To advance our vision of an exemplary, thriving, engaged community rooted in Jewish values, the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh’s mission is to enrich our community by creating an environment that strengthens the physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being of individuals and families.

The JCC provides a gateway to experience the richness of Jewish tradition and community.

The JCC is a place where Jews are welcome no matter where or whether they worship, whatever their age or life style.

We see value and potential in people associating with each other in a warm, supportive environment.

We foster meaningful connections to the land and people of Israel and the Jewish community worldwide.

We promote active collaborations to build lasting Jewish commitment and memories.

Following the tradition of Abraham, we welcome individuals of all backgrounds, embracing their uniqueness and diversity under our communal tent.

We maximize accessibility of services for people of all means and abilities.

The JCC’s Jewish Values

JCC Values are an expression of who we are and what we aspire to. In this fast-changing, complicated world, our values are enduring.

Kavod/Respect: Kavod speaks to how we treat others and comport ourselves—with honor, respect and dignity.

Chesed/Kindness: “Kindness is the overflowing of one’s self into the lives of others” —Anonymous Our sages teach that one of the three pillars upon which the world is sustained is kindness. The term gemilut chasadim, which literally means “the giving of loving-kindness,” is an act that an individual completes without the anticipation of receiving something in return. Chesed is “paying forward” in its truest sense.

Tikkun Middot/Character Tikkun Middot is specific to Character —our own as well as how we help build character, especially in our youngest participants. Tikkun Middot may be measured by attributes including humility, courage, peace in the home, guarding one’s speech and gracious hospitality.

Kehillah/Community: What we build every day at the JCC.

At the turn of the 20th century, thousands of Jews immigrated from Eastern Europe to Pittsburgh. Responding to the growing needs of this population, the Council of Jewish Women founded the Columbian School and Settlement. It opened in 1895 in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood at the time.

The Settlement had a summer play school, a reading room, free baths, and classes in English and citizenship.

In 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kaufmann donated a building, equipment and money, as a memorial to their daughter, Irene, and the agency then became known as the Irene Kaufmann Settlement. IKS, as it was called, helped immigrants adjust to their lives in America. The staff trained them to work and helped them to find jobs. Children and families benefited from new playgrounds, a “Milk Well” program to purchase affordable milk, a “Better Baby” healthcare clinic, and a place to “escape” during the summers called Emma Farm, now known as Emma Kaufmann Camp.

The IKS also created the Pittsburgh Visiting Nurses Association so that immigrants could have medical care at the Settlement. Immigrants also enjoyed venues for recreational pursuits, including a gymnasium, swimming pool, library, club room, and a school of music, theater and art.

In 1910, several men created the Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA), and women soon followed, forming a Young Women’s Hebrew Association. The two groups merged, forming the YM & WHA, known as the Y. These organizations offered book clubs, art classes, dances, music appreciation groups, sports teams, and family support.

In 1939, the Settlement wrote a mission statement called “The Special Purpose of the Irene Kaufmann Settlement,” which included as its primary objective the advancement of “the civic, intellectual, and social welfare of the surrounding community. [The Settlement] aims to do this, first, by guiding native and foreign-born to American ideals; second, by encouraging self-improvement; third, by stimulating healthy pleasures; fourth, by broadening civic interests; fifth, by creating ideals of conduct.”

IKS continued to grow. Over time, it became clear that an overlap of programming at the agencies was a burden on the community’s resources. At the close of 1960, the Young Men and Women’s Hebrew Association, the Irene Kaufmann Settlement, and Emma Farm Association merged to create the Young Men and Women’s Hebrew Association-Irene Kaufmann Centers, commonly referred to as the Y-IKC, lovingly known as the “Ikes.”

While our name has changed, those core goals and values still exist at today’s Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. We continue to welcome everyone, offering arts and culture, English as a second language, preschool, summer camps, sports and athletics, programming for older adults, and many other programs for all ages and interests. The JCC continues to foster the same growth and advancement of its members as it did more than 120 years ago.

1895

The Columbian School and Settlement is begun by the Kaufmann Family and the Council of Jewish Women of Pittsburgh on Miller Street in the Hill District.

1908

Emma Farm Association, named in memory of Isaac Kaufmann’s wife, Emma, opens in Harmarville, PA.

1909

The Columbian School and Settlement accepts gift from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kaufmann of a new building as a memorial to their daughter, Irene. The agency is renamed the Irene Kaufmann Settlement, affectionately known as the IKS.

1910

Young Men’s Hebrew Association is organized in in the game room of the Tree of Life Synagogue in downtown Pittsburgh; young women quickly form a parallel social organization, the YWHA. The two groups merge to form the YM & WHA, known as the Y.

1922

Emma Farm Association moves to Harmony, PA, where camp is held for the next 50 years.

1925

YM &WHA opens on Bellefield Avenue is opened.

1943

Irene Kaufmann Settlement establishes a Squirrel Hill Boy’s Club on Forward Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

1949 

IKS purchases club house at 5738 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill, site of the current Irene Kaufmann building.

1957

Irene Kaufmann Settlement moves out of the Hill District. In 1969, the site on Centre Avenue is deeded to Hill House Association.

1958

Construction begins on the Irene Kaufmann Building at 5738 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. The building opens in 1959.

1960

The boards of Young Men and Women’s Hebrew Association, Irene Kaufmann Settlement and Centers, and Emma Farm Association recommend the merger of the three institutions. The new institution is renamed the Young Men and Women’s Hebrew Association-Irene Kaufmann Centers, commonly referred to as the Y-IKC. Laurel Y Camp is closed.

1968

Dedication of East End Y-IKC at Stanton and South Negley Avenues. The facility is sold in 1973.

1969

Henry Kaufmann Family Recreation Park in Monroeville is dedicated.

1972

Emma Kaufmann Camp moves to its current location on Cheat Lake near Morgantown, WV, on the site of former Camp Lynnwood.

1974

Y-IKC adopts the name of Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh.

1977

The Irene Kaufmann Building in Squirrel Hill undergoes a 10,000 square-foot expansion. The expanded facility is dedicated in 1980.

1985

YM&WHA facility on Bellefield Avenue is sold to the University of Pittsburgh.

1986

Irene Kaufmann Building in Squirrel Hill is razed to make way for construction of a new, 100,000 square-foot facility, nearly double the size of the previous building.

1987

November 1987 through April 1988; phased opening of the new Irene Kaufmann Building of the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh.

1992

South Hills Branch concept adopted by the JCC Board; arrangements made for temporary operation at the Ward School in Mt. Lebanon

1996

Emma Kaufmann Camp improves physical facilities with $1million of improvements over the last decade The Kane Hospital site is purchased for South Hills Branch development

1997

Ground is broken in June for the new Henry Kaufmann Building in Scott Township, South Hills. The new Alex and Leona Robinson Building on Darlington Road in Squirrel Hill is dedicated in September as part of the community’s Renaissance campaign.

1999

The new Henry Kaufmann Building in Scott Township, built on a portion of the Kane Hospital site, is dedicated. The South Hills programs of the JCC previously were held in the former Ward School in Mount Lebanon starting in the early 1990s. The Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh is renamed the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh.

2008

The new Leatrice and John M. Wolf Centerfit, a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of the Squirrel Hill fitness areas, opens, greatly improving fitness and wellness opportunities for all members. An expansion of the JCC-South Hills fitness facilities was completed in 2006.

2012

The Rauh Jewish Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center website, A Tradition of Giving: The History of Jewish Philanthropy in Pittsburgh , traces the development of social services in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. The website uses archival documents, photographs and oral histories from the archival collections of institutions including the JCC, synagogues, organizations and families to tell the story of how the Pittsburgh Jewish community responded to the needs of Jews in Pittsburgh and beyond. The site has many references to the JCC and the institutions that preceded it, including the following:

• Irene Kaufmann Settlement
• Y-IKC
• Young Men and Women’s Hebrew Association

OFFICERS

James S. Ruttenberg, Chair of the Board

William S. Goodman, Vice Chair

Scott E. Seewald, Vice Chair

Kenneth T. Segel, Vice Chair

Hilary S. Tyson, Vice Chair

Samuel W. Braver, Treasurer

Audrey Russo, Assistant Treasurer

Stefani Pashman, Secretary

Carole S. Katz, Assistant Secretary

Brian Schreiber, President and CEO

Marc Brown, Immediate Past Chair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joshua M. Farber
Jeffrey Galak
Sherree R. Goldstein
Jake Goodman
Deborah F. Graver
Ina K. Gumberg
William H. Isler
Noah Jordan
Rona Kaufman
Samantha Klein
Douglas W. Kress
Scott D. Leib
Louis B. Plung
Rita Rabin
Todd E. Reidbord
Lori B. Shure
Eric R. Smiga

• Louis Reizenstein, 1961-63*
• Julian Ruslander, 1963-65 *
• Samuel Kaufman, 1965-67 *
• John M. Wolf, Sr., 1967-70*
• Gerald Ostrow, 1970-73 *
• Harold Gondelman, 1973-76 *
• Charles Kirshner, 1976-79 *
• Earl Latterman, 1979-82
• Samuel B. Roth, 1982-84 *
• Edward Berman, 1984-86
• Stewart B. Barmen, 1986-88
• Joel J. Hausman, 1988-90
• Ruth G. Schachter, 1990-93
• Arlene Weisman, 1993-96
• Alan Garfinkel, 1996-98
• Douglas H. Ostrow, 1998-2001
• Bruce Booken, 2001-04
• Linda S. Simon, 2004-07
• Meryl K. Ainsman, 2007-10
• Jeffrey B. Markel, 2010-13
• Marc Brown, 2013-16

* Z”l of blessed memory

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