The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan

Profile

After more than a decade as a "JCC without walls"—with classes, programs, and meetings in borrowed or rented space—the elegant, spacious Jewish Community Center of the Upper West Side opened its doors in 2002. In a multi-story, modern building on Amsterdam Avenue that could easily pass for a swank co-op, a wide swath of programs, classes and cultural offerings speak to the interests and needs of New Yorkers of all ages, from the thriving nursery school to SeniorNet, where tech-savvy seniors share computer skills. Teens, often disenfranchised from Jewish community life—after all, how cool is it to go to shul on Saturday mornings?—can connect to traditional values like Tikkun Olam (repairing a broken world) through after-school and weekend community service programs. Classes and programs for adults also abound, with many designated for young families, older adults, or those in the GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer) community. But there’s more to life than Jewish study: Cooking classes, weekend film series, writing workshops and a state-of-the-art fitness center round out the JCC curriculum. The emphasis is on inclusion and breadth of experience; on building a place where Jews (and others), who may be uneasy with formal religious structures, can discover and explore Jewish community life. Classes and programs are open to members and non-members alike; fitness center members must belong to the JCC. — Helen Zelon

The JCC's preschool was honored with a multi-year grant from the Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative—a program which celebrates model Jewish schools in the U.S.

Tours
Contact the membership office to arrange a tour of the JCC. For particular programs—from the nursery school to the New York Writers Workshop—contact the actual program administrators for specifics on tours and seasonal open houses.

Volunteer through JCCWorks
Pitch in for a day to tidy a park, cook meals for the elderly, or help restore a synagogue; long-term volunteers teach kids to read via JCC-affiliated literacy workshops.