Please note all JCC building closures for Sukkot: Sunday, 10/13: Closing at 5:00pm; Monday & Tuesday, 10/14 & 10/15: Closed

Indoor Pool at Weinberg Park Heights JCC closed for exciting upgrades, 9/27-10/30. We apologize for inconvenience. Coed swim available at Owings Mills J. See schedule.  Read about upgrades on our blog.

Today's Building Hours
  • Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC
    5:30am - 10:00pm
  • Weinberg Park Heights JCC
    5:30am - 10:00pm
Shabbat Candle Lighting: 6:15pm

Please note all JCC building closures for Sukkot: Sunday, 10/13: Closing at 5:00pm; Monday & Tuesday, 10/14 & 10/15: Closed

Indoor Pool at Weinberg Park Heights JCC closed for exciting upgrades, 9/27-10/30. We apologize for inconvenience. Coed swim available at Owings Mills J. See schedule.  Read about upgrades on our blog.

Join the J Locations Schedules
Today's Building Hours
  • Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC
    5:30am - 10:00pm
  • Weinberg Park Heights JCC
    5:30am - 10:00pm
Shabbat Candle Lighting: 6:15pm

JCC Blog

Category: Arts & Culture

Sep16
the good adoptee show
by admin
Gordon Center Performances
What Inspired The Good Adoptee?

Playwright Suzanne Bachner explains her journey

Award-winning New York City playwright Suzanne Bachner had huge questions to wrestle with when she first began searching for her birth parents 13 years ago.

When an adoptee chooses to search for their birth parents, Suzanne explains, “You have to consider, do you want to stay with a simpler, incomplete identity, or do you want to move forward towards embracing a dual identity and integrating those identities into one that reflects your true self?”

“When you don’t know where you came from or what happened to you from conception through adoption, you feel removed from human...

Sep12
by admin
Gordon Center JCC news
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...

Apr02
by admin
Jewish Life
Making their Mark on the World

Ten Jewish Baltimoreans to be Honored at 2019 Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame

While many of us aspire to change the world and do so in many ways, there are those who go above and beyond to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

Every other year, the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame (HOF) honors up to 10 exceptional Jewish Baltimoreans who have made significant contributions to the local and global community through their life’s work in fields such as science, education, business, medicine, law, politics, community service, sports and the arts.

The advent of the Baltimore Jewish Hall of Fame dates to 2008.  According to JCC Chief Executive Officer Barak Hermann, “We wanted to create an event that celebrates the lives of individuals whose...

Feb12
by admin
Gordon Center Performances
Meet Michael Feinstein

Michael Feinstein headlines J Live at the Gordon April 8

When Michael Feinstein moved to California at the age of 20, he went to a psychic to receive some life’s direction. A waiter at a piano bar where he was playing had suggested he do so.

“I had never been to a psychic,” he says, “And I figured $25, what the heck?”

The psychic told him that in the future he’d be singing music and be known as much for the way he “set up” songs, in addition to the way he’d be singing them. That’s exactly what Feinstein is doing today.

Feinstein’s breakthrough performance came together in the spring of 1985 when, by default, he was offered a gig at San Francisco’s Plush Room, a venue for jazz and cabaret artists.

“Someone fell out and they needed someone to do a show,” Feinstein recalls.  This was the first time he did a show where the...

Feb12
by admin
Gordon Center Performances
Roni Koresh and “Inner Sun” Shine Bright

Internationally-acclaimed dancer and choreographer Roni Koresh and his troupe of dancers perform at The Gordon Center February 16.

Roni Koresh started dancing with his mother as a child, and was eventually discovered dancing at parties. “I fell in love with dance; it gave me an identity, defined me differently than most people,” Roni said as he and his troupe prepare for their visit.

Roni was encouraged by many to pursue dance professionally, and it quickly became not only a career path, but a true passion.

...

Sep04
Compañia Flamenca Eduardo Guerrer
by admin
Gordon Center Performances
Introducing Eduardo Guerrero

On Thursday, October 11, 2018, the Gordon presents FLAMENCO PASIÓN, a dance performance by Compañia Flamenca Eduardo Guerrero.

Direct from Cadiz, Spain, this group of elite artists, including critically acclaimed flamenco dancer and choreographer Eduardo Guerrero himself, will captivate you with the full range emotions this temperamental and passionate Spanish dance conveys. 

Gordon artistic director Alyson Bonavoglia recently caught up with Eduardo on tour:

AB: Your choreography has been referred to as “modern and courageous,” and it has been written that you have “no limits … because [you do] not seem to need them. [You] dance the impossible.” It...

Jun20
by admin
Performances Gordon Center
Classic Rock Legends LIVE at the Gordon

Bluegrass, Tex-Mex, Surf Rock and Folk – this Summer and Fall the Gordon’s got it all!  

Donavon Frankenreiter
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 7:30 pm

You’ll be digging the soft, soulful, surf-rockin’ groove of Donavon Frankenreiter and his album, "The Heart," as the singer-songwriter's marks the start of his second decade as a solo recording artist. It's been over ten years since the release of the former Jack Johnson protégé’s debut, and in that time

Frankenreiter has grown, not only as a musician, but as a man, raising a family and nurturing two creative careers – “one onstage and one in the waves.”

Arlo Guthrie
Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 8:00 pm...

Feb20
by admin
Special Needs Health
On the Spectrum

by Alex Holt 

Alex Holt was born on Long Island but grew up near Albany and Buffalo, New York. He was first identified as being on the autism spectrum around 1994 or 1995. He received his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in journalism in 2013 before moving to Baltimore and receiving his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2014. He recently completed an internship at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC in 2017, where he still writes.

“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism” - Dr. Stephen Shore

What’s it like being autistic? I honestly couldn’t tell you, at least not completely. Actually, that’s not quite true: I...

Dec14
Gordon Center Theater
by admin
Gordon Center
Meet Our New Gordon Center Directors

Alyson Bonavoglia, Artistic Director

The JCC of Greater Baltimore is thrilled to announce that Alyson Bonavoglia has been named the new Artistic Director of the Gordon Center for Performing Arts. Since 2014 Alyson has served as Community Engagement Coordinator and Director of the Baltimore Jewish Film Festival.

"I have been involved in many aspects of the Gordon Center -- from designing events with Associated agencies and partners in the Baltimore arts community, to writing grants to government and private foundations, to working with the film committee to bring the best in new Jewish interest movies to Baltimore. I see my deepening engagement with the...

Dec13
Jonah Platt
by admin
Gordon Center Performances
J LIVE welcomes Jonah Platt

Actor, musician, and writer Jonah Platt will bring a powerful dose of soulful singing and timely comedic relief to the Gordon Center on March 3, 2018, as he and his band headline our 2nd annual J Live at the Gordon fundraising gala to benefit need-based scholarships for JCC children and teens.

Jonah has appeared on the stages of Broadway, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl; Philadelphia’s Trocadero, Palestra, and Wells Fargo Center; and LA’s Catalina Jazz Club, Roxy, Whisky A-Go-Go, and Troubadour. As a Hollywood writer, he has written for Fox’s Family Guy and NBC’s Parks and Recreation.

Jonah’s work as an actor spans nearly 20 years of stage, screen, and (web) streaming. He spent last year starring as “Fiyero” in the smash Broadway musical, Wicked....