On Thursday evening, I slipped into the back of the Laikin Auditorium just before one of our Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts authors began to speak. As people found their seats, I noticed two members — one who has been part of our JCC for decades and another who just joined this year — connecting for the first time, already making plans to attend a group fitness class together.

A few tables away, a staff member sat beside her grandmother, both settling in as they prepared to share an evening of storytelling and meaning across generations. Across the room, our Board Chair David Katz and team members Jodi Greenwald and Abby Katz welcomed guests with the kind of warmth that makes everyone feel like they belong.

Those small moments might have looked ordinary, but to me, they revealed the heart of who we are — a place where connection happens naturally, meaningfully, and often without fanfare.

That same rhythm and energy carried through the rest of the week: the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Women’s Philanthropy gathering was inspiring, with stories about how the JCC has shaped our community; three other engaging and meaningful Ann Katz Festival events took place;  an all-day strategic planning session that invited bold dreaming was inspiring; a board meeting grounded in stewardship and progress was uplifting; and our Hand in Hand Task Force meeting, where volunteers came together with heart, passion, and generosity was awesome!

Leading through a week like this is both humbling and holy. There’s a busy rhythm to it — the swirl of details and supporting our amazing team, intertwined with moments of awe when I witness this community in motion. By the end of the night, I was tired — but it was the sacred kind of tired that comes from knowing you’re part of something much, much bigger than yourself.

This week embodied what our Hand in Hand Annual Campaign stands for — the JCC serving as the heart of our community. It’s the cultural programs that move us, the generosity that sustains us, the planning that prepares us, and the leadership that propels us forward. It’s every hand that helps and every connection made that keeps our JCC vibrant and strong.

As Shabbat begins, I’m filled with deep appreciation for each of you who makes this place beat with life and meaning. You remind me that even in the busiest weeks, I am never leading alone. We do this together — sharing the load, the vision, and the belief that what we’re building matters.

If you haven’t yet made your Hand in Hand gift, I invite you to join me — and our campaign co-chairs Katy Cantor and Ally Weiss — in sustaining the heart of our community. Every contribution, every act of participation, keeps this heartbeat strong — today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Sam Dubrinsky – CEO