Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Neighbor is a moral concept.

Posted by Brian Schreiber on June 2, 2020

The death of George Floyd and the protests across America that followed have been a sobering reminder of how deep our society’s wounds really are.  As I reflect on this tragedy, I am reminded just why we created the Center for Loving Kindness three years ago and the enduring Jewish values universally applicable to love your neighbor as yourself.   We do this in a non-partisan way during a highly charged political climate these past three years.

This framework to recreate the concept of neighbor has supported our work then, through mass shootings, through the Antwon Rose death, and our current situation today.

As we begin a public JCC reopening,  I think about our commitment to our members, guests, and professional staff which I affirm to all of you:

“The JCC is open and accessible to everyone, regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or special need by welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, embracing their uniqueness and diversity under our communal tent.”

At this time of great pain and upheaval, our job is to live these words each and every day and make our tent a model to our community.  It is more important than ever.

Brian Schreiber

JCC President & CEO 

Related Posts

On Martin Luther King Day: Teach Your Children

When giving consideration to how we talk about anti-racism in early learning, there is an overwhelming agreed upon approach: Talk about it all year lo...
read more

My/Our Body and My/Our Soul: Caring for Both Every Day and on Yom Kippur, Too

Even before we start talking about Yom Kippur, I want to have a conversation with you about what I do on a daily basis. I am not sure how I did this, ...
read more

Our Vision of Community

Welcome to our vision of community.  ...
read more

Five Years and Counting: So Much More Kindness To Do

It has been five years and counting since we launched the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement (CFLK) at the JCC of ...
read more