Shabbat Shalom from Sam: Stronger in Who We Are, Together in What’s Next

Our JCC has been engaged in a rigorous and deeply thoughtful strategic planning process, led by Panoramic Strategies, to guide our next chapter. This past Monday evening, our Board of Directors officially adopted the framework for that plan, which is centered around four key pillars that will shape not only what we do, but also who we are becoming.

As we put the final touches on this work in the coming weeks, I want to reflect on one of those pillars: Jewish Placemaking — and why this pillar feels so urgent and so full of possibilities right now.

Jewish Placemaking is about more than programming or utilization of space. It is about identity in action. It challenges us to intentionally create environments, experiences, and moments that are distinctly, beautifully and boldly Jewish – transcendent experiences rooted in our values, our traditions, and our culture. It is how we help ensure that Jewish life here in Indianapolis is not passive or peripheral, but is vibrant, visible, and deeply felt.

As we explored this pillar — through structured focus groups, in-depth interviews with members and community partners, and ongoing conversations with our task force and Board — we heard something striking. Our JCC Board Chair David Katz shared this learning powerfully with our entire Board: Some of the strongest enthusiasm for Jewish Placemaking came from people who are not Jewish.

We in leadership roles worry at times that emphasizing Jewish identity might distance members who aren’t Jewish. After all, we are here not only to serve the Jewish community but also the broader community. So, this is a natural concern.

Yet, what we heard from JCC members of other faiths who were interviewed during the strategic planning process, and what we are seeing every day suggests the opposite. We saw it clearly, for example, during our recent Tu B’Shevat celebration. Through our partnership with a local greenhouse, we transformed the holiday into a hands-on, community-wide experience — highlighting Jewish connections to nature, growth, and renewal through the sale of plants, tying it all to the meaning of the holiday.

And who showed up with curiosity and excitement? Members from other faith backgrounds. They didn’t hang back; they leaned in. They asked about the origins of the holiday. They wanted to understand why trees matter in Jewish tradition, what Tu B’Shevat represents, and how these rituals connect to broader themes of stewardship and renewal.

They didn’t just observe; they participated. They were energized by the intentionality, the beauty, and the depth of what they experienced. They weren’t asking us to tone it down. They were drawn in because it was so clearly, confidently Jewish. And that challenges the narrative many of us carry — often quietly, sometimes consciously.

There is a real fear, especially in today’s climate, that being visibly and proudly Jewish could create separation among members and even safety risks for all JCC users. That to be welcoming, we need to soften our Jewish dimension. This fear is understandable. Yet, what we are learning — through data, through lived experience, and through the voices of our members — is this: Members from the broader community come to our JCC not in spite of our emphasis on Jewish culture, heritage and community but because of it.

Jewish Placemaking – I love the phrase! — is not a balancing act between inward and outward. It is the bridge itself. When we invest in the depth, clarity, and confidence of our Jewish identity, we create something authentic. And authenticity is magnetic. It invites people in — not to change who we are, but to experience it, learn from it, and connect through it.

As we enter Shabbat, may we carry this truth with us: When we show up fully as who we are, we don’t stand apart. We become a light, shining brightly, drawing others to us; engendering love, loyalty and mutual respect.

Shabbat Shalom.

Sam Dubrinsky
Chief Executive Officer