An Open Door, An Important Responsibility

Yesterday, I learned that 77% of people seeking Jewish connection turn to a JCC first. That number should command our attention.

Rabbi Daniel Septimus shared this datapoint throughout his visit to Indianapolis this week. Daniel, the former CEO of Shalom Austin, now leads JCC Association’s new Center for Jewish Peoplehood. He repeated the statistic

because it reveals something important about this moment: JCCs are not simply one option for Jewish engagement. For most people seeking connection, we are the front door. That carries enormous opportunity and responsibility.

At a time of rising antisemitism, deepening isolation, and declining trust in institutions, people are searching for places where they feel safe, known, and connected to something larger than themselves. Many are seeking community outside traditional points of entry. If they are turning to us first, we must be ready to meet them with experiences that are meaningful, relationships that endure, and a community they want to claim as their own.

Daniel witnessed the important work happening across our campus. He experienced the energy of our summer camp, part of a larger JCC movement creating formative experiences for thousands of children. We stepped into an infant classroom in our Early Childhood Education center and found deeply dedicated educators and several very happy, very cute babies. I also introduced him to Tim Bass, one of our incredible group fitness instructors, who continues to give back to the JCC because of what this community has given him.

We could hardly make it down a hallway without stopping. Members greeted us, staff paused to say hello, and people shared what they were doing and why they were there. The tour took longer than planned, but those interactions showed Daniel more than any formal presentation could. Our J is not simply a place people use. It is a community they invest in, contribute to, and help shape.

When I first walked through our JCC’s doors, I recognized a strong foundation and was inspired by the enormous possibilities. I saw more than a building or a collection of programs. I saw a strong foundation, enormous potential, and a community I wanted to help strengthen.

Now is the time to realize that potential. We cannot assume people — Jewish or those of other faiths and backgrounds — will find their way to Jewish community on their own. Certainly, we cannot assume the institutions we value will remain strong without continued investment, intention, and change. 

Our responsibility is not simply to sustain the JCC we have today. It is to build the JCC our community will need tomorrow: a place where Jewish life thrives, people of all backgrounds find belonging, and relationships strengthen the entire community. Our community is asking for more, and our front door is (figuratively) open. What folks find when they walk through our front door is up to all of us. 

Seventy-seven percent is not simply a staggering statistic. It is an urgent call to action, and our JCC is ready to answer it.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Sam Dubrinsky – JCC Indianapolis CEO