By Betzy Lynch
LA JOLLA, California –When I came to San Diego in 2017 to have the honor of leading our JCC community professionally, the leadership of our Board of Directors and other key professionals began a visioning process for the future of our JCC and how we aspired to further our impact in San Diego. We knew that to build our future, it would be important to understand our past.
For those who are less familiar with JCC history, here is a quick overview:
— Our JCC was founded in 1945 in the College area by a handful of dedicated and visionary volunteers. After its “permanent” home was built in 1958 (on 54th Street), it quickly became a landmark for the community. For nearly fifty years, the original Center was the hub of Jewish life in San Diego, becoming a cultural source for all ages and providing meeting locations for thousands of projects and programs.
— By the late 1970s, San Diego’s Jewish community had grown and migrated north to the coastal areas of the county. As a result, in 1982 a plan was developed for a community center and public park, to be located in the University City/Golden Triangle area of La Jolla. JCC executives signed a fifty-year lease with the City of San Diego.
— In the early 1980s, jump-started by an initial $1 million gift from M. Larry Lawrence, more than $6 million was raised for the building of the new community center, including the Friedenberg Pool and the Albert A. Hutler Tennis Center. Thanks to the generosity of Mandell Weiss, the Mandell Weiss Eastgate City Park could also be created.
— An additional $1.5 million was raised for further construction of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in 1985, enabling the building to expand to provide facilities for social programs and fitness classes. The NBA-regulation Jacobs Family Gymnasium, built during this phase, also provided a space for basketball and gymnastics classes. It wasn’t long, however, before the JCC once again outgrew its space.
— By 1992 the Board of Directors had planned the “Get Centered” Capital Campaign, led by Joan and Irwin Jacobs, and raised funds for the expansion and renovation of the existing JCC facilities. After many years of planning and two more years of construction, the nearly 100,000 square facility we use today was completed.
— In 1999, through the visionary leadership of Phyllis Epstein and Lynnette Allen, the LFJCC took one of its most valued programmatic departments and created a 501(c3), the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, that remains embedded within the work of the LFJCC.
Building from the legacy of that history, we conducted a deep dive into the missions of the LFJCC and the SDCJC. Then we developed a vision statement.
Here are the results of that effort:
Vision Statement
The JCC is widely recognized as San Diego’s center for Jewish culture, community, and heritage and a highly sought-after partner for the county’s Jewish (and secular) organizations. We are a hub for Jewish experience and connection with a powerfully realized, extensive, and deeply embedded culture of welcome and engagement for all ages and stages of life; a force for Jewish connection and engagement throughout the region.
LFJCC Mission
The mission of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS is to connect the community to Jewish heritage, identity, experiences, and values to ensure the continuity and vibrancy of the Jewish community. We accomplish our mission by promoting the physical and mental well-being of the community and offering a rich array of stimulating and innovative social, cultural, educational, and recreational programs and services. The LFJCC is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for San Diego’s diverse Jewish community and the greater general community.
SDCJC Mission
The mission of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture is to offer an array of entertaining and enriching cultural, educational, and artistic programming that brings the community together to connect with Jewish heritage, identity, experiences, and values. CJC is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for San Diego’s entire community.
The last step in our visioning process was to name the core values of the LFJCC and SDCJC. It was a powerful way to affirm that who our JCC is to our community would be rooted in the values of our Jewish traditions. We acknowledged that the work of the JCC would change over time to meet the needs of the community yet, the core values we selected would remain firm as we evolve to become the most impactful community-building engine we are capable of being.
Overall, we knew that building a Jewish community that includes both Jews and those of other faiths and no faith requires a commitment to inclusivity, education, and respect for diversity. By fostering understanding and mutual respect among all people, we have the power to create a strong sense of belonging and shared purpose that benefits everyone involved. Yet, we wanted to be sure that the core values of our J were unique and could be distinguished from universal principles that can impact any community. Jewish values are deeply rooted in tradition, rituals, and cultural practices that shape the way people who are a part of the community interact with one another and the world around them.
The core values selected were:
— Hachnasat Orchim Livnot Kehillah הכנסת אורחים לבנות קהילה Welcoming Guests to Build Community
— Ahavat Limud אהבת לימוד Love of Learning
— Hiddur Mitzvah הידור מצווה Enhancing Our Humanity through Creative Expression
— L’dor V’dor לדור ודור Linking Generations
— Shmirat HaGuf שמירת הגוף Guarding the Body, Connecting Physical Well-being and Holistic Health
Hachnasat Orchim Livnot Kehillah (Welcoming Guests to Build Community) emphasizes the importance of hospitality in fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity within the community. This value goes beyond merely inviting guests into one’s home; it extends to creating a welcoming environment in all communal spaces. By prioritizing hospitality, Jewish communities cultivate a culture of warmth and acceptance, integral to building strong interpersonal relationships and cohesive community fabric.
Ahavat Limud (Love of Learning) emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom as a lifelong endeavor. In the context of community, this value manifests through formal, informal, and experiential educational programs and arts and cultural events that promote intellectual growth and spiritual development. By valuing learning, our community prioritizes our capacity to learn from others at every age and stage of life. Ahavat Limud also sets the aspiration that those who choose to be a part of the JCC community would have a desire to contribute meaningfully to the community’s collective growth.
Hiddur Mitzvah (Enhancing Our Humanity through Creative Expression) inspires the creation of a sense of shared purpose and identity among the people in our community. By collectively engaging in acts of beautification and creative expression, together we explore what is complicated in the world and can feel a sense of empowerment and ownership in building the world we desire. Hiddur mitzvah also inspires creativity and innovation within the community. It encourages people to find new and meaningful ways to express their connection to Jewish life, leading to the continuity and evolution of traditions, rituals, and practices.
L’dor V’dor (Linking Generations), underscores the importance of intergenerational connections and the transmission of traditions and values between generations. We hope that being a part of the JCC community will foster a sense of continuity and shared responsibility for each other by valuing the input of people in every generation.
Shmirat HaGuf (Guarding the Body, Connecting Physical Well-being and Holistic Health) emphasizes the importance of balance and wholeness in all aspects of life. Our JCC’s holistic approach to caring for the people in and beyond our community elevates our desire to ensure that their diverse needs are met and that they feel supported and valued in all aspects of their lives.
These values have been woven into the fabric of our community for generations. Our desire to name them as the core values of our J set the intention to live every day so that we continue to nurture the roots of our community with tradition, compassion, and a deep sense of purpose so we can become an inclusive, dynamic, and thriving community that enriches the lives of the people who choose to be a part of it and that we can contribute to the greater good of our shared society.
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This article is republished from the April-June 2024 edition of J Connections. Betzy Lynch is the executive director of the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus.