“Sam, something is going on in Israel.” Those were the first words I heard from one of my best friends on the morning of October 7, 2023. The day before, we met in Boston to see a concert. While it was a short drive from my then-home in Springfield, Massachusetts, my friend traveled from our […]

The 28th Annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts returns this fall with authors, filmmakers, artists, food and conversations designed to bring people together. For nearly three decades, the Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts has brought compelling voices and fresh ideas to Indianapolis. This fall, the tradition continues with a 2026 lineup […]

Earlier this week, I met with one of our JCC Board members and Michael McKillip, Senior Director of Impact and Infrastructure at United Way of Central Indiana, to discuss potential funding opportunities for our facility. Since 2016, our JCC has received more than $500,000 in facility funding from United Way of Central Indiana, made possible […]

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, to begin tonight at sundown, I have been reflecting on something I’ve noticed throughout the past year. People are coming back to our JCC. For one reason or another, people who were once part of our JCC stepped away. Some moved or entered a different […]

As the floodwaters rose across Greater Indianapolis this past weekend, I found myself scouring news sites and social media, trying to comprehend the damage throughout our community. By Saturday evening, I was overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. I wanted to help but did not yet know how. Around 7:30 pm, I texted my […]

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 […]

The school year brings a new rhythm to family life, and the afternoon hours often carry the biggest shift. JCC Indianapolis shapes back-to-school routines for families throughout Indianapolis, IN. Familiar faces, room to move, and a dependable activity can fit into the week your family already has. Our campus gives kids and parents a place […]

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 […]

Yesterday, I learned that 77% of people seeking Jewish connection turn to a JCC first. That number should command our attention. Rabbi Daniel Septimus shared this datapoint throughout his visit to Indianapolis this week. Daniel, the former CEO of Shalom Austin, now leads JCC Association’s new Center for Jewish Peoplehood. He repeated the statistic because […]

Recently, I walked into a restaurant to meet a special group for breakfast. Before I even reached the table, I could hear the laughter. Stories were flying back and forth, old memories resurfacing, and every conversation seemed to find its way back to one person: the late Rod Hofts, who served as the JCC’s Director […]