Adam Weiss’ tenure as CEO of the Harold & Elaine Shames Jewish Community Center on the Hudson has been marked by expansion and community-building.
The seasoned educator and administrator has guided the Tarrytown nonprofit through a post-pandemic rebirth that has included the addition of The Ark, a 5,500-square-foot theater and event space, and the launch of the J Sports Academy for youth at The Masters School.
Early 2025 will mark the opening of a café at The Ark, under the direction of New York City-based chef Noam Zabari.
Weiss, an Irvington resident, came to the Shames JCC in September 2021 with a resume that includes not-for-profit management, youth programming and education policy.
Here’s a Q&A with Weiss, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.
River Journal: What would you like people to know about you, other than what’s on your resume?
Adam Weiss: Every job I’ve ever had in one way or another is focusing on creating community, whether schools or camps or people with disabilities. Helping people feel a sense of connection and belonging has always been what motivates me. As someone who’s lived in Irvington and the River Towns for more than 10 years, the JCC is an opportunity to do that work for my friends and neighbors and family. The chance to do that work in the community that I live in is a special gift.
RJ: What would you like newcomers to know about the JCC?
Weiss: We want the JCC to be the town square of the River Towns. We want everyone to find something of value here, something that connects them to the community, whether it’s once a week or once a year.
When you are using the gym, or coming to a lecture, or whether your kid’s involved in our youth programs, this is where you connect to your community and to your neighbors, and this is the place you come for shared experience.
What I really want is for people to feel FOMO, fear of missing out. I want them to realize that if they’re not engaged with the JCC, they’re being excluded from something that’s enriching and meaningful.
RJ: Shames JCC is a non-sectarian community center, correct?
Weiss: There’s one theme in Judaism and Jewish life that’s very consistent no matter how you celebrate or live it, and that this institution is grounded in community, and this is a place where not everyone is a member, but everyone belongs and absolutely everyone is welcome.
RJ: Where do Shames’ members come from?
Weiss: Sixty percent come from Tarrytown and Irvington, and the rest are from Sleepy Hollow, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Ardsley and White Plains. We also have members who come from Yonkers, Riverdale, The Bronx, so our geographic reach is expanding.
River Journal: Is membership required?
Weiss: You don’t have to be a member to come enjoy the programs and the facilities. Everything we do here is always available to everyone.
River Journal: What has the reception been like for The Ark?
Weiss: So far it’s been great. We’ve had some wonderful events. We had a tribute to Stephen Sondheim that had over 250 people, and there are two more concerts in that series, one celebrating Gershwin on January 12 and Rodgers on March 20. We had an absolutely incredible event to recognize October 7 where over 200 people came together from throughout the community. We’ve had lots of movie nights, lots of parties, baby namings, bar mitzvahs, fundraisers. [Comedian] Judy Gold is going to be here on February 1.
River Journal: What are you looking forward to in 2025?
Weiss: We have a lot of new programming coming up in The Ark — parts two and three of the Golden Ticket series, which is narrated by Jack Viertel, who’s a famous Broadway producer. We expect our new sports camp to grow a lot. We had 140 kids our first year.
River Journal: What are the most significant challenges your nonprofit organization faces in the coming year?
Weiss: I think more and more people have lost their enthusiasm for charitable giving, and their relationships with community and charitable organizations has changed, and so they think of themselves as purchasing services rather than supporting institutions that help the most vulnerable in our community and help strengthen our community.
We have a huge number of programs for seniors who are a huge portion of our membership. We do a tremendous amount of work for people with disabilities, and we’re really a resource and a haven for many of the most vulnerable members of our community.
When you engage here, when you join, when you donate, you are helping to strengthen our community and your most vulnerable neighbors. We want to be accessible to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. Anytime someone wants to be engaged here and the membership fees are a challenge for them, they just need to tell us. We are committed to making sure that “The J” is a community resource for everyone regardless of their financial resources.
River Journal: Anything you’d like to add?
Weiss: This is an organization that was almost done in by the pandemic. The fact that we’re thriving only three years later is pretty extraordinary. It’s something we’re all proud of, and it’s a testimony to all the hard work and commitment of the staff, the board and the community that we’ve sort of risen from the ashes.
