Posts by JCC Association

by Annie Keith As the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, it became increasingly clear that the Hineni: 4-day JResponder training orientation scheduled for March 23-26 in Houston would be postponed. I had been looking forward to participating in this initiative offered by JResponse®, a signature program of JCC Association of North America, and I was … Continued

by Jane E. Herman Following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis at the end of May, protesters filled America’s streets, demanding racial equality and justice. As the “Jewish town square” in many communities, JCCs have been involved in this civil rights moment. Whether they’re one-time programs or longer, ongoing events, the entries in this round-up from … Continued

By Martin G. Englisher Throughout my four-decade career at the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood, the neighborhood’s demographics have changed. As the number of Jews in Northern Manhattan decreased, some people suggested we close our doors. We chose a different strategy—to recalibrate the way we serve our community. Our commitment to those … Continued

by Maggie Feinstein Nearly two years ago, on October 27, 2018, Pittsburgh experienced a never-anticipated event, the result of which we live with every day: the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. The shooting left our community in disbelief, forcing us to join a club of people present in far too many locations around … Continued

by Jane E. Herman At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, JCC Association of North America quickly pivoted to provide useful, meaningful content and resources to JCCs (Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps) across the continent and to the Jewish community at large. With this agility, we remain—even in these challenging times—the town square … Continued

by Jane E. Herman Recently, in preparing to write this blog post, I asked JCC marketers to “please let me know how COVID-19 has affected your Pride Month events and activities. Tell us about the pivots, the innovations, the partnerships, and the JCC Movement’s ongoing support and allyship of the LGBTQ+ community—despite the pandemic and … Continued

by Naama Krauz As an active duty Navy family, we’ve had the distinct privilege of having spent almost the entirety of our time together living overseas. Living in such unique locations has certainly broadened our horizons and expanded our world views. Our three daughters have each attended preschool in a different country. The holidays they’ve … Continued