JCC stories

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.

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.

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.

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 there's anyone at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan who knows the building inside and out, it has to be Ladi Lopez. After 18 years at the JCC, the last eight in the role of greeter, there isn’t a single location—and very few people who walk through our doors—she doesn’t know.

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.

There's no shortage of community service opportunities at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. For members age 50 and up, there’s the Engage Jewish Service Corps; the 20s and 30s cohort participates in Repair the World; and volunteers of all ages work as literacy and math volunteers or teach technology skills through SeniorTechNYC.

It’s somewhat surprising that the inspiration for the JCC’s Conversations series What Everyone’s Talking About with Abigail Pogrebin, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, came not from its host’s illustrious broadcast news background, but rather her first book, Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish, published in 2005.