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. For many, that learning culminates in a group celebration at the JCC, with a ceremony called Off-the- Bimah, where the impact of that innovative approach—and the importance of community—takes center stage.

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. Even our nursery schoolers hold bake sales to raise funds to help those in need.

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. “The book involved conversations with prominent Americans who had two things in common: They were famous and they were Jewish.

Three thousand people come through the doors of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan every day. Many attend programs with others close in age or with similar interests. Toddlers and parents or caregivers make a beeline for our early-childhood classrooms. Established and aspiring artists head to our creative spaces on L3. Adults seeking to clear their heads through meditation end up in Makom. Those looking for a workout can be found in the fitness center.

Andy Chaleff knows firsthand about feeling uncomfortable in your own body. “For someone with a disability, it’s really hard to have self-esteem,” says Chaleff, who was diagnosed with a learning disability as a child. He came to the JCC in 2010 when he was introduced to The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Special Needs’ (CSN) Adaptations program through a family acquaintance.