Celebrating a Year of Growth, Together
Exactly one year ago today, I walked into our JCC for my second day as CEO. One year later, I am just as energized — though a little less nervous — as I was then. What excites me most isn’t just the work we do, but the way our JCC continues to be shaped, strengthened, […]
A Sweet New Year, A Renewed Purpose
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a time when tradition teaches us that the world itself is renewed, begins this evening. Ten days from now we will gather again for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The days that connect the two are known as the Days of Teshuvah, which literally translates to “return.” Teshuvah […]
Celebrate the High Holidays & Fall Sports at JCC Indianapolis
With the school year underway and the arrival of fall, JCC Indianapolis invites members—and those considering membership—to enjoy a season full of community, celebration, and activity. From meaningful holiday observances to youth sports and lessons, the lineup of JCC Indianapolis fall programs this September and early October offers something for everyone.
Shabbat Shalom from Sam: The Weight We Didn’t Know We Carried
Do you know that feeling of relief when a weight lifts off your shoulders — a weight you didn’t even realize you were carrying? That’s exactly how I felt last night at dinner with Jewish community leaders Beth and Steve Klapper and two of their daughters. JCC Board Chair David Katz, our spouses, and me […]
Rod Hofts’ Legacy and the JCC’s Impact
The idea of leaving a legacy has been on my mind this week. Over the weekend, we learned of former Sports and Fitness Director Rod Hofts’ passing. Though I never met Rod, who retired at the end of 2006, his legacy lives on in the many lives he impacted through his work at the JCC. […]
Shabbat Shalom from Sam: What the JCC Shares with a 90s Boy Band
It was at a Backstreet Boys concert that I realized just how much in common the JCC community has with a 90s pop boy band fanbase. Stay with me. I promise I’ll connect the dots.This past weekend, I saw the Backstreet Boys in concert. The five-member boy band, who really broke onto the scene in […]
Fall Fun at JCC Indianapolis: Sports, Doggie Dips, & More
As summer winds down in the Hoosier state, the JCC Indianapolis is alive with energy, offering programs and events for families, children, and members of all ages. From back-to-school support to fall sports and community favorites, there’s something for everyone at JCC Indianapolis.
Shabbat Shalom from Sam: The Secret Ingredient is Relationships
“Would you like your hamburger medium-well or well-done?” is a question that I asked numerous times a day during my college years. I worked at my family’s restaurant as a server for about three years. At the time, I couldn’t imagine how my job serving hamburgers and corned beef sandwiches would contribute to my ultimate […]
Shabbat Shalom from Sam: Wisdom from a General, Strength from a son
Around dinnertime Monday evening, my phone lit up. Typically, I wouldn’t answer the phone during designated family time, but this caller was special. It was retired US Marine General Charles Krulak, a former Commandant of the Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Bill Clinton. For nearly 15 years, […]
Shabbat Shalom from Sam: The Heartbeat of Our Community
A good friend, whose opinion on current events, Israel, and antisemitism I deeply value and respect, and I were texting back and forth late Wednesday night. I told her that for this week’s Friday message, I felt like my Jewish values were calling me to write about the continued suffering of the remaining 50 hostages and […]
