Blog
Just Because: Not Just A Tale of Two Siblings
As February is Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM,) it is being highlighted at JCC Chicago ‘Z’ Frank Apachi Early Childhood in a special way. Educators, Robin Bright and Juliet Ziak, designed a Book of the Month Club for their four-year-old classes as part of JCC Chicago’s Small Grants Program. This specific award […] Learn More ›
Doing the Work
It’s been about a year and a half since my appointment as the first female President & CEO for JCC Chicago was announced. There was quite a bit of talk about being a “first” and some asked why the need to talk about it at all. Of course we talked about it—we’re still talking about […] Learn More ›
8 Tips to Move Gratitude from Attitude to Action
As Thanksgiving approaches, we turn our attention to the concept of gratitude, its importance as a Jewish value and ways to nurture it in our families on an ongoing basis. The Hebrew term for gratitude is hakarat hatov, which literally means, “recognizing the good.” This concept evokes the popular notion of an “attitude of gratitude,” […] Learn More ›
The Stickiness of Jewish Camp
I’ve written about my family before—how I met my husband at the Bernard Horwich JCC at the age of 20, converted to Orthodox Judaism, and embrace the joys and challenges of raising four kids. I find that sharing my own story makes it easier to both connect with others and for others to find connection […] Learn More ›
A New Golden Age
Last weekend, my husband and I saw the new Quentin Tarantino movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The story is set in 1969, the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and depicts all the grit and glamour of the period, leaving audience members somewhat wistful for the way things were. Back to work on Monday, […] Learn More ›
Dear beloved children, I am your teacher, and you are mine.
Dear beloved children, Our journey began here where I sat amongst the floating papers, scattered staples, the books and the toys. I looked around the room with great intention and immense joy. I pictured where the new friendships would bud, where your inquisitive questions might be inspired and where in this space you might reach […] Learn More ›