9 minute read
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
The Countdown to Camp Begins
Rachel Doyle
Youth and Camp Director
We are very excited about camp this year, and we can’t wait to open registration for Camp JCC! If you joined our VIP list at the end of the summer camp season registration opens exclusively for you on January 17, 2023. VIP families receive an extra week to book preferred dates and specialty camps without worrying about them being sold out. Registration opens to the general public on January 25. Families can book any available weeks or specialty camps across Camp Junior, for campers entering Pre-K or kindergarten, and Camp Adventure, for campers entering grades 1-8. And new this year for campers campers entering grades 9-10, we are launching a new Leader in Training (LIT) and Counselor in Training (CIT) program.
Summer 2023 also has more specialty camps! Camper favorites like Junior Chefs, pottery, Brick Masters, and art are back along with some new surprises. All campers, including those in specialty camps, will join in our weekly Shabbat party and attend weekly special events like a petting zoo, water inflatables, and a new camp dance! Field trips are back for campers in grades 1-8 along with all our favorite traditional summer camp activities like flagpole, Maccabi, glow stick parties, fun instructional swim, and themed dress-up days.
Older campers will enjoy more robust offerings this summer including an expanded archery program, overnight options, and a new Leader and Counselor in Training program! This program will bridge the gap from camper to future counselor by teaching 9th and 10th graders key skills to become successful leaders and how to work with children. Our LIT/CIT participants will have fun and gain valuable experience.
Our camp leadership team always looks forward to welcoming back our dedicated camp staff, and this year is no exception! In addition to returning counselors, we are very pleased to have Shani, our summer shaliach (emissary), back with us for another year from Israel. And this year she will not be coming alone but with four Israeli teens joining us to infuse more Israeli culture into camp. We are looking forward to hearing more about their experiences and learning Israeli songs and dances as campers explore Israeli Adventure activities. Rounding out our instructor group will be specialists in art, STEM, and sports to facilitate structured and fun learning opportunities.
Camp JCC has your family covered for great all-around day camp experiences, specialty camps, before and after camp child care, and field trips. Younger or older, of all abilities, everyone is welcome, and we can’t wait to see your campers’ Day Camp Spirit smiles!
Two Ways to Improve Your Fitness at the Pool This Winter
Jodi Lovenwirth
Aquatics Director
We have something for everyone in the aquatics department here at the J. This winter, we are highlighting our two new programs designed specifically for adult swimmers.
Saturday mornings starting January 7, we will be offering a program dedicated to those with minimal or no swimming experience who want to gain confidence in and around the water and learn basic swimming skills. These group lessons are designed so participants can be supported by our experienced instructors along with other community members who have similar swimming apprehensions. If you want to learn how to swim, but don’t know where to start we recommend checking out this program. Those looking to enroll should contact the JCC at 610-435-3571 and ask how to sign up for Adult Group Swim Lessons.
On January 9, instructor Miriam Zager will be leading a master swim class where she will share her professional swim skills and experience. Master Swim by Miriam is an amazing program designed for adult participants who want to improve their swimming skills and their fitness in an aquatic setting. The only prerequisite of this class is that participants must be able to swim a full pool length unassisted. Miriam has been a competitive swimmer and coach for many decades. Through her experience, she will coach you on how to break your bad swim habits and enhance your skills to make swimming easier and more enjoyable. She can also provide personalized recommendations for you on how to use swimming to improve your overall fitness. Miriam is able to teach swimmers at a variety of skill levels and would love to start working with you, no matter your experience.
To register for this class, call the JCC at 610-435-3571 or go online at lvjcc.org/AdultSwim. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the pool at the JCC this winter!
Hanukkah is on the horizon We’ll Be There For You
Jackie Weiss Early Childhood and Jewish Maggie Schutzler
Education Coordinator Development Director
So, what is Hanukkah and why do we celebrate this fun and joyous holiday?
Hanukkah is an eightday celebration that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus IV and his soldiers. After their victory, the Maccabees rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem. A new menorah was built, but there was only a tiny jar of oil, which looked like enough to last for a day. However, a great miracle happened! The oil lasted for eight whole days.
For that reason, a candle on the menorah or Hanukkiya is lit for each of the eight nights of the holiday to commemorate the miracle. For that reason, Hanukkah is referred to as The Festival of Lights! It is a custom to light the menorah near a window, where it can be easily seen, and each night, the light from the candles continues to grow, which serves as a wonderful reminder to me that hope never fades, it can only grow stronger.
Hanukkah is a favorite Jewish holiday of many children because it is a custom for kids to receive gifts for all eight nights! In addition, many delicious traditional foods are made on Hanukkah. Potato pancakes or latkes, jelly donuts, and chocolate coins, known as Hanukkah gelt, are mainstays that the entire family can enjoy! In a heated debate that many Jews find themselves on the opposite side of, it is a question of whether latkes go better with applesauce or sour cream. While we won’t take sides in this article, there are cases for both!
Another staple is the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side that stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there,” with “there” referring to Israel (Fun fact, in Israel the letters are different with “here” replacing “there!”). Traditionally, games of dreidel are played for stashes of Hanukkah gelt, with the winner receiving a pile of chocolate coins.
The JCC of the Lehigh Valley will be celebrating Hanukkah with our annual Family Hanukkah Celebration and Community Candle Lighting on Sunday, December 18 from 3pm-5pm. We will be celebrating in style
The JCC’s annual Friends of the J campaign has gotten off to a fantastic start! We would like to share our gratitude to community members who have already made a gift this year. If you haven’t made a gift yet, it’s not too late- the Friends of the J campaign runs through January 15. All new monthly recurring donations will be matched for the first three months thanks to a very generous anonymous donor. To make a gift, please visit us online at lvjcc.org/friends, call the JCC at 610-435-3571, or email with games, crafts tables, doughnuts, hot latkes and cocoa, live entertainment, and a dance party! Register online at lvjcc.org/SpecialEvents or call the JCC at 610-435-3571.
We hope to see you there and wish everyone a chag sameach!
friends@lvjcc.org. Thank you for being a Friend of the J!
This year’s campaign theme is “We’ll Be There for You.” We all rely on our friends throughout our lives - through the good and the bad times, and for many people, one of those friends has been the JCC. Whether the JCC provides a place for your children to learn, families to thrive, or individuals to socialize, the JCC will always be there for you. We asked a few of our members to tell us how the JCC has been there for them - read their stories below and see more at lvjcc. org/FriendsoftheJ or on Facebook!
The One Where We Play Basketball “Our son Ben went from not having much experience playing the game to learning foundational skills needed to continue to grow. We watched practice each week and witnessed Ben having so much fun while learning from the instruction Andrew provided. He’s very excited to join JHoops again this year and build on those skills.” - Unger Family
Stagemakers cast explores indigenous culture The One Where We Exercise in Water
- Ann Griffin
The One Where We Play Squash
Heather Lavin
Program Director
The cast of Disney’s “Moana Jr.” wowed the audience and was able to fully embrace their roles with the help of PBS39 and the Museum of Indian Culture. Stagemakers would like to thank PBS39 for their support of the staff’s work to educate the cast about indigenous cultures and lifestyles. PBS39 provided educational resources based on the series and character Molly of Denali. In addition, the organization funded the cast’s workshop with the Museum of Indian Culture’s educator Christine Applegate, who taught indigenous life skills and advised on the production’s dramaturgy. Participants worked on hand weaving baskets, fishing line, and nets which were used for props and created masks and symbolic stamps to hand-stamp linen, which became part of the costumes for the production.
“There are so many reasons why I love playing squash at the JCC, but probably top of the list is the friendships and relationships I have developed with the other squash players over the last 8 years. They are such a diverse group, and they all bring their own special brand of humor, knowledge, culture and style of play to the courts. Honestly, I have never met such a friendly and welcoming bunch of guys. The competition on the court is always fierce and tight and the banter off the court is always delightful! Of course, I love the game of squash, and am grateful that the JCC has such a great facility to offer its members and guests. The staff is always welcoming and they work very hard to keep the JCC running smoothly.”
