Bender JCC of Greater Washington

Today we honor our community of workers! The Bender JCC will close at 5:00 PM today; our pools will close at 4:45 PM. Visit us any time before then to celebrate Labor Day with a dip, schvitz, or schmooze! You’ve worked hard this year – take a well deserved break!

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Stevie Zonarich will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments in field hockey and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Stevie’s honor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Mike Holmes, our Health and Fitness Director, reminds us that September is recognized as Healthy Aging Month, a time to celebrate the positive aspects of growing older and to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining our health as we age.

Healthy aging isn't just about adding years to life; it's about adding life to those years. Whether it's through regular physical activity, a balanced diet, mental well-being, or staying socially connected, there are countless ways we can all invest in our health and well-being.

Let's embrace this month as an opportunity to reflect on our lifestyle choices and make small changes that can lead to big benefits over time. Bender JCC offers a wide array of opportunities for seniors to stay fit and active including personal training, aquatic programs, group exercise classes, the fitness center, and social and recreational activities. After all, aging is a journey, and together, we can make it a healthy, fulfilling, and joyful one!

Members of any age and fitness ability can "FALL INTO FITNESS" this September with a 10% discount on an 8-pack of personal training sessions! Call or email Mike to learn more and schedule your sessions: 301-348-3894 | [email protected].

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Nathan Szubin will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments in cross country and track, and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Nathan’s honor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

September 1 is your final day to become a Polinger Artists of Excellence VIP! Season tickets on sale through September 1. Single concert tickets are $50, and go on sale Monday, September 2! Learn more and purchase here: https://bit.ly/3MsOtHk

Don’t miss your chance to enhance your concert experience with the Polinger VIP Experience! September 1 is the final day to secure your exclusive access to all six concerts for just $250.

Polinger VIPs enjoy:

-A special concert by renowned pianist Einav Yarden
-2 VIP pre-concert receptions
-Priority seating
-A limited edition Polinger Artists of Excellence coffee mug

This incredible series offers special access and perks that you won’t want to miss. Purchase your Polinger VIP Experience today and be part of an unforgettable season of music, including:

Borromeo String Quartet and Henry Kramer
String Quartet + Piano | September 22 | 7:00 PM

Brannon Cho and Janice Carissa
Cello + Piano | November 17 | 7:00 PM

William Hagen and Albert Cano Smit
Violin + Piano | December 8 | 3:00 PM

Ying Quartet
String Quartet | March 16 | 3:00 PM

Lysander Piano Trio
Ensemble | April 6 | 7:00 PM

Alon Goldstein
Piano | June 8 | 7:00 PM

The Polinger Artists of Excellence Concert Series is made possible by the Geraldine and Howard Polinger Concert Endowment Fund.

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Gabriella Gordon will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments in soccer, basketball and softball, and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Gabriella'shonor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Health and Harvest is Sunday, September 22! Check out all the family-friendly, all-ages fun we have planned:

-Enjoy a complimentary head-to-toe, mini-massasge!
-Get vaccinated for free (ages 3+): Flu, RSV, and COVID-19!
-"Shake It Off" at our grand finale concert: a Taylor Swift Tribute!
-Meet and pet alpacas at our petting zoo!
-Learn Capoeira, Zumba, and more at our interactive workshops!
-Shop until you drop at our artisans market!
-Grab a bite at our food trucks and farmers market!
-Play carnival games, including a dunk tank with our CEO Josh Bender!

Advance registration is strongly recommended. Anyone who pre-registers will be eligible to win an Apple iPad and other great raffle prizes! Register here: https://bit.ly/4ealX9h

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Charlie Buckles will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments as a baseball player and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Charlie’s honor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Jaden Gaines is a Lessans Camp JCC counselor with a Heart of Gold! “I’ve attended [Lessans] Camp JCC for 15 years, and have always looked up to my counselors,” Jaden said. “Winning the Heart of Gold makes everything come full circle and allows me to look back at my time at [Lessans] Camp JCC and be very proud.”

Read all about Jaden and the R. Andrew Helgeson Heart of Gold Awards Ceremony in our latest blog post now live on our website: https://bit.ly/3T9rFQp

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Jessica Berger will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments in soccer and lacrosse, and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Jessica’s honor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

"Champions of Resilience: Jewish Athletes Through the Holocaust" is an extraordinary exhibit coming to the Bender JCC (Monday, September 30 | 7:00 PM). Register here: https://bit.ly/4dW5k0M

Curated from the private archives of collector and longtime Bender JCC member, Neil Keller, this collection features rare and extensive memorabilia of famous Jewish Olympic athletes and provides an unprecedented glimpse into the personal journeys, achievement, and heartbreaking struggles of these remarkable individuals.

Join us for a presentation with Keller to learn about the deep history and inspirational stories of the remarkable athletes that are featured in his collection of Jewish sports memorabilia.

At the Dinner of Champions on November 23, Aiden Abergel will receive the 2024 Hyman M. and Phillip D. Perlo High School Athlete Award for accomplishments as a soccer player and in the community.

To support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Aiden’s honor, please visit: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Welcome back Bender ECC students and families! Our preschool community loved meeting our new friends and reuniting with familiar faces this morning at our "Meet and Greet" for the new school year!

Greg Rosenbaum, co-chair and co-principal owner of the Dayton Dragons, the High Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, will be inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23 for his accomplishments as a Minor League Baseball owner.

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Greg’s honor: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Our Member Appreciation Pool Party was a splash! Members and staff gathered around the Outdoor Pool for a fun-filled night of music, games, and snow cones. We loved soaking up the last days of summer together!

Mike Richman, veteran journalist and author ("George Allen: A Football Life"; "Redskins Encyclopedia"; "Washington Redskins Football Vault"; and "Joe Gibbs: An Enduring Legacy"), will be inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23.

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Mike’s honor: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Health and Harvest is one month away - tell all your friends (Sun., Sept. 22 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Outdoors | Family Friendly)! Register here: https://bit.ly/4ealX9h

Fall is the perfect time of year to prevent ailments and our Health and Harvest Fair - hosted by Coming of Age in Maryland the Bender Early Childhood Center (Bender ECC) - is the perfect place to jumpstart your wellness!

Health & Harvest is packed full of highlights to help you live well and have fun:

-Live music: "Shake It Off" at the TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE SHOW!
-Get vaccinated for free: Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccinations available!
-Enjoy free massages and clinics!
-Shop till you drop at our artisans market!
-Grab a bite: food trucks and farmer's market stands!
-Pet and meet alpacas at our petting zoo!
-Play carnival games, including a dunk tank with our CEO Josh Bender!
-Win a free Apple iPad and other great prizes in our raffle!
-Security by Montgomery County Police.
-Additional parking available in JSSA and JDS lots.

Stuart Milner will be inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23 for his six-decade lacrosse career as a player and referee.

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Stuart’s honor: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

We're hosting a Member Appreciation Pool Party tomorrow night (Thursday, September 22 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM)! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/46TODR8

Come Join us for a fun-filled night of music, games, treats & more - spend time with your family and friends soaking up the rest of summer!

Matt Mervis, first baseman for the Chicago Cubs, will be inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23.

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Matt’s honor: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Check out the Bender ECC's Natural Playground's new features for the upcoming school year: a Rope Bridge (pictured) and Mud Kitchen! Our school community looks forward to making years of memories on the Rope Bridge and Mud Kitchen, plus the new climbing structures and other playground updates, which we plan to install later this year.

Barry Goldberg, American University Cassell Hall of Famer and legendary volleyball coach, will be posthumously inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23.

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Barry’s memory: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Our Lessans Family Literary Series Summer Book Club wrapped up its third and final meeting of the season by reading and discussing "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride, a great book whose message is that even in dark times, it is love and community that sustain us. We were fortunate that Deborah Kalb - Bender JCC community member and author - served as our moderator.

Bonnie Berko will be inducted into the 2024 Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on November 23 for her accomplishments with ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption (PTI).

Click the link to read more about the Dinner of Champions and support inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC in Bonnie’s honor: https://bit.ly/47zKP7U

Polinger Artists of Excellence season-tickets sale ends in two weeks — don't miss out on these incredible VIP benefits and experiences:

-Purchase all six concerts for the price of five (save $50)!
-Special VIP pre-concert receptions!
-An exclusive concert with pianist Einav Yarden on October 22!
-Priority, reserved seating (sit in your favorite seats all season long)!
-Limited edition Polinger Artists of Excellence coffee mug!

Become a subscriber today! Purchase season tickets here: https://bit.ly/3Yz5KWz

Catch these world-class chamber music superstars and discover what makes Polinger Artists of Excellence concert series and the Bender JCC the "best-kept chamber music secret in Rockville!"

Season tickets are on sale now through September 1.
Single concert tickets are on sale on September 2.

A portion of your season ticket fees goes to supporting arts programming for youth at Bender JCC.

MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS: Yair Inspektor!

Yair currently serves as the Executive Director of Construction and Real Estate and Senior Managing Counsel at Children’s National Hospital. In previous roles, Yair served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Education, and as Interim Assistant Superintendent at the Office of State Superintendent of Education, Office of Health and Wellness.

Before entering the fields of real estate, law and policy, Yair taught 11th grade global history in the South Bronx. Yair is a fluent Hebrew speaker (hailing from Israel by way of Pittsburgh) and has served on various boards including most recently the Sela Public Charter School.

He is a proud husband and father of two, who both enjoyed experiences at the Bender JCC camp and can still perform spirited renditions of most of the choreographed dances and ‘Take me home, Montrose Road’. A member of the B’nai Israel Congregation, Yair calls the North Farm neighborhood home, just a short trip down that same Montrose Road.

Our Camp Counselors Have A "Heart of Gold"! Congratulations to our 2024 R. Andrew Helgeson “Heart of Gold” honorees:

-Jaden Gaines, gold
-Chloe Goldberg, silver
-Ari Packer, silver
-Evan Cantor, bronze
-Adam Field, bronze

The following counselors were selected as winners of the Dugma Award ("exemplary example") Award for being role models within their groups:

Juliet Acosta
Ryan Coe
Marina Cohen
Ellyn Gibson
Nate Goodman
Noam Klein
Archer Martin
Nate Shemony
Morgan Taylor
Nolyn Ziman

Save the date - Health and Harvest is coming Sunday, September 22! Pre-register here: https://bit.ly/3LZD55l

Enjoy a day of wellness, friends, and all-ages family fun at the Bender JCC! Health & Harvest is packed full of highlights to help you live your healthiest life and have fun doing so:

-Live music: "Shake It Off" at the TAYLOR SMITH TRIBUTE SHOW!
-Get vaccinated for free: Flu, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccinations available!
-Enjoy free massages and clinics!
-Shop till you drop at our artisans market!
-Grab a bite: food trucks and farmer's market stands!
-Pet and meet alpacas at our petting zoo!
-Play carnival games, including a dunk tank with our CEO Josh Bender!
-Win a free Apple iPad and other great prizes in our raffle!
-Security by Montgomery County Police.
-Additional parking available in JSSA and JDS lots.

We’ve packed all these highlights — plus extra bonus giveaways — into four hours
(10:00 AM - 2:00 PM), so make a day out of it! You’ll schmooze with new and cherished friends, work out at an exercise workshop, do some shopping, grab a bite, and most importantly, invest in your wellness and well-being.

Team Greater Washington proudly represented our community at the 2024 Maccabi Games in Houston! We are so proud of our athletes and coaches who competed in baseball, basketball, dance, soccer, tennis, and swimming alongside other JCC's from around the world.

Congratulations to our athletes, coaches, and teams who won medals in the following competitions:

Gold Medal

-Ophir Lurie, 16U Solo Israeli Dance
-Ophir Lurie, 16U Solo Jazz Dance

Silver Medal

-Ophir Lurie, 16U Contemporary Dance
-Ophir Lurie, 16U Hip Hop Dance

Bronze Medal

-14U Boys Baseball
-16U Boys Baseball
-16U Boys Basketball
-16U Girls Soccer

Midot Medal for Leadership

-Kindy Diallo, coach
-Ophir Lurie

"Bring Them Home" Medal

-Jorde Green, coach
-Ophir Lurie

Team Greater Washington is the talk of the town at the Houston Maccabi Games as our athletes continue to proudly represent our community in the following tournaments: Boys 14u and 16u Baseball, Boys and Girls 16u Basketball, and Girls 16u Soccer!