PJCC Connections Magazine - Spring 2015 by PJCC - Peninsula Jewish Community Center

Peninsula Jewish Community Center

Connections

Spring 2015 â&#x20AC;˘

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Celebrating Community

H O NO R I NG A R T I SA NS O F CO M MUN I T Y

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A NNE & DAV ID ST EIRMAN

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PJCC BENEFIT G AL A Sunday May 17, 2015 5:30 – 9:30 pm pjcc.org/benefit

Food & DrinkS • “Wine” Dancing Poetry Jam • Tastings

Live Auction • Acoustic Music

UNE

This fundraising event supports critical programs and services the PJCC offers to the community.

Kaiser Permanente and the PJCC present

Wellness Fusion 2015

Free

A Multicultural Exploration of Fitness and Food

Sunday, April 26 • 1:00 – 4:30 pm at the PJCC Featuring The Point of Acupuncture, 2:00 pm, with keynote speaker Scott Whitfield, Licensed Acupuncturist, Kaiser Permanente Demonstrations and interactive workshops including: Jewish Mindfulness Meditation • Jewish Yoga • Cooking demonstration Indian Bollywood Dance • Introduction to Kirtan • Cooking demonstration Asian Tai Chi • Cooking demonstration • Acupuncture Keynote Lecture Plus, shop at our marketplace, get your cholesterol screened and much more. Registration recommended; class spaces are limited. Comfortable clothing suggested.

Full schedule at pjcc.org/wellnessfusion • 650.378.2703 2

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PJCC YOUR CENTER FOR lIFE

Contents

April/May/June 2015 5

Message from the President and Executive Director

12 The Case for Camp— Why Kids Need It Now Learn why the camp experience serves as an antidote for the world’s challenges.

Your New Workout: Interval Training A quick and effective technique that revs your metabolism and burns calories.

14 Capturing Camp Through the Lens Camp Keff: learning that looks and feels like play

7 Personal Trainer Trade Secrets Learn how PJCC Personal Trainer April Montgomery stays positive while recovering from an injury.

16 Polish Jews Today, Four Generations and Growing

The revival of Jewish cultural life in Poland reflects the culture’s resiliency, depth, and beauty.

Mindfulness Meditation In a busy, stressed-out world, quiet contemplation just might hold the key to inner peace.

18 Judaica Finds New Life by Remembering the Past An exclusive Q&A with the artists behind Mi Polin.

10 Member Profile: New Country, New Beginnings

20 Jewish Peoplehood

Moving is always a challenge, but the ante is upped when that new home is not just in a different city, but a different country.

Programs and events celebrating Jewish life and culture.

22 April/May/June 2015 Programs

11 Member Profile: Compassion for Community Drives Couple to Give

27 Free Programs

Enhancing the lives of others is their goal.

Connect with the PJCC

Connections

PJCC BLOG

Spring 2015

PJCC Sports

Classes, clinics & leagues for all ages and levels

youth adults

Flag Football Basketball Gymnastics Soccer

Flag Football Basketball Ultimate Frisbee

pjcc.org/sports

650.378.2728

Connections is a publication of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City, CA, 94404. Send comments or suggestions to editor@pjcc.org. The mission of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center is to build a caring and connected community, develop leadership and strengthen Jewish identity and values in a center with an environment that is welcoming to all people at every stage of life. The PJCC has been serving people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds throughout San Mateo County for more than 65 years.

Ikkarim

guiding principles of the PJCC

Jewish life Chavaya Yehudit We celebrate the dynamic gifts of Jewish culture, tradition, ethics and community we received from generations before us.

Welcoming all Hachnasat Orchim Our house is open wide to all, and we embrace the diversity of culture, opinion, religion and identity.

Our community of family and friends Kehilla uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mishpacha We are a hub for all events and activities that enrich our lives and community.

Wholeness of body, mind and spirit Shleimut We respect and nurture each individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey toward wholeness and see our role as a catalyst.

Repairing the world Tikkun Olam Each person makes a difference, and together we are responsible for improving the world through our actions.

The PJCC is supported by the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.

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KATHY REICH PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DEBORAH PINSKY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

connect with US

On the Cover

Dear PJCC Friends, The dictionary defines the word “resurgence” as “to rise again” or “give new life,” which makes it the perfect adjective to describe this spring issue of Connections. You’ll learn about the amazing resurgence of Jewish life in Poland, a family’s new life in America, and new ways to experience inner peace through mindfulness meditation, plus much more.

Springtime at the Center invites outdoor fun, as these photos clearly illustrate. Teachers from the PJCC’s afterschool Treehouse program couldn’t resist joining their young charges on the turf field. Everyone enjoyed a few jokes, a lot of laughs, and served as a reminder that a sunny day brings out the “young at heart” in all ages.

Over the coming months at the PJCC, we hope these programs will help inspire your own surge of new life in body, mind, and spirit. Learn how Jewish Wisdom Promotes Wellness supports a flourishing, joyful, well-balanced life. Draw inspiration from the Mi Polin (From Poland) Art Exhibit and attend the special reception featuring the Warsaw-based art duo of Helena Czernek and Aleksander Pruge (read the PJCC’s interview with them on page 18). You’ll learn how they instill their work with the principle of hiddur mitzvah in which beauty enhances a ritual object’s positive nature. Families—especially those with young landlubbers—will want to walk the plank to the PJCC for this year’s pirate-themed Fun in the Sun Center Member Pool Party. The Matzah Mash is a Passover celebration that includes a glow-in-the-dark hametz hunt, and don’t miss the Bay Area Junior Maccabi Games. We’re inviting kids from local JCCs to participate in an exciting day of sporting competition and camaraderie

The PJCC is proud to be a part of the Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood,

Music lovers know there’s nothing better than discovering new talent to add to your music library. This spring, our popular Up Close Concert Series features two innovative performances sure to become new personal favorites. The Mobius Trio will engage you with their unique interpretations of contemporary music on guitar, and Tumblehouse Down will introduce you to the stories and sounds of the bygone eras of the Wild West and Prohibition.

cultural programs that

So are you feeling inspired? With the onset of warmer weather and longer days, coupled with engaging programs and inviting activities, you just might experience your own personal resurgence. We look forward to welcoming you.

explore Jewish heritage,

With appreciation,

presenting educational and

identity, and community. This initiative is co-funded by the Koret Foundation and The Taube Foundation for

Kathy Reich Deborah Pinsky President, Executive Director Board of Directors

Jewish Life & Culture. Connections

Spring 2015

Your New Workout: Interval Training Ready to take your workout to the next level? Want to burn more calories, burn more fat, see faster results, and be constantly challenged? Consider Interval Training. Often referred to as HIIT, High Intensity Interval Training has become a powerful tool for the everyday gym user. HIIT workouts evolve around a simple concept: alternating bursts of intense activity with intervals of lighter training, such as taking a brisk walk injected with quick jogs. HIIT workouts can be done anywhere and at any time. It isn’t necessarily about the exercise, the equipment, or the location. Just like the name suggests, the intensity must be high to receive the benefit. In other words, you have to be willing to work harder than usual and get a bit uncomfortable, but the payoff is worth it. Benefits of HIIT The majority of HIIT workouts are less than 30 minutes and, if done three times a week, can produce amazing results. Additional benefits include: • Improved aerobic capacity • No need for special equipment • Increased metabolism • Lose weight, not muscle

a quick and effective technique that revs your metabolism and burns calories 6

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Before trying any new exercise routine, remember that it’s always best to first check with your health care provider. Your HIIT Workout A Basic HIIT plan usually includes four levels with a rotation of heavy exercise and recovery (resting). HIIT workouts don’t have to be long and that feeling of “I can’t do any more!” usually lasts just a few seconds before you get to rest. Samples of HIIT exercises include jump rope, stationary bike, jumping jacks, sprinting, and Battle Ropes, and the levels are: • Light: exercise for 30 seconds, recovery for 90 seconds, repeat

Personal Trainer

• Medium: exercise for 30 seconds, recovery for 60 seconds, repeat

• Heavy: exercise for 30 seconds, recovery 30 seconds, repeat • Extreme: exercise for 30 seconds, recovery for 15 seconds, repeat Try each stage for two weeks. If the routine continues to be difficult, stretch it out a few days until you are ready to jump to the next level. Consequently, if you find a stage too easy, progress to the next level sooner or try a more challenging exercise. For optimum results, work with a certified fitness professional to create a personalized HIIT training plan. HIIT requires effort and sweat, but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded with impressive results. Contributor Torre Pusey is a Certified Personal Trainer with the PJCC.

Trade Secrets How does a fitness buff stay positive when she suddenly finds herself unable to pursue her passion? That’s just the case with PJCC Personal Trainer and short-distance track athlete April Montgomery, who incurred a foot injury after running with an asymptomatic stress fracture. She’s currently on crutches and healing, but unable to put any weight on her foot for an undetermined length of time. This would be a challenge for anyone, but here’s how April suggests making lemonade from lemons. • Find satisfaction in helping others: try coaching or motivating a friend to reach their fitness goals. • Explore new options. April has embraced swimming, which is a non-weight-bearing exercise. • Find ways to turn a negative into a positive. April created “crutching,” which is what she calls speedwalking on her crutches to increase her heart rate. • Work on weaknesses. April is strengthening her weak upper body. Talk to a trainer about workouts to develop your weak spot. • Take advantage of the downtime to explore activities you might not have time for, like gardening or volunteering. April is rediscovering her love of reading and drawing. • Find new ways to participate with fitness friends, such as bringing healthy snacks or offering to watch their kids. April helps her running team by timing runs and cheering on her peers. • Appreciate the camaraderie of a good support system. • Visualize success!

Connections

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Mindfulness Meditation

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indfulness meditation is everywhere. Newspapers and magazines carry stories on the benefits of mindfulness; medical journals report the latest research about mindfulness; businesses have mindfulness programs to help combat stress and increase creativity and productivity; schools have begun to introduce mindfulness meditation to students; there are classes in mindful parenting, and mindfulness has been the cover story for magazines such as Time and Scientific American. Are you mindful of a theme? What is mindfulness? It’s an effective technique for stress reduction, lowering blood pressure, and managing pain, depression, and anxiety. It brings balance, rest, and a growing inner peace, and contributes to physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Mindfulness can also increase our feelings of acceptance, gratitude, generosity, compassion, serenity, and joy. In a word, mindfulness is good for what ails us in the 21st century.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention. It’s being aware of whatever is happening in your body or mind, including sensations, emotions, and thoughts. It is not about trying to change anything, but gently—and without judgment—accepting whatever arises as it is. Practicing Mindfulness Sit comfortably in a chair, feet flat on the floor, spine upright, and hands placed on your legs or in your lap. Take a moment to notice the physical sensations of sitting. When ready, allow your attention to find the breath, the constant ebb and flow of the inhale and the exhale. Keep your attention gently focused on the physical sensations of the breath; for example, the rising and falling of the chest, and the expansion and contraction of the belly with each breath. Fairly quickly you will notice that other physical sensations (like an itch) or emotions or thoughts arise. Instead of latching on to them, simply observe them and allow them to float away as a soft cloud floats away in a clear blue sky. We become curious and compassionate witnesses to

our own experience, without grasping onto or fighting with that experience. Then we make the conscious decision to return our attention to the breath. It’s that simple. Mindfulness meditation has been summed up by Jewish Buddhist and mindfulness instructor Sylvia Boorstein, who says: “The point of meditation is to keep the mind free of confusion. Meditation, past calming our nerves, past being good for our blood pressure, past allowing us to work out our own internal psychological dramas (which it does), past helping us to get along with our kin and our community, is a way of really deeply seeing the truth that the only way to ameliorate our own suffering and the suffering of the world is to keep our minds clear.” Isn’t it time you tried mindfulness? Contributor Rabbi Lavey Derby is the PJCC Director of Jewish Life.

Right: PJCC Center Member Daniel Barnes started meditating “as part of a treatment regimen to help calm myself throughout the day. Meditating helps keep my moods level and also helps me stay present in my life, which allows me to enjoy more of my day. Even a minute of steady breathing is enough to bring me back to a calm state.” You can learn these skills in Rabbi Derby’s Take a Breath: An Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation class. Free, it’s held every Thursday at 1:30 pm. For details, visit the “Jewish Wellness” section at pjcc.org/jewishlife.

Connections

Spring 2015

Member New Country, New Beginnings: The Bonaldis

Moving to a new city is always a challenge. It’s tough saying goodbye to friends and family and all that is familiar to make a new life in a new location. But the ante is upped when that move isn’t just to a new city, but to a new country with different customs, cultures, and languages. In 2004 that’s what Flavia and Fabian Bonaldi did. The couple left their home in Argentina’s third largest city, Rosario, which boasts 1.3 million residents, and moved to the quiet suburb of Foster City, CA. It was a double challenge becoming proficient in English and finding work in their respective fields, but they excelled in both: today, Flavia, a physician who specialized in infectious disease, now works in the safety department of Genentech, and her husband Fabian is an industrial engineer who works as a project manager for a company that provides services to NASA. One of the biggest differences the couple initially experienced was the American

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custom of an early dinner. “In Argentina, we traditionally eat dinner around 9:00 or 10:00 pm,” Flavia says. “That makes our day much longer and provides the opportunity to do much more than work. Life in Argentina has a big social component, and friends and family members are very important pillars of every person’s life.” The family—which has since grown with the addition of 8-year-old Valentina and 5-year old Gonzalo—enjoys being a part of the Argentine expatriate community. They also say that life in America is much calmer and more relaxed. “But we do miss our grandparents and extended family members,” Flavia adds. It’s also important to the couple that their children, who were born here, appreciate their Argentine culture. “We speak Spanish at home, eat a lot of native plates, and make sure we share dinner at a table all sitting together,” Flavia says. “It’s an important daily ritual.” Members of the PJCC since 2012, Flavia loves taking yoga, and the kids are active in Camp Keff and the Treehouse afterschool program. They also take swim and soccer lessons. “The PJCC provides strong support for our family,” Flavia says. “Even though we miss our country, we’re very grateful for all we have here. Our kids are American and luckily for them, they can enjoy both cultures.”

Compassion for Community Drives Couple to Give

Profiles Having a passion for any endeavor is a positive thing, be it a child’s enthusiasm for Legos® or an adult’s interest in animal rescue, cancer research, or social justice. For Anne and David Steirman, their passion lies in supporting their community. From providing camp scholarships and volunteering at many Jewish organizations to supporting Jewish programming and wellness initiatives, throughout the years the PJCC couple’s philanthropic efforts have enhanced the lives of too many to count. “We support the PJCC so that the Jewish Community Center can be the center of Jewish community,” says Anne.

The Steirmans

to these organizations, Anne has also been involved over the years with Jewish Family and Childrens’ Services, the Jewish Community Federation, My New Red Shoes, and Camp Ramah of Northern California. David has served in Board leadership roles for a number of organizations, including Upstart, the Jewish Community Federation, Jewish Community Relations C0uncil, Jewish Learning Works, the Jewish Home, and the Hillsborough Financial Advisory Committee. The Steirmans are also involved with their synagogue, Peninsula Sinai Congregation.

Anne and David are exceptionally humble. They don’t seek the limelight, but give willingly from the heart.

Originally from Southern California and Chicago, respectively, today Anne and David make their home in Hillsborough with their two children, Emily, 15, a freshman at Nueva High School, and Evan, 12, a sixth grader at Wornick Jewish Day School. Both children are PJCC alumni who began their Jewish education at the Preschool and Camp Keff, and both appear to be following in their parents’ footsteps. Emily participated in the 7th grade tzedakah project at Wornick Jewish Day School and Evan currently participates in Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Team Tzedek. Anne and David are being honored by the PJCC this year because of their extensive involvement in the Jewish community and beyond. Anne is a past board member and officer of the PJCC Board, and sits on the Wornick Board. David is the chair of the North Peninsula Jewish Campus, the organization that oversees the property on which the PJCC and the Day School sit. In addition

“Anne and David are exceptionally humble. They don’t seek the limelight, but give willingly from the heart,” said Deborah Pinsky, PJCC Executive Director. “It would be easy for them to just write a check, but they’re equally generous with their time, actions, and efforts. They are warm and hospitable, and truly live the Jewish value of Welcoming All.” In addition to their passion for supporting community, Anne enjoys country music, hiking, and reading. Professionally, David is president of an investment management firm, and enjoys poker and collecting wine. The Steirmans especially feel good about the impact their generosity has had on the community. Recently, Anne recalled a mother at Wornick Jewish Day School who was grateful for Anne’s involvement in obtaining financial aid for her son. To this day, she still tells Anne what a difference it made in her family’s life.

Join us to honor Anne and David Steirman at the PJCC Benefit Gala

a nig h t o n t h e v ine : U N COR K E D & U N E X P E C T E D S u n d ay, M ay 17, 2015 • 5:30 – 9:30 pm • pjcc . o r g / b e n e f i t Connections

Spring 2015

The Case for Camp—Why Kids Need It Now More Than Ever C

hange is a part of life. It is often directly related to survival and can enrich one’s life in ways unexpected. Childhood is in essence a time of profound change and development. It is exciting and disquieting at the same time. When it comes to our children, we need to be sure that change is made for the better. We’ve been so concentrated on the brain, we forget about the rest of our bodies. This change in focus has led to an obesity rate that is unacceptable. Our kids are not as healthy as the generation before. Families used to live in a community. We’ve lost that, keeping kids inside and losing a sense of neighborhood. Add to that the fact that our kids stand to inherit all the economic, social, and environmental challenges we’ve created, and the legacy we have left our children and youth begins to look bleak.

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So, how do we prepare our children with the skills and, more importantly, the competencies they will need to tackle changes in our world? We could start with a positive camp experience. A quality camp experience provides our children with the opportunity to learn powerful lessons in community, character building, skill development, and healthy living—a meaningful, engaged, and participatory environment. Camp promotes community. It creates this great space that shows kids how to live together and care for one another. There are norms and negotiation of boundaries; there are rules. Camp is a place where kids can “practice” growing up, stretching their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive muscles outside the context of their immediate family. Camp teaches critical thinking. We need to remember how important it is to be actively involved in the learning process, and camp affords that. We’re going to need really strong problem solvers in the

next century. Without the ability to relate, connect, empathize, or inspire innovation, how will our kids be able to make a difference in the challenges now facing us? Camp creates future leaders. The camp experience offers kids a close-up look at compassionate leadership through the camp director, counselors, resident nutritionist, and other camp personnel. And kids get loads of opportunities to practice being a leader themselves — song leader, lunch table leader, team captain, the list goes on and on. Camp is an equal opportunity life changer. It addresses universal childhood needs not specific to a particular racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group. Nobody is left out. Camp has a lasting impact. One of the greatest gifts you can give a child is a sense of success and achievement. Camp teaches kids how to be active participants, ask questions, ask for help, and try new things. They leave understanding that

it’s okay to feel a little uncomfortable sometimes, because that’s generally what happens when you’re getting ready to learn something. The camp experience translates back in real-world experience — in an “I can” attitude. We need to advocate for our young people. We should promote opportunities for kids —give them camp experiences that serve as an antidote for the world’s challenges. We need to recognize this is not a series of frivolous activities. We often think if it looks like fun it must be unimportant, but “fun” is a young person’s “work” — to learn, to grow, to be productive, creative, and happy. If they don’t do that work, they won’t turn into healthy adults. Now more than ever, kids need camp. Contributor Peg L. Smith is the Retired Chief Executive Officer of the American Camp Association. Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association; copyright 2014 by the American Camping Association, Inc.

No matter who your kids become, we’ll help them become their best (and have fun along the way)!

campkeff.org 650.378.2704 Connections

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camp

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keff

Learning that looks and feels

play Connections

Spring 2015

Polish Jews Today, Four Generations and Growing T

his month, Poland’s Jewish community went to yoga classes. They attended interpretive literary readings, learned about the genetic origins of Ashkenazic Jewry, and taught their kids about Sephardic cuisine. And that was just at the Warsaw JCC. The revival of Jewish cultural life that began more than two decades ago with the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival has become an established, post-revival reality, with dynamic Jewish youth groups, day schools and summer camps, and scholarly work conducted by Jews and non-Jews alike. American Jews still have a tendency to speak of the Polish community only in terms of memory, but Poland’s living Jewish culture reflects resiliency, depth and beauty. However they may express their heritage, the members of today’s Jewish community in Poland have a powerful sense of place, deeply rooted in their Polish belonging. From Orthodox traditionalists to cultural Jews, to the growing number of Poles raised Catholic or atheist who have discovered their Jewish ancestry only recently, all are pursuing the vitality that marks 1,000 years of Polish-Jewish life. As Piotr Wislicki, Chairman of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland, says, “There is no history of Poland without the Jews, and no history of the Jews without Poland.” The Jews of Poland are experiencing a reawakening of identity. Warsaw’s new,

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state-of-the-art POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews expresses and builds on this awakening, as Poles of all backgrounds become agents of a new future, built together. Perhaps most fascinating is the number of non-Jews involved in this process at every step of the way. As democracy has taken root and flourished, Polishness has ceased to be defined in narrow ethnic or religious terms, becoming instead a question of citizenship and multicultural heritage. Non-Jewish turnout at festivals, academic seminars, and among the Museum’s visitors is a sign of this growing inclusiveness, as antiSemitism is increasingly perceived as a threat not just to Jews, but to society as a whole. All of this can be seen in the Polish justice system’s recent defense of ritual slaughter in the face of those who sought to legislate against the rules of kashrut and halal; in their campaign to defeat this pernicious law, the Jewish community was joined by leaders of Poland’s small, indigenous Muslim community. Yet most in the world’s Jewish community seem unaware of these changes. The narrative of loss and destruction is powerful; many among us fear that failing to focus on the horrors of the past will mean we’ve failed the memories of those we lost.

I believe, however, that nothing could be further from the truth. Over the course of 10 centuries, Jewish lives were lived in all their glory on Polish soil. The community’s rabbis, writings, food, art, thoughts, and deeds are everywhere woven into our shared culture—and that community’s descendants are continuing its legacy. To fail to recognize the growth and vitality of today’s Polish Jewish community is to violate the memories on which they draw. As the director of Taube Philanthropies, I have felt real pride and deep joy as I’ve watched the POLIN Museum move from dream to reality—the role we play in that institution will always give it a very special place in my heart. As deep as the Holocaust’s trauma was and will always be, it is not now, nor has it ever been, the whole story of Polish Jewry. Vibrant Jewish life is now a reality in Poland, and those who live elsewhere who don’t realize it are missing out on a rich cultural revival. The narrative has been changed. In Poland today, an astonishingly vigorous Jewish community has emerged from the shadows—a reminder that where democracy flourishes, so too can the Jewish people. Contributor Shana Penn is executive director of Taube Philanthropies and a visiting scholar at the Graduate Theological Union’s Center for Jewish Studies.

JCC Warsaw just celebrated its first anniversary in its new location in October 2014.

Participants in Mi Dor Le Dor, a Jewish educators program, with Prof. Karen Underhill in the Remuh Cemetery, Krakow.

Jewish Culture Festival closing night concert, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Szalom on Szeroka.â&#x20AC;?

An aerial view of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which stands on the sacred site of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and faces the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes.

Children at the Lauder Morasha Day School, Warsaw; photo by Ed Serotta. Connections

Spring 2015

Judaica Finds New Life by Remembering the Past T

his spring the PJCC Art Gallery is proud to present an exhibition highlighting the multifaceted projects of Mi Polin, (Hebrew for “From Poland”). Mi Polin, founded by the couple Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar, is the first post-war brand that designs and produces Judaica in Poland. Mi Polin’s mission is two-fold: to create a new contemporary look of Jewish ritual objects, and to prove that Jewish life in Poland is vibrant. They embrace the future by giving great reverence to the past. The PJCC reached out via email with a few questions for Helena and Aleksander, who are based in Poland. Can you give an overview of the work you create as Mi Polin? We are a design studio specializing in contemporary Jewish design. We have three fields of activity: we design, produce and distribute top quality contemporary Judaica, using only the finest bronze,

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crystal, ceramics, or wood. We also provide promotional graphic design for Jewish institutions; for example, we designed a logo and commemorative art project for the anniversary of Warsaw Getto uprising. Last, we run Jewish design workshops for all ages and faiths. We’re struck by your Mezuzah from this Home project (pictured below), where you visit Pre-war Polish Jewish homes to recreate a mezuzah (a prayer casing found on doorposts of Jewish homes) from the original doorframe a mezuzah once inhabited. “This is a series of new mezuzot—bronze casts of mezuzah traces. When you affix the mezuzah to your doorframe, you fill the emptiness and give it a second life. Sitting untouched for many years, these mezuzot can now fulfill their holy function. This realization is about the past. It brings memory about pre-war Jewish Poland and is also about life because remembrance is a proof of life.”

Mi Polin offers to custom-make a mezuzah from a relative’s ancestor’s home town. Has this genealogy project uncovered any memorable stories or connections? “We were commissioned to do a mezuzah for a Polish-Jewish press journalist. We arrived to Sokołów and noticed the front part of the building was under reconstruction. When we came closer we saw that old door was replaced by a new, plastic one. We were shocked because we thought that we lost this mezuzah trace. Then we met a resident who told us that the door had been replaced on Friday and on Monday it would be taken to a dump. We found the original doorframe with the mezuzah trace in the back yard! Imagine how lucky we were to find a doorpost of an 80 year-old building on the last possible day. Immediately we decided to take it with us. We transported it by bus, by bicycle and on our backs to Helena’s home 25 miles away. Now this doorpost is in our studio.

A pre-war Jewish doorway and new mezuzah—part of the Mezuzah from this Home project.

The Trees of Light installation in Kraków. “Another story—we did a bronze cast of mezuzah trace that was found at doorpost of Szeroka 38 in Kazimierz. We found that the most notable resident of Szeroka 38 was a very famous rabbi Joel Sirkes (1561-1640), called BaCH from the title of his book Bait Chadash. He was a Chief Rabbi of Krakow and the head of yeshiva in 1618-1640. He was buried in Remuh Cemetery behind this building. Our documents show, and we are almost 100% sure, that this mezuzah was mounted by Rabbi Sirkes by himself! We already done casts from 15 cities in southeast Poland.” Your exhibition at the PJCC will include a brand new series documenting a multi-faith holiday art installation. Can you explain the site-specific setting, project, and response to the piece? “This year Hannukah and Christmas are near the same time and we wanted to create a holiday atmosphere common for all Jews and Christians of Poland. The place of the event was carefully selected. It was organized at

Brzozowa Square placed in Kazimierz, the former Jewish district in Kraków. Before the war, this area was a place where Jews and Christians lived together. Jews lived in buildings at left side, Christians at right. In the middle was a square where these people used to meet every day. “We prepared 500 Christmas and Hannukah ornaments cut from mirror plexiglass and hung them on trees in the middle of Brzozowa Square, resulting in bright, ecumenical Trees of Light (pictured above). To create a magical atmosphere we added fog. The final work looked beautiful and dreamlike. Mirror ornaments were bouncing light in every direction. We planned Trees of Light as a viral event. Photos of Trees of Light were shared via social media and have been seen by more than 40,000 people.” Read more of our interview with the artists online at blog. pjcc.org. Contributor Kimberly Gordon is the PJCC’s Cultural Arts Director.

Mi Polin (From Poland) Aleksander Prugar

Helena Czernek

Art Reception

Meet the Warsaw-based art duo of Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar (see page 21). Connections

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Jewish

Peoplehood

Why Jewish Peoplehood is Central in Our Community

The PJCC’s commitment to Jewish peoplehood supports us in taking pride in our culture and our people, it creates strong connections to local and worldwide Jewry and israel, and it makes certain that we are literate about the ideas, values and practices of jewish living. Embracing our roots as we focus on present-day Jewish engagement ensures the continued vibrancy and diversity of our cultural and spiritual expression.

Take a Breath: An Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation (FMP) Learn simple and basic instructions in the practice of meditation with Rabbi Lavey Derby. Thu • Weekly • 1:30 – 2:30 pm • BR • 42918 Life, It’s Complicated: Jewish Perspectives (FMP) Join this ongoing discussion exploring Jewish views on important issues and living a meaningful life. Thu · Weekly · 10:30 – 11:30 am · CRA 42917 Beth El Senior Friendship Club Bring a bag lunch and enjoy a different program each week. Thu · Weekly · 12:00 – 3:00 pm · San Mateo $1/$1 Shabbat in the Lobby (FMP) Fri • Weekly • 3:30 pm Yiddish Club (FCCM) Increase your Yiddish vocabulary, learn about Yiddish culture, watch videos and make sure the mamoloshen (mother tongue) lives! Peer led. Tue • 4/7, 4/21, 5/5, 5/19, 6/2, 6/16 10:30 am – 12:00 pm • C · Public $3.50 per session Get Up & Go presents: Mark Levy’s Special Passover Program Singing in English, Hebrew, Yiddish or Ladino, Mark Levy presents the traditional songs of Passover. This is a program that all religious and ethnic backgrounds will enjoy. Wed • 4/1 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 42999 Matzah Mash: Ages 4 – 8 Join matzah festivities that include a glowin-the-dark hametz hunt and other fun cooking activities related to our favorite Passover food. Registration required. Thu • 4/9 • 1:00 – 3:00 pm • AR • $12/$15 43005

Monday at the Movies presents The Jewish Cardinal (FCCM) Based on a true story, the son of PolishJewish immigrants becomes a leader in the Catholic Church, not wavering from his Jewish identity, even as he is ordained Archbishop of Paris. French with English subtitles. (100 min) Mon • 4/13 • 2:00 pm • BR • 42961 Jewish Book Discussion (FCCM) Facilitator Jim Van Buskirk’s essays have been featured in various books, magazines and other publications. Books are available from the Book Club in a Box program at the Jewish LearningWorks’ Jewish Community Library. Pre-registration suggested. April The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis This novel spans one momentous day in the life of a former Refusnik who has built a new life in Israel as a powerful politician before encountering the former friend who denounced him to the KGB almost forty years earlier. Tue • 4/28 • 10:30 – 12:00 pm • D Public $5 • 42953 May The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Set in a German village during WW2, an orphaned girl who steals books comes to live with a foster family who is hiding a Jew in their basement. Tue • 5/26 • 10:30 – 12:00 pm • D Public $5 • 42954 June The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer This intricate mélange of historical events and personal drama is an unforgettable story of love, courage, and survival. Tue • 6/30 • 10:30 – 12:00 pm • D Public $5 • 42955

FC = Free for Center Members • FCCM = Free for Center & Community Members • FMP = Free for Members and Public

Spring 2015

AB Room AB • AL Adult Lounge • AR Art Room • BR Board Room • C Room C • D Room D • CRA Conference Room A • DCG Daniel Cook Gymnasium Connections ECK ECE Kitchen • GX Group Ex Studio • HG Hamlin Garden • MPR ECE Multi-Purpose Room • L Lobby • TA Treehouse A • TB Treehouse B TF Turf Field • TF2 Turf Field Near Pool • WK Wornick School • YS Yoga Studio

PJCC Art Gallery presents

Mi Polin (From Poland) by Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar April 1 – June 25, 2015 Mi Polin (From Poland) Art Reception (FMP) Meet the Warsaw-based art duo of Helena Czernek and Aleksander Prugar, the artists behind this first Polish-made Judaica brand. Hear how they try to instill their work with the principle of hiddur mitzvah in which beauty enhances a ritual object’s positive nature. Reception begins at 6:30. Presented in partnership with Lehrhaus Judaica. Mon • 4/13 • Reception 6:30 pm; Discussion 7:00 pm • Gallery & BR • 43045

Jewish Wellness Yoga for Passover (FCCM) Experience a gentle, grounding Iyengarbased yoga and movement practice as we explore themes of freedom and spring, rooted in mystical teachings from the Jewish tradition. Instructor: Julie Emden directs the Embodied Jewish Learning Initiative at Jewish LearningWorks in San Francisco. Sun • 3/22 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm · YS Public $20 · 42831 Yoga and Wholeness with a Jewish Twist (FCCM) Gentle, Iyengar-based yoga that connects mind, body, heart, and spirit. Registration required. Instructor: Julie Emden (see above). Wed • 4/8 – 4/29 • 7:15 – 8:30 pm • BR Public $50 for series or $20 per class 42983

Outside These Walls: Nature Hike (FMP) Experience the beauty of nature and a gentle workout with noted Jewish environmental educator Deborah Newbrun. Location TBA. Registration required. Fri • 4/24 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm • 42973 Fri • 5/15 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm • 42974 Fri • 6/5 • 10:00 am – 1:00 pm • 42975 Tasting Jerusalem Discover what the Jerusalem culinary buzz is all about as PJCC Wellness Coach Jeannie Solomon explores the award-winning Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. Pre-registration required. Tue • 4/14 • 10:00 – 11:00 am • D • $15/$20 41976 Tue • 5/12 • 10:00 – 11:00 am • D • $15/$20 41977

Jewish Wisdom Promotes Wellness Learn how Judaism’s teachings support living with a joyful sense of balance and well-being. Rabbi Rex Perlmeter is the founder of the Jewish Wellness Center of New Jersey. Pre-registration required. Tue • 5/19 • 7:00 – 8:30 pm • BR • $7/$10 42915 Rhythms of the Jewish Calendar (FCCM) Jewish mystical teachings, gently guided movement explorations and free-style dance. No previous experience with dance or Judaism needed. Instructor: Julie Emden (see previous). Sun • 5/17 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm • YS • Public $15 • 42985 See additional programs under the “Grow Justice: Fight Hunger” heading on page 23.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame 6:30 pm Reading of Martyrs’ Names 7:00 pm Service of Remembrance

Guest speaker Guenther Leopold: “Flight for Life: Finding Refuge in the Philippines”

Multi-Generational Service • Survivors’ Procession Candlelighting • Music and Song • Student Artwork For information contact kwisialowski@jcrc.org. Connections

Spring 2015

programs April/May/June 2015

Member / Public • $ = Additional fee • MF = Materials Fee • FC = Free for Center Members FCCM = Free for Center & Community Members • FMP = Free for Members and Public Holidays closures and no-class dates at pjcc.org/info/info-hours

The 5-digit class code number is now located at the end of the day/date/time section underneath the class description. Program, registration, instructor, and schedule information at www.pjcc.org or call the number listed below each department. Registration is required for most classes unless “drop-in” is indicated.

Program Refund Policy for Individual Classes, Series Classes & Aquatics

Wellness

To receive a 100% refund, written requests must be received at least one week prior to the individual class or first session of series. To receive a 75% refund, written requests must be received at least one day prior to the individual class or first session of series. To receive a 50% refund (does not apply to individual classes or aquatics classes), written requests must be received at least one day prior to the second session of the series. Refund requests made after one day prior to the individual class or second session will not be accepted, and no refund will be granted. Requests must be made in writing; call 650.378.2703 for details.

Weight Loss Your Way Reset your habits and lose those extra pounds in this motivating new eight-week program that uses a holistic, big-picture approach. Contact PJCC Wellness coach Jeannie Solomon at jsolomon@pjcc.org. pjcc.org/mindbody

pjcc.org/mindbody • Spa Services • Pilates Reformer Classes • Pilates Private Training • TRX, WOW and HITT • Group Exercise Classes • Purchase Eminence products

pjcc.org/

MIND BODY®

health & fitness Group Exercise

650.378.2771

Yoga & Pilates

650.378.2771

Yoga / Pilates Pilates Reformer Series ($) Develop a lean, strong body and improve posture. Healing Yoga for Cancer Patients (FMP) Cancer survivors, patients and their caretakers will learn gentle yoga postures, guided meditation and breathing techniques to relax. pjcc.org/mindbody Fri • Weekly • 1:30 – 2:45 pm • YS

Monthly Group Exercise Free for Center Members! For schedules, visit www.pjcc.org and click on the “Schedules” link. pjcc.org/mindbody Zumba & Zumba Gold • Barre classes Indoor Cycling • Yoga • Mat Pilates • Tai Chi U–Jam • Light & Easy Stay Fit for Life: Adults 55+ (FC) Participate in free programs specifically designed for you and included in your Center Membership.

Spring 2015

650.378.2778

Soccer 650.378.2776 Free for parents and children who are Center Members

One-on-One Personal Training ($) Choose from convenient, cost-effective packages that include single-, three-, five-, and ten-session packages. Semi-Private Personal Training ($) Enjoy the benefits of exercising with a friend! Cost-effective options include single-, five-, and ten-session packages.

Specialty Classes HITT: High Intensity Team Training ($) This bootcamp-style class will push your limits! For a free trial class, contact cluera@pjcc.org. pjcc.org/mindbody Tue/Thu • 6:00 pm • Lobby

Discover the path to healthy living with the PJCC’s state-of-the-art fitness center. You’ll find a variety of exercise programs to develop and improve your body, mind, and spirit. Please check current schedules at www.pjcc.org or call 650.378.2703.

650.378.2778

NFL Flag Football

Private Pilates & Yoga Training ($) Increase your skill set through one-on-one personal training with your favorite Pilates or yoga instructor. Semi-private partner training also available.

Wellness

Nutrition 650.378.2722

Team Sports & Mens’ Basketball

Family Gym (FC)

Stay Fit for Life 650.378.2790

sports, clinics & leagues

Personal Training

Group Training 650.378.2727 650.378.2727

Pink Ribbon Program A private, small-group, post-rehabilitation workout for breast cancer survivors. Email vmcgrath@pjcc.org or call 650.378.2727.

TRX: Suspension Training ($) Leverage your body weight to build power, strength, and flexibility. pjcc.org/mindbody Sun • 12:00 pm • Mon • 10:15 am Tue • 8:00 am; 9:30 am; 12:00 pm Wed • 6:30 am; 10:15 am; 4:30 pm Thu • 8:00 am; 9:30 am Fri • 7:00 am; 12:00 pm; 2:00 pm Women on Weights ($) Learn basic fundamentals of strength training and its benefits. pjcc.org/mindbody or the Welcome Center

Kid-friendly gym equipped with soft mats, climbing structures and more. Wristband required; available at Welcome Center. Ends 5/31/15. Sun • Weekly • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Free for parents and children who are Center Members/Public $20 • DCG

Adult Leagues Adult Basketball League One game per week, including playoffs. Open to all levels. Three members of each team must be Center Members to receive member price. For questions, call 650.378.2783 or email jcalonico@pjcc.org. Competitive Mon • 4/6 – 6/8 • 6:15 – 11:00 pm • DCG $710/$750 • 43023 Recreational Wed • 4/8 – 6/3 • 6:15 – 11:00 pm • DCG $710/$750 • 43024 Sun • 4/12 – 6/4 • 5:00 – 8:00 pm • DCG $710/$750 • 43057 Adult Ultimate Frisbee League Form a team and work your way to the end zone scoring points in this fast-paced game full of trick throws, defensive moves, and fun! Sun • 6/7 – 8/9 • 4:00 – 9:00 pm • Off site $450/$500 • 43016 Adult Flag Football League Bulky football pads not your style? Join us for our premiere 7 vs 7 flag football league. Tue • 6/9 – 8/4 • 5:30 – 9:00 pm • Off site $450/$500 • 43015

programs

Member / Public • $ = Additional fee • FC = Free for Center Members FCCM = Free for Center & Community Members • FMP = Free for Members and Public

April/May/June 2015

Program, registration, instructor, and schedule information at www.pjcc.org or call the number listed below each department. Registration required for most classes.

sports, clinics & leagues cont’d

650.378.2782

Youth Clinics and Leagues Flag Football Passing Tournament: Ages 6 –10 Put your flag football skills to the ultimate test in this one-day, 4 vs 4 pass-only, round-robin tournament. Sun • 6/14 • 9:00 am – 2:00 pm • TF $20/$25 • 43044 Youth Basketball League: Grades 2 – 7 Sign up individually or be placed on a team. The emphasis is on teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun! No black-soled shoes, please.

Up Close Concerts at the PJCC

aquatics Swim Lessons The PJCC offers awardwinning swim lessons in Foster City’s only indoor pool. Choices include: • Group, private, and semi-private lessons for children and adults • Year-round classes for all ages and abilities

Swim Team

Coed: Grades 4 & 5 Junior Division Sun • 6/14 – 8/2 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • DCG PP: $95/$110; Team: $690/$730 • 43026

Pre–Swim Team: Seals, Ages 5 – 12 Prepare for the Barracuda swim team! Swimmers will learn:

Coed: Grades 6 & 7 Senior Division Sun • 6/14 – 8/2 • 5:00 – 6:00 pm • DCG PP: $95/$110; Team: $690/$730 • 43027

• To swim 50 meters freestyle (no fins) with flip turns • To swim 50 meters backstroke (no fins) with a crossover turn • To swim 25 meters butterfly and breaststroke (no fins) with correct breathing • The required list of nine stroke drills • The correct use of a pace clock • To develop a correct start from a sitdown dive for each of the four strokes • The correct turns for all four strokes

Novice: Grades PreK – 1 Sun • 4/12 – 5/17 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm DCG • $125/$145 • 43019 Sun • 5/31 – 6/28 • 11:00 am – 12:00 pm DCG • $105/$125 • 43020 Youth: Grades 2 – 5 Sun • 4/12 – 5/17 • 12:15 – 1:15 pm • DCG $125/$145 • 43021 Sun • 5/31 – 6/28 • 12:15 – 1:15 pm • DCG $105/$125 • 43022

Barracuda Youth Swim Team: Ages 5 – 18 Year-Round Program Focus on technique, endurance and speed in the outdoor pool. Swimmers must make arrangements to try out if they are new to our team. Bronze Level • For swimmers competent in 50 yards freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke, with knowledge of butterfly. Silver Level • For swimmers competent in all four racing strokes, starts and turns, who can swim continuously for 20 minutes. Gold Level • For swimmers who can train autonomously, read a pace clock and swim distances of 200 yards or greater. Monthly Fees: $105/$127

jewish life Middle School Basketball Clinic: Grades 6 – 8 Polish your basketball skills under the guidance of Golden State Warrior great Joe Ellis. Sun • 4/12 – 5/17 • 1:30 – 2:30 pm • DCG $125/$145 • 43017 Sun • 5/31– 6/28 • 1:30 – 2:30 pm • DCG $105/$125 • 43018

Up Close at the PJCC presents The Mobius Trio These three guitarists collaborate with composers on contemporary music. Sat • 5/2 • 8:00 pm • Lobby • $25/$30 42909 Up Close at the PJCC presents Tumbledown House Their music and storytelling evoke Prohibition, the Wild West, and other snapshots of American History. Sat • 6/20 • 8:00 pm • Lobby • $25/$30 42910

Coed: Grades 2 & 3 Pee Wee Division Sun • 6/14 – 8/2 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm • DCG PP: $95/$110; Team: $690/$730 • 43025

Basketball Skills Academy: Grades PreK – 5 Join Golden State Warrior great Joe Ellis to polish skills and learn about important team concepts. Includes a progress report and concludes with a fun competition and awards presentation.

Don’t miss these intimate 60-minute performances that open with wine and cheese greetings and conclude with “Meet the Artists” dessert receptions. Reserve tables for parties of four or more!

650.378.2764 See pages 20 – 21

the arts

650.378.2703

PJCC Art Gallery presents Mi Polin (From Poland) by Helena Czernek and Aleksander Pruger April 1 – June 25, 2015

Discounts on Public rates available to Foster City residents for most programs. Quantities are limited; please call for details. Member rates apply to Center Members; however, Community Members may qualify for these rates. www.pjcc.org • 650.212.PJCC (7522)

grow justice: fight hunger 650.378.2703 Grow Justice: Fight Hunger Garden Service Days (FMP) Help alleviate hunger by growing organic vegetables for distribution to residents of the InnVision Shelter Network. Ages 4+ Pre-registration recommended. Sun • 4/26 • 5/31 • 6/14 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm HG • April 42912 • May 42913 • June 42914

adults 650.378.2703 Monday at the Movies (FCCM with community program pass) Skip the crowded movie theaters and enjoy these award-winning films followed by a lively discussion. Pre-registration recommended. The Jewish Cardinal The true story of a Polish Jew who becomes a leader in the Catholic Church, not wavering from his Jewish identity even as he is ordained Archbishop of Paris. French with English subtitles. (100 min) Mon • 4/13 • 2:00 pm • BR • 42961 Like Father, Like Son When a couple learns that their child was switched at birth, they must decide whether to seek out their biological son or choose the boy they’ve been raising. Japanese with English subtitles. (120 min) Mon • 4/27 • 2:00 pm • BR • 42962 Philomena A floundering BBC journalist and an aging Irishwoman form an unlikely bond when they pair up to find the son she was forced to give up for adoption 50 years ago. (95 min) Mon • 5/11 • 2:00 pm • BR • 42963 Connections

Spring 2015

programs April/May/June 2015

The 5-digit class code number is now located at the end of the day/date/time section underneath the class description. Registration required for most classes.

adults cont’d Gideon’s Army This documentary film follows three young, committed public defenders who are dedicated to working for the people society would rather forget. (96 min) Mon • 6/8 • 2:00 pm • BR • 42964 Detachment When a substitute teacher takes a new assignment at an inner-city school, he finds himself becoming involved in the lives of his colleagues and students. (97 min) Mon • 6/22 • 2:00 pm • AB • 42965

Jewish Book Discussion See page 20.

Games People Play Drop-in Bridge (FCCM) For intermediate-level bridge players. Tue • Weekly • 1:00 – 3:30 pm • BR Public $3.50 per meeting · 42940 Beginning Bridge Learn the basics with an emphasis on bidding and the play of the hand. Some previous experience required. Thu · 4/2 – 6/18 · 10:00 am – 12:00 pm AB • $166/$215 · 42919 Intermediate Bridge with Supervised Play Learn additional conventions with supervised play. Fri · 4/3 – 6/26 · 1:00 – 3:00 pm · AB $166/$215 · 42921

Groups and Clubs

Advanced Bridge with Supervised Play Learn additional conventions with supervised play. Tue · 4/7 – 6/23 · 10:00 am – 12:00 pm AB · $166/$215 · 42920

Sit and Knit (FMP) Mon • Weekly • 10:30 am – 12:30 pm • AL Drop-in Let’s Talk About It (FMP) Lively discussions about topical events. Wed • Weekly • 2:00 – 3:15 pm • AB • Drop-in Men’s Discussion Group (FCCM) A lively discussion group for all men, regardless of age or viewpoint. Morning Mon • 4/20 • 5/18 • 6/15 10:30 am – 12:00 pm • AB • $3.50/session April: 42970 • May: 42971 • June 42972 Evening Wed • 4/8 • 5/13 • 6/10 • 7:00 – 8:30 pm C • $3.50/session • April: 42967 May: 42968 • June 42969 Yiddish Club (FCCM) Increase your Yiddish vocabulary, learn about Yiddish culture, watch videos and make sure the mamoloshen (mother tongue) lives! Peer led. Tue • 4/7, 4/21, 5/5, 5/19, 6/2, 6/16 10:30 am – 12:00 pm • C • $3.50 per session Beth El Senior Friendship Club Bring a bag lunch and enjoy a different program each week at Peninsula Temple Beth El, 1700 Alameda de Las Pulgas, San Mateo. Thu • Weekly • 12:00 – 3:00 pm San Mateo • $1/$1

Spring 2015

Bridge: Supervised Play Supervised play for all levels. No instruction provided, but instructor is present for consultation on all hands. Wed • 4/1 – 6/24 • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm AB • $10/$12 per meeting • 42922 A Morning of Mah Jongg (FCCM) No instructor present; beginning to intermediate level. Bring your current Mah Jongg card. Fri • 4/24, 5/8, 5/22, 6/12, 6/26 10:30 am – 12:30 pm • AB Public $3.50 per meeting • 42960 An Afternoon of Mah Jongg (FCCM) No instructor present; intermediate to advanced level. Bring your current Mah Jongg card. Thu • 4/2 – 6/25 • 1:00 – 4:00 pm • AB Public $3.50 per meeting • 42958 Improve Your Mah Jongg Strategy Fri • 6/19, 6/26 • 11:00 am – 1:00 pm • C $20/$26 • 43010

Beginning Watercolors Learn basic watercolor techniques through step-by-step demonstrations. Fri • 4/17 – 5/22 • 9:00 am – 12:00 pm AR • $180/$225 • 42937 Chinese Brush Painting 101 Learn about the similarities and differences between Chinese brush painting and Western painting with step-by-step demonstrations. $15 materials fee payable to instructor. Tue • 4/21 – 6/9 • 7:00 – 8:30 pm • AR $138/$172 • 42938 Tasting Jerusalem See “Jewish Wellness” on page 21.

Events, Trips, & Tours Historic Japanese Garden Tour This special fundraiser event for the PJCC Adult Department includes a walking tour, refreshments, Ikebana Japanese flower arranging demonstration, and transportation on the PJCC bus. Wed • 5/6 • Day trip • San Mateo • $65 42951 High Style: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection View the evolution of fashion from 1910 to 1980 through stunning costumes, accessories, and related fashion sketches. Wed • 5/20 • Day trip • San Francisco $46/$60 • 42949

Classes Food For Thought (FCCM) Learn something new with this enriching and engaging lecture series presenting the best local authors, artists, and educators. For scheduled topics, visit pjcc.org and click on “activities & learning” tab. Mon • 4/6, 4/20, 5/4, 5/18, 6/1, 6/15 2:00 – 3:00 pm • BR • Public $4 per meeting

A Little Night Music This beguiling and bittersweet tale of lost love, scandalous infidelity, and young passions that intertwine over a midsummer’s eve in 1900s Sweden ignites the senses. Wed • 6/10 • Day trip • San Francisco $80/$104 • 42984

programs

Member / Public • $ = Additional fee • MF = Materials Fee • FC = Free for Center Members FCCM = Free for Center & Community Members • FMP = Free for Members and Public

April/May/June 2015

Program, registration, instructor, and schedule information at www.pjcc.org or call the number listed below each department. Registration required for most classes.

adults cont’d Member Mixers Mixers are for Center Members and their guests who are 21 years old and over, except when noted. Limited childcare available. All mixers earn 150 JCC Rewards points when you RSVP and attend. Reserve your spot: 650.378.2703. Spring Member Mixer Enjoy appetizers, live music and mingling. Wed • 4/15 • 5:30 – 7:00 pm • CRA • 43011 Morning Member Mixer Start your day with noshing and friendship! Tue • 6/2 • 9:00 – 11:00 am • CRA • 43012 Celebrate Our Multicultural Community Member Mixer Sample delicious comfort foods from around the world! To share a dish, contact Michele Solomon at 650.378.2780 or msolomon@pjcc.org. All ages welcome. Wed • 6/17 • 5:30 – 7:00 pm • CRA • 43013

Mark Levy’s Special Passover Program Singing in English, Hebrew, Yiddish or Ladino, Mark Levy presents the traditional songs of Passover. This is a program that people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds will enjoy. Wed • 4/1 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 42999 Peter Master’s Piano Memories Name that tune! Peter plays familiar (and some not so familiar) songs from the Golden Age of music and sweet memories of our youth. Wed • 4/15 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 43000 Jeff Sanford, Jazz at the Center In this special PJCC jazz performance, Jeff Sanford is joined by pianist Andy Ostwald. Wed • 4/29 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 43001

650.378.2703 Family Gym Free for parents and children who are Center Members Kid-friendly gym equipped with soft mats, climbing structures and more. Wristband required, available at Welcome Center. Sun • Weekly • 10:00 am – 12:00 pm • DCG Ends 5/31, resumes in September.

Get Up & Go • pjcc.org/go 650.378.2750

Get Up & Go is an activity and errandtransportation service for adults who no longer drive. Register for activities or transportation at 650.378.2750. Errand and Appointment Service $6 round trip/$3 one way Every Monday, Tuesday and Friday, Get Up & Go provides transportation within San Mateo County for non-driving older adults for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and some personal errands. Reservations are required by the Wednesday of the week prior to the date of service. Volunteer escorts are available. First come, first served, so reserve early. Socialization Program Free for regular attendees and members; $5 for first-time guests. Socialization programs without transportation are open to all adults. A low-cost lunch is served at 12:00 pm, available by reservation only. Advance registration is required for transportation (see above). Get Up & Go is supported by gifts to the PJCC and grants from: The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and The Jewish Community Endowment Newhouse Fund; Sequoia Hospital/Dignity Health; the Peninsula Health Care District; Mills-Peninsula Health Services; and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s New Freedom Fund.

family activities

Grow Justice: Fight Hunger Garden Service Days (FMP) See page 23.

Marlene Aron on Impressionist Women Artists Artist and lecturer Marlene Aron discusses and presents slides of the beautiful and inspiring art of Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Marie Bracquemond, Eva Gonzales, and Camille Claudel. Wed • 5/13 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 42997 Chip Curry on Guitar and Violin Chip’s talents on the guitar and old-time violin fiddling includes popular golden standards such as I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Pennies from Heaven, and more. Wed • 5/27 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 42998 “You’re Sensational!” The Songs of Cole Porter Jeff Wessman recreates the swingin’ sounds of the 40s and 50s in this celebration of the great Cole Porter. Wed • 6/17 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 43002 Joy Perrin, One Woman Band Joy’s musical program will include Classic Americana and a rich selection of American pop music from the swingin’ 1920s through the 50s. Wed • 6/24 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • BR • 43003

Discounts on Public rates available to Foster City residents for many programs. Quantities are limited; please call for details. Member rates apply to Center Members; however, Community Members may qualify for these rates. www.pjcc.org • 650.212.PJCC (7522)

Annual Fun in the Sun Center Member Pool Party (FC) Yo ho ho! Inviting all landlubbers to walk the plank to the PJCC for a jolly good time! Enjoy swimming, light snacks, games, music and treasures of fun! Ahoy matey, see you there! Sun • 6/28 • 1:00 – 4:00 pm • Outdoor Pool 43014

youth & teen 650.378.2704 Wornick students, to register f0r programs marked with asterisk (*) please call the Welcome Center at 650.378.2703. Bay Area Junior Maccabi Games: Ages 10 – 12 Join us for a day of sporting competition and games with kids from local JCCs. Prizes, pool party, BBQ and more! Sun • 5/3 • 1:00 – 4:00 pm • TF • $30 43055 Matzah Mash: Ages 4 – 8 See page 20. Filmmaking: From Script to Premiere* Grades 2 – 5 Learn the secrets of filmmaking using handheld video cameras and editing software and produce an original film. Mon • 4/13 – 6/1 • 4:30 – 6:00 pm • D $145/$195 • 42992

Connections

Spring 2015

programs April/May/June 2015

The 5-digit class code number is now located at the end of the day/date/time section underneath the class description. Registration required for most classes.

youth & teen cont’d Garden Growers: Grades K – 5 (FC) Principles of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and nutrition will be discussed as children learn about plant lifecycles and practice gardening. Extra materials fee of $40 payable upon registration. Wed • 4/15 – 6/3 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • HG $140 • 42993 Chess Wizards: Grades K – 8 Learn the fundamentals of the game including tactics and strategies. No experience required. Thu • 4/16 – 6/4 • 4:45 – 5:45 pm • D $150/$200 • 43050 Youth Cooking: Grades K – 5* Explore healthy and fun cooking through food preparation and tasting. Extra materials fee of $20 payable upon registration. Grades K – 1 Thu • 4/16 – 6/4 • 3:45 – 4:45 pm • ECK $150/$200 • 43008 Grades 2 - 5 Thu • 4/16 – 6/4 • 5:00 – 6:00 pm • ECK $150/$200 • 43009

Youth Fitness

Beginning Soccer: Grades Pre-K – K* A fun and educational co-ed soccer class emphasizing individual and team soccer skills. Wed • 4/15 – 6/3 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • TF2 $150/$200 • 42987 Youth Soccer: Grades 1 – 5* Children thrive with this non-competitive curriculum and positive coaching style in a pressure-free environment while learning soccer basics.

Grades 3 – 5 Fri • 4/17 – 6/5 • 3:45 – 4:45 pm • TF2 $150/$200 • 42989 Kids “Run” the PJCC: Grades 2 – 5 (FC) Learn the basics of running through engaging drills and activities. Tue • 4/14 – 6/2 • 4:30 – 5:30 pm • $140 TF • 43353

Kid’s Night Out! Age 3 – Grade 5 Calling all moms and dads… take the night off and send your kids to join their friends in the Treehouse! They’ll enjoy an awesome evening filled with entertainment, dinner, and fun. Registering two or more kids? Receive a sibling discount. Call 650.378.2703.

Music Together: 1 Month – 4 Years This national early childhood music program involves both children and parents in informal musical activities that are developmentally appropriate for very young children. Receive a sibling discount when you register two more kids.

Sat • 4/18, 5/2, 6/6 • 6:00 - 10:00 pm TA • Advance $33/$40; Noon Friday Prior $38/$45 • April 42996 • May 42995 June 42994

Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 9:30 – 10:15 am • BR $190/$240 • 42924

650.378.2670

Spring 2015

Basketball: 2 – 3 Years Instill a love of basketball as parents/ caregivers participate in this fun class with their little ones. Sun • 3/22 – 5/31 • 9:15 – 10:00 am • MPR $170/$220 • 42936

Grades 1 – 2 Wed • 4/15 – 6/3 • 4:05 – 5:05 pm • TF2 $150/$200 • 42988

early childhood education (ece)

Beginning Gymnastics: Grades K– 2 (FC) Beginning gymnasts will learn basic skills and develop body awareness, strength conditioning and self-esteem in a safe environment. Wed • 4/15 – 6/3 • 2:00 – 3:00 pm • DCG $140 • 42986

Baby and Me

PJCC Preschool: Ages 18 Months – 5 Years The PJCC Preschool offers a creative, values-oriented, educational environment that is open to the entire community. Our staff is an experienced group of dedicated early childhood professionals who combine a strong educational background with a love and appreciation for young children. Open to all faiths and backgrounds, children enjoy a curriculum that cultivates positive childhood experiences through social, cognitive, and physical development.

For Parents ECE Parent Information Meeting and Tour (FMP) Tour our award-winning Early Childhood Education center, meet with our Directors, and hear about our exciting curriculum. Optional tour of the PJCC pools and fitness facility available. Wed • 4/15, 5/20 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm • MPR April: 42932 • May 42933

Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 10:30 – 11:15 am • BR $190/$240 • 42925 Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 9:00 – 9:45 am • BR $200/$250 • 42926 Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 10:00 – 10:45 am • BR $200/$250 • 42927 Sat • 3/28 – 6/6 • 9:30 – 10:15 am • BR $190/$240 • 42928 Sat • 3/28 – 6/6 • 10:30 – 11:15 am • BR $190/$240 • 42929 Baby Picassos: Ages 2 – 4 You and your little one will create works of art using various media that will help your child develop fine-motor skills and learn to differentiate between shape and color. Extra materials fee of $40 payable upon registration. Parent/caregiver participation required. Tue • 3/24 – 6/2 • 9:30 – 10:15 am • AR $190/$240 • 42935 The Truth About Motherhood (FMP) Join facilitator Kim Simon for this informal and informational support group for mothers. Bring your little one and share your successes (and challenges!) while making friends along the way. Fri • 3/27 – 5/29 • 9:30 – 10:30 am • BR 42934

programs

Member / Public • $ = Additional fee • MF = Materials Fee • FC = Free for Center Members FCCM = Free for Center & Community Members • FMP = Free for Members and Public

April/May/June 2015

Program, registration, instructor, and schedule information at www.pjcc.org or call the number listed below each department. Registration required for most classes.

early childhood education cont’d Baby Sign Language Introductory Workshop For parents of newborns to 24 months. Learn 40 basic American Sign Language signs and how to teach your pre-verbal baby to sign. Tue • 4/14 • 10:00 – 11:30 m • BR • $20/$25 42923 Babilates: 3 Months – 1 Year Tone your body and get in shape as you connect and bond with your little one through Pilates exercises. Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 10:00 – 10:55 am • CRA $190/$240 • 42916

Young Rembrandts: Ages 3 – 5 Children learn about drawing and art while developing fine-motor skills and academic, conceptual, and critical-thinking skills. Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm ECE RM 12 • $175/$225 • 43043 Fine-Motor Fun: Ages 4 – 5 Children will develop strength and coordination in the small muscles of their hand through a variety of fun fine-motor games, crafts, and activities. Tue • 3/24 – 6/2 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm ECE Rm 12 • $195/$245 • 43031 Kee Tov Soccer: Ages 4 – 5 Children learn soccer basics in this noncompetitive curriculum that features positive coaching in a pressure-free environment. Tue • 3/24 – 6/2 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • MPR $195/$245 • 43035 Thu • 3/26 – 5/28 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • MPR $175/$225 • 43036 Li’l Monkey Gymnastics: Ages 3 – 5 Your li’l monkey will have a blast in this introduction to gymnastics that will help develop coordination, body awareness, strength and increase self-confidence. Registration required. Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 1:05 – 1:55 pm • DCG $195/$245 • 43037

Yoga and Massage: 2 Months – 2 Years Massage for youngsters is an important tool for healthy mental and physical development. It benefits both you and your child and reinforces precious bonding. Thu • 3/26 – 5/28 • 11:00 – 11:55 am • YS $170/$220 • 42931 Soccer Stars: Ages 2 – 3 Basic skills and techniques for future soccer stars and entertaining activities that promote motor skill development, teamwork and cognitive ability. Sat • 3/28 – 6/6 • 9:15 – 10:00 am • TF2 $170/$220 • 42930

Preschool Enrichments Beginning Hoopsters: Ages 3 – 5 Years And the crowd goes wild! Beginning hoopsters learn basketball basics. Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • MPR $175/$225 • 43029 Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 3:00 – 4:00 pm • MPR $175/$225 • 43030 The Imagination Station: Ages 3 – 5 Explore the process of invention through hands-on building challenges, science experiments and construction projects using everyday objects. Mon • 3/23 – 6/1 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • ECE Rm 13 • $175/$225 • 43040

Green Thumbs: Ages 3 – 5 Our little gardeners will learn about various plants and their life cycles through handson gardening in the PJCC’s Justice Garden. Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • HG $195/$245 • 43032 Pee Wee Soccer: Age 3 First-time preschool soccer players will develop gross-motor skills, enhance coordination, and increase self-confidence in this non-competitive environment. Wed • 3/25 – 6/3 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • MPR $195/$245 • 43039 Music Fun Time: Ages 3 – 5 Using a curriculum guided by research from Johns Hopkins, this class is the ultimate introduction to the world of music. Materials include a bag of instruments to keep. $40 materials fee. Thu • 3/26 – 5/28 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • ECE RM 12 • $175/$225 • 43038 World of Science: Ages 3 – 5 Students learn technology skills through fun, engaging and dynamic projects with supportive, teacher-led instruction and hands-on learning experiences. Thu • 3/26 – 5/28 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • ECE Rm 13 • $175/$225 • 43042

Happy Feet Dance: Ages 3 – 5 Develop balance, rhythm, flexibility, coordination, and self-esteem while learning tap, jazz and ballet using fun props. Fri • 3/27 – 5/29 • 1:05 – 1:55 pm • GX $175/$225 • 43033 Incredible Art of Cooking: Ages 3 – 5 Explore healthy cooking through recipes, selecting and measuring ingredients, food preparation and tasting. $20 materials fee. Fri • 3/27 – 5/29 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • ECE Kitchen • $175/$225 • 43034 Tiger Tots: Ages 3 – 5 This martial arts class includes games and practice drills that help develop balance, coordination, strength, and more. Fri • 3/27 – 5/29 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm • MPR $175/$225 • 42041

free programs Sit and Knit Mon • Weekly • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Let’s Talk About It Wed • Weekly • 2:00 – 3:15 pm

Life, It’s Complicated: Jewish Perspectives Thu • Weekly • 10:30 – 11:30 am

Take a Breath: An Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Thu • Weekly • 1:30 – 2:30 pm

Shabbat in the Lobby Fri • Weekly • 3:30 pm

Healing Yoga for Cancer Patients Fri • Weekly • 1:30 – 2:45 pm

PJCC Art Gallery presents Mi Polin (From Poland) by Helena Czernek and Aleksander Pruger April 1 – June 25, 2015

Mi Polin (From Poland) Art Reception Mon • 4/13 • Reception 6:30 pm; Discussion 7:00 pm

ECE Parent Information Meeting and Tour Wed • 4/15, 5/20 • 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Outside These Walls: Nature Hike Fridays • 4/24, 5/15, 6/5 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Garden Service Days Sun • 4/26, 5/31, 6/14 • 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Connections

Spring 2015

PJCC YOUR CENTER FOR lIFE

Peninsula Jewish Community Center 800 Foster City Blvd. Foster City, CA 94404

Mixed Sources

“ We rarely miss a week without spending time at the PJCC. Whether we are working out, taking youth basketball lessons in the gym, or enjoying family pool time, the PJCC is part of our regular routine. We are glad it’s so conveniently located and welcoming.” PJCC Members The KohnMurray Family

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 822 San Mateo, CA 94402