JCC Blog

The Origins of JCC Maccabi® ArtsFest

One of the big questions Jewish parents face is how to keep teens engaged in immersive Jewish experiences following the B’nai Mitzvah.

Participation in the JCC Maccabi Games have long provided Jewish parents a terrific athletic option - if your teens enjoy competitive sports, they can play baseball, volleyball, run track, you name it, against a host of other JCC’s.

But, what if your teen has interests other than sports? Is there a Maccabi-like experience in which they can still converge and establish friendships among upwards of 2000 Jewish teens in a single summer, teens who come from across the country to share similar pursuits?

The answer is “yes,” and it’s called JCC Maccabi® ArtsFest...

Sparking the Future with 4Front

Parents are you looking for a change of “screenery” for your teens? Introduce your ambitious, budding young adults to 4Front, the Baltimore Jewish community’s most comprehensive teen initiative to date.  4Front lies at the forefront of progress and change, encouraging collaboration, education, innovation, and advocacy among Jewish teens.

Featuring a signature Social Innovation Fellowship, leadership programs, and social opportunities, 4Front encourages teens to explore their Judaism in ways that are meaningful to them.

Directed by the Jewish Community Center of Baltimore, 4Front is supported by The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and the Jim Joseph Foundation. The Associated received a five-year matching...

The Thrill of Maccabi Victories

Baltimore Athletes Make Memories and Take Pride in JCC Maccabi Games® Experience 

The JCC Maccabi Games®, held over the last two weeks in St. Louis, MO, and Stamford, CT, have been offering life - and personality-shaping experiences to Jewish teenagers since 1982. 

Teens from around the world participate in this five-day Olympic-style sporting event held each summer. Beyond the athletic competition, the Games promote community involvement, teamwork, and pride in being Jewish.

Each year Baltimore sends nearly 100 athletes to up to two host cities to compete in Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Bowling, Baseball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Swimming, Softball, Dance and Track & Field.

Two of Baltimore’s athletes, Hailey Grutman and Eric Diehl, wrote about their...