jcc circleautumn 2008 www.jcca.

org 5769 u`x

Shalom
Havana!
JCC Association Board
Brings Support and
Supplies to Cuban Jews

The Magazine of the North American Jewish Community Center Movement

 jcccircle
Cover photo: Fani Magnus Monson
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Autumn 2008 www.jcca.org 5769 u`x
dear friends
Chair
This issue of JCC Circle reflects the diversity and depth of the JCC Movement. Alan P. Solow
Going beyond the view of a JCC as “just a gym,” or a preschool, or a camp (all of Honorary Chairs
contents which are significant aspects of our mission), we feature the many other ways
JCCs serve our communities that are not as well known:
Edward H. Kaplan
Ann P. Kaufman
Jerome B. Makowsky
• We learn of several JCCs that serve ultra-Orthodox populations, providing Morton L. Mandel
2 The Glatt Kosher JCC specialized services to more observant Jews who need the same programs, Lester Pollack
Daniel Rose
5 JWB Asks Rabbis to Be but within their own religious discipline.
Vice-Chairs
All That They Can Be • We see a diversity of social-action projects and initiatives, where JCCs play Lisa Brill
key roles in supporting important causes and issues, such as the fight against Donald Brodsky
6 Out-of-the-Box Fundraiser AIDS/HIV and the push toward “greening” the JCC, which has become a Cheryl Fishbein
Gary Jacobs
significant continental-wide JCC effort. Virginia A. Maas
8 A (Compact Fluorescent) Stephen R. Reiner
Light Unto the Community • We focus on the special challenges of encouraging young people to build their Toby Rubin
careers in JCCs, and how new lifestyles and technology have changed the Stephen Seiden
10 Never Forget, Never Again workplace. Paula Sidman
• We delve further into the critical JCC/Israel relationship, and lay out specific Secretary
11 Special Insert: Shirley Solomon
directions for JCCs to bring their agencies and memberships much closer to
JCC Israel Office Israel, both at home and in the Jewish State. Our Israel Office stands ready to Assoc. Secretaries
Enid Rosenberg
15 Let My Parents Go work with local JCCs on a variety of exciting Israel programs. Michael Segal
• We hear again of the special work of our Jewish military chaplains, Michael Wolfe
16 Bridging the Gap: Generational and the efforts of JWB Jewish Chaplains Council to recruit rabbis of all Treasurer
Differences in the Workplace denominations to continue to make these critical connections with Jewish Edwin Goldberg
armed services personnel wherever they may be stationed. Assoc. Treasurers
20 JCC Association Board Brings Stephen Dorsky
Support and Supplies to • We focus on the unique ways that JCCs educate their members and guests Andrew Shaevel
through various media including art, photographic exhibits, and literature. Doron Steger
Cuban Jews
Our continental board followed the Miami Biennial with an extraordinary visit President
22 JCC Happenings to the Jewish community in Havana. This trip provided another perspective on Allan Finkelstein
Jewish life for so many of us who had only heard about the situation in Cuba. jcccircle:
It was a tremendous opportunity to do tikkun olam, and we brought much-
Sr. Vice-President,
needed medical supplies to special clinics at two of the city’s synagogues. JCC Marketing & Communications
Association is organizing another trip to Cuba in November, and I encourage Robin Ballin
you to take advantage of the opportunity. Several JCCs have also fielded such
Creative Director
humanitarian missions. Peter Shevenell
As you see, there is much more to see, experience, and learn at the Jewish Communications Manager,
JCC Circle Editor
Community Center. The beauty of the JCC is the opportunity to take part in Miriam Rinn
programs and services beyond those for “which you came.” We are proud of the
Macrolease The Redwoods Group To help support the work of JCC Design
www.macrolease.com www.redwoodsgroup.com Association and JCC Circle, please diverse contributions that JCCs make to their communities, and the high level of Jeremy Kortes
contact Fani Magnus Monson, engagement of leadership in these efforts. Dan Hertzberg
Mondo Schlesinger Newman & vice-president of development, at:
Recreational Flooring Goldman
www.mondousa.com www.sng.ca JCC Association Sincerely, For address correction or Information about JCC Circle
520 Eighth Avenue contact info@jcca.org or call Alina at (212) 786-5096.
Nautilus Staples Business Advantage New York, NY 10018
tel: (212) 532-4958, x5136 ©2008 Jewish Community Centers Association
www.nautilus.com www.StaplesLink.com
of North America. All rights reserved.
fax: (212) 481-4174
Network Services Company Star Trac e-mail: FaniMM@jcca.org 520 Eighth Avenue | New York, NY 10018
www.nsconline.com www.startrac.com Phone: 212-532-4949 | Fax: 212-481-4174
Allan Finkelstein e-mail: info@jcca.org | web: www.jcca.org
New Leaf Sterling & Sterling, Inc. JCC Association of North America is the leadership network of, and central agency
www.newleaffitness.com www.sterlingrisk.com President, JCC Association
for, 350 Jewish Community Centers, YM-YWHAs and camps in the United States
and Canada, who annually serve more than two million users. JCC Association
The Ostroff Group TechnoGym offers a wide range of services and resources to enable its affiliates to provide
www.ostroffgroup.com www.technogym.com educational, cultural and recreational programs to enhance the lives of North
American Jewry. JCC Association is also a U.S. government-accredited agency for
Power Plate serving the religious and social needs of Jewish military personnel, their families
www.PowerPlate.com and patients in VA hospitals through the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Precor JCC Association receives support from the UJC National Federation/Agency
www.precor.com Alliance, local federations and Jewish Community Centers.
ISSN 1065-1551
Think of the typical JCC user. Are you imagining a man dressed
in a black suit and black felt hat in August? A woman wearing
an ankle-length skirt, long sleeves, and a sheitel, or wig?
Probably not. Yet there are JCCs that successfully serve the
ultra-Orthodox community, and upend common stereotypes
about JCCs and the ultra-Orthodox while doing so.
The Glatt Kosher JCC:
How JCCs Serve the Ultra-Orthodox
N
by Miriam Rinn
ot surprisingly, most of these Jewish
Community Centers are in the
metropolitan New York City area, where
the mass of ultra-Orthodox Jews live.
Two hundred and fifty thousand frum,
or highly observant, Jews live in Borough
Park, Brooklyn alone, the largest
community outside of Israel. Overall, the
ultra-Orthodox population in the United States is estimated at
a half million. Since JCCs are committed to serving the people
who live in their neighborhoods, as well as all Jews, those JCCs
located in frum areas work hard to understand the needs of
their neighbors and how to satisfy them.
To the unknowing eye, frum Jews may seem all alike, but that’s
not true. The community is varied, and includes Hasidim
(those loyal to specific rabbinic dynasties, such as Satmar or
Ger); yeshivish (non-Hasidic, with an allegiance to a specific
yeshiva or school of learning); modern Orthodox gravitating
toward the right and taking on the lifestyle choices of the more
rigorously observant; and people who move from one group
to another, such as the businessman who works with women
during the day and dons a Hasid’s shtreimel, a flat hat trimmed
with fur, and a long black coat for Shabbat. Add to these
distinctions ancestral geographic divisions, such as Hungarian,
German, Polish, Bukharan, and more, and the general socio-
economic features of education and income level, and you
have a real mix. JCCs serve all of these different groups,
adapting to meet the needs of their individual communities.
The YM-YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood at the
northern tip of Manhattan is located in a community in
transition. “Up here, it’s like a mini UN,” says Cyndi Rand,
the Y’s Jewish educator. In addition to a group of Holocaust
2 jcc circle autumn 2008
survivors, the Y serves Hispanic, African-American, and
Russian residents, as well as the Breuer kehilla or community.
Not well known even in New York City, this ultra-Orthodox
group settled in Washington Heights when they left Frankfurt,
Germany in the 1930s, escaping the rise of Hitler. Seeking to
reconstitute themselves, the new immigrants established the
Yeshiva Samuel Samson Hirsch, named after the great rabbi
who founded the original kehilla in opposition to the Reform
movement. “It’s a Yekkisheh (German) community,” Rand says,
“very respectful, very proper.” The kehilla supports several
synagogues and shtiebelach, or small prayer groups, as well
as a preschool, an elementary school, and the yeshiva. Rand
devised a program for preschool and elementary-aged boys and
girls, which offers arts and crafts, drama, sports, karate, and
computers in same-sex groups. “It runs on Fridays because the
kids get out of school at 12 o’clock,” Rand says, and mothers
are eager for some free time to prepare for Shabbat. The Rav, or
chief rabbi, approved hiring non-Jewish counselors as long as
Rand could guarantee that the children would not interact with
children who were not Jewish. Since these children are in public
school on Friday afternoons, Rand could comply.
Any JCC program for the ultra-Orthodox must be “totally on
their terms,” she said, an observation echoed by all the JCCs
who work with frum Jews. Rand emphasized that she must
cooperate with leaders of the community to be successful,
which means in practical terms that she has to sell the rabbis
on the worth of any program she wants to offer. She believes
they recognize that children need social and recreational
outlets. “You live in Manhattan, you don’t have a backyard.
They don’t have television, they don’t go to the movies. No
central air conditioning.” Because she herself is Orthodox and
sends her five children to day schools, she believes the rabbis
and the parents trust her, and she’s been able to take the
children on outings to amusement parks and bowling. The
primary obstacle to more programming, according to Rand,
work in small community businesses or as tradesmen if they
can’t get jobs in the many yeshivas. The Y offers programs
is financial. Like many frum communities, the Breuer kehilla
is not wealthy—“The all-mighty dollar is not what they
to help people get GED degrees, and has run some ESL
and computer programs. Despite the widespread poverty,
worship,” she says—and Rand is grateful to sponsors such as the ultra-Orthodox community has a well-established and
the Jeannette & H. Peter Kriendler Charitable Trust, who fund pervasive tzedakah network and believes in taking care of
her program. “We’re not turning anyone away because they its own, so Jews are fed and dressed and educated, whether
can’t pay,” she says. they have money or not. But income level affects whether
they can support their JCC, and whether they can serve on
In Borough Park (usually spelled Boro Park by residents), a its board.
large group of modestly dressed women, their hair covered by
close-fitting turbans or kerchiefs, exercise vigorously to
the beat of a pop tune in the Boro Park YM-YWHA. On
another floor, a group of elderly Holocaust survivors
listen to a religious lecture, while little girls from the
Bobov Hasidic sect answer their teachers in Yiddish
in rented space nearby. “Boro Park is more and more
Hasidish every day,” says Executive Director Ellie Kastel,
who struggles to get the idea across to her community
that the Y is more than just “gym and swim.” Sensitive
to the norms of her members, Kastel programs so that
men and women are rarely in the building at the same
time. Programs are segregated by sex and by age, except
for special community-wide events, such as a health fair
sponsored by a local hospital.
Because of their devotion to Jewish learning,
frum Jews aren’t looking for the kind of Jewish
education that JCCs usually offer. Many of them
don’t participate in popular culture, and they take
political direction from their leaders. Social and
mental-health services also come from the rabbis. The mix
of JCC programming that interests them tends to be limited Any JCC program for the
ultra-Orthodox must be
to fitness and practical skills. Of course, there’s always the
exception, and a group of women at the Boro Park Y were
happily expressing their creativity through oil paintings—
still lifes and portraits. totally on their terms
“We are very alert and cognizant of their needs,” says Ava
Blau, program and membership director. Still, Kastel knows “It’s very expensive to live a Jewish life,” says Rina Shkolnik,
that some of the local rabbis urge their followers not to use the executive director of the JCC of the Five Towns in
the Y. They are fearful, she says, that their children will meet Cedarhurst, New York, an affluent area on Long Island
kids from other groups. Her goal is to convince them “that that has become increasingly ultra-Orthodox over the last
what we do here is not treyf.” This is not a small matter when 15 years. Shkolnik, who is a native Israeli, describes her
working within an ultra-Orthodox community; another community as very diverse, with “those who go with the skirts
Brooklyn Y in Williamsburgh, also a Hasidic neighborhood, to the knee and those who go with the skirts to the ankle.”
closed many years ago over mixed dancing among seniors. Although she has several ultra-Orthodox members on her
board of directors, she understands that it’s hard for many
Boro Park is not a wealthy community, although Kastel says to support the JCC. “Those who live in Far Rockaway can’t
that the population ranges from billionaires to paupers. support like those who live in Lawrence. But as a JCC, we
According to the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, should support everyone,” she says. Despite the area’s high
an agency that advocates for New York’s Jewish poor, two income level, Shkolnik says the JCC feeds 125 families from
thirds of the community lives below or near the poverty its food pantry every week—“we’re talking about young
line. Thirty percent of residents below 25 have no high- families as well as elderly”—including more than fifty families
school degree and the great majority do not attend college. from the ultra-Orthodox community.
Many speak English poorly, according to Kastel, and they
www.jcca.org jcc circle 3
Shkolnik met with each and every rabbi in the community
when she took the job as exec, no matter how long it took to get
an appointment. One rabbi finally said he’d give her 15 minutes
and then spent two and half hours talking with her. She is frank
in admitting that her being Israeli is an asset. The rabbis are
impressed by her fluent Hebrew and “they can’t categorize me
as a Reform or Conservative Jew.” Since one of her academic
degrees is in Bible studies, “I can talk to them in their language,”
she says, and all that makes a difference. But she was also
honest as to what she could and could not do,
she says, and the rabbis understood that
the JCC has to serve everyone. “We offer
programming for the entire community,
and they pick and choose.” The
agency is glatt kosher to make it more
inclusive, and the fact that the JCC has
no fitness center or pool makes many
problems moot. “And I don’t fight
them. I don’t want to go with my
head to the wall,” Shkolnik says. “I
want the people to feel comfortable.”
We want to try to help
Although the Five Towns JCC
attracts ultra-Orthodox children to everyone out to be a
its preschool, that’s unusual. More
commonly, frum children come to
member of the JCC.
the JCC for sports and recreational
programming, or special-needs programs. The ultra-
Orthodox community has significant numbers of special-
needs children, and Bob Friedman, executive director at the
Central Queens Y, is hoping that providing such services is
a way to reach out to a sometimes distrustful community.
“We want to balance special needs with the purpose of a
community center, which is to build one Jewish community,”
Friedman says. The Y is trying to address the health care
needs brought on by a very sedentary lifestyle, too. Another
shared interest is Israel. “Zionism is one of the binding forces
in the Y, and we’re able to engage people through Zionism.”
According to Friedman, the Orthodox community in
Forest Hills is aging. “The community that is moving in
is Bukharan,” Jews from the former Soviet Union central
Asian republics, also very observant. Despite these new
immigrants, “the economic [level] of our Orthodox
community is much higher than Boro Park,” Friedman
says. “The men are working, and learning becomes a
secondary pursuit. Many women are also employed.” The
ultra-Orthodox Bais Yaacov schools for girls are expanding
vocational programs to teach marketable skills such as
hospital billing or accounting. Central Queens is affordable
and has a wealth of Jewish institutions, and certain
neighborhoods such as Kew Gardens Hills are attracting
young families. A social worker who once worked for the
government, Friedman notes that the Y doesn’t qualify
for many government contracts because they’re closed
on Shabbat and holidays. He’s hopeful that he can build
4 jcc circle autumn 2008
a donor base among the more affluent ultra-Orthodox
segments of his community “because they’re staying.”
Ultra-Orthodox Jews live outside of New York City too, and
one such group frequents the Park Heights branch of the
JCC of Greater Baltimore. JCC Vice-President Phil Miller, an
Orthodox rabbi himself, says, “This is a traditional yeshiva-
based community…with a remarkable infrastructure. They
are looking to the JCC as a place for recreational, fitness-
based programming for adults and youth-sports
programming for their kids.” As do other
JCCs working with this population,
Park Heights splits their four-lane pool
schedule into men and women-only
times. Of the two fitness centers, one
divides its time between men and
women, and the fitness classes cater
to women only. On Friday afternoons,
when women are preparing for
Shabbat, “almost the entire [boys] high
school comes here to play basketball or
go swimming,” Miller says.
Because of the community’s modest
incomes and large families, the Park
Heights JCC has found that their
camps have been put out of business
by a phenomenon that Miller calls backyard camps. Teenage
girls or young mothers organize summer playgroups in their
homes for very little money. “We do programming for these
backyard camps, and we charge three bucks a kid.” The JCC
rents out the pool and gym to them too. “This is a model we
invented because we really didn’t have a choice,” Miller says.
“We’re sold out for the summer.”
The JCCs of Chicago has instituted similar programs,
according to Emily Minkow, director of the North Central
Region, which draws people from West Rogers Park, Skokie,
and Lincolnwood. “We have very large league programs, with
350 kids playing basketball,” she says. “We have special kollel
memberships” for young men who are spending several years
in Talmud study after leaving the yeshiva. “We want to try to
help everyone out to be a member of the JCC.” In the winter,
the JCC has motzeh Shabbos hours after Shabbat has ended.
They are “completely open for gym and swim,” says Minkow.
Those JCCs successfully serving ultra-Orthodox Jews invest
time and effort in getting to know their communities and
truly understanding their needs. It can be challenging, no
doubt. “I spend a lot of time meeting with people in the frum
community, talking to them,” Miller says, who adds that he
can’t imagine that anyone not Orthodox could succeed. There
are “so many nuances” to appreciate, he believes. But the
mission of serving k’lal Israel is central to the JCC Movement,
and many JCCs are providing valuable and necessary services
to their ultra-Orthodox members.
JWB Asks Rabbis to Be
All That They Can Be by Miriam Rinn
I
t takes flexibility, ability to compromise, and a
commitment to the totality of the Jewish people to
be an effective Jewish chaplain in the armed forces,
according to Rabbi Barry Baron, deputy director of JWB
Jewish Chaplains Council. The U.S. Armed Forces, facing a
shortage of chaplains, is eager to recruit candidates, said
Baron. “They are aware they need chaplains, and they are
happy to have rabbis.”
JWB has been endorsing rabbis as military chaplains
since World War I, and in the last year it has stepped up
its efforts to find new candidates. The staff visited five
rabbinical schools, adding the Academy of Jewish Religion
and the Reform seminary in Cincinnati to the Jewish
Theological Seminary, REITS, the seminary at Yeshiva
University, and Hebrew Union College in New York City.
“That was our first broadening of the net,” said Baron.
“There are a couple more we’ll add to this, schools on the
West Coast, and we hope to add the Reconstructionist
Rabbinical College in Philadelphia.” Baron also reached out
to rabbinical students who had expressed interest in the
chaplaincy at some point, and worked closely with chaplain
candidates to make a commitment as they neared the end
of rabbinical school.
One of those candidates, Josh Sherwin, a student at JTS,
spent the summer in Newport, Rhode Island at officer
development school. This was his second summer with the
program, which is a five-week course for professionals—
doctors, lawyers, chaplains—to learn how to be officers.
Sherwin, whose father is also a rabbi, said, “When I decided
I wanted to be a rabbi, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go into
the congregational world.” When he met Chaplain
Maurice Kaprow, “it seemed that chaplaincy might
be a place I wanted to be.” Sherwin said.
Last summer Sherwin spent three weeks at
the U.S. Navy chaplaincy school and at Camp
Lejeune in North Carolina. He met the Jewish
chaplain there and filled in at the base when
that rabbi was deployed to Iraq for two
weeks. “It was an amazing experience,”
Sherwin said, who is the recipient
of the first JWB rabbinical school
scholarship. At services, “we had 25
to 30 people show up, and everyone
wanted to be there.” In this much more
intimate setting, “you can really see
the impact you’re having,” he said, and
the experience solidified his decision about
becoming a chaplain.
In the U.S. Armed Forces, chaplains
provide services to everyone in their care,
regardless of their religion. That means
that rabbis find themselves ministering to
many non-Jews. When it comes to religious
www.jcca.org jcc circle 5
services, chaplains are expected to provide to their own
faith group, facilitate for those from other groups, and
care about everyone. “As human beings, that’s something
we should all be doing,” Sherwin said. “It’s a different kind
of experience,” and an intriguing one for him. His parents
support his decision. “My dad is a sixties liberal,” Sherwin
said, “but all politics aside, they’re very proud.”
Like many children of immigrants, Rafael Kaiserblueth
feels a sense of gratitude towards the U.S. “I feel very
strongly that everyone should serve their country in some
way,” the chaplain candidate said. Kaiserblueth was born
in Puerto Rico, but his parents came from Latin America
where his grandparents landed when they escaped
Europe just before World War II. A fluent Spanish speaker,
Kaiserblueth is eager to bring Judaism to people who
haven’t had much, as well as to non-Jews. “My job as a
chaplain is to provide for the spiritual needs of everyone,”
he said, explaining that he believed an important part of
the job is to expose people to Jews. “ A lot of people have
never seen a Jew, forget a rabbi.”
Kaiserblueth did his basic training in Rhode Island, spent
a week on a ship, a week in a hospital, and a few days with
the U.S. Coast Guard. All of these experiences gave him
“the ability to see the human aspect of military life,” he
said. “It’s a connection that you can’t really describe.”
Those young people feel a great need for solace and
connection. “I know that I can make more money in a
synagogue,” Kaiserblueth said, “but there’s no reason that
these guys should not get the same spiritual guidance.”
Not surprisingly, money is an issue for new rabbis, just as
it is for new doctors and lawyers. Like other professionals,
rabbis now graduate with a lot of debt, and the substantial
difference between military pay and synagogue salaries
can discourage candidates, according to Baron. To help
eliminate that obstacle, JWB is working hard to raise
scholarship funds and/or income supplements for
new chaplains. Former Jewish Chaplains Council
Chair Rabbi Philip Silverstein donated the first
rabbinical school scholarship in memory of his wife
Adinah. Jerry Weinstein, a resident of New Jersey,
is underwriting a new scholarship for a Reform
rabbinical student in memory of his uncle. The
armed forces help place chaplains where their
spouses can find good jobs, Baron said, and
that also makes a difference.
Roughly speaking, there’s a need for twice
as many Jewish chaplains in the army and
navy as serve currently, according
to Baron. “Even on the reserve
side, we have a need” as
reservists are getting older.
“The need is very acute.” JWB
is doing everything it can to
satisfy that need.
To discuss funding a JWB scholarship,
contact Fani Magnus Monson,
fanimm@jcca.org.

When Jamie Hyams, a serious
cyclist, decided she wanted to
do the AIDS/LifeCycle race this
year—a 545-mile, week-long
ride from San Francisco to Los
Angeles—it was natural for her
to invite her regular cycling
buddies to join her...
Out-of-the-Box
Fundraiser Energizes
Bay Area Jewish
Community
by Jane Calem Rosen
W hat came next, however, has created a whole new
model for JCCs to raise money, both for themselves
and other charitable causes, and build Jewish community—“a
triple mitzvah,” as Hyams described it. Her idea—to tie an
established fundraiser for AIDS/HIV to a drive for the Contra
Costa JCC in Walnut Creek, California, where Hyams is
executive director—raised $31,500 for the JCC and upwards of
fifty thousand dollars for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation
and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.  to ride (or walk or play) my a-- off, and please support the
The plan was simple. First, Hyams announced the formation of
TEAM JCC, to expand the circle of cyclists riding with her to
include members of CC-JCC and other Bay Area JCCs. In their
colorful team T-shirts, Hyams hoped they would stand out
from the pack of 2,200 cyclists on the road from San Francisco
to L.A., raising the profile of the Bay Area Jewish community
along the way. (AIDS/LifeCycle, which took place in early June,
was co-sponsored by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and
6 jcc circle autumn 2008
the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Each participant had to raise at
least $2,500 for the sponsoring organizations, which provide
public education on the disease as well as social and healthcare
programs and services to those afflicted by AIDS and HIV. The
total ride raised $11.6 million.)
Then, Hyams approached those she called “angel donors,”
CC-JCC members and other local residents who would agree
to match each TEAM JCC cyclist’s donation to AIDS/LifeCycle
and contribute those matching funds directly to CC-JCC.
Finally, Hyams was able to line up three-time Tour De
France winner Greg LeMond to serve as honorary co-chair
of TEAM JCC. LeMond, “a real mensch,” said Hyams, who
often lends his name to charitable causes, helped nurture
team spirit and attract additional support. TEAM JCC
bikers met LeMond in March for a photo session and some
valuable training tips. The champion cyclist meanwhile
agreed to donate a signed bike and a unique
“LeMond Experience”—the purchaser could choose
either dinner for himself and eight to ten friends
with LeMond and his wife, Kathy, or a two-hour
bike ride through Livermore Valley wine country
for herself and six to eight others—to be auctioned
off at CC-JCC’s annual gala in June. Angel donors,
Hyams promised, would get to meet LeMond in a
separate, private event.
She got two corporate sponsors on board as well: Club
One Inc., a Bay Area fitness company that runs CC-JCC’s
aquatics program, gave a cash gift, and Cyclepath Bicycles
of San Francisco provided discounts to the cyclists on bike
Hyams was able to line up three-time Tour De France winner Greg LeMond
to serve as honorary co-chair of TEAM JCC
service and cycling products and underwrote the cost of the
TEAM JCC T-shirts.
Hyams has always looked for novel and unconventional ways
to fundraise. A number of years ago, she started the Foothill
Century, the only kosher ride in the West, complete with
rugelach at rest stops and a kosher barbecue and deli lunch
break, for the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School, an event
that has since become popular with the Peninsula’s Jewish
and non-Jewish communities alike.
JCC of San Francisco supported the AIDS ride by making its
personal trainers and fitness facility available to TEAM JCC
members. Six others – Addison-Penzak JCC of the Silicon
Valley; Albert L. Schultz JCC of Palo Alto; JCC East Bay;
JCC of Sonoma County; Osher Marin JCC; and Peninsula
JCC– did internal promotion to encourage cyclists in their
communities to join the team.
www.jcca.org jcc circle 7
TEAM JCC riders applaud Hyams’ initiative, saying it is
a wonderful reflection of the Jewish value of tzedakah
in action, certain to generate good will for the Jewish
community, over and above the money raised. “There are
different ways of doing tzedakah. One way is just giving
money, while another way is to demonstrate you are willing
to ride 545 miles on a bike, saying, ‘I care enough about
this cause to put myself through this torture’,” said Yitzhak
Santis, laughing. Santis is director of the Middle East
project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of San
Francisco. Another cyclist, Laurel Sgro (pronounced Scrow)
who is treasurer of the CC-JCC, was excited to be part of a
fundraiser that involved her athletic prowess. “Because I’m
an athlete, I find it personally motivating to use that as a
way to give back to the JCC and to the AIDS community,”
she said. “This is a new idea for us, and it looks to be
evolving into a great fundraiser for us.”
Hyams believes she has hit on a sure-fire formula. “What
we did in creating TEAM JCC would work for any
athletic or other event where the structure is already set,”
she contended. “All that’s needed is someone with the
enthusiasm to go to potential donors and say, ‘I’m going
JCC through my craziness.’ There are no invitations, no
logistics. This will raise more money for the CC-JCC than
running our own golf tournament, which would take six
months to plan.”
Jane Calem Rosen is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.

A [Compact Fluorescent] Light
Unto the Community
by Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield
Abba Binyamin says:
“If the eye had the
power to see, no human
being could handle all
of the harmful things
in the world.”
Berakhot 6a
An Eye-Opening Experience
In October 2006, the Riverdale YM-YWHA screened An
Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s illuminating and disturbing
documentary about the frightening effect global warming,
generated by human activity, is having on the planet.  At least
one hundred people from our community showed up at short
notice to watch the film, and I was among them. Like many of
the viewers, I felt (and still do) terrified, almost paralyzed, by
the idea of rising ocean levels, violent weather, and the threat
to the natural world.  But what took my breath away was the
recognition of what this global crisis could mean for human
8 jcc circle autumn 2008
civilization and life. As a human being and a Jew, I felt obligated
to act, to do whatever I could—even if the gesture seemed small
compared with the gargantuan nature of the problem—to save
human life.
Getting Started
In an effort to educate ourselves and to build awareness in
our community, my colleague, Faye Lieman, and I began to
work with representatives of the Sierra Club and the New
York State Energy and Resource Development Association
(NYSERDA) to plan an Earth Day Fair.  With over thirty local
environmental groups and green businesses participating,
our fair attracted more than three hundred people who
were eager to learn what meaningful steps they could take in
response to global warming.  We were subsequently awarded
a grant from our local energy provider, Consolidated Edison,
to grow our “greening initiative.”
After a year of internal and external action, we refined our
understanding of the community’s needs, and at our second
annual Environmental Fair this year, we offered opportunities
to responsibly recycle worn textiles, electronics, compact
fluorescent bulbs, hard-cover books, and even set up an
industrial shredder to destroy and recycle personal documents.
Greening our Facility
From NYSERDA, we learned that the first step to making
our building more energy efficient is to conduct an “energy
audit.”  Certified energy contractors took a thorough look at
our building including heating and cooling systems, lighting,
insulation, and drainage.  Their final written report includes
recommendations for facility upgrades and estimates of how
long it would take for those upgrades to pay for themselves in
energy savings.  So, for example, replacing existing light bulbs
with high efficiency CFLs will pay for itself much more quickly
than a new HVAC system.  This audit has helped us to identify
“low hanging fruit” and to plan for future, more ambitious
capital improvements with energy efficiency in mind. 
Similarly, in partnership with the Council on the
Environment’s Office of Recycling Outreach and Education
(OROE), we conducted a recycling audit, determining
JCCs Can Make a Difference
where recycling bins should be placed in the facility and
even arranging a special Friday pick-up with the sanitation JCCs and Ys are uniquely poised to confront the global
department (we are closed on Shabbat, their regular pick-up warming crisis.  We are in a position to lead by example
day).  OROE also conducted recycling trainings for our staff, through greening our own facilities; to raise awareness of
nursery school, and seniors.  In addition, we recently switched young children, older adults and everyone in between; to
to green cleaning products, which according to our facilities create service-learning programs that green our communities
manager cost less and work better. We are currently planning and those of our neighbors; and to organize our community’s
to incorporate waterless urinals into a bathroom renovation. resources to cut back overall consumption.  We have a wealth
of Jewish texts and teachings at our disposal that underline our
Green Jewish and Interfaith Programming obligation to be stewards of the earth and partners with God
in the ongoing work of creation.  We have a model, in Shabbat,
In the middle of Sukkot, the Riverdale Y sponsored a program
called “To Green and To Grow.”  Several houses of worship,
of what it means to refrain from creating and consuming for
one day a week.  Now each of us needs to find a reason to take
including the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of
leadership in reducing consumption, despite the overwhelming
Riverdale and the New Life International Church, discussed
nature of the problem, and we need to start now.  Do it
their own faith’s perspective on stewardship of the earth
because it saves money.  Do it because it builds community.
during services.  Then Sunday afternoon, joined by Hebrew
school students, Y members and other volunteers, we headed
Do it because it’s a mitzvah. Do it for your children or
to a local urban park where we planted bulbs, mulched, and
grandchildren.  Find the reason that opens your eyes just
enough to see what needs to be done and do it!
raked.  As Pastor Cabrera of New Life Church put it, “It was
a tremendous experience for our church and community Rachel Jacoby Rosenfield is the director for program
members. . . thank you for the opportunity to join forces
together and work toward a worthwhile goal.” 
development and Jewish life at the Riverdale YM-YWHA
in Bronx, New York. Look for tips on environmentally
In partnership with the Y, the Riverdale Green Team, a
friendly living at www.jcca.org.
town-wide group of diverse concerned Jewish individuals,
developed a template for a “green” Kiddush. Our “Green
Do it because it
Kiddush in a Box” includes key Jewish environmental texts to
display on oneg tables and resources for making green choices saves money.
like serving vegetarian food, fair trade coffee, and using
Do it because it
biodegradable plates or, better yet, glass!
builds community.
Creating New Community Partnerships Do it because
In addition to our new relationships with partners in city it’s a mitzvah.
government, we recognized a shared concern for addressing
environmental issues among local social service agencies.  In
partnership with the Riverdale Neighborhood House (a local
community center) and the Council on the Environment of
New York City (CENYC), we launched a Youthmarket.  This
farm stand, run by local teenagers, trained teens in business
skills and provided locally grown produce to our community
every Thursday during the growing season. 
www.jcca.org jcc circle 9

NEVER FORGET, NEVER AGAIN
The Story Behind the Anne Frank Exhibit at the
Barness Family East Valley JCC, Chandler, Arizona
By Meg Gabay
When Executive Director Steve Tepper introduced his idea to
the management team at the Barness Family East Valley JCC,
it seemed almost unimaginable. He proposed contacting Anne
Frank USA and leasing one of their traveling exhibits, Anne
Frank: A History For Today, and housing it for one month
in the JCC’s one available space, the multi-purpose room. A
national exhibit? Here? At our
small facility? We weren’t sure if
the idea was feasible.
Just a few months later, not
only was the staff on board, but
the JCC had the support of the
local office of the ADL (Anti-
Defamation League), the City
of Chandler Police Department,
the Jewish Federation of Greater
Phoenix, and the City of
Chandler’s Diversity Commission.
A Steering Committee soon
developed, with volunteers
manning sub-committees to
oversee every step. We approached
the local synagogues and
informed them of what was planned and how they could be
involved. A website dedicated to the Anne Frank: A History for
Today exhibit at the JCC was created, where people were able
to reserve docent-led tours, volunteer for the exhibit, or to
make donations. The response was overwhelming. Finally, we
knew it would work!
As the project progressed, the Steering Committee guided the
sub-committees to think outside the box—be creative, think
large, set goals and then push beyond them. The Marketing
Committee wrote marketing plans and sent letters to the
local Jewish community about the upcoming exhibit. They
imagined a bookstore and ordered supplies. They bought
silicone bracelets and customized T-shirts with the exhibit
dates and name imprinted. The Logistics Committee began
planning out facility usage in conjunction with the authorities.
The Volunteer Committee began visiting and speaking at local
synagogues about volunteer opportunities, and they hosted
tables at Jewish festivals and other community events. The
local Jewish Film Festival Committee agreed to bring a related
film and speaker to kick off the exhibit. Local artists with
Holocaust or diversity projects were invited to participate. The
Phoenix Jewish Holocaust Association agreed to support both
the exhibit and the JCC’s Yom Hashoah commemoration.
10 jcc circle autumn 2008
sp Au
ec tum
JCCs
ia n
l 20
in 0
se 8
rt
It soon became clear that everyone knew who Anne Frank was,
they just didn’t know everything about the Holocaust–or they
weren’t aware that genocide continued in parts of the world. As
members of the executive staff, board of directors, and Steering
Committee met with more people, they realized that education
had to be the key. We wanted people to leave the exhibit a
little more informed, a little more
aware, and little more committed,
to helping humanity.
To help us reach that goal, we
approached the Chandler Unified
School District (CUSD), and the
district quickly embraced the
idea of supporting the exhibit.
The Education Committee chair,
two teachers from CUSD, and
one retired teacher from Phoenix
Union High School collaborated
on the curriculum to help teachers
prepare their students for visiting
the exhibit. We knew that some
students might not have heard
about the Holocaust, and we
didn’t want them to be shocked about what they heard and
saw. Louise Moskowitz, Education Committee chair, said, “Our
goal was to have the students understand that we all need to be
tolerant of one another and accept each of us for who we are,
not by the color of our skin, our religion, or our ethnicity.”
Panels of butcher paper were taped up on the hallway exiting
the exhibit, with markers readily available for anyone who
Israel
wanted to share thoughts or feelings. Inside the exhibit were
notebooks where people could write as well. All of those
messages were transcribed for us to keep, read, and share.
 Twenty thousand people from all walks of life, ages, religions,
and backgrounds shared in learning what hate can do, and
what they could do to change that. Two hundred volunteers
made it happen. Steve Tepper summed up the experience, A powerful allegiance to Israel has the potential to connect
“The most wonderful part of the exhibit was seeing our staff
and volunteers marvel at what they had accomplished. Both JCC members to the Jewish people, to strengthen their Jewish
the Jewish and non-Jewish community was truly transformed
by this experience. I was extremely proud to have been a small identity, and to help them find pathways to continue their
part of it.”
Jewish journeys. JCCs can play a critical role in building bridges
Meg Gabay is the membership and marketing director at the
Barness Family East Valley JCC. between Jews in North America and Israel, the two great
Jewish communities in the world today.
www.jcca.org jcc circle 11
Our Israel Office:
your home
in Israel
Many groups lead tours,
but our seminars offer the
opportunity for intensive—
and intense—personal and
professional Jewish learning
experiences in Israel.
L
et JCC Association customize your JCC’s trip to meet
L
the expectations of your group. For instance, staff
members from the JCC in Rochester met with Jewish
and Arab Israeli parents who had lost children to violence
and heard how they cope with their shattering loss. A group
from the Michael-Ann Russell JCC in Miami had lunch in
a Moroccan woman’s home and learned more about the
program of her matnas to encourage women entrepreneurs.
Such transformative Jewish experiences have enriched
the Judaic quality of North American JCCs, from program
content to ambience to mission. Most seminars are staffed
by an experienced tour educator and an informal scholar-
in-residence. To incorporate the Jewish educational vision
of your JCC, we develop the seminars through an ongoing
exchange of ideas. Our collaborative process includes
extensive preparation and follow-up for all the participants.
JCC Association, together with our Israeli partners, develops
“sophisticated”
The executive seminar explored our relationship
with Israel at an in-depth and comprehensive level,
with experiences that both the new and veteran
traveler can appreciate. The JCC Association
Israel Office provided sophisticated and thought-
provoking content that challenged the executive
leadership of the JCC field to explore a new, more
complex relationship with Israel. The seminar
broke many of the traditional rules of the typical
mission. My first JCC Association experience
in Israel (my 23rd overall) left me engaged at
the highest level and determined for more lay/
professional seminars in the future.
—Brian Schreiber, executive director, JCC of Pittsburgh
and implements the seminars. They are unlike any other
Israel experience, even for the seasoned traveler.
For our teen and young-adult groups, we make sure the
program is informal and fun without giving up substance.
It focuses on themes such as Jewish history and Israel,
the Israel-Diaspora dialogue, leadership training, Judaism
and spirituality, and the role of community in Jewish
life. A central component of the experience is a mifgash
(encounter) with Israeli youth. Often this project is organized
with a sister city or a Partnership 2000 community in Israel,
so your teens can develop deeper connections.
A group of Merrin Teen Professional Fellows spent two
days with their Israeli counterparts and shared the joys
and challenges of working with youth. A group of graduate
students took a behind-the-scenes tour of a Tel Aviv
museum and explored with museum staff how to make
cultural institutions contemporary and meaningful for young
people. Young staffers from Bay Area JCCs met with a
popular Israeli rapper and talked about the music scene.
Our staff works to create bridges between Israel and the
Jewish community of North America. A bridge goes both
ways, bringing the Jewish community to Israel and bringing
Israel to Jewish communities overseas. As effective as an
Israel experience within your community can be, nothing can
compare to the impact of an actual visit to Israel, and when
your JCC leadership or staff or teens are ready to come,
we’re here to make sure their visit will be unforgettable.
We’ve planned
“so much happening”
This Shabbat was very different. We lit candles in the lobby
extraordinary
experiences
of our hotel in the heart of Tel Aviv as Birthright groups from
the U.S. and basketball teams from Uganda and Turkey walked
and talked nearby. A hum came from the crowd in this room.
As we were each taking a turn to light a candle, I momentarily
for many JCC got lost in the din. This is such an international city. There
is so much happening here, so many wonderful things that
groups—and people need to see and experience for themselves. Where will
I be next Friday at the start of Shabbat? Who will I be with? I
we can do the will miss this place, but I know I’ll be back soon, maybe with
another group. I want to bring as many people here as I can.
same for you. — participant, Interfaith Couples’ Israel trip, JCC of San Francisco
JCC Association’s office in Jerusalem:
• Plans Jewish educational seminars and other special programs for JCC
leadership and JCC professionals.
• Oversees JCC Maccabi Israel® programs for teens so that the specially
designed Israel trip becomes a memorable event that builds Jewish identity.
• Guides JCC Maccabi Israel Taglit-Birthright free 10-day trips for college
students and young adults, ages 18-26. The JCC Maccabi Israel programs
are operated by IsraelExperts, a leading Israeli educational travel company.
• Cultivates ongoing people-to-people partnerships between North American
JCCs and Israeli matnasim (community centers), often under the auspices
of Partnership 2000.
• Represents the interests of JCC Association and North American Jewish
Community Centers in Israel.
• Houses the office of the World Confederation of JCCs.
“warm and welcome”
Eight Michael Ann Russell JCC staff members returned highly
energized from an inspiring 10-day training seminar in Israel.
Through their experience, they hope to give the MAR-JCC a
plan to enhance our agency’s and community’s connection to
Eretz Yisrael.
According to Scott Ehrlich, group leader, ‘A real highlight of the
trip was our visit to Yerucham, where the community laid out the
red carpet for us and made us feel so warm and welcome. Not
only were we inspired by the residents who are building a vibrant
community in the middle of the Negev, but we each gained so
much from our meetings with colleagues from early childhood
education to caring for the environment, from the daily
operations of their community center, to working with youth.
The relationships that we have started will continue through the
Internet, and we hope, with further one-on-one encounters.
—Dror Gershoni, community shaliach, Miami, Florida
Introducing new inspiring Israel journeys for JCC members!
What could be more exciting than planning your first trip to Israel? What could be more
enjoyable than a return trip to see things you missed or revisit places that touched your
heart? What could be more inspiring than bringing your children to learn about their
Jewish heritage? The answer is: doing it with your JCC friends. And now you can, with
these two great opportunities from JCC Association, coming your way in 2009!
y Adventure
Famil
When families discover their heritage together, they share
a bond forever. Our 10-day Israel family adventure program
is designed to open the door for you and your whole
family—including children from ages five and up and active
grandparents—to enjoy an adventurous, fun-filled learning
experience in Israel. A special bonus is the madrich noar (youth
counselor) who will travel with your group. This young Israeli
will supervise age-appropriate programming for your children
at the places you visit and allow you the time to explore on your
own. This really IS what memories are made of!
Here are just a few of many highlights:
• Float in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and cover
yourself in its skin-replenishing mud
• Help with food delivery and preparation at Table to Table,
Israel’s version of Second Harvest
• Take a donkey or camel ride—it’s more fun than you think!
• Party in Tel Aviv–The Big Orange–the Israeli city that
never sleeps
• Hike, raft, and train outdoors
• Take part in a scavenger hunt in an Israeli market—and then
eat what you find!
• Experience an interactive encounter with Israeli Arab culture
in a drum circle with Bishara
• Hang out at an Israeli community center and find out what
Israeli daily life is really all about
And besides all this, we’ll visit the sites you’ve always
dreamed of seeing—the Kotel, Yad Vashem, Masada, and
more—and you’ll feel like you’ve finally come home.
Will your family be celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah
during your Israel trip? We can help you plan a ceremony and
celebration your child will never forget.
JCC Association is working in conjunction with IsraelExperts™ (IsraelExperts–
Initiatives in Education, Ltd), and together we will create the custom-made tour
to Israel that you have been waiting for. We know you and what you’re looking for.
Come with us for an inspired Jewish journey.
To plan a trip for your JCC, contact:
Leah Garber lgarber@jcca.org or Sara Sless ssless@jcca.org
tion
y Expedi
Culinar
All over the world, culinary tours are gaining popularity; so
why not combine a great nine-day tour of Israel—together with
other JCC members—with the fabulous food expedition you’ve
been contemplating?
Israel’s wineries are now world-renowned, and the
cuisines of Israel’s various ethnic groups have combined to
create spectacular and exotic dishes. We will explore places
where Israeli farmers, chefs, and vintners are creating this
extraordinary food and wine, and combine that with a history-
through-food view of our country. You’ll come home a real food
“maven” with a much deeper understanding of today’s diverse
Israel.
Here are some of the things you’ll do:
• Visit kitchens in the Ethiopian, Moroccan, Russian, and Arab
communities to learn about their history and culture
• Breakfast at an organic dairy and goat cheese farm
• Sample Israel’s best olive oil
• Enjoy wine tastings throughout Israel
• Shadow and cook with a top Israeli chef
• Shop with an Israeli and prepare a meal together
• Visit Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s outdoor fruit, vegetable,
and spice market
• Lunch in a Druze home and learn about Druze culture
• Indulge at a boutique chocolate shop
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Take a jeep tour of the gigantic Ramon Crater
• Stop at the Nabatean village of Ovdat
• Visit the Bedouin market (in case you want to buy a camel)
• Attend optional Shabbat services at local ethnic synagogues
• Relax at an Israeli spa
• For night owls: Participate in a Hebrew karaoke night
Please, let my parents go, too!
C
amp is in my blood,” says 27-year-old Meredith July 14, and her parents couldn’t have been more excited, she said.
Fine, who last summer worked as a unit head at the Now it’s Meredith’s turn to be jealous. “My parents spent time
day camp run by the Bernard & Ruth Siegel JCC in in different places than I got to see; for example, they are going to
Wilmington, Delaware. That’s why when her camp the Galilee wine country; and our tour didn’t get to do that. And
director forwarded her an e-mail about a winter Taglit-Birthright I’d love to go back to some of the places I did go, like the Dead
Israel trip being organized by JCC Maccabi Israel for camp staff Sea, which was so cool, and Masada, which I absolutely loved.”
from JCCs around the country, Meredith knew it was time to go. To view Meredith’s video and the other winners of “Let My Parents
She registered without hesitation for the group that left in Go,” log onto www.birthrightisrael.com/contestwinners.
December, led by Hagar Ben-Eliezer, director of Jewish cultural
programs at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael, California.
That Meredith, a biology and This winter, bring your
environmental science teacher
In the video,
at Montgomery High School in
Meredith discovers Skillman, New Jersey and an EMT,
friends and travel
her mother lighting had an amazing time was no to Israel for free!
menorah candles surprise. “Because the participants
backwards and were all camp-involved, it was so easy
to meet people quickly. There was a
placing an apple
very friendly feeling among everyone,
on a Seder plate. just like there is at any JCC,” said
Meredith.
Furthermore, everything she did and saw in Israel inspired
pride in her Jewish identity and feelings of connection to the
Jewish people. “In Israel I didn’t need to explain why I wear
a Star [of David] or a chai around my neck. Everyone there
celebrates the holidays I do, understands the same culture I
grew up with and appreciates what it means to be Jewish.”
When she got home, she was glowing, and her parents,
Nanette and Alan Fine, who had never been to Israel, were
jealous, she recalled.
So, when Meredith heard about Taglit-Birthright Israel’s
video contest for birthright alumni, “Let My Parents Go,”
conceived in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary, she knew she
had to enter—even though she had never made a video before.
“Thank God for the tech guy at school who showed me what to
do,” she laughed. “I had so much fun.”
In the video, Meredith catches her father eating a ham
and cheese sandwich with a glass of milk (“It’s skim milk,” he
protests.) and affixing a mezuzah to the wrong side of the front
door of their home – upside down. Her mother is discovered Registration begins September 10, 2008
lighting menorah candles backwards and placing an apple on a
Seder plate. (“Don’t we eat apples on one of the holidays,” she
www.jccmaccabiisrael.org
This trip is a gift from Taglit-Birthright Israel.
wonders.) After Meredith finds each of them, she asks, “What are
you doing?” instructing, “You really need to go back to your roots.” Eligible participants are
In May, when Taglit-Birthright Israel announced the nine 18-26, Jewish, and have
contest winners, Meredith and her parents were thrilled to learn never been to Israel on
the Fines were among them. The trip was scheduled to depart a peer group tour.
www.jcca.org jcc circle 15
 What system do you have in place for your
Millennials to save for retirement? Do they
have to wait months or years to be added
to retirement plans?
The changing concept of career is one of the primary
generational differences. Gen X and Millennial professionals
follow their instincts and often proceed with no detailed
career plan. They feel the need to be constantly challenged,
included in decision making, and given the opportunity to
express their opinions. This is a departure from the Boomers,
who have often worked in one field for many years and have
been content to continue on a slow-growth path. We have
seen good Millennials enter the JCC field only to leave 18
months to two years later because they do not feel challenged
or valued.
What are you doing in your JCC to ensure
that young, talented staff are valued and
encouraged to stay in the field?
What can be done at your JCC to share
the work load so that the building
and programs are covered, but the
responsibility does not rest on a select few
staff members?
Millennials believe in their own value enough that they
are not shy about trying to change the JCCs where they
work. This characteristic dovetails with Gen X (born
mid-1960s to the late-1970s), known for its independent
thinking, addiction to change, and emphasis on family. JCC
governance and management systems must accommodate
these employees by creating an open environment to give
younger workers access to change mechanisms. Chuck
Underwood, founder and president of multigenerational
consulting firm The Generational Imperative, Inc. and one
of the developers of the generational divisions we’re using,
states, “Baby Boomer leaders in today’s JCCs need to shift
gears and inspire their subordinates by delegating legitimate
responsibilities.” This will not only free up the executive to

Bridging the Gap

focus on other tasks, but it will “inspire the Millennial and
The speed of communication and the use of technology also Gen X staff by giving them a piece of the action to work on.”
leads to miscommunication in the workplace. The Millennial
Generation is all about speed of information. These
Generational Differences in the Workplace professionals have always worked with computers. They are
quick to communicate their thoughts, and they expect to
By Joy Brand be able to find an answer on the Internet, not in a library.
Millennials would rather shoot off an e-mail than pick up
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN

S
he only works her set hours. He’s always listening to
his iPod. How can they concentrate on their work with
their IMs popping up all the time?
During recent years, as the JCC Association professional
development services staff traveled the continent to deliver
programs aimed at strengthening the skills of JCC staff, we
began to see a change in workplace culture, and we noted its
direct relationship to the generational diversity of the JCC
staff. Older and younger staff members seemed to be talking
past each other. Because we’re in the business of helping JCC
professionals perform at the highest levels, we want to take
a look at some of these issues, and see if there are ways that
older and younger JCC employees—and volunteers—can
communicate more effectively.
Although there are a number of different definitions for the
current generations in the workforce, we have settled on the
following for our purposes: The G.I. Generation was born
between 1901 and 1925; they have lived through both World
Wars and the Great Depression. The Silent Generation arrived
between 1926–1944, during the Great Depression and World
War II. The Baby Boomers, 1945–1962, were born after WW
II, and they are the supervisors and leaders today. Generation
X was born between 1963–1980; they were shaped by the Cold
War and are starting to come into their own. Millennials, born
1981–2002, do not know a world without computers.
We are focusing on communication between Millennials,
currently 27 years old and younger, and Boomers. While the
relationship between these two groups can cause friction in
the workplace, it’s important to remember that one is going
out and the other is coming in. These two cohorts are the ones
with the most common communication difficulties, but we
found that problems are experienced across all generations.
Unlike any previous generation, 37 percent of Millennials
expect to start saving for retirement before they reach 25,
with 46 percent of those working reporting that they already
do so, according to a September 2007 survey by Purchase,
New York-based Diversified Investment Advisors. And 49
percent say retirement benefits are a very important factor
in their job choices. Among those eligible, 70 percent of the
Millennial respondents contribute to their 401(k) plans. This
places an added level of responsibility on JCCs who seek to
recruit these workers.
the phone. Baby Boomers tend to think through issues, like
to have meetings to make decisions, and generally move at a MILLENNIALS AND BOOMERS,
slower pace in areas of communication and technology.
can cause friction
Are systems in place at your JCC to in the workplace.
allow Internet access, e-mail between
staff, and between staff and members?
Do current systems bog down the flow of
productivity?
Another area of generational divide is the issue of work/
life balance. For many Boomer JCC professionals, a 60-hour
work week was not uncommon when they were coming
up the ranks, and still may be the norm. Generation X and
Millennials have different visions of work/life balance than
their older colleagues. They value their time off, and often
see their peers working 9-5 jobs with no weekend duties.
While this is not the way a JCC functions, Millennials are
vocal about needing some weeknights and some weekends
free. Finding ways to offer employees more time with their
families and friends can boost morale and benefit the JCC.

16 jcc circle autumn 2008 www.jcca.org jcc circle 17

How do you involve Gen X and Millennials
in meetings that focus on visioning and
brainstorming for the future of your JCC?
Since 2001, JCC Association has emphasized the need for
a healthy balance between work and personal life, and has
reminded JCC leaders of the importance this carries for JCC
staff. Unlike the soon-to-be-retiring Boomers, who put a
high priority on their careers, often sacrificing their family
obligations, today’s youngest workers are more interested in
making their jobs accommodate their family and personal lives.
They want jobs with flexibility, telecommuting options, and the
ability to go part time or leave the workforce temporarily when
children are in the picture. They want to be able to afford to
live in the communities where they work, and to attend events
and participate in functions in their home Jewish community.
JCC boards must develop policies, and executive directors must
enforce those policies, to make working at a JCC and living in
the community an attractive option.
Are your staff adequately compensated to
allow them to live in the community where
they work and enjoy the programming
options available?
JCC recruitment has always emphasized longevity in the JCC
world, and entry-level staff understood they could move from
JCC to JCC to advance in their careers. Millennial employees
don’t enter the JCC field with a career in mind. They don’t
expect to stay in a job for too great a period of time. They don’t
like to stick with any one assignment for too long. This is a
generation of multi-taskers; they can juggle e-mail on their
BlackBerrys while talking on cell phones and trolling online.
We must accept this as the norm in our young professionals’
behavior. We must also help Millennials move within the JCC
and when possible help them stay in the field by encouraging
them to move to other JCCs to advance the scope of their work.
Underwood cautions JCC leaders, “Do not fall into the trap
of older generations—and do not insist it be done in 2009 the
way it was done in 1979.” JCC leaders today need to be more
receptive to change than prior leaders. “Millennial workers are
looking for ways to be socially active and make a difference.
Helping people and doing good is what JCCs are all about,”
Underwood says. Jewish Community Centers can attract this
group of workers if we market our positions to their interests
and talents.
18 jcc circle autumn 2008
Do you have an internal system for growth
and advancement within your JCC? Do
staff have mentors they can speak with
about their professional goals?
Unlike previous generations who have in large part grown
accustomed to the annual review, Millennials have grown
up getting constant feedback and recognition from teachers,
parents, and coaches. This generation may resent it or feel less
valued if communication and recognition from supervisors
and executive staff isn’t more frequent.
How are you giving feedback and
evaluating the staff at the JCC?
When looking for intergenerational communication
opportunities, a great place to start is by thinking about
leadership versus management. Generation X and Millennials
crave leadership, but do not like to be micromanaged.
Supervisors should set out clear, concise goals and then
get out of the way. Leaders could implement mentoring
programs so that younger staff can learn from more
experienced staff, and older staff may learn from younger
employees as well. The generations should be learning from
each other. Just as with age comes experience, so youth
brings enthusiasm and energy. Open communication is the
key. It is important to discuss things when they happen and
not allow generational miscommunication and possible
misunderstanding to get in the way.
Keep in mind the importance of training and growth
opportunities for all JCC professionals. Conducting
JCC in-service trainings, having staff participate in JCC
Association sponsored regional and continental conferences
The generations
should be learning
from each other.
and trade–specific learning opportunities helps keep staff
motivated and current and underlines the JCC’s desire to
help them grow as professionals.
What percent of your operating budget
is allocated for staff training? Effective
JCCs that have mentoring programs in
place are more likely to have higher staff
enthusiasm and lower staff turnover. **
Despite the many differences, it is important to recognize
the commonalities between the generations. All people who
choose to work in the JCC field have a passion and desire
to enrich the lives of others. They are not motivated by
money, but they expect to be fairly compensated. To attract
these idealistic young people, JCCs need to be sensitive to Baby Boomers,
the values and preferences of their new professionals while
remaining steadfast in their mission and conviction. Younger Here’s How to Make
professionals may want to jump in and out of their work in
the Jewish community, and often return to the JCC field later Generational Differences
on. These employees made a positive contribution to the JCC
while they were there, and their experiences outside of the JCC in Your JCC Work:
Movement could be a benefit in the long run. JCC executives
should consider these applicants as viable candidates for Set up and manage expectations from
advanced positions, appreciating the skills and experiences the time of hiring
they bring with them.
Millenials may need training on how to
All JCC professionals need to feel respected and worthwhile, work within the culture of your JCC.
need to know what is expected of them through specific job
descriptions, and need to have the tools to do those jobs. They
Open communication is the key
need understanding and compassion, too, when they must
Good communication and office
confront the inevitable issues, both personal and professional,
life presents. relations are a two-way street. Discuss
what you will do to keep the lines of
As we move forward, we need to recognize that generational
communications open.
differences are an unavoidable challenge in today’s workplace,
and JCCs must understand and address this issue in
developing current staff and leaders for the future. Involve all levels of staff in discussions
regarding changes and challenges
What are you doing at your JCC to address these differences?
Ideas for improvement can be
Joy Brand is associate director of the professional development gleaned from everyone, regardless
services department at JCC Association.
of age or position.
Sarah Levithan contributed research and organizational help.
JCC Association’s professional development services department Give feedback often
is available to help you with your staffing concerns or to offer
career counseling. Contact us at joy@jcca.org, or 212-786-5114. All staff like to know when they have
done a good job, and all staff need to
know where they can improve. Be sure to
show others you care by giving feedback.
** JCC Excellence: The Benchmarking Project
www.jcca.org jcc circle 19
JCC Association Board Brings
Support and Supplies to Cuban Jews
by Jane Calem Rosen
A
faded beauty whose magnificent architecture is all
but crumbling, Havana greets travelers with open
arms. The warm, outgoing Cuban people eagerly
share stories of their lives against a backdrop of
poverty and deprivation. Residents subsist on meager food
rations, unable to obtain or afford modern conveniences.
Private homeownership is prohibited. Until recently,
cell phones were unavailable. The Jewish community in
Cuba, along with everyone else, suffers from these harsh
economic realities. But cultural and communal life is rich
and vibrant. Three Havana synagogues, two Ashkenazi
and one Sephardic, continue to attract crowds to weekly
Shabbat services and other programs. One thousand Jews
remain of a community that numbered fifteen thousand
before the 1959 revolution that put Fidel Castro’s
communist government in power.
Those are some of the impressions a group of JCC
Association board members and staff took away with them
after they visited Cuba in the spring. The group toured the
national art museum and took in a performance by the
Cuban National Ballet. “It was spectacular,” said Honorary
JCC Association Chair Ann Kaufman, from Houston. “Even
though the carpet was torn and the seats were broken [in
the performance hall], the dancers were A-plus.”
The idea for the trip was generated at a Biennial
Committee meeting chaired by Noreen Gordon Sablotsky
20 jcc circle autumn 2008
and quickly took hold. So instead of heading home when
the JCCs of North America Biennial concluded in Miami,
a group of 45—board members, JCC presidents, and
executive directors and spouses—boarded a plane at
Miami International Airport bound for Jose Marti Airport
in Havana.
This first mission to Cuba was led by Arnie Sohinki,
senior vice-president for program services, who
arranged for the required license from the U.S.
Department of Treasury for travel to Cuba under the
State Department’s “People-to-People” exchange
program. (Although the United States and Cuba still
do not have diplomatic relations, since 1999, the U.S.
government has encouraged educational, cultural,
religious, humanitarian and athletic missions, as well as
limited business and professional contacts.)
Perhaps the most surprising discovery was the lack
of anti-Semitism and the degree to which Jews may
openly practice their religion. Although Castro has been
outspoken in his condemnation of Israel and Zionism,
a picture of his visit to a Havana synagogue hangs
prominently in the congregation’s lobby, and Cuba’s
Jews are proud of their country’s history of welcoming
Jewish refugees. Today, mission participants were told,
there are no barriers to anyone who wishes to make
aliyah. Cuban Jewish community leaders expressed
the desire to see relations with the United States
normalized, the better to foster closer ties with the
American Jewish community, said Steve Rubin, a St.
Paul, Minnesota attorney who went on the trip with his
wife, Wendy.
The larger of the two Ashkenazi congregations, known
as the Patronata, with a fitness center on the premises,
functions as much like a JCC as a house of worship.
Moreover, it is an open secret throughout Havana that
the synagogue operates a pharmacy where shelves are
stocked with prescription medications, over-the-counter
drugs, medical supplies, toiletries and cosmetics. The
pharmacy, which serves the entire community, is wholly
supported by donations from abroad, hand-delivered by
religious-cultural missions and in care packages sent by
the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
“We came with suitcases filled with Tylenol, Advil, Band-
Aids and more,” said Rubin. The pharmacy, he observed,
“is run by an incredible woman, a physician who
volunteers her time.” (The group also brought books and
baseball cards for the children. Cubans are crazy about
baseball, and the island has produced some spectacular
players.) While Cuba’s national health care system does
provide free high-quality care and exports doctors to the
rest of Latin America, a combination of factors, including
the U.S. embargo (which covers some food and medicine),
the merger of large pharmaceutical companies, and the
collapse of Cuba’s patron the Soviet Union, makes it
difficult for ordinary citizens to obtain medications and
other common medical supplies.
The group also visited the small Orthodox congregation
in Havana’s historic district. Learning that the
synagogue serves breakfast after the morning minyan,
but sometimes finds it hard to feed everyone who shows
up, Sablotsky, a Miami resident, suggested that mission
participants do something hands-on to help. Because
tourists have a separate currency and access to goods
and services not available to Cubans, she explained, “we
were able to buy five to six dozen eggs, coffee, milk and
www.jcca.org 520 Eighth Avenue, 4th floor
cookies right on the street. Cubans are not allowed to
do that.”
It is important, suggested Rubin, for those who made
the trip to bring the story of Cuban Jewry home with
them. “As active leaders in our communities, we can
try to persuade everyone [including Congressional
representatives] of the importance of re-opening the
borders to further cultural and other types of exchanges.”
Added Arlene Fickler, a Philadelphia lawyer who has
served on the JCC Association board for the past two
years: “American Jews have always reached out to Jews
in other countries when they are at risk, politically or
economically. It was clearly important for us as a board
to go to Cuba and let Cuban Jewry know that we view
them as brothers and sisters and are there to advocate
for them. In the 1960s, when the Cold War with Russia
was hot and we were at war in Vietnam and had no
relations with China, it may have made sense for us to
freeze out Cuba as well. Today, in a very different world,
that isolationist policy no longer makes sense.”
Finally, the mission proved to be a wonderful bonding
experience for the board. Said Jane Gellman of Milwaukee,
a board member since the mid-‘80s, “This was a great way
for us to get to know each other better.”
Jane Calem Rosen is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.
JCC Association is organizing
another mission to Cuba
November 9-16, 2008
Open to anyone affiliated with a JCC. For complete
information, including visa application, registration
and costs, please contact:
Cippi Harte
vice president program services
cippi@jcca.org
JCC Association
New York, NY 10018.

jcc
happenings
what’s going on in the north american
jewish community center movement
Older Painters
Express Themselves
Aaron Family JCC, Dallas, TX
Clarice Post says in amazement,
“I had never held a paintbrush in my
life until I was inspired to take this art
class at the J. Just look at what I have
accomplished!” Thirteen members of
the senior adult department displayed
artwork in the JCC main lobby during
a May art show. When the art class
started about five years ago, many of
the students had never painted before.
Now they enthusiastically tackle
different media, experimenting with
color and texture in paintings
and collages.
Paul Bierbriar with his painting
“Woman with the Lilies”
22 jcc circle autumn 2008
Book Festival Focuses
on Peer Harassment
Mandell JCC, West Hartford, CT
School bullying. Victimization.
Harassment. Violence. The Mandell
JCC’s The New Jewish Book Festival
featured New York Times best-selling
author Jodi Picoult, whose latest novel
Nineteen Minutes documents a shooting
in a small-town high school. After
reading the book, it became clear to
Executive Director David Jacobs that
“Ms. Picoult’s talk presents a unique
opportunity to engage and sensitize the
very people who could have a positive
impact on school climate—the high
school students and faculty themselves.”
To throw more light on this pervasive
problem, the JCC conducted a student
leaders’ forum entitled Improving
School Climates before Picoult’s
presentation. The session was led by
Dr. Jo Ann Frieberg, the associate
educational consultant for bullying,
improving school climate, and character
education at the Connecticut State
Department of Education. Fourteen
area high schools each sent three
student leaders and a faculty member
to the event. Just before Picoult’s
talk, Dr. Frieberg led an interactive
discussion about school climates and
helped students to identify action steps
they could take to support one another.
Ms. Picoult also met with the students
before the lecture and provided
autographed copies of her book.
Each Butterfly a Soul
Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC,
Staten Island, NY
Shai Bar, a community shaliach
working for a year as an emissary at
the Staten Island JCC, heard from
a friend in Israel about a project at
the Holocaust Museum of Houston.
The museum wanted to collect one
and a half million butterflies to
commemorate the number of Jewish
children killed in the Holocaust.
As the word spread, Staten Island
schools—public and private,
elementary to college—responded, as
did many individuals, and eventually
four thousand butterflies painted in
watercolor and crayon, made with
crepe, construction paper, and even
a foam plate, came into the JCC.
Two thousand of them were the
centerpiece of a Yom HaShoah service
at the Bernikow JCC, hung from a
chain-link curtain.
“Every single butterfly represents
a child,” said Bar, who said he was
amazed “by so many people from all
over putting their hearts into arts and
crafts butterflies.” The memorial ended
with a siren, as is traditional in Israel.
Photograph by Alice Longworth
Twelve-Week Triathletes
JCC of Mid-Westchester
Scarsdale, NY
Christine Verna described herself as a
middle-aged housewife. “I’ve jogged the
same three miles for over thirty years
and never pushed myself,” she admitted.
Michael Steinman, on the other hand,
is a veteran of the New York Marathon.
Ned Bakelman wanted to be “as graceful
in the water as a dancer on the stage,”
and Helene Walisever set a fortieth
birthday challenge for herself.
What brought these four Scarsdale
residents together poolside with
several other participants on a Tuesday
evening? A 12-week pilot program for
first-time triathletes—a partnership
between the JCC of Mid-Westchester
and Race with Purpose, a national
organization that provides opportunities
to combine community service with
athletic performance.
One night, Triathlon Club members
had an hour to practice their kicks,
strokes and breathing in a supportive
atmosphere at the JCC pool. Other
sessions were devoted to bicycling
and running. “The coaching has been
amazing—so professional with lots of
personal attention,” said Dr. Walisever.
“They are taking us seriously,” added
Ms. Verna, who especially wanted to
improve her 3.2 mile/40-minute jogs, “so
now I really have to do this.”
Adam Krajchir of Race with Purpose was
head coach for the triathlon training.
He aims to help adults break past their
www.jcca.org jcc circle 23
Asheville JCC’s First
Annual “Falafel 5K”
Run/Walk & Fun Run
personal boundaries “one workout at a
time.” A successful athletic experience, Asheville JCC, Asheville, NC
he believes, can lead to achievement
To celebrate Yom Ha’azmaut, the
in additional, seemingly unrelated
Asheville Jewish Community Center held
endeavors. The other coaches were
its first annual Falafel 5K Run/Walk and
Roger Kahn and John O’Brien, JCC
One Mile Fun Run in May. This family-
sports and fitness director.
oriented race was held in conjunction
Kahn, a nationally ranked swimmer who
with neighboring Congregation Beth
has competed for 40 years, is a member
Israel’s annual event, “Celebration Israel.”
of the JCC. He volunteered his time as
Race participants had a great time
a coach to help group members develop
enjoying live music, plenty of falafel
technique and increase strength and
and a post race party sponsored by the
endurance. “Swimming is in my blood,”
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company.
he asserted.
The event drew more than 150 runners,
The program, which began in March, and promises to become an Asheville
culminated in a half-mile swim, a 12-mile tradition. Proceeds from the race will
bike, and 3.1 mile run on Father’s Day at benefit the scholarship funds of the
the Long Island Gold Coast Triathlon. Asheville JCC.
Shorefront YM-YWHA, Brooklyn, NY
West Point cadets visit with Russian-speaking members of the Shorefront
YM-YWHA to practice their foreign language skills.

PJCC Educator Receives
Prestigious Award JCC Fitness Program
Peninsula JCC, Foster City, CA Wins Grant
Lisa Elliott, an early childhood educator
at the Peninsula Jewish Community
Center (PJCC) has been selected as
a winner of the 2008 Helen Diller
Family Awards for Excellence in Jewish
Education. For the past eight years,
the award, which is sponsored by The
Jewish Community Endowment Fund,
has recognized outstanding teachers
who imbue youth with a strong sense
of Jewish identity, encouraging them
to explore their rich Jewish heritage
while incorporating Jewish values
and building Jewish community. The
prestigious award carries a prize of
$10,000 for the educator and $2,500
for the educator’s institution.
For Elliott, the award is all the more
profound, given that she is not Jewish.
In her nominating letter, PJCC Early
Childhood Education Director Ellie
Rosenberg wrote, “Lisa is a model of
a non-Jewish teacher working in a
Jewish setting. She has embraced
Jewish values and is always willing
to participate in workshops and
conferences that will further enhance
her knowledge of Judaism. Lisa
eagerly accepted an opportunity to
visit Israel last year…she researched
and read everything she could get her
hands on in preparation for this trip,
which ultimately transformed her life
both personally and professionally.
This educational experience further
added to her knowledge and
24 jcc circle autumn 2008
understanding of the Jewish culture
and helped enhance her work with
children, teachers and parents.”
From organizing a preschool shuk
(an Israeli marketplace), to setting
up a biblical preschool garden, to
spearheading camp and scouting
programs, as well as An Ethical
Start® (a JCC Association program
that explores Jewish values based
on the classic Jewish text, Pirkei
Avot), Elliot serves as a key force in
the ECE community. Currently, the
12-year PJCC teaching veteran is
leading a special project between the
PJCC preschool and a sister school
outside of Tel Aviv. She established a
connection with this school during her
2007 trip to Israel.
Louisville JCC, Louisville, KY
Good health habits start at home.
The Louisville JCC received a $3,500
Mayor’s Healthy Hometown grant from
the Metro Department of Public Health
& Wellness to improve the health of the
JCC’s community. The grant supports
a new program developed by Sports &
Wellness Director Dotty Battoe called
the “J Fit Challenge,” a comprehensive
fitness and wellness program for people
ages 18 and over. Participants will be
offered exercise activities to promote
variety in fitness routines, alleviate
exercise boredom, and establish healthy
patterns of behavior toward life-long
fitness. Those who attend 20 sessions
per month will be rewarded with internal
incentives, such as program discounts.
In support of the Cherry Hill,
New Jersey Betty & Milton Katz
JCC’s “Going Green” initiative,
students at the Sari Isdaner
Early Childhood Center have
been using recycled material all
year to make their special class
projects. Menorahs, piggy banks
and Mother’s Day gifts are
just a few of the projects that
have come to life from recycled
materials brought from home.
Sixty group fitness classes will be
available each week for a 16-week
program for 100 clients. In addition,
four health and wellness seminars will
be offered. In this win-win situation, the
JCC helps Louisville residents improve
their health while introducing itself to
those who may not know what the JCC
offers.
Marvin Gelfand got hooked on
Jewish communal life early on.
As a teenager living in the San
Fernando Valley, he was an active
participant in the B’nai B’rith Youth
Organization. “I started my own
chapter” of AZA, he recalled. “The
organization was very vibrant then.
Superb athletic programs—and the
social part was, of course, wonderful.”
While he attended the University of
Southern California School of Law,
Gelfand worked as a field supervisor
for BBYO, and then became chair of
their advisory board. At the same time,
he was participating in a federation-
led leadership training program. “As a
result of that, you joined a board,” and
Gelfand became a member of the Bay
Cities JCC board of directors. After he
and his wife moved, and their children
started preschool, he happened to sit
next to the executive director of the
North Valley JCC at an event. “I found
myself on the board and never looked
back,” Gelfand said, and he’s remained
deeply interested in Jewish life and in
the JCC Movement ever since.
Ironically, both Bay Cities and North
Valley JCCs have since closed, and
Gelfand served on the committee
that made the decision they were not
viable. Sensitive to the dynamic nature
of the JCC Movement, Gelfand said,
“Organizations change on a constant
basis. We see that in the business
community too. That’s why planning
is so important. Are you serving the
needs of the community? What will
the future needs be? What are the
trends?” Looking at Los Angeles,
Gelfand sees a diverse and widely
www.jcca.org jcc circle 25
Marvin Gelfand:
Staying True to Himself
By Miriam Rinn
dispersed Jewish community. Although
it is one of the largest in the world, it
has a very low affiliation rate, around
twenty percent. According to Gelfand,
there is not the same sense of a
cohesive Jewish community in the
West as in the Northeast. He makes
the point that adventurous Jewish
immigrants left their homes in Europe
to come to New York, where they got
to know gentiles, many for the first
time; and then there was the group
who continued West, even farther
away from the close-knit and perhaps
claustrophobic Jewish neighborhood.
“The feeling of neighborhood, what
people get out of being part of a JCC, I
think people are missing here,” Gelfand
said, rather ruefully. “That doesn’t exist
in L.A.”
While he believes that there is
definitely room for relevant JCC
programming, Gelfand is a realist. “For
educational programming, you’re not
going to get someone to travel for
more than 15 minutes.” The challenge
is to discern and provide the particular
service that appeals to a targeted area.
“The way that JCC services will survive
in L.A. is within creative partnerships,
both Jewish and non-Jewish.” For
instance, the JCC could offer an art
class in conjunction with a YMCA, or a
Jewish literature class in a synagogue.
Gelfand believes that JCCs without
walls—not tied to a building or facility,
in other words—may be expanding
in the future. According to Gelfand,
JCC Association has recognized this
development and adjusted its by-laws
accordingly by removing the word
facility. That’s one of the strengths of
leadership profile
the organization, he said. “We’ve tried
to stay ahead of the curve.”
As deeply rooted as he is in Los
Angeles, Gelfand was actually born
on the East Coast, in the Bronx. His
father was stationed in Fresno during
World War II and fell in love with the
California lifestyle. As soon as he
earned his business degree from Pace
College, he packed up the family and
drove cross country, Gelfand said. His
father was a founder of Congregation
Ner Tamid of the San Fernando
Valley, and although the synagogue
was Conservative “I was the first
bar mitzvah to read the entire Torah
portion,” Gelfand said, along with the
Haftorah, a task that’s usually reserved
to Orthodox boys.
Gelfand has been highly active and
productive during his tenure on
the JCC Association board. Among
other responsibilities, he chaired
the Governance Task Force and the
Metro President’s Council. He found
that project particularly interesting,
he said, and he also headed the
Western Task Force of the Beyond
2000 strategic plan. His next major
assignment is to chair the continental
committee for the 2010 Biennial in
Atlanta, with host-community chairs
Lisa Brill and Laura Dinerstein.
Gelfand believes that the challenge
for any organization “is to remain true
to who we are and what we stand for.
That’s at the top of the list for even
JCCs.” And for individuals too, no
doubt.
Share the magic and the thrill of learning with us!

JCCs of North America

PROFESSIONAL
CONFERENCE 2009

March
22-25

Commitment.
Community.
Excellence.
Leadership.

Join us at the brand new

Rosen Shingle Creek
Conference & Convention Center
Orlando, FL
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