The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore recently launched J Life, a family engagement platform to position the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC as the destination for meaningful Jewish communal experiences.
J Life’s on-campus activities and programming include community-wide signature events, smaller targeted programs and gatherings coordinated across different JCC departments. The platform will also feature educational classes, community service opportunities and the means to connect families with Jewish community resources.
“We are so excited to connect families with the joys of Jewish traditions through the many new J Life programs,” said JCC Chief Executive Officer Barak Hermann. “Being welcoming and inclusive and bringing people together is what our JCC is all about.”
Said Sara Shalva, the JCC’s chief program officer: “’Come as you are’ is our motto, and it means any and all families — including LGBTQ, multi-racial and/or interfaith families — are invited and welcome. J Life is designed to build meaningful memories for families as they celebrate Shabbat and Jewish holidays in fun and creative ways. We believe that this model will weave a more colorful and inclusive fabric across the JCC and all its programs.”
From the Shapiro Aquatics Park to the Biblical and Universal playground to the Gordon Center for Performing Arts, the Owings Mills JCC campus, at 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., will be the site for J Life participants to play, learn and celebrate in modern, kid-friendly indoor and outdoor facilities.
Rabbi Ariel Platt, director of J Life, said she looks forward to engaging, educating and empowering families. “I’m excited to bring my passion for relationship-building, creativity and empathy to this amazing new initiative and building upon the strong foundation that is already in existence,” she said.
Support for J Life comes from the Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds.
“The increasing diversity within the Jewish community means that now, more than ever, institutions must ensure that they are welcoming, innovative and relevant to everyone, regardless of a family’s Jewish affiliation or level of knowledge or practice,” said Elizabeth R. Minkin, president of the Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds. “That’s why the Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds are motivated to support the J Life initiative as we believe this platform reflects the JCC’s deep commitment to connecting families through meaningful Jewish experiences.”
On Thursday, Oct. 20, a J Life holiday celebration, the second annual Harvest Music Festival, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gordon Outdoors venue at the Owings Mills JCC. The free, community-wide Sukkot celebration will feature music, food inflatable playgrounds, bubbles, balloons, face-painting and more.
For information, visit jcc.org/sukkot.
Jewish Community Services' upcoming "Future-Ready Workplace" event will feature a keynote address from workplace expert and bestselling author Liz Fosslien.
A Baltimore native, Sweren was a collector of artists' books whose own works were displayed in national galleries.
The BCO, founded in 1984, will perform the works of Frank Zappa, Beethoven, Mason Bates and Karena Ingram.
For more than 130 years, Sol Levinson & Bros. has been woven into the fabric of Baltimore’s Jewish community.