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, […]

This past Saturday, I found myself around a friend’s kitchen table — coffee cups full, chairs pulled close, the comfortable hum of people who trust each other enough to say what they’re really thinking. We gather every Shabbat afternoon after synagogue services. That part wasn’t new. But this Saturday felt different. We had all woken up […]

A few weeks ago, I sat down at my desk to catch up on my emails and noticed I had a voicemail. The message was simple: “Please call me. I have a few questions.” Now, when you oversee a building that is open seven days a week from early morning until late at night, “a […]

As we all settle into the rhythm of a new year, I’ve been reflecting on how generosity has a way of multiplying — how one act of caring so often inspires another.Several weeks ago, I wrote about an incredible mother-daughter duo who gave a collective $150,000 gift to provide access to JCC childcare services for […]

It was at a Backstreet Boys concert that I realized just how much in common the JCC community has with a 90s pop boy band fanbase. Stay with me. I promise I’ll connect the dots.This past weekend, I saw the Backstreet Boys in concert. The five-member boy band, who really broke onto the scene in […]