Oct 21–Nov 12, 2024 OCTOBER 2024
The JCC’s 26th annual Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts showcases world-renowned authors and performers, award-winning films and local visual artists, including Ladino musician Sarah Aroeste, Israeli chef/restaurateur Moshe Basson, Rabbi Sandra Lawson (a Black queer woman), and actor and author B.J. Novak. Tickets at JCCindy.org/books-arts-festival.
Volume 29, Issue 10
At the end of August, Abby Katz (re)joined the JCC as Associate Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)! Abby has been a member of the Indianapolis Jewish community her entire life — her mom Katy Cantor is a past chair of the JCC board of directors, and her dad Dan Cantor is current treasurer for the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI) and his company Hamilton Exhibits designed the signage and lighting for the JCC's soon-to-open Marcia and Bruce Sklare JFIT Studio. Abby actually worked in the JCC's ECE program after school when she was in high school (some of the staff are still the same!), which is what made her want to go into early childhood education in the first place. Recently named to JFGI's 2024 36 Under 36 cohort, Abby is married to fellow lifelong JCC member and current JCC board vice chair David Katz, and they have two sons, Joey and Benny, who love JCC sports just as much as their parents do.
Standby JCC favorites like swim lessons, pottery, tennis, and a tNBA basketball fall break clinic continue in October and early November, and a NEW kids chess program is joining the lineup! Chess Class for Kids
Mon, Oct 28–Dec 16 | 5–6 pm in the J Café space | $99 | Grades 1–6 | Coached by Mike Chapuran
Register: Chess indychess.org/jcc, tNBA tnbaindiana.leagueapps.com/camps, others JCCindy.org/programs
$40 (+$25/each aditional child) Members
$60 (+$35/each additional child) Nonmembers
Kosher-style dinner, swim time, movie, crafts, activities
The J Cares Turkey Drive provides hundreds of neighbors in need with the necessities to help offset the cost of their Thanksgiving meal. Gift cards will be distributed through partnering agencies who have identified deserving families. For just $36, your donation can help one of these families gather around a full Thanksgiving table.
Why $36? The number 18 symbolizes life ("chai") in Judaism, so 36 is "double chai" — enrich someone else's life, plus your own by doing a mitzvah (good deed)!
Give at JCCindy.org/donate
BBYO is the leading pluralistic movement to involve Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences.
Sun, Oct 20 | For time and location details, contact BBYO City Director Ethan Cohen at 317-532-5996 or ecohen@JCCindy.org.
To kick off the semester, BBYO teens from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio spent a day at Kings Island!
Sarah Aroeste Live in Concert
Mon, Oct 21 | 7 pm | $20 for adults, $10 for children
Sarah Aroeste writes and sings in Judeo-Spanish dialect Ladino. Aroeste and her band have developed their own style combining traditional Mediterranean Sephardic sounds with rock, pop and jazz influences.
R. Derek Black The Klansman's Son | Tue, Oct 22 | 7 pm | $10
R. Derek Black's father Don Black was a former Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan, and David Duke was their close family friend and mentor. But in college, Black began engaging with students of various religions and races, which set them on course to publicly renounce white nationalism.
Moshe Basson, head chef of Jerusalem's Eucalyptus restaurant Sat, Oct 26 | 7 pm | $36 ($10 with Festival Pass)
Master chef Moshe Bas son brings “a mod ern Israeli inter pre tation to the Land of Milk and Hon ey with food from the Bible” to his restaurant. Enjoy an evening of Kosher Israeli food and a discussion of food, spirituality, and the Holy Land with Basson and Martha Hoover, founder of Won’t Stop Hospitality Inc. and six-time James Beard semifinalist.
Indiana Authors Awards Finalists Panel | Sun, Oct 27 | 4 pm | $10
Celebrating the works of local writers, the JCC and Indiana Humanities have curated a star-studded, Indiana history-themed panel of finalists and award winners from the 2024 Indiana Authors Awards.
Cousins: Siblings of the HeART Art Gallery Reception Mon, Oct 28 | 5:30 pm | FREE
This exhibition features new works in painting, fused and blown glass, jewelry, mosaics and ceramics by spouses Joani and Jeff Rothenberg and their cousin Yael Buxbaum. Reception attendees can also join the artists in a hands-on collaboration on a mosaic project for the Damien Center.
Black, Jewish and Queer with Rabbi Sandra Lawson Wed, Oct 30 | 7 pm | FREE
A 2018 Reconstructionist Rabbinical College graduate, Lawson is one of the first Black, queer, female rabbis. She is known for tackling difficult questions surrounding Jews and race in podcasts, essays, media appearances, speeches, and on social media. Interviewed by JCC Indy CEO Sam Dubrinsky.
General information and $50 Festival Pass purchase at JCCindy.org/books-arts-festival or Welcome Desk October and November event listings and tickets at JCCindy.org/events
Summer may be over, but lifeguards are needed all year round!
Lifeguard Instructor Course:
Sat–Sun, Oct 5–6 | 8 am–6 pm | $345 | Age 16+
Lifeguard Instructor Review Course: Sat, Oct 19 | 7:30 am–5 pm | $165 | Age 16+
Sign up at JCCindy.org/red-cross-training-classes
Sat–Sun, Oct 19–20 | Noon–6 pm | $295 | Age 10+
Lifeguarding Full Course:
Sat–Sun, Oct 19–20 | 7 am–7 pm | $265 | Age 15+
Lifeguarding Review Course: Sun, Oct 20 | 7:30 am–6 pm | $165 | Age 15+
Learn diving techniques and equipment usage and explore life underwater with Indy Scuba! Participants will receive PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Scuba Certification.
Register at indyscuba.com
Private Lessons with Pat
One-on-one attention, guidance and motivation with JCC pickleball pro Pat will take your game where you want it to go and beyond! Lessons are generally available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am–2 pm, though may be available at other times on a case-by-case basis. Prices range from $55–$70/hour for members and $72–$91/hour for nonmembers depending on the size of the group (up to four participants).
Sun, Oct 13 or 20 | 11 am–1 pm | $26 / $20 JCC Members
Please bring your own paddle.
Register at JCCindy.org/pickleball
The Marcia & Bruce Sklare JFIT Studio group exercise class schedule and structure are taking shape! For the first session of classes (Nov 4–Dec 13), low-impact JFIT Thrive classes are anchored by Strong Steps (Parkinson's boxing) and supplemented with Slow Steady Strength and Find the Beat (low-impact dance for gait and balance). Mid-level member-benefit JFIT Strive classes include Swift Strike (boxing), JFIT HIIT, and Core on the Floor. Hardcore JFIT Drive sessions will alternate between JFIT Lift (small group strength) and JFIT Distance (training for races like the Mini Marathon; coming in 2025).
While JFIT Strive classes will be free for JCC members, JFIT Thrive and JFIT Drive classes will be fee-based six-week sessions (normally $156 / $120 JCC Members, but the 2024 session is discounted 20% to $124 / $96 JCC Members to thank participants for their understanding as all the new-class kinks are worked out).
Celebrate the new space, register for classes and get equipment demos from JCC fitness staff at the JFIT Studio Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Tue, Oct 15 at 5:30 pm! The event will run open house-style until 7 pm.
The JCC is closed most Thursdays in October for Jewish holidays, which means Cardio Dance on those days will be cancelled. But don't fear (or maybe do?) — Anni will be hosting pop-up Zumba classes in which she'll be teaching the moves to Thriller by Michael Jackson! Sat, Oct 5/19/26 | Noon–1 pm | Group Exercise Studio
JCC Tai Chi for Health instructor Tracy is bringing a new version of the class to the Group Ex schedule in 2025! This gentle, low-impact exercise is often described as "meditation in motion." Its slow, flowing movements help improve balance, bone density, core stability and muscle strength, and can easily be modified for people with physical limitations, including those using a wheelchair or rehabilitating from injury or illness.
Sun, Nov 17 or Dec 15 | 12:30–1:30 pm | Pescovitz Dance Studio.
6701 Hoover Road
Indianapolis IN 46260-4198
317-251-9467 | JCCindy.org
@JCCIndianapolis
Mon–Thu: 6 am–8 pm
Fri: 6 am–6 pm
Sat–Sun: 7 am–6 pm
Admin, Early Childhood
Mon–Fri: 8 am–5 pm
Visit JCCindy.org/jcc-hours for other upcoming closings
October 2011: IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas in 2006, brought home
Wed, Oct 2: Erev Rosh Hashana JCC Closes at 3 pm
Thu–Fri, Oct 3–4: Rosh Hashana JCC CLOSED
Fri, Oct 11: Erev Yom Kippur JCC Closes at 3 pm
Sat, Oct 12: Yom Kippur JCC CLOSED
Wed, Oct 16: Erev Sukkot JCC Closes at 5 pm
Thu, Oct 17: Sukkot 1st Day JCC CLOSED
Wed, Oct 23: Erev Shemini Atzeret JCC Closes at 5 pm
Thu, Oct 24: Shemini Atzeret JCC CLOSED
Dollars raised included individual donations as well as funds from matching donors
Number of Donors: 176 • 175 individuals • 1 matching
Thank You to everyone who participated in our August Hand in Hand fundraiser! All proceeds support the expansion of JCC programs. Numbers as of Sep 16, 2024
Total Raised: $79,543.87 Matching Funds: $30,000 Individual Gifts: $49,543.87 Avg Individual Gift: $283.10