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JCC Blog
Sep04
Feb04
J Live Returns!
The Fourth Annual J Live features mentalist Oz Pearlman and honors Jon Mayers.
Join us on Thursday evening, March 26 at the Gordon Center for a magical evening of fascinating mind-games with Emmy Award-winning, Israeli-born mentalist, Oz Pearlman followed by a special reception honoring dedicated JCC and Gordon Center volunteer Jon Mayers. Jon will be the first volunteer ever to be honored at the J Live event. This celebratory fundraiser supports the Gordon Center for Performing Arts’ arts education programs for children and adults and provides financial assistance to JCC children, teens and families.
JCC Executive Director Barak Hermann says the recognition for Jon Mayers is well deserved. “Jon is an incredible visionary. When I came here seven years ago, there was a lot of work being done to re-envision the Gordon Center and arts and culture at the JCC. I can’t even...
Feb03
Beyond Baltimore: Learning Across the Globe
Bringing Lessons Home from JCC International Conference
By Barak Hermann, CEO and Randi Buergenthal, Board Chair
What can we learn from a JCC in Istanbul, Turkey? How can we connect to Jewish communities in India, countries in the Former Soviet Union (FSU), and Krakow, Poland? As it turns out, there are countless benefits to connecting to JCCs and Jewish communities from around the globe.
This December, we traveled to Israel to attend JCC Global: 10th Annual World Conference of JCCs. We were joined by professional and volunteer leaders from 30 JCCs worldwide. Together, we shared stories of our communities, Jewish identity, and new endeavors at our JCCs. In many...
Jan31
First Aid for Teen Mental Health Infused with Jewish Values
While you might expect teens to be moody, would you know when mood swings, irritability or fears signal something far more serious? Once dismissed as growing pains, problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders affect significantly more teenagers than in previous generations. About 20% of American teens live with a mental health condition, reports the National Institute of Mental Health. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 and 75% begin by the mid-20s. Tragically, the suicide rate for 18- to 19-year-olds climbed 56% from 2008 to 2017. As teen mental health issues become more prevalent, the need for education grows.
That’s why 4Front, a teen-focused initiative directed by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore and supported...
Jan22
In the Zone
Maccabi Basketball Coach Has High Hopes for Baltimore Delegation
If Danny Hoffman has his way, Baltimore’s JCC Maccabi Games basketball team will one day become a national powerhouse, on par with some of the biggest teams in Atlanta, Miami, and Philadelphia. Until then, believes Hoffman, Baltimore is primed to continue growing its reputation and standings in the sport.
Entering his third year as a Baltimore JCC Maccabi Games coach, Hoffman brings serious basketball pedigree to his ambitious goals. As a teenager, Hoffman, a Pittsburgh native, competed in basketball at the JCC Maccabi Games as a member of team Pittsburgh. “The Pittsburgh Maccabi team had the best Jewish athletes. I was thrilled to get the call that I made it,”...
Jan20
Meet Payten Coston
TNT Camper 2018 & 2019
How did you learn about the TNT program at the JCC?
We learned about TNT through friends in the community and then we explored the website. The JCC’s website was user friendly and provided great information about the TNT program. Additionally, the parent information session was very informative and organized.
You did two years with TNT? Why did you decide to return? What did you gain from the program?
We did two years of TNT because it was a wonderful opportunity for my daughter to make new friends of diverse backgrounds and provide service to others. TNT at the JCC is a well-run program with dedicated staff members and caring adults...
Oct11
Sukkot
This Sunday evening we usher in the holiday of Sukkot, a week long harvest festival, in which we remember the exodus from Egypt and the 40 years of wondering in desert. Traditionally, each household will build a Sukkah – a ritual booth. This holiday has both historical and agricultural significance. A holiday with many names, it is known as the “Festival of Booths,” the “Festival of the Ingathering,” and the “Season of our Joy.” Sukkot starts this Sunday night October 13 and runs through October 20th. The temporary huts we build during this time remind us both of the abundance of nature, and the precariousness and preciousness of life on earth. We celebrate Jewish peoplehood and shared history and welcome ancestors and friends, dwelling in our Sukkot, eating festive meals, singing and reveling in the autumn sounds and smells. If you don’t have a Sukkah, please join us in ours!! Both the Park Heights and the Owings...
Sep19
Reimagining the Weinberg Park Heights JCC
Chef Dan’s Café, Upgraded Pool and More!
The Weinberg Park Heights J has come a long way since it opened in 1960. Many of you have seen significant changes in the past 15 years, but according to JCC CEO Barak Hermann, we are about to embark on a multi-year improvement plan transforming much of the building and some of the services we offer.
“Over the next two years you will see a major growth of LifeBridge Health wellness programing tailored to the needs of the frum community.” announced Barak. “Rooms and offices will be moved around and redesigned to accommodate LifeBridge and numerous new fitness opportunities. People who haven’t visited in a while won’t believe their eyes!”
Adds Barak, “The Weinberg Park Heights J is a truly unique JCC, as it is the only JCC in the country that primarily serves an...
Sep12
Meet Randi Buergenthal, JCC Chair of the Board 2019-21
Designing a J for the 21st century
As a longtime board member of the JCC, Randi Buergenthal is used to fielding questions. Usually, she knows the right professional to ask or where to find information.
But there’s one question that made her stop and think.
"Why should I belong to the JCC? What’s in it for me?"
Today, as the new chair of the JCC board, Randi partners with a board of directors and JCC staff to answer these questions. They recognize the JCC of today and tomorrow must reimagine the JCC experience. Fortunately, the group has done their homework. For several years, Randi worked with other board members and J professionals to take a hard look at what happens when someone participates in the J’s programs, whether at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC, Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC,...
Sep12
Meet Sara Shalva
New Chief Arts Officer at the JCC
Sara Shalva’s enthusiasm about her new position as the JCC’s Chief Arts Officer is palpable and contagious. In fact, it’s impossible to speak with Shalva for more than a few minutes without getting excited about the future of the J’s already excellent arts and culture programming.
“What could be better than a job that allows me to provide opportunities for people to be moved by music, dance, theater, learning and visual arts? It’s totally inspiring,” says Sara, whose plans for her new position include creating strategic partnerships, focusing on Israel as a platform for arts and culture programming, expanding adult enrichment opportunities and designing arts, culture and history oriented trips for adults.
Born in Managua, Nicaragua, Sara grew up in Northern Virginia. She was always drawn to the performing arts and as a...
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