videos and exercise programs

Classes by your favorite JCC Group Ex instructors

Monterey Bay Aquarium - Jellies, Sharks, Coral Reef, Aviary and more!

Georgia Aquarium - Penguins, Whales, Jellies, Otters and more!

Houston Zoo - Giraffe, Elephant, Gorilla, Rhino and more!

San Diego Zoo - Koala, Owl, Tiger, Polar Bear and more!

Atlanta Zoo - Panda