I’m going to start by sharing something that makes me feel vulnerable: when I became a 28-year-old Executive Director at the JCC in Birmingham, Alabama — my hometown — I had no idea what I was doing. I had passion and cared deeply about the mission. But I was learning in real time how to […]

Everywhere I turn at our JCC lately, I see people building something together. A few weeks ago, I asked many of you to share your stories. What came back was extraordinary: stories of friendship, healing, belonging, growth, tradition, and connection. Again and again, one truth emerged. In moments when life felt fractured or uncertain, people […]

For the past 18 months, I’ve had the honor of telling stories — stories about our JCC, community, and the people who make it what it is. Some of those stories have been yours. And they’ve stayed with me. But the truth is, I know they are only a small glimpse. Because every single day, […]

As we move toward Shabbat, I’ve been thinking about what it truly means to build community not in the abstract, but in the small, tangible ways we show up for one another. The conversations we have, moments we share, the ways we create something meaningful together, even when the world around us can feel fragmented. […]

I’m writing this at 10 p.m., on a bus back to our Disney World hotel. My son is asleep on my shoulder, surrounded by families who have just watched the evening fireworks at Magic Kingdom. We’ve spent the week at Disney World — our long-delayed trip, postponed after my husband lost his mother. If I’m […]

Passover is a time of renewal, reflection, and connection; a season that brings families and communities together in meaningful ways. At JCC Indianapolis, this time of year offers a natural opportunity to celebrate tradition while staying engaged through programs that support wellness, learning, and community involvement. Whether you’re spending time with family, exploring new activities, […]

As we move toward Shabbat, I’ve been sitting with two emails I received over the past few weeks in response to Friday messages I had written. On the surface, they came from very different perspectives — but together, they tell a powerful story about who we are as a JCC community. One was from a member […]

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 […]

Earlier this week, I was preparing to fly back to Massachusetts, where I previously led a JCC. The trip was supposed to be short — less than 24 hours — yet I knew it would be emotionally heavy. In the spring of 2024, a man came to that JCC with a gun and filmed himself […]

Once a week, a group of us — Jewish community leaders — sits around a table. On paper, we run very different organizations.David Sklar spends his days advocating for the Jewish community and building relationships across the civic landscape through the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Indianapolis. Rachel Katz leads Jewish Family Services of Greater Indianapolis, […]