Shabbat Shalom from Sam: A Story I Rarely Tell

This morning, I logged into Facebook and one of those “On This Day” memories caught my attention. It was a picture of me holding my newly earned spin instructor certification, and I couldn’t believe that fourteen years have already passed.

Seeing that photo immediately took me back to a chapter of my life that I don’t talk about very often. Truthfully, I’ve debated whether to share this story because it feels vulnerable, but I keep coming back to the same thought: if my experience gives even one person the confidence to walk through our doors, try something new, or believe they’re capable of more than they imagined, then it’s worth sharing.

Fourteen years ago, I wasn’t thinking about leading a JCC. I was simply trying to become a healthier version of myself.

After college, I moved back home and found my way back to the J as a lifelong member who was more than 115 pounds overweight and determined to make a change. I committed to taking group fitness classes because I knew I needed accountability, but I avoided spin for weeks. I was convinced everyone else would know exactly what they were doing while I struggled just to keep up.

I found the reality was so much different. The instructors challenged me, the people riding next to me encouraged me, and before long I realized I wasn’t coming back solely because of the workout; I was coming back because of the people. They noticed when I (and others) missed a class and created a culture where everyone genuinely wanted one another to succeed. Somewhere along the way, I stopped wondering whether I belonged and started feeling like I was part of something bigger.

Over time and with hard work, I became the healthiest version of myself, but that’s not what came to mind when I saw the picture this morning. Instead, I reflected on the people who believed in me before I believed in myself. They encouraged me to become an instructor long before I thought I was ready. At night, several instructors stayed late while I practiced, laughed with me as I tried to find the beat of the music (something I’m still working on!), and celebrated my certification and my first class as an instructor as though it were their own accomplishment. In an ordinary yet incredibly profound way, they showed me what it means to live the JCC’s values in a way that literally transforms people.

When I started teaching, I found myself watching the same story unfold again and again. Members who were intimidated to walk into their first class gradually became the people encouraging someone else. Their confidence grew, they discovered they were capable of more than they imagined, and some eventually found themselves on the instructor bike, giving back to others what had once been given to them.

I probably could have found a spin class somewhere else. I could have found bikes, music, and a workout in a lot of places. What I don’t think I would have found is a community that believed in me before I believed in myself. Our Jewish tradition teaches that every person is created b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of God — and is worthy of dignity, encouragement, and care. I wasn’t thinking about those Hebrew words when I first walked into that spin studio, but I experienced them. I experienced them through people who invested in me simply because that’s who they were.

As we bring our JCC’s strategic plan to life, we’re making an intentional investment in health and community wellness because we know that people are the most important part of any wellness journey. Our programs matter not only because of what they offer, but because they create opportunities for people to encourage one another, challenge one another, celebrate one another, and sometimes change the course of another person’s life without ever realizing they did.

Looking back, I don’t see a picture of a new spin instructor holding a certificate. I see a community that quietly changed the course of my life without ever setting out to do so. That’s exactly the kind of community we’re committed to building at our J: one where every person is welcomed as they are, encouraged to take the next step, and given the opportunity to one day become that source of encouragement for someone else. 

Our JCC is really special, isn’t it? Thank you, as always, for being part of it.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam Dubrinsky
Chief Executive Officer