JCC Circle Magazine, Winter 2016 by JCC Association

JCC CIRCLE

WINTER

2016

The magazine of the JCC Movement

A spark of the creative From Jerusalem and back, JCCs innovate

WINTER

2016

JCC CIRCLE The magazine of the North American Jewish Community Center Movement

Sr. Vice President Director, JCCs of North America Biennial Convention Robin Ballin

Communications Manager, JCC Circle Editor Marla Cohen

Creative Director Joanne Harmon

Design Lisa Kaplan Ben Pirotte

Online Chris Strom Samantha Tananbaum

The Lab Experience

Jewish Innovators

A JCC lay leader, executive director and a JCC “rising star” professional take us inside

What do these new job roles actually bring to the JCCs? Q&A with Sara and Heather

JCC Biennial

The future and Jew

Tell us a story

A sneak peek into this May’s upcoming convention

Amy Webb shares her thoughts on tech impact on the JCC world

It’s been 100 years, and we want to hear all about it

Chair Stephen P. Seiden Honorary Chairs Edward H. Kaplan Ann P. Kaufman Jerome B. Makowsky Morton L. Mandel Lester Pollack z”l Daniel Rose Paula L. Sidman Alan P. Solow Vice-Chairs Donald W. Brodsky Joyce Goldstein Gary Jacobs Linda Russin J. Victor Samuels Francine Zorn Trachtenberg David Wax Secretary Harriet Blank Associate Secretaries Eric Nislow Philip Schatten President & CEO Dr. Stephen Hazan Arnoff

Share your opinion! Make Circle Magazine and Circle Monthly newsletters even better. Take our quick survey, and let us know. jcca.org/circlesurvey

On the cover: Glassblowing experieince from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, as part of the JCC Innovation Lab: Jerusalem Photo by Elena Hruleva/Barn Images http://barnimages.com/glassblowing/

Refresh, Renew, Reboot

Innovate & Motivate:

JCC Association Chair, Stephen P. Seiden…

Our series coverage on the methodology and innitiatives that are taking JCCs “out of the box”

Less is more

Generations

JCC Denver took a big risk for its smallest members and it paid off BIG

Engaging past execs to build the future

Pride

#WeAreJCCMaccabi

Alex Shapiro shares his centennial story, 4 generations at the crossroads to the West

Great moments from the 2015 JCC Maccabi Games® and ArtsFest®

Shalom :( After four and half years (and many a Circle Magazine) Lisa Kaplan, JCC Association’s Marketing and Communications Designer, is leaving to travel Africa and pursue her passion for volunteering. She’ll be trekking Mount Kilimanjaro in March! We wish her a safe and wonderful journey—Kol Ha Kavod.

JCC Association is the leadership network of, and central agency for, almost 350 JCCs, YM-YWHAs and camps in the United States and Canada, that annually serve more than two million users. JCC Association offers a wide range of services and resources to enable its affiliates to provide educational, cultural and recreational programs to enhance the lives of North American Jewry. JCC Association is also a U.S. government-accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs of Jewish military personnel, their families and patients in VA hospitals through the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. JCC Association receives support from the JFNA National Federation/Agency Alliance, local federations and Jewish Community Centers. ISSN 1065-1551 520 Eighth Avenue, 4th floor | New York, NY 10018 | Phone: 212-532-4949 | Fax: 212-481-4174 | e-mail: info@jcca.org | web: jcca.org

shalom

Refresh, renew, reboot: Looking ahead for JCCs INNOVATION has been a dominant theme in the history of the JCC movement. We started with a focus on settling immigrants and helping them to become Americans. As Jewish life in North America changed we determined that it was important that the “J” in JCC become more of a focus. We incorporated more Jewish learning and living into our Js. This played out in many different ways, meeting the needs of each individual JCC—and the needs of those they serve.

Those of us who attended Innovation Lab: Jerusalem in November got a taste of where we are heading. As we worked with innovators in every field in the city that rests deeply in Jewish hearts, minds and tradition, we learned to think on our feet. We were asked to re-imagine our JCCs and find ways to take this knowledge back to them. As we move forward with our vision, JCC Association will continue to innovate and to lead—not only in the field, but also in Jewish life.

While early childhood education has always been part of the backbone of JCCs, that too, has evolved. Our groundbreaking Ethical Start Program has shifted focus. Today we offer Sheva, which focuses on a holistic approach to teaching Jewish values to the children we serve, their families, and the educators who will be teaching them. Realizing how important a role our educators play in the lives of JCC families, we have recently created the Sheva-Covenant Directors Institute to address leadership within our early childhood education network.

Within the pages of this issue of JCC Circle, you will see that change is afoot. You’ll see different perspectives on the Innovation Lab; ways JCCs can rely on the past to strengthen the future; how to take a counterintuitive plunge. You will see, as well, how JCC Association is adapting, as we head toward our Biennial in Baltimore when we kick off the Centennial Celebration, and even how we rethink the ways we might deliver content that you find in these pages.

Chadeish yameinu, k’kedem, renew our days as of old. Our tradition speaks of renewal and reinvention, so that we are always relevant for the generations yet to come. Without discarding what we’ve created, the tradition and culture we hold dear, we find ways to refresh and reinvigorate the work that we do each day for JCCs.

Jewish organizations are challenged right now to find ways to serve their communities. Jewish life is evolving rapidly along with shifts in demographics, attitudes and technology. At JCC Association we are no different. As we look to the future, our goal will always be to strengthen and lead JCCs as they, too, change to meet the needs of North American Jewish life.

Stephen P. Seiden Chair | JCC Association

in• no• vate

[vi]. to renew, alter, to introduce new methods, devices, etc. [vt]. to bring in as an innovation.

– Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed.

How do you take yourself outside of your usual —the usual ways of doing, seeing, creating and thinking—and tackle something differently? How do you come up with a better approach? The language of innovation is the buzz we are hearing in the JCC Movement. How might we reimagine JCCs in bold, fresh ways so they better serve their communities? So that they create opportunities for rich connections? So that they provide the best in health and wellness, family engagement, arts and culture and so many of the things that they do well already? So that we renew Israel engagement as we learn from the doers and thinkers of the start-up nation. Our first stop on this journey of creation is Innovation Lab: Jerusalem, designed to have our JCCs take on these most urgent questions. Twenty-four JCCs sent 50 lay leaders, executives and “rising stars”— young, up-and-coming JCC professionals were able to attend through generous funding from the Lenny Rubin Israel Education Fund. All had an intensive, out-of-the-box experience. Whether hearing from high-tech gurus of this ancient city, or exploring how art can shift

the conversation, the three-day program brought intensity to the table. A mini“hackathon” got everyone’s creative juices flowing, and by the end we were exploring how to bring the experience forward, home to all JCCs. But don’t take our word for it. Read firsthand what Les Cohen, Jeremy Weiser and Adrienne Matos, three participants, got out of it. And as we explore innovation in this issue, we’ll find surprises from the field, from those who have embedded innovation in their operations, to the counterintuitive tale of what one JCC did to save its early childhood program—and by extension, its mission. Innovation is how JCCs get things done. We have the people, the programs, the platform. We’re harnessing that crazy, creative force so that JCCs become the thriving neighborhood of the 21st century.

F R O M A L AY L E A D E R

You’re never too ‘old school’ to learn Adrienne Matros

What is design thinking? What is an innovation lab? These two questions were presented to the JCC Association board of directors at its fall meeting. Well, I knew nothing about either one! And I mean nothing. I don’t consider myself to be “old school,” but I found out that day I really am. I mean old school in many ways: technologically challenged, creative-thinking challenged, and far from being innovative! They had us do an exercise—I won’t go into the details here—but we looked at ways to approach a problem or an issue in order to create a solution. It was very basic, and Maya Bernstein of UpStart, an organization that works with non-profits on these sorts of things—walked us through it. She told us how organizations used the techniques of design thinking to reimagine projects in the community, or to renovate spaces.

“Raining ideas” as Adrienne Matros takes on the innovation lab.

The Innovation Lab began with a kickoff at the JCC Israel Center, then a discussion and icebreaker exercise to meet all of the participants. From that time on, we went non-stop. The pace was intense as we heard from true innovators and participated in discussions and exercises that challenged me every waking hour of the Innovation Lab. I became overwhelmed on the first day, yet excited for every presentation and discussion that ensued for the entire threeday program. We visited the Technology Center in Jerusalem, where we visited the offices of Glide, a startup that created a video-messaging app. One of the most exciting parts of the Lab was participating in a “mini-hackathon” there, where we were divided into small groups to work on a problem or issue at the JCC. My group was given the task of creating a toolbox. What sort of toolbox? I wasn’t familiar with the language—that of Hebrew or innovation—so I took a lot of notes. It was a fascinating process. Our goal was to find a way to broaden the conversation about membership at the JCC by looking at target groups and figuring out if we were serving them, and if not, how might we?

“ I learned so much and was inspired to think differently!”

I was immediately hooked. But I realized that I needed to be progressive, innovative and think differently, to “get up to speed” as I’ve often heard. I wanted to change. I walked out of that session knowing I had to attend Innovation Lab: Jerusalem. I wanted to make sure that someone from our community was involved. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to be on the cutting edge of innovation, especially when it came to my JCC. What better way to participate than by going to Israel with other JCC leaders and learning from innovators in Jerusalem?

We wanted to focus on serving a younger population. So, into our “toolbox” went using social media, going off-site with programs, hosting a community innovation lab, hiring a younger person to serve this population, bringing younger people onto our board of directors, focus groups, hosting conversations, sponsoring JTalks (like we do at Biennial), hosting sporting events and working with other JCCs. We heard from Robbie Gringras

of Makom, an Israel education lab, who offered us new ways of looking at and presenting the Israel conversation in our JCCs. It was a very powerful message: We should not shy away from presenting Israel in all its complexity, with its multiple viewpoints. And that JCCs, with their diverse community focus, are THE place to do this. I learned so much and was inspired to think differently! My greatest challenge was and continues to be the ability to bring what I learned back to my community.

Will I continue to be part of the Innovation Lab? Do I want to continue to be part of the Innovation Lab? Does JCC Association want me to continue to be part of the Innovation Lab? Yes, yes and I hope yes, that JCC Association will continue to include this “old school” thinker in the future! I truly appreciate the opportunity to have been a part of this inaugural Innovation Lab in Jerusalem. Adrienne Matros is a member of the board of directors of the Merage JCC of Orange County, Irvine, California, and on the board of JCC Association.

F R O M A R I S I N G S TA R

Bringing home a multi-faceted jewel Jeremy Weiser

After more than 19 years of being away, I finally got the chance to go back home—to Yerushalayim for a week. Not only did I go, but I also was able to spend the time during Innovation Lab: Jerusalem learning with more than 50 of my JCC colleagues about exciting things happening in Eretz Yisrael and ways to bring it closer to my home at the Memphis JCC. For three days we were hard at work learning about groundbreaking work going on in Israel, and learning from the people behind it. There are sides of Israel that we don’t get to see in our local media and we had the privilege of hearing about this firsthand. Having the opportunity to hear from four entrepreneurs about their work was interesting to begin with, but we also got to look at who these four people are—a young haredi (strictly Orthodox) man, a Palestinian, a secular Jew, and a young Arab adult. These are people of very different cultures and beliefs who, in a region of conflict, are contributing to the whole. So while we have the story of innovation to tell, we also have a story to tell about how everyone living in Israel has a chance to contribute to a land we all want to call home. It was also amazing how each of them specifically spoke positively about the others. To be able to talk about this with people in Memphis, Tennessee is special to me, because it brings light to the fact that we only see one side of the Israel

story from our local media. We also had the opportunity to meet with artists from Bezalel Academy for Rising star Jeremy Weiser, Arts and Design to right, with a lone soldier. hear about how their projects are improving the lives of the people of Israel. These amazing artists use the fine arts to improve parks, neighborhoods and more. They work to rebuild connections in the Musrara neighborhood, as they did in the “Between Green and Red” festival where Jews and Arabs share and eat watermelon in peace among other festival activities. They have created a framework for this festival that brings together both cultures, something we we can all learn from. There were many more people we met with, but all in all, in those first two days it was clear that day in and day out, Israelis (Jewish and non-Jewish alike), are striving for the next big thing to continue to grow and improve our homeland. We also spent time learning about Israeli politics from Robbie Gringras, creative director of Makom, which seeks a cutting-edge approach to Israel education. We looked at these much-discussed topics through a new lens: films coming out of Ma’aleh School of Television, Film & the Arts,

and by hearing from sides we don’t often encounter in the United States. Ma’aleh and Makom have resources that we should all be taking advantage of, leading to new, productive discussions about Israel that we have never had before. What probably touched me the most, was our Shabbat dinner with three “lone soldiers,” the oldest of which was 22 and still in basic training. These are three young men who left everything behind in the United States because they felt they had a calling to defend our home, Israel. One was active in Operation Protective Edge, last summer’s war with Hamas in Gaza.

During Protective Edge we heard stories of soldiers fighting that battle, whose families did not hear from them for days. But here we had the opportunity to meet one, who could have been any one of our children. As a father, I try to instill a love for Israel in my two children, and I always talk about the day they will get to go to Israel, hopefully more than once. But I cannot imagine them coming to me at 18 years old and saying, “I am leaving to join the IDF.” Its takes immense bravery and courage and I have the utmost respect for our lone soldiers.

FROM AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The places we’ll go Les Cohen

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss. We arrived in Israel not quite sure what to expect, at a time when many were cautious about traveling there because of the growing number of unprovoked violent incidents. But we were hopeful at the same time. We were excited and honored to be part of JCC Association’s first Innovation Lab, and to participate in the JCC Global Conference with 300 representatives from more than 20 countries, some as far away as India and China.

Les Cohen at the kotel in Jerusalem.

Throughout the week we were introduced to new ideas and challenged to think differently. Israeli entrepreneurs from the world of business, film, the arts and medicine shared what motivated them and how they created their special niche.

Jerusalem’s specialness and vitality surrounded us. It helped to percolate our creativity. The Israeli people are vibrant and resilient and were so appreciative of our support. We felt safe and moved freely through the markets.

Each one enlightened us and inspired creative thinking. I found myself, along with my colleagues, wondering how I could utilize these new ideas. The theme was pretty universal. How can JCCs find the right context in which to be innovative, entrepreneurial and still remain mission driven? As the traditional streams of revenue remain stagnant or decrease, how do we think in innovative ways?

On our first Shabbat afternoon we were drawn into the many services held at the kotel—the remaining wall of the Temple—and

Fortunately, the answers are often within our reach, using the talents of our staff and our boards. We have a team

We were a community of JCC leaders learning and inspiring each other.

even participated in a bar mitzvah. We ended our week attending a Moroccan Friday night service. We saw and experienced people of all ages, abilities and beliefs, similar to what we have at our own JCCs.

I cannot say enough about the JCC Israel Center, Director Leah Garber, and her staff. They have so many resources for us that I wouldn’t even know where to start. If you are thinking about doing anything Israel related, please reach out to them. They will have an answer and assistance for you that is unlike anything you will have locally. They also cannot wait to help˛you. You never know where in your JCC someone might be able to find a connection to Israel. It could be through the arts, it could be in technology, it could

ready and in place that is smart, creative and dedicated. The challenge is now up to us to create an ambiance that encourages risk-taking and expansive thinking. One workshop in which we participated could become a model for us to use back home. Despite having a strange sounding name, the hackathon was an incredible experience in free association and thinking. It’s a noholds-barred approach to thinking boldly and out loud and seeing where it leads. The goals are clear but the path is not. Our job—and challenge—is to allow the process to go where it will go until it takes shape and begins to guide us. It is a way of thinking that is powerful and dynamic and somewhat different than we are used to. The possibilities are exciting and in large part what we will need to be successful in the future.

be film, or any one of a number of areas. Explore it all and use our resources in Israel. At the Memphis JCC we will be having discussions about Israel in ways we never have before and have a “new” bank of resources to pull from. My hope is that l’shana haba b’yerushalayim, next year in Jerusalem. I will be learning with more colleagues about even more ways to strengthen our people’s connection to Israel. Jeremy Weiser is assistant director of the Memphis JCC and attended Innovation Lab: Jerusalem as one of the “rising stars.”

• We will plan a board trip to Israel for next year to strengthen the ties and help bring Israel into the JCC. • We will partner and exchange ideas with the staff of a matnas (community center) in Jerusalem that we will visit when in Israel next year. The free flow of ideas from JCC leaders and professionals from diverse backgrounds

“ These opportunities are only the beginning.”

Even before I got back home I began to plan how I would use what I had experienced. I shared and discussed my ideas with my colleague, Brian Adler, the development director of our JCC, who had accompanied me on the trip and we came up with three specific actionable plans:

inspired a vision of our work that is so much greater than our individual centers. I know that as a field we will continue to discuss and experiment with innovation. These opportunities are only the beginning. To take a spin off Dr. Seuss, oh, the places we’ll go. Les Cohen is the executive director of the Betty & Milton Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, N.J.

• We will begin to work with staff on creating a culture of innovation at our JCC. To this end we have already held a staff think-a-thon.

of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation ManagerResearch and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation ManagerResearch and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing Innovation Manager • Senior Innovation Consultant • Staff Innovation Marketing Specialist • Director of Innovation • Director of Product Development & Innovation • Innovation Marketing Manager • Research and Development Innovation Leader • Intern, Digital Innovation • Innovation Manager-Research and Development • Innovation Project Manager • Technology and Innovation Technician • Director of Curricular Innovation and Product Development • Administrative Assistant, Innovation Technology • Director, Learning Development & Innovation • Innovation Sherpa • Senior Marketing In

When innovation is what you do What’s your role at the J when “innovation” is part of your title? Does this make you the mother of invention, or single out your J as an early adopter of every new trend? How do we innovate in a “Jewish” way? We caught up with Sara Shalva, director of Jewish Innovation, DCJCC in Washington D.C. and Heather Kufert, director of Jewish Innovation and Engagement, Memphis Jewish Community Center in Tennessee to share their perspectives on this evolving position, how it affects their JCCs’ Jewish mission and how JCCs can get more innovative.

MEET SARA

MEET HEATHER

How do you define innovation? How does your JCC define innovation?

Sara Shalva: A general definition of innovation is thinking of new ways to get more output from the same number of inputs. More generally, and in the J context, innovation is new creative ideas that change the way people engage with the world. Heather Kufert: The Memphis Jewish Community Center (MJCC) defines innovation as creating and implementing programs and outreach through a Jewish lens that maximizes community engagement and participation enabling different ways for members to connect with MJCC programs and services.

What motivated your J to create such a position?

SS: Carole Zawatsky, the CEO of the DCJCC and I began talking last March about this position. She came to this J four years ago from the San Francisco JCC and is very interested in thinking about a broad definition of Jewish life that is inherently welcoming, pluralistic and inclusive. She hired me to be a partner with her to infuse all aspects of the J with this type of Jewish content. HK: Many JCCs can compartmentalize Judaism. At the MJCC, we want to show how Judaism can be incorporated into everyday experiences. We want to create the “Jewish sleepaway camp experience,” where one is immersed in a Jewish environment and continues to learn, but often doesn’t even realize it. The position creates a Jewish ambiance at the MJCC, especially during Jewish holidays, infuses Judaism into the different MJCC departments, and implements innovative Jewish and Israel programs.

Art through a Jewish lens gives the Memphis JCC’s Artist in Residence program its ta’am, or flavor

How do you reconcile and merge Judaism and Jewish values with innovation?

SS: Judaism has always been innovative. When the Temple was destroyed, the rabbis had to figure out what Judaism would be without animal sacrifice. Setting specific times for prayer as an alternative was a huge innovation! However, it is true that the innovation train has slowed down, that a lot of Jewish practice feels antiquated and does not resonate with the general Jewish community. But, there are brilliantly creative Jews thinking about connecting universal values with Jewish values—and helping the Jewish people understand that some of the motherboard processing that goes on in their brains is actually manufactured by our tradition. And connecting with our tradition in alternative ways is totally authentic. Highlighting the work and the people participating in the patenting of the articulation between the universal and the particular is a totally awesome part of my job! HK: Judaism and Jewish values go hand and hand—it is who we are. It is part of our mission to live our Jewish values. The MJCC is launching an initiative of incorporating Jewish values into our MJCC programs and departments throughout 2016. Our Jewish value for January through April is chesed–kindness; May–August is ruach hasport– sportsmanship/ teamwork; and September–December is hakarat hatov– gratitude/recognition of good. For each Jewish value, we are hosting a panel discussion with local rabbis to learn how these Jewish values are rooted in Jewish texts and traditions and how to incorporate these Jewish values into our daily lives. In addition, we will have four large banners outside the J that feature the Jewish value in Hebrew, transliteration, and English; pictures that represent the Jewish value; and a quotation about the Jewish value. We are also asking staff and MJCC members to showcase how this Jewish value takes place at the MJCC and in their lives. There will also be programs that specifically incorporate this Jewish value. For example, we are partnering with PJ Library to have a family event on chesed–kindness.

“ There are brilliantly creative Jews thinking about connecting universal values with Jewish values.”

Can you share an example of an innovative program or initiative at your J?

SS: I am sort of obsessed with podcasts as a medium of Jewish cultural expression. There are a lot of Jews involved in podcasting because, at its core, podcasting is about words and ideas. Many podcasts involve storytelling, which is obviously super Jewish too. This year, we invited David Tuchman, the host of OMGWTF Bible, who is writing an irreverent translation of the Bible, and Unorthodox, Tablet Magazine’s new podcast anchored by New York Times’ religion columnist Mark Oppenheimer. Both were very successful programs. HK: One program we launched recently is a three-part Israeli Residence Series that includes an Israeli Artist in Residence, Scholar in Residence, and temporary schlichah through the Zionist seminars of the Jewish Agency. Our Israeli Artist in Residence was part of the MJCC Jewish Literary & Cultural Arts Festival and created a community project through art made in 10 workshops. The Israelis lead events at the MJCC, as well as throughout the Jewish community, including local day schools, synagogues, Hillel, Jewish young professional groups, and outreach to Jews who do not live near the MJCC. Another innovative initiative that we created is a Jewish engagement taskforce to set goals for how to incorporate Judaism into the MJCC. They had an overall discussion on outreach and how the goals will be expressed in marketing. The final recommendations were: To show how Judaism fits into our lives today, the MJCC will: 1. Make Hebrew more accessible to all members, guests, and staff by incorporating Hebrew, transliteration, and translation 2. Increase representation and content of traditional and contemporary Judaism, Israel, and Torah 3. Connect members, guests and staff to Jewish values 4. Increase knowledge of Jewish holidays and engage members, guests, and staff around these practices 5. Expand the engagement of Jewish Memphians with the MJCC through membership at the MJCC, programming at the MJCC, or MJCC programming in the community.

Interviews were conducted by Sam Tananbaum, JCC Association’s digital marketing associate. They have been condensed and edited.

THE

UPSIDE OF

DOWN SIZING

JCC Denver decides to shrink and rethink its early childhood programâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and benefits in the process.

Marla Cohen

What’s a JCC to do when a busy, well-attended school is trying to be everything to everyone, burning through staff, and not—in the eyes stakeholders—living up to its mission? You ditch it. At least in its present form. That is what the Robert E. Loup JCC in Denver did. It was completely counterintuitive. And the JCC has not regretted it. “It was important that the preschool was fulfilling the educational philosophy we had worked so hard to build, but trying to meet everyone’s varying needs was increasingly difficult” says Caron Blanke, chief program officer, who was watching her staff “fall apart.” “We couldn’t keep a director. We couldn’t retain teachers. We were providing too much for everybody else instead of what was right for the school.” To that end, the JCC had been involved in a five-year Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative funded by the Rose Community Foundation and overseen by JCC Association’s Mark Horowitz, vice president of early childhood education and family engagement. The program involved intensive coaching to improve

the quality of the school by focusing on what it means to be a Jewish early childhood education program and live up to both values and mission. “We had done a lot of work in so many areas, and we were struggling to be seen as a school and not a day care center,” says Blanke. “We wanted to professionalize the role of the teachers, improve their salaries and give them time to plan for meaningful classroom experiences. The structure of the school did not support the ideological choices we wanted to make.” Blanke wasn’t alone in her assessment. Jason Sindler had joined the board of directors for the JCC in 2000, when his oldest child, now 13, was in the twos program. He knew, though, that the JCC’s program was now being seen as “a really nice daycare.” “We were the 31 flavors plus topping,” says Sindler, who has had nine consecutive years as a parent in the early childhood program, and today serves as the JCC’s treasurer. The program was trying to be too many things to too many people. The school day was too long. There were no vacations. The teachers had little time to plan. And

they were burning out, leading to a lot of sick time and constant turnover. “There was a lot of crisis management,” explains Sindler. Too many program options, too many classes—the school felt like it was losing its way.

wanted to live up to its mission of excellence, they had to create space for the teachers to teach. They agreed to do a complete overhaul, going from 16 classrooms to 12, and from 11-hour days to 10-hour ones. They were able to give teachers a planning period and raises.

“It was tough to keep all that managed,” Sindler notes, adding that it seemed like the staff was always “putting out a lot of fires.”

The school went from 220 children to 160. And the move represented a $250,000 loss on a $2.2 million budget, says Blanke.

To add to the headache, the Denver public schools had recently started offering a preschool option. Now the J, which has been providing an early childhood program for 85 years, would be competing with the free public schools. It needed to find its differentiator. Supported by the JCC’s chief executive officer and board, Blanke and a group of staff and lay leaders met over a period of six months to focus on what kind of a school they wanted to be.

As Sindler sees it, that money was “fools gold,” because the product being promoted wasn’t sustainable for the long haul. “We could get those returns for a short period of time, but… we would have had an awful reputation. It’s not a path you want to go down.”

The verdict: downsize. The board agreed that if the school

The JCC created a triumvirate for the early childhood administrative team—a director, an associate director, and a director of education—to handle different aspects of the program. Each is responsible distinct areas, including supervision for different groups of teachers; the director holds the vision for the school and works with various

lay committees to ensure consistent family engagement. The associate director mainly handles operational aspects of the school, and the director of education supports teachers in their professional development, while ensuring consistency in the teaching and learning that happens in the school. There is before and after care offered, but it is very clear, Blanke says, that this is not part of the educational day. One of the lay leadership’s biggest concerns was that the move not be seen as unsupportive of the working parents using the program. “If we ground all of our decisions in the idea that this is what is in the best interests of children, then we can’t go wrong,” Blanke says. And only a handful of parents felt they needed to leave the program because of the change in hours. The rest left through the natural attrition of aging out. Blanke notes that a handful of families that left because of the changes actually ended up returning because they couldn’t find a school of comparable quality. “They really thought out of the box,” says JCC Association’s Mark Horowitz of the process. “This was not easy, but one of the things that was unique was being able to make a really good case to the board.” From his perspective, the JCC has been able to focus on concepts from Sheva, JCC Association’s signature early childhood program that stresses the early childhood director as a visionary leader, teachers as professionals, and children as constructivist learners. “Caron really led the charge,” he says. “They spent years focusing on the quality of their school, and they realized that they had to make a change. To make sure that is true, they ensured that the staff is compensated… and that the families and educators have an opportunity to learn and grow.” From the moment Kari Knutson walked into Robert E. Loup JCC with her older daughter Annie, she knew the program

“We have to have an excellent school. I feel so privileged to work for an organization that was willing to put mission and quality above anything else.” was the right one for her family. As a self-described “super Catholic,” she found herself drawn to the welcoming way the JCC approached its Jewish mission. “They were so good with my child,” she says. “I fell in love with the environment, the thoughtfulness, and the Jewish values, the lens they look through and the excitement of learning a new culture.” She has participated in Shabbat singalongs, and Sukkot events, and never once felt pressure to do anything more than learn. The changes in the school, she notes, have been for the best, reflecting “our human values… I’m happy and proud they came up with a new model of leadership.” She’s not alone. Sindler hears the buzz from young parents like Knutson and it’s been good. “Anecdotally, we have much happier parents.” Blanke adds that the JCC is well on its way toward living up to its mission in a more holistic manner, one that works for teachers, families and the JCC. There is now a wait list to get into every class in the school. “We cannot forgo quality for money,” she says. “Everyone involved wanted to ensure that they could continue to offer a quality Jewish early childhood education. “At some point, everyone bought into the idea that the school had to be of the highest quality. We have to have an excellent school. I feel so privileged to work for an organization that was willing to put mission and quality above anything else.”

Using the

PAST to build the

FUTURE Former executive directors take on fundraising for the J

Marla Cohen

or a JCC embarking on a capital campaign, organizers keep in mind the organization’s history, relationships with previous and current stakeholders and deep reserves of affection for the J.

When all of those things are rolled up in the past executive director—In the case of three JCCs, the New Orleans JCC, the St. Paul JCC, and the Asheville JCC—you bring them on board. “It’s very unique in our field,” says David Valinsky, a national consultant on fundraising for JCC Association. “Usually an executive retires and leaves the community. Or they will stay, but not often are they actively engaged.

Above: A capital idea! St. Paul JCC Executive Director Michael Waldman, left, with his mentors, Dori Denelle and Bart Garr. Right: Architectural rendering of the pool of at the St. Paul JCC.

“This is a way of opening a door, fostering and strengthening a relationship with a particular donor to the J. I think a lot of our past leaders are people who want to stay engaged, but aren’t necessarily asked.” In the case of these three JCCs, the relationships are deep, intergenerational and, well, special. The current professional leadership in all cases has worked closely with the past executives, who are now helping to be honorary chairs or contribute their input and wisdom to the capital campaign cabinets. As each kicks off their JCC’s expansion, they offer a look at how they’ve sought to actively engage their past executive directors, why it works, and what’s to be gained by doing so.

NEW ORLEANS JCC, LOUISIANA For Leslie Fischman, the current executive director of the New Orleans JCC, it made perfect sense to involve her predecessors in an upcoming capital campaign. Fischman served as assistant executive director to her predecessor Arlene Barron, who in turn held that same position under her predecessor, Ann Eisen. At one point, all three women worked at the JCC at the same time. And today they all still live in the Crescent City. “I think the community appreciates the history we give,” says Fischman. “All three of us have a deep passion for the center.” That said, she says that her predecessors know when to chime in and when to play it cool. She’s happy for them to help and advise, because they let her do her job. And that’s key says Eisen, who led the JCC from 1984 through 2000 before becoming a consultant for JCC Association, from where she retired. She offers a few sage words on how to conduct a healthy collaboration: “First of all, I think you need to be sure that the past executive director understands that it’s the current executive’s party. It’s her game, not your game.” It has a more personal upside, too, she says. “It allowed me to be involved in the JCC world and that felt really good.” Barron, who led the JCC after Eisen, and retired in 2011, notes that bringing in past professional leadership gives a stamp of approval that isn’t lost on the capital campaign’s leadership. “It really solidifies the strength of the agency. “There’s really no downside.”

ST. PAUL JCC, MINNESOTA “Dori and Burt were my mentors in this field,” explains St. Paul JCC Executive Director Michael Waldman, who asked Dori Denelle, his immediate predecessor in the job, and Burt Garr, who preceded her, to join the campaign cabinet in honorary roles. It made perfect sense to bring their history with the J to the fundraising table. And for Waldman, it was an honor to work with people who knew the JCC—and the job he does each day—so intimately. They each still live in the area, and helped obtain gifts through their relationships maintained with local families. “It was a huge honor to work with Burt,” he says. “He is really masterful in a solicitation. And Dori, it doesn’t really matter that she was my supervisor, or that she used to be the executive. She was definitely the right person for that ask.” Denelle, who served as executive for eight years and now is a vice president at JCC Association, thinks some executives might “run in the opposite direction” from a situation that puts their predecessor back in play. But that has simply not been the case. “Burt and I understand our place,” says Denelle, who is also a certified governance trainer for BoardSource. “We love the JCC and will do whatever we can to support it.” Garr put in 32 years at the JCC and notes that just because his official role ended doesn’t mean his concern for the J ceased. “It’s a good feeling that people respect the fact you have a long history with the agency and have something to offer,” says Garr. “It’s rewarding and fulfilling. But you have to know when to step back as well. You play your role very consciously.”

From generation to generation: Anne Eisen, left, helmed the JCC in New Orleans before passing the baton to Arlene Barron, center, who was succeeded by current executive Leslie Fischman.

ASHEVILLE JCC, NORTH CAROLINA The Asheville JCC, currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, is a small one in a downtown setting. The $8 million capital campaign will allow it to expand a building that it has outgrown, according to Lael Gray, executive director. She also worked for her predecessor, Heather Goldstein, a lawyer, who seemed like a natural fit for the campaign cabinet. “Nobody knows the JCC better than Heather,” says Gray. “It was a wonderful fit, and we were thrilled she agreed to be a part of it.” Goldstein was able to identify some likely donors and assist with some planning of the campaign. For her, it’s been fun to be back in her old stomping grounds, which she left when she realized that there were certain scenarios she could no longer view with fresh eyes. “At that time I said ‘you are no longer the right person any more,’” she says. And that’s something any organization needs to be aware of when engaging past leadership—lay or professional. “You don’t want your old exec saying ‘we should do it this way because… ,’” she says. And yet lining up the past to support the future makes a mighty statement. “It opens doors and conversations with people the current leadership may not have as strong a relationship with,” she says. “And it communicates to people connected to the former director confidence in the current leadership. “It’s one of the most powerful messages you can send.”

JCC past and present: Lael Cray, JCC Ashevile’s current executive director, with her predecessor, Heather Goldstein, right.

The beautiful balance: A look back and a look ahead Marla Cohen Shaping the future is the theme at this year’s JCCs of North America Biennial Convention. But it’s clearly one that will be informed by the past, as we kick off a celebration of 100 years of the JCC Movement. From May 15-18, Baltimore will be the place where we balance the importance of both past and future, when more than 700 will gather to tackle the issues most pressing to JCCs, and learn from leaders, doers and thinkers in the Jewish world. “We surveyed JCC executives and board members to help shape the content for this Biennial,” says JCC Association’s Senior Vice President Robin Ballin and director of the Biennial. “We received over 400 responses, so this Biennial is all about their concerns and what they want to learn.” Ballin says a focus on demographic data, honing in on the differences between boomers, millennials and Gen Z—digital natives who have never known a world without smartphones—and how they impact the JCC’s bottom line will be front and center when the Biennial gets underway. By the time it wraps up three days later, JCC leaders from across North America, as well as some of their colleagues from Israel and beyond, will have a deeper understanding of the trends and societal forces that shape their communities and by extension, the people that use the J. They will also have learned firsthand how JCC Association and its partners, as well as their colleagues are innovatively

adapting and creating to meet these challenges on a daily basis. Some must-see moments include: futurist Amy Webb—whose 2013 TED Talk about how she hacked online dating to find a husband has been nearly 4.5 million times—will address a plenary on “Jewish 2.0: Rebooting the Future of Judaism” (see accompanying article on p. 24); Baltimore’s Rabbi Jessy Gross, whose Charm City Tribe takes Jewish engagement outside the JCC walls to reach 20- and 30-somethings; and boomer expert Alexis Abramson, who will speak about the impact of this now-aging, yet large and still-powerful demographic cohort of North Americans. With an eye on JCCs’ core businesses, attorney-turned-philanthropic advisor Laura Fredricks, and Mark Verstegen, founder and president of EXOS (formerly Athletes’ Performance and Core Performance) and author of “Every Day is Game Day,” will serve as JTalkers, for the popular TED Talk-style sessions that JCC Association introduced at the 2014 Biennial in San Diego. Biennial Chair Linda Russin notes that it’s the first conference under the leadership of Stephen Hazan Arnoff, who came on board as president and CEO of JCC Association in February

2015. And the program will also kick off the Centennial Celebration, marking the anniversary of the formation of the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) to serve the needs of Jews who served in the United States military in World War I. JWB officially changed its name to JCC Association in 1990, and the Centennial Celebration commencement will play up the connection to JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, a signature program of JCC Association. The chaplains will simultaneously host their training conference during the Biennial, and JCC Association will integrate some of their sessions more thoroughly into the program than it has in the past, including one about “moral injury,” which focuses on the concept that no one returns from war unchanged, regardless of whether they have seen combat or not. That topic should interest JCCs seeking to incorporate veterans and their families into their community as part of Project Welcome Home, a JCC Association program recently piloted in six JCCs, according to Ballin. There will also be experiential learning, with host JCCs of Greater Baltimore showcasing several programs that have successfully targeted and engaged different segments of the community

at its two locations, Ballin says. At the older Park Heights location, participants can learn how the JCC has attracted Baltimore’s traditionally observant community and families with young children. At the suburban Owings Mills location, Biennial-goers can learn about driving new revenue and developing profitable partnerships through healthcare and the arts. Another option will be hands-on participation in creating a mural about JCCs past, present, and future that will travel to JCCs following the Biennial. And, of course, there will be a lot of excitement. JCCs of Greater Baltimore will host a party at the American Visionary Art Museum. And other fun events include karaoke and vendor raffles. “It’s really shaping up to be the most exciting Biennial ever,” says Russin, who has attended many Biennials previouslyu “Our plenaries and breakout sessions will energize you and your delegation with new ideas for all aspects of JCC life. It’s a chance to socialize, network and brainstorm with JCC leaders from across the continent to enhance your leadership back home.”

See What’s in Store in Baltimore!

You won’t want to miss out. Three packed days of learning, networking and fun in the nation’s Charm City. Register today at biennial.jcca.org!

What is the future of the Jewish Community? AMY WEBB

The future is here. It is taking shape within your line of sight. Look hard. Squint, if you need to. Can you see it? WE ARE SURROUNDED—literally surrounded, by magical inventions and technologies that will shape the future generations of civilization. They are bringing communities closer together just as they are further polarizing our worldviews. Increasingly, the business of everyday living—whether that’s our jobs, our social interactions or how we are governed—is conducted digitally. But neither our laws nor our social contracts have kept pace with the evolution of the Internet. This is the first time in human history when real, fundamental change is taking place within a single generation, and the driving force is technology. Yet the gravitational pull towards what’s new, what’s now and what’s next has left us in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Paradoxically, we both worry about and look forward to the latest gadgets and

tools. For example, now that we have connected watches, privacy experts are warning that the devices could bring unauthorized surveillance. So people are afraid of wearing them. Technology has afforded us an unprecedented sense of agency and a mistaken sense that we’re somehow creating social change by merely observing it unfold on social media. Through the interconnectedness of our networks––and networks of networks–– no one and nothing is ever far away. When Egyptian citizens rose up and toppled Hosni Mubarak’s government, we either witnessed or actively took part using social media. We created more than three million tweets, gigabytes of YouTube videos and millions of Facebook and blog posts. But when the #BlackLivesMatter movement started in the United States, millions of people

readily tweeted their support, yet the conversation didn’t spill over into the real world or spark nationwide reform. We are bewildered at the implications of technology because technology is becoming more pervasive in our everyday lives. From biohacking our genomes to robots that can repair themselves, new technologies are being foisted upon us before we’ve really had the chance to reflect on what they mean to society. Yet that cycle of change will necessarily continue, and it will influence the future of not only your own life, but that of the Jewish community. That’s because in our modern digital age, technology helps to define what it means to be Jewish. If you sign on to a dating site, you will be confronted with a list of choices and little boxes with room for only one mark. In effect, it reduces one’s Judaism down to just one or two words. If you announce your Judaism online, you potentially invite anonymous digital vigilantes, known for banding together to threaten members of the Jewish community. After one incident, you may feel compelled to go into hiding, to mask the foundation of your religious identity. On the other hand, if you want to teach your children about being Jewish, you can supplement your family traditions with those of distant cultures. With a few clicks, you can join a Seder service halfway around the world. That sense of belonging to a tribe with shared beliefs and traditions is enabled because of social media. Millennials can leverage new technologies to support

“ If you announce your Judaism online, you potentially invite anonymous digital vigilantes.” one another and their extended Jewish community, through one-click contributions and new forms of microinvestments. Technology impacts the practical realities of Judaism as well. Jewish Community Centers have always been a physical gathering place. Not just to play basketball, but also to gain a sense of perspective and to participate in a shared culture that’s inextricable to a local city or region. In the future, we will transition to digital gathering places. What will it mean to be Jewish in virtual reality? Will we become digital voyeurs, beaming ourselves into JCC board meetings and author seminars? Will JCC camps need to augment arts and crafts sessions with 3-D printers and soldering irons? Depending on your vantage point, what I’ve just described may sound terrifying or just plain dystopian. Or, I’m hoping, it might help you to imagine exciting new ideas and opportunities. The future never arrives fully baked. We can be active participants in shaping it. Let’s start together at the JCCs of North America Biennial Convention. In my plenary session, “Jewish 2.0: Rebooting the Future of Judaism” we’ll glimpse what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century, and examine how we, and our JCCs, can meet it head on.

Amy Webb is an author and futurist. She is the founder of Webbmedia Group Digital Strategy. For more information, see webbmediagroup.com.

Know the story behind this photo? If you do, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to tell it in an upcoming issue of JCC Circle Monthly. mcohen@jcca.org

Share your JCC story As the United States headed into the First World War in 1917, American Jews realized that their sons soon would be serving overseas in this global conflict. A coalition of Jewish organizations came together and formed the Jewish Welfare Board to look after the interests of those sons—many young immigrants or new citizens themselves—and serve their needs as Jews. Fast forward nearly 100 years and the JWB still exists, although it now sports the name with which you are more familiar: JCC Association. Over time, the organization diversified and while it continued to serve the military, it also served Jewish Community Centers and the growing role they played in the American Jewish landscape. And now we’re nearing our centennial, a landmark event in the lifecycle of any organization. To celebrate, we want to tell the 100-year history of the JCC Movement and the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council—and your story is part of it. Enjoy Alex Shapiro’s story on page 28 from the I.J. & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center. Alex’s story shows how a JCC and its importance can be passed down, l’dor v’dor, generation to generation, and has made a lasting impact on him, his family and the community. But it’s not the only type of story out there. We know that, and we want you to share yours. We want you to share your personal story, a reflection on a time or past event, how your JCC fits into the community, or any of the other myriad ways your JCC matters. This includes JCC Maccabi, JCC day and overnight camps—these are all an important part of the picture. Let us know how your JCC or camp changed your life and influenced who you are today. And since we started as the Jewish Welfare Board, we also seek the stories of the brave Jewish veterans who serve our country, as well as those currently serving in the U.S. military. You can share your story at jcca.org/100stories. If you need some help telling it, please contact our editor Marla Cohen at mcohen@jcca.org.

The sun sets over the JCC of Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy of the JCC Salt Lake City

I learned how to lead at the JCC Alex Shapiro

here are maybe 8,000 Jews in Utah—tops. We are a minority all right, in a state dominated by the Mormon Church and its culture. So when I attended my first General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, it was overwhelming. There were 4,000 Jews in the room— half as many as in my entire home state—and I was one of them.

Alex Shapiro with his family. Photo courtesy Alex Shapiro

I could not have been prouder. It came as a surprise to no one but me that I ended up as executive director of the United Jewish Federation of Utah. My family has always been involved in the Jewish community here. They helped start the JCC—now the I.J. & Jeanné Wagner JCC of Salt Lake City—in 1925. I’m a product of that JCC. It gave me a love for Jewish life in this community and beyond. It helped forge my identity. I attended camp at the JCC. I was a lifeguard at the JCC. I was involved in BBYO (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) at the JCC. Basically, I learned how to lead at the JCC.

Today, we would probably say that my grandfather, an immigrant from Eastern Europe, had a vision. I don’t know what he saw back then, but he did understand that a Jewish community needed a home. He helped start the JCC and turned the first shovelfuls of dirt when we broke ground on our previous building in 1957. My father (as did my mother) grew up with that profound sense of community, the kind you get in a tight-knit place where you know everyone and a sense of responsibility

Simon Shapiro breaks ground for the new JCC. Photo courtesy Alex Shapiro

toward Jewish life is deeply ingrained. Sisterhood, federation, the synagogue, the JCC, my parents knew they had to give back, and that belonging meant giving in whatever way you could. As the head of a Jewish organization that works with both the Jewish and wider communities, I’m really proud of the role the JCC plays. We have a stellar early childhood program that connects kids and families right from the outset. We have a senior program that emphasizes health, fitness and education. We have vibrant Jewish agencies and a growing community. The J is a connector, creating a bridge to the wider community. We have great relationship with our Mormon neighbors—the church is a big supporter of the J—and I’d like to think that’s in part because of how welcome they feel at the JCC, which is also their community center.

Diversity flavors the J. Photo courtesy the JCC Salt Lake City

“Each day when I come to work, I feel proud of this place” It’s not easy meeting a Jewish girl in Utah, and I married the daughter of a Methodist minister. She served as the development director at the JCC for six years and was active in our synagogue’s sisterhood. Our twin sons, Jake and Josh, were raised in a Jewish home. They grew up inside the J, went to preschool there, kindergarten, camp, BBYO and were employed there. And so, the cycle continues. Our federation offices are in the JCC. Each day when I come to work, I feel proud of this place and the role it has played and continues to play in this community. I don’t know if my grandfather envisioned this way back in 1925, but I think it must be what he had hoped for. Alex Shapiro is the executive director of the United Jewish Federation of Utah with offices in the I.J. & Jeanné Wagner JCC of Salt Lake City.

201 R ME P M U A S REC

This summer, more than 3,000 teens from across North America and around the world gathered in Dallas, Milwaukee and Fort Lauderdale for the JCC Maccabi Games® and ArtsFest®. Two hundred seventy-five teens came to Israel through JCC Maccabi Israel® trips. These experiences are more than competition and travel, they create meaningful connections to Israel and lifelong friendships.

“This trip meant so much to me that it solidified my desire to spend a gap year in Israel. I can’t wait to go back!”

“I loved the experience and I will encourage my two younger brothers to participate when they are older.”

“JCC Maccabi was easily, without a doubt, the best week of my life.”

e eAr #W

JCC

bi cca a M

i cab c a M

C eJC r A e #W

SEE YOU IN 2016! JCC Maccabi Games Columbus, OH July 24-29 St. Louis, MO July 31-August 5 速

JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest Stamford, CT August 7-12 速

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