Shabbat Shalom from Sam: From Exclusion to Belonging

One Friday morning a few weeks ago, I walked into my office and found a voicemail from lifelong JCC member David Berman. That voicemail led to a conversation I have continued to think about.

When I called him back, it became clear that David was not calling with a concern or a request (though those are important conversations for us to have, too!). He simply wanted me to know how proud he is of our staff team and how much he appreciates the improvements he sees in our programs and the overall experience at our JCC.

Calls like that mean a great deal. They remind us that people notice the care, energy, and commitment our team brings to the J every day.

David also told me about an acquaintance who was looking for a community where she would feel valued and connected. She joined our JCC, enjoyed her experience, and began introducing a group of ten friends to the J. In total, these eleven friends come from all different faiths, identities, and backgrounds. They have come to appreciate our facilities, programs, staff, and members. Most importantly, they have found a place where they feel welcome and want to be involved.

I was thrilled to hear about their experiences, but David’s reflection on what their choice represented gave the story even greater meaning.

He thought about an earlier era in our city and our country, when exclusion and discrimination limited where Jews, African Americans, and other minority groups could live, work, gather, and participate fully in community life. For the generations who lived through that time, the pain of being told you did not belong because of who you were does not simply disappear.

That history is what makes David’s story so powerful. Our JCC was created by people who understood exclusion and wanted to build a place where Jewish life could flourish openly. They also understood the importance of creating a community where people of many faiths and backgrounds could feel that they belonged.

What moved me most was hearing David say that he never could have imagined that the Jewish identity that once made belonging more difficult would, decades later, help inspire the warm and inclusive community we continue to build at the J.

The generations who came before us built the JCC so Jews could gather openly, build relationships, celebrate our traditions, and care for one another. Welcoming our neighbors, learning from people whose cultures and beliefs differ from our own, and creating space to be together are all profound expressions of what it means to be Jewish. Because of our history and beliefs, we are committed to being an antidote to exclusion — a place where you can come as you are regardless of who you are.

David’s call reminded me that our impact is not measured solely by the programs we offer or the improvements we make; it is also measured in the person who feels valued, chooses to return, and invites others to become part of our community.

Thank you for helping create a JCC where our values are not simply stated but deeply felt.

Shabbat Shalom,

Sam Dubrinsky
Chief Executive Officer