Over the years the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan has become a gathering place, where members and friends can discuss the topics of the day, from advances in medicine to the latest from Jerusalem. The JCC is also a living organism, actively shaping 21st-century Jewish life. The stories in this section, which originally appeared in our seasonal program guides, serve as an introduction to some of the people and programs that represent that change, that make us so much more than a community center. We hope they inspire as well as inform! Several of the stories that appear in both our program guide and online have short video companions. To watch these videos, click the link at the link at the end of each story. To watch all of the videos now,. STORIES FROM THE Fall 2018 PROGRAM GUIDE ImmerseNYC: Mikveh Ritual for a Diverse Jewish Community From its earliest days, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan has been dedicated to innovating in the Jewish space. One way it does this is by presenting rituals and traditions to the community it serves in new and inspiring ways. To read more, To watch Rabbi Abigail Treu talk about ImmerseNYC, Experiment in Dialogue: Breaking Bread + Bridging Gaps In an era in which gatherings of families and friends have become potential minefields, community members with divergent political views are choosing to come together to discuss issues that may divide them—and break down barriers in the process. To watch Alli Choi talk about Experiment in Dialogue,. STORIES FROM THE Summer 2018 PROGRAM GUIDE For the JCC, the Silvers Are Pure Gold Since the Adaptations program at the JCC opened its doors in 2005, more than 600 adults in their 20s and 30s have discovered the community, purpose, and valuable connections that are so important to all of us, but even more so to those who have difficulty finding them. For that, they can thank Shirley and Jack Silver. To read more, Compassionate Partner: Plaza Jewish Community Chapel Forming community connections may not be the first thing people associate with a funeral home. In elementary school, they were students in the program themselves. To read more, STORIES FROM THE FALL 2017 PROGRAM GUIDE Ruth Messinger: Blazing New Trails While the JCC's Joseph Stern Center for Social Responsibility was just launched this summer, it already has significant muscle behind it. Its origins are in Ma'yan, which, through nearly 25 years at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, provided feminist, social justice, and leadership training to women and teen girls. And with decades of political and social justice experience, Ruth Messinger, the center's social justice activist in residence, and its staff, are working to spread justice and activism throughout the JCC and the community as a whole. To read more, 10 Years of ReelAbilities In 2011, the ReelAbilities NY Film Festival screened the film Wretches and Jabberers, a documentary about two nonverbal men with autism. Afterward, the film's stars used electronic devices to answer questions from the audience, but it was the communication between the men and the nonverbal children in the audience via keyboards or pointing to letters on pages their parents were holding that festival director Isaac Yitzi Zablocki found particularly moving. To read more, To watch Sammy Kanter talk about Out at the J, STORIES FROM THE SUMMER 2017 PROGRAM GUIDE Classes—but Even More, Community David Hatcher and his husband, Herbert Godoy, found their son, Jaylen, through David's job, but they found a community through the JCC. An executive news producer at WNBC in New York, Hatcher was responsible for a recurring segment called Wednesday's Child, which highlights a child in the foster care system who is up for adoption. In May 2015, the JCC demonstrated its commitment to that value when it first collaborated with Israel Story, a podcast which has been characterized as the Israeli version of This American Life. The result was a multimedia program called Israel Story Live. Israel Story Live was conceived to share podcasts that focus on everyday Israelis with American audiences that don't have regular access to thoughtful, provocative, and entertaining material on Israeli culture and life. Through storytelling, animation, video, and music, it aims to amplify Israeli voices and stories rarely heard in the mainstream community. To read more, Fly Fishing Vets Cast their Sights on The JCC The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan's third-floor gym may not be the first place you'd expect to see a group of anglers practicing their fly fishing skills, but the JCC is a surprising place. JCC member and fly fisherman John Enochty discovered Project Healing Waters eight years ago through an ad in a fly fishing magazine. The organization helps disabled veterans learn a new skill while interacting socially with others. Though he had no connection to the veteran community, Enochty was immediate
