Measured By Who Is Included
I officially took up golf last summer. It took some time to get the ball lofted, longer to move beyond the par three course near my house, and even longer to feel comfortable playing with anyone other than family. It’s an intimidating sport and you really can’t help but feel like everyone out there is […] Learn More ›
A Weekend Of Reflection
February is Jewish Disabilities and Inclusion Awareness Month. We have shared and posted widely about how we approach inclusion as a community center and across our Jewish community. As the month was winding down, a group of 11 JCC Chicago team members were heading to the JCC Association Professional Conference. The day before was the […] Learn More ›
Moving a Mountain
The Jewish Community Center movement includes more than 350 JCCs, YM–YWHAs, and camp sites in the United States and Canada, as well as 180 local JCCs in the Former Soviet Union, 70 in Latin America, 50 in Europe, and close to 500 smaller centers in Israel. Having just returned from the JCC Association Executive Conference, where I spent six […] Learn More ›
How Might We 2019?
After a recent meeting convened by JUF and the Associated Talmud Torahs, I walked to my car with a pocketful of business cards for schools interested in learning more about JCC Chicago and our program offerings. Turns out, most in attendance didn’t know we provide on-site after-school care and enrichment classes. “How might we work […] Learn More ›
The Untold Story of the J
Our preschool might look like the school a few streets over. The yellow busses for Apachi are just like your neighbor’s. The treadmills are the same at your health club. JCC Chicago isn’t here to look different, it’s here to make a difference. We introduce life-long friends. They learn Ha’motzei together. They spend their first […] Learn More ›
The Connection and Community We Crave: Here’s My Story
I just returned home from our first trip to Israel. I’m 45 years old and converted to Judaism at the age of 24. I was raised with Christmas, but without religion. I was shomer Shabbos for 11 years and have been just Jewish for the past six. My husband is born and bred West Rogers […] Learn More ›