Jewish Community Centers of North America (JCCs)

This week, over 50 people, including CEOs and Executive Directors from 24 JCCs, are attending an intensive executive seminar at Brandeis University titled “Navigating Israel and the Rise of Antisemitism.” A partnership between Brandeis University, Boundless, and Jewish Community Centers of North America (JCCs) the seminar recognizes the unique role that the 172 North American JCCs play in their communities, often serving as public squares and sources of Jewish knowledge for their 1.5 million patrons per week, one-third of whom belong to non-Jewish communities. This seminar is equipping JCC leaders to navigate community life in the aftermath of recent events in Israel and rising global antisemitism. Participants are exploring the intersection of antisemitism and anti-Zionism and developing strategies for building inclusive communities. The program, curated by Dr. Rachel Fish and featuring 12 world-class scholars, includes practical learning experiences, a visit to the JCC of Greater Boston, and a case-study component.

JCC of Greater Albuquerque www.jccabq.org Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC Bridgewater KINGS BAY Y Katz JCC JCC Denver Sid Jacobson JCC Jewish Community Alliance Jewish Silicon Valley Jewish Community Center of the North Shore Memphis Jewish Community Center Alper JCC Miami Miami Beach JCC Sylvan Adams Ym-Ywha Michael-Ann Russell JCC New Orleans JCC Friedberg JCC Mandel JCC Palm Beach Gardens JCC Pittsburgh Lawrence Family JCC JCC of Staten Island Kaplen JCC on the Palisades JCC MetroWest York JCC JCC Greater Boston

Carrie Darsky, JCC Association's chief talent officer, tells readers about JSummit, the JCC Movement’s premier conference for JCC lay leaders and senior professionals, and details the tremendous value the upcoming gathering will have for leaders and the entire movement.

Read the full blog post here: https://link.jcca.org/3XXiG88

JSummit 2024: A Letter to Our Lay Leaders - JCC Association of North America By Carrie Darsky JSummit, the JCC Movement’s premier conference for JCC lay leaders and senior professionals, will be held from September 16–18, in Chicago. In this blog post, a letter … Continued

Wishing all of our JCC communities in the United States a very happy Independence Day! Happy 4th of July!

Wishing all of our Canadian JCC communities a very happy Canada Day!

Ellen Daniel, Marketing Director at the Mayerson JCC, shares her thoughtful reflections on resilience, a quality deeply embedded in the fabric of Israel and its people. Through her journey as part of JCC Association's Martin Pear Fellowship, Ellen explores the enduring spirit and strength that have shaped a nation capable of overcoming immense challenges. In her blog post, she highlights the concept of "gam v'gam"—the idea of "both this and that"—reflecting the multifaceted resilience seen throughout Israel's history and culture.

Read the full blog post here: https://link.jcca.org/3VYDzyv

Resilience: It's Baked Into Israel and Israelis - JCC Association of North America By Ellen Daniel Gam v’gam—a concept we learned at the military cemetery atop Mount Herzl in Jerusalem—rings through my thoughts weeks after we have all landed again in North America: … Continued

Join JCC Association's Mark S. Young as he speaks with Michelle W. Malkin on the latest episode of the podcast, "It's Who You Know!", about navigating job transitions, the work of training and developing talent, and cultivating and accessing deep relationships (not just networking). Mark also shares insights into the incredible work happening at JCCs across North America and how they're making a difference in their communities. Don't miss out—tune in today and be inspired!

🔗 Listen now: It's Who You Know Podcast https://link.jcca.org/3ziDQDA

‎It's Who You Know! The Podcast: Embracing An Abundance Mindset with Mark S. Young, Vice President of Talent Strategy and the Director of JResponse at JCCA on Apple Podcasts ‎Show It's Who You Know! The Podcast, Ep Embracing An Abundance Mindset with Mark S. Young, Vice President of Talent Strategy and the Director of JResponse at JCCA - Jun 18, 2024

Through our Martin Pear Fellowship, JCC Association invests in the professional and personal growth of JCC professionals throughout our movement—cultivating a community of passionate, visionary leaders who are shaping the future of Jewish life across North America. Read today's article in the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle featuring Fara Marcus, Chief Development and Marketing Officer at JCC Pittsburgh, reflecting on her recent participation in the fellowship, her new friendships with other JCC professionals, and the transformative experience she had in Israel.

“I talk about community and the impact of a gift,” she said. “I understand it now on a higher level."

Read More: https://link.jcca.org/3VDOBYH

Israel trip and fellowship redefine JCC officer’s passion for community As a Jewish professional working in philanthropy, 'I talk about community and the impact of a gift ... I understand it now on a higher level”

Discover how our Jewish communities are addressing the loneliness epidemic. In this insightful piece, Zach Bodner, President and CEO of the Oshman Family JCC and board member of JCC Association of North America, and Shana Penn, Executive Director of Taube Philanthropies and board member of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and Jewish Silicon Valley, explore the powerful role our JCCs play in fostering connections and combating isolation. Read more on eJewish Philanthropy: https://link.jcca.org/45zGkcB

The Jewish community has an effective antidote to combat the loneliness epidemic When Hillel instructed “Do not separate yourself from the community” in a famous mishna in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), the ancient sage was offering not just religious guidance but a formula for good, healthful living. His call to...

Today we celebrate Juneteenth. Also known as "Freedom Day," Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of the last slaves in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves legally free on January 1, 1863, the law wasn’t enforced in every state until more than two years later, on June 19, 1865. Over 150 years later, the journey to liberty and equity continues. The JCC Movement is committed to embracing and implementing the ideals of inclusion and justice, as we model what solidarity and equality look like woven into North American Jewish life. Happy Juneteenth!

Congratulations to Cohort 2 of JCC Association's Bless Our Workforce Institute! Over the past five months, 26 managers from JCCs across the continent participated in learning sessions and reflective assignments equipping them with tools, strategies, and concepts to better motivate their teams. Drawing on insights from the book "Bless Our Workforce" by JCC Association's Mark S. Young, these managers are now well-positioned to cultivate a more engaging and fulfilling work environment, thereby bolstering employee satisfaction and productivity.

Cohort member Aaron Fineberg, Assistant Director of Development for Individual Giving at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades reflected on his experience, sharing, "I have definitely become more patient and better at listening to my staff. Instead of always coming up with solutions [on my own], I have really tried to make [my saff] the primary focus."

Mazel Tov to all the members of Cohort 2!

Wishing all the dads out there a day full of fun and family! Happy Father's Day!

Happy Shavuot! Chag Sameach!

JCC Association of North America is thrilled to welcome Rabbi Laurence Bazer as a new vice president of JCC Association and director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. Rabbi Bazer brings over 30 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army and National Guard, as well as extensive experience as a pulpit rabbi. In this new role, he will be a powerful advocate for Jewish military personnel and their families, ensuring they have access to meaningful religious, educational, and communal experiences. Join us in congratulating Rabbi Bazer on this appointment. We look forward to the incredible impact he will make supporting Jews in the armed forces through the critical work of JWB.

Rabbi Laurence Bazer Named Vice President of JCC Association and Director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council (JWB) - JCC Association of North America FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2024 CONTACT: Lauren Magy, PR Specialist, JCC Association, [email protected] Rabbi Laurence Bazer Named Vice President of JCC Association and Director of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council (JWB) NEW … Continued

"Last weekend was one of the rare moments of elation, the few that Israel has known since the October 7 massacre. The only other times we felt a similar surge of joy were when other hostages returned safely from captivity in Gaza."

Read today's "View From Jerusalem" written by Leah Garber, senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of our Center for Israel Engagement.

Day 248: Iron Swords War - JCC Association of North America By Leah Garber The seam between grief and bereavement and joy—the essence of Israeli existence. Last weekend was one of the rare moments of elation, the few that Israel has … Continued

"Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project for Jewish Day Camps, a partnership of Keshet, the Jewish Day Camp Network, and JCC Association of North America recently concluded its inaugural cohort year. This piece, a collaboration of partners, recounts what participants have gained from the experience and how they are shaping their camps into communities of belonging. As we celebrate the progress made by these Jewish day camps across the country, we invite you and your Jewish organizations to bring this vital work into your local Jewish communities."

Celebrating Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project for Jewish Day Camps - Keshet Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project for Jewish Day Camps, a partnership of Keshet, the Jewish Day Camp Network, and the JCC Association of North America

JCC Rockland's Rachel Appell recently had the opportunity to participate in a powerful 10-day journey through Israel as part of JCC Association's Cohort XII of the Merrin Teen Professional Fellowship. Across their travels, Rachel and her peers explored sites and landmarks across the country, engaging in profound discussions and contemplating pressing issues—all while navigating the challenging events unfolding since the October 7 attack and the ongoing war.

From the expansive vistas of the Mt. Avnon Lookout to the solemn memorial at the site of the Nova Festival tragedy, the group bore witness to both the grandeur and the heartbreak of Israel. At Yad Vashem, they grappled with the trauma of the Jewish people's collective memory.

Through her vivid journal entries, join Rachel and the rest of the Fellows on this life-changing journey and gain a profound appreciation for the complexities and nuances of the Israeli experience.

Click the link below to read more: https://link.jcca.org/3VfYrj7

A Life-Changing Journey Through Israel With My Merrin Teen Fellows - JCC Association of North America By Rachel Appell I recently had the opportunity to visit Israel as a member of Cohort XII of the Merrin Teen Professional Fellowship. Throughout our 10-day journey, which took 10 … Continued

Forty percent of Israelis are in favor of a deal to release the hostages and 27% oppose the deal. The fact that so many are undecided only emphasizes the dilemma. Within the government coalition, the extreme right parties have announced that if a hostage deal is signed, they will leave the coalition, which will lead to the end of the current government. The ultra-Orthodox parties have announced they are in favor of a hostage deal, and of course, all opposition parties are in favor.

Read today's "View From Jerusalem" by Leah Garber, senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of our Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.

Day 244: Iron Swords War - JCC Association of North America By Leah Garber To Agree or Not To Agree, That Is the Question. Last weekend President Biden addressed the American people and revealed the outline of the newest deal offered … Continued

Congratulations to Sierra Weiss, JCC Association's Access and Inclusion Specialist, who was recently selected as one of 15 Jewish professionals for Class 1 of the Wexner Davidson Fellowship, The Wexner Foundation's newest leadership development program created in partnership with the William Davidson Foundation. The Wexner Davidson Fellowship is a three-year intensive professional development program. Together with a diverse cohort of Jewish professionals from across North America, Sierra will grow as a Jewish professional, deepen her leadership skills, and develop a rich community of colleagues, becoming part of The Wexner Foundation’s network of professional and volunteer leaders in North America and Israel.

The complete list of Class 1 Fellows is available here: https://bit.ly/WDFClass1Announcement

Who, from time to time, does not sail in their imagination on quiet, trusting waters to their old age—whether those days are near or far away? Imagine how we would slow down, enjoy each day, travel, spend time on hobbies, and other things we never had time to do. Surrounded by our growing family and free from the need to care for them, we will finally lean back, hold hands in contentment, and whisper: “How blessed we are.” Surely no one wishes less than that for themselves.

Read today's "View From Jerusalem" by Leah Garber, senior vice president of JCC Association of North America and director of our Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem.

Day 242: Iron Swords War - JCC Association of North America By Leah Garber ”אל תשליכני לעת זקנה, ככלות כחי אל תעזבני“ “Do not cast me off in old age; when my strength fails, do not forsake me!” Who, from time … Continued

Thank you to Jewish Community Centers of North America (JCCs) for supporting the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center and helping us celebrate Cindy Smukler and Jeffrey Barrack through the Yamim Grant! It is through this grant that we are able to welcome Hagit Yaso, winner of Kokhav Nolad (Israeli Idol) and survivor ofOctober 7th. The Yamim Grant provides funding to JCCs for powerfully demonstrating their commitment to Israel and the Jewish people.

There is still time to sponsor or join us at our event on June 5th at the Kaiserman JCC honoring Cindy Smukler and Jeffery Barrack. Learn more at https://www.phillyjcc.com/cindyandjeff/

This Memorial Day, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of all the brave military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Among them was Col. Isaac Samuel Israel, an American hero who helped liberate the Dachau concentration camp in 1945.

In this poignant personal essay, Chaplain Steven I. Rein of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council—a signature program of JCC Association of North America—shares how Col. Israel's actions during WWII directly impacted his own family's story of survival and immigration to the United States.

Rein writes: "I am, quite literally, here today because of [Col. Israel's] bravery. I am here today because an American patriot sacrificed his life for a brighter future."

This moving story from a JWB chaplain reminds us of the profound legacy of those who served to protect our freedoms. Join us in honoring Col. Israel and all of our fallen heroes this Memorial Day.

Read the full essay: https://bit.ly/3USMb8a

Why I’m Honoring Col. Isaac Samuel Israel This Memorial Day - JCC Association of North America By Chaplain, Major Steven I. Rein In observance of Memorial Day, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® (JWB), a signature program of JCC Association of North America is honored to share this … Continued