Gaining Traction to Serve YOU Better Diane Newland, Chief Financial Officer Ben Katz, Systems and IT Coordinator At the JCC, one of our core commitments is, “It’s better here!” This serves as a clarion call for our never-ending pursuit of excellence in everything we do, fully recognizing that excellence is an ideal state that may be difficult […]
JCC State of Mind – March 15, 2024 Read More »
Don’t get me wrong; we LOVE traditional hamantaschen. Yiddish for “Haman’s pockets” and also interpreted in old legend as Haman’s three-cornered hat, some of us consider these delectable sweet pastries as a way to get back at Haman, the villain in the Purim story in the Biblical Book of Esther. To commemorate his downfall, we eat his hat! Miriam
Make a Meal of Hamantaschen! Read More »
Why is this Big Night different from all other Big Nights? Of course, every Big Night is unique! Who can forget our inaugural Big Night in 2007 saluting the JCC’s rich history of basketball and the values of teamwork and sportsmanship? And what about the 2011 edition, Peace, Love and the IKCs, when the iconic
JCC State of Mind – March 8, 2023 Read More »
Back in 2016, David Bryfman from The Jewish Education Project came to Pittsburgh and told us very directly that if we were still programming for teens the way we were five years ago that we would soon lose our audience. We took David’s advice to heart and with the generous support of the Jewish Federation
JCC State of Mind – March 1, 2024 Read More »
In the fast-paced and competitive landscape of today’s workplace, professional development is required for both organizational and personal growth and adaptation. Yet, despite its pivotal role in employee success, many tend to overlook or undervalue the significance of continuous learning and skill enhancement. Some professionals, having reached a certain level of competence in their field,
JCC State of Mind – February 23, 2024 Read More »
Last week I attended the JCCA’s annual Mifgash conference in Denver, Colorado and had the opportunity to gather with more than 140 JCC leaders from across North America to think and learn collaboratively about the unique interests and priorities of our respective JCCs and the broader JCC Movement in today’s world. Having been on the job for
JCC State of Mind – February 16, 2024 Read More »
Written by Aaron Cantor, EKC Director We are on a mission at EKC to advance a transformative cultural shift—one that empowers and advances female staff, fosters allyship among male colleagues, and cultivates an inclusive work environment. We are beyond excited to share that we’ve been awarded a grant from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater
JCC State of Mind – February 9, 2024 Read More »
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” -Betty Friedan I’ve always had a very different perspective of aging than most of my peers growing up. As a young child, I gravitated towards my great uncle Jack, who was a writer, proofreader, and editor. When my friends were beginning to
JCC State of Mind – February 2, 2024 Read More »
It’s nothing new to say that the JCC is all about its middle name -Jewish Community Center. Afterall, community (kehilla) is a core value in Judaism, and it’s a value that applies universally. Creating and supporting community as a vital, life-enriching force – that’s what the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh has been doing for almost 130 years.
JCC State of Mind – January 26, 2024 Read More »
Continuing the Work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Joachim Prinz When the nation’s attention turned to the National Mall on August 28th, 1963, moments before the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared his dream of what America could be, his ally, Rabbi Joachim Prinz of New Jersey took to
JCC State of Mind – January 19, 2024 Read More »
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to join the JCC’s talented team of lifeguards for a mandatory training session at our South Hills pool. Organized and led by a number of key members of our aquatics staff – Carla Hartley, Sarah Grimm, Anna Rose Watterson, Lex Glickman, Tim Griffith and Emily Lawrence – we discussed
JCC State of Mind – January 12, 2024 Read More »
In our increasingly multifaceted and complex society, collaboration between government and non-profit organizations is paramount in shaping the present and future of our community. At the heart of a thriving community often lies a dynamic partnership between the public sector and non-profit organizations. This collaboration can be a powerful force that when harnessed effectively, can
JCC State of Mind – January 5, 2024 Read More »
December 22, 2023 When I think about the JCC’s approach to community, I often come back to the Jewish practice of requiring a minyan – a group of 10 – for daily prayer and certain religious rituals. A minyan fosters a sense of unity among the participants and symbolizes the collective strength and interconnectedness of the community. The bonds
JCC State of Mind: A weekly message to staff, board, and stakeholders Read More »
First Person Perfect: Adult Swim Written by Mia McPherson, Contributing Writer, Mt. Lebanon Magazine | December 20, 2023 Photography by John Schisler Encouraged by JCC assistant aquatics director Sarah Grimm, Mia McPherson performs a freestyle stroke during a recent swimming lesson. Well into adulthood, Mia decided to challenge herself and learn to swim. I’ve always felt
Overcoming Fear and Learning to Swim at the JCC! Read More »
At the age of 16, I was hired for an amazing job. That job – titled “camp counselor” – is still, to this day, the best job I’ve ever had. It offered me invaluable skill-building such as leadership, responsibility and problem solving. More importantly, it’s where I discovered a sense of purpose, meaningful work, confidence
JCC State of Mind – December 29, 2023 Read More »
Remarks made on October 27, 2023 5th Year Community Commemoration of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Rev. Liddy Barlow and Rabbi Ron Symons On this sacred and liminal day, we stand together as spiritual siblings looking back on these past five years, considering our learning, cherishing times of joy, remembering moments of challenge. On this tender
A Dream for a Better Future: Remarks made on October 27, 2023 Read More »
Dear JCC Day Camp community, These last few days have been sad and concerning for many of us as we watch the events unfolding in the Middle East. My thoughts have included our day camp Shlichim, colleagues in Israel and everyone living in our partnership community in Karmiel and Misgav. As many of you know,
Update from JCC Camps – October 2023 Read More »
Sunday, October 8, 2023 Day 2: Operation Iron Swords I have never experienced the pain, frustration, fear, or sorrow that I feel today—and will continue to feel in the coming days. I am constantly on the brink of tears, which spill over every now and then—when our little grandchildren are not around. After a short,
Our Lives Have Changed Beyond Recognition Read More »
Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 1: Fitness Centers Open 8 am-2 pm; Family Park Open 11 am-7 pm