JCC stories

Written by Cynthia Ceilan

"The fellowship of women from around the world who are making truly impactful change is not to be underestimated," says Meg Sullivan, director of JCC Harlem. "For someone like me, who is still in the early stages of my career, it's a particular honor to be among such giants."

For some, it was finding food for Passover. For others, it was finding a way to obtain needed medications. For some, it was the desire to find a substitute for their weekly bridge game. And for many, it was just the need to know that they had not been forgotten in isolation. Times are uncertain. Community is not.

Adaptations, a group for those in their 20s and 30s that was one of the earliest innovations out of The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Special Needs, played a key role in enhancing the life of Judy Fettman over the past 12 years. All those who know her would agree that she did the same for Adaptations.

Empowering children to be their strongest, most confident selves is undeniably important. Just as crucial is the role families and other adults play in that endeavor. But as kids—especially girls—reach school-age and beyond, providing that support becomes more challenging.

For women living with breast or ovarian cancer, the JCC’s Shirley Kohn Spa Day--now in its 13th year--serves as a much-needed respite from the daily stress and worry that having a devastating illness can bring. But they aren’t the only ones who benefit.

Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Joanne Edgar, and Ellen Sweet are former editors of Ms. magazine, the publication that symbolized the “second wave” of feminism in the 1970s and 80s; they’re also members of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan community.

Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown requires a little, well, comfort.

This year, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan has been fortunate to welcome several new staff members. Now, with our newest center and department heads comfortably settled in at the JCC, we'd like to make a few introductions.

Jewish Journeys, the innovative Jewish education program that started at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in 2012, focuses on helping young learners discover Judaism through music, art, literature, cooking, film, and more.

If the family that plays together stays together, what about the family that dances together? For Yvonne and Roger Puckett, popular Nia and Zumba instructors at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, bringing these forms of dance to others has not only allowed them to share their love of movement, but keep young too. And, at 81 and 82 years old, respectively, that’s not a bad thing.