By Bob Kimsal When, in the past, I have been asked to prepare a d’var Torah, I’ve always been keen to do it if the parashah is from the Book … Continued
Archives for December 2020
What an Extraordinary Year for the JCC Movement!
By Jane E. Herman Although few people will be sorry to see 2020 go, the year, notwithstanding its unexpected challenges, offered innumerable opportunities for the JCC Movement to redefine and … Continued
Silver Linings Amidst the Challenges
By Leah Garber The bright lights of Hanukkah have faded, leaving us in 2020’s darkest days—literally. With COVID-19 cases and deaths increasing, we are isolated, once again, in a third … Continued
Parashat Vayigash: Change and Growth Are Always Possible
By Morgan Weiss וְעַתָּ֗ה יֵֽשֶׁב־נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַנַּ֔עַר עֶ֖בֶד לַֽאדֹנִ֑י וְהַנַּ֖עַר יַ֥עַל עִם־אֶחָֽיו׃ כִּי־אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־אָבִֽי׃ “Therefore, please let your servant … Continued
What’s So Great About Israel in the Winter?
By Sara Sless George Winston’s “Winter,” one in a series of albums that follows the changing seasons, is among my favorites. Click on the link, turn up your speakers and … Continued
Parashat Miketz: Teshuvah and the Power of Dreams
By Isabel Mares “Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.” – John Updike Every moment of our lives holds within it an opportunity … Continued
Giving Back Is the Loving Legacy of a JCC Maccabi® Athlete
By Jane E. Herman Matt Jacobs and Rich Cohen, z’l, had a decades-long friendship—and they have the JCC Maccabi Games® to thank for it. Although the two grew up only … Continued
Parashat Vayeshev: Why We Need Resilience in These Times
By Yael Warach This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23), introduces us to the dramatic tale of Joseph and his “Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” It’s the well-known story of Joseph’s … Continued
Eight Bright Lights From the JCC Field
By Jane E. Herman According to Jewish tradition, Beit Shammai (the House of Shammai) and Beit Hillel (the House of Hillel) disagreed about everything—including how to light the hanukkiyah, the … Continued
JWB Jewish Chaplains® Awarded PJ Library Grant to Enrich Outreach to Jewish Military Families
NEW YORK — JWB Jewish Chaplains Council® (JWB), a signature program of JCC Association of North America, has received a grant of $15,000 from PJ Library’s Alliance partners to expand … Continued