SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–When JCC Association kicks-off its Biennial in San Diego, the focus will be on “Building Connections.” Over five days, starting on March 28, JCC lay leaders and senior professionals will focus on how JCCs are positioned to do just that at a time when the definition of what it means to be Jewish and community affiliation are shifting.
More than 600 participants from 77 communities throughout North America are attending. They will spend the five days learning, teaching and exploring ever-shifting notions of Jewish identity. Participating in more than 100 plenaries, breakout sessions and workshops, the program has attracted more than 50 experts, speakers and scholars, such as Ron Wolfson, author of Relational Judaism, and JDate CEO Greg Liberman.
“In San Diego, we are gathering both celebrate what JCCs do well to meet the needs of a changing and diverse Jewish community, and to learn the ways we can strengthen our mission and grow,” said Allan Finkelstein, president and CEO of JCC Association, who will deliver his Biennial address on Sunday, March 30 at 11 a.m. “JCCs are uniquely positioned to welcome and serve their communities in all their diversity.”
New this year is a spirited Shabbat celebration, which begins at sundown on Friday. Including worship services serve a broad spectrum of Jewish practice, the day of rest will offer a look at the way JCCs can incorporate innovative Jewish practice and foster stronger Jewish identity. Daniel Greyber, a former director of Camp Ramah in California and the rabbi at Beth El Synagogue in Durham, NC, is the scholar-in-residence and former New York Times reporter Amy Waldman will discuss her award-winning 9/11 focused novel, The Submission.
On Sunday the Biennial zooms into high gear. During the course of the programming JCC Association will recognize those who have made significant contributions to the JCC Movement. J. Victor Samuels, a longtime member of the organization’s board will receive the Frank L. Weil Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Jewish Community Center Field; and Sen. Carl M. Levin (MI) has already received the Frank L. Weil Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Armed Forces. Alan Mann, a key developer of the Jewish Community Campus in Newton, Mass. will receive the Florence G. Heller Award; and retired Rear Adm. Harold L. Robinson, director of the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, will receive the Jewish Military Leadership Award. Jody Hirsh, director of Judaic Education at the Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC in Milwaukee will receive the Morton L. Mandel Jewish Educational Leadership Award and Mort Mandel himself, an inspiring leader of JCC Association, will be recognized for his 60 years of service to the JCC Movement.
The JWB Jewish Chaplains Council, a service of JCC Association, holds its conference concurrently. During this gathering of rabbis and lay people who serve Jewish service men and women around the globe, the council will release a new prayer book to use in field and will wind up Torahs for Our Troops, a five-year initiative to commission portable scrolls that can be used by members of the armed services in the combat theater. The final Torah will be completed on Tuesday, April 1 at 11 a.m. in a ceremony where members of the San Diego community will finish final letters. The community will present the Torah to JWB at the closing party on board the USS Midway.
Gary Jacobs, a vice chair of JCC Association’s board of directors, and his parents, San Diego philanthropists Irwin and Joan Jacobs will take part in the ceremony. They are also featured speakers at a plenary session that day about ways to build community through arts and culture, philanthropy and leadership.
Young Leadership will present J-Talks, patterned after wildly successful TED Talks. These 10-minute compelling presentations will cover some of the most challenging issues of the Jewish communal world with insights from some of its brightest young minds.
The first YMHA opened in 1854 to meet the growing needs of an immigrant Jewish community. While the needs of the community have changed, the mission of JCCs to serve them has remained constant. The Biennial is a chance for those organizations to share their best practices and meet with colleagues from across the continent.
Events wrap up Tuesday evening with a host community celebration. The Lawrence Family JCC of San Diego is sponsoring the festivities, which take part aboard the USS Midway.
JCC Association is the leadership network for the Jewish Community Center Movement, which is comprised of almost 350 JCC, YM-YWHA, and camp sites in the U. S. and Canada. JCC Association offers a wide range of services and resources to strengthen the capacity of its affiliates to provide educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programs to enhance the lives of North American Jews of all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens connections between North American Jews and Israel as well as with world Jewry. JCC Association is also a U.S. government-accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients in VA hospitals through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
*
Preceding provided by the JCC Association
*
San Diego Jewish World seeks sponsorships to be placed, as this notice is, just below articles that appear on our site. This is an ideal opportunity for your corporate message or to personally remember a loved one’s contributions to our community. To inquire, call editor Donald H. Harrison at (619) 265-0808 or contact him via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com