See pages 11-14 for more exciting information about the Jewish Living Center Av/Elul 5777 • August 2017
Introducing Wellness
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Travel
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Culture
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Foundation Leadership Event
Jewish Living Center opens on Federation campus “It’s exciting to welcome the JLC onto our campus and to expand its offerings to promote a vibrant life, not to mention having it be in the same building as JFS and in close proximity to two synagogues and the JCC,” Marcovitch said. “This is a huge thing to happen in our community. We expect a rise in the use of services from JFS and a busy hub of activity for those ages 60 and better.” The JLC’s approach to aging includes the belief that people should never stop learning or expressing themselves and the advocacy of a healthy lifestyle, Rusgo said. “It’s a place for friends to meet, plan games with their card groups, and chat about current events in addition to the many learning, fitness, and travel oppor-
tunities they can take advantage of,” she said. New offerings such as speaker presentations, specialty wellness classes, and Sip & Swipe Café, an easy and free class in which participants can learn the basics of how to use an iPad or tablet, are on the JLC’s lineup this year among past favorites like drumming and art classes. “Out and About” day trips to Put-inBay and an overnight excursion to Stratford, Ontario, Canada, are also on this year’s schedule. “We’re all about making things accessible, encouraging the exploration new things, and helping people stay connected,” she added. “Whatever their interests,
we can help them find a space here to feel comfortable spending time in.” The JLC schedule is meant to help “break the mold” for those who have retired, said Emily Harel, JLC program associate. “A lot of people may think that they are going to be bored when they retire. Not if you’re here with us,” Harel said. “We’re not your grandma and grandpa’s senior center. We don’t do bingo, we don’t sit and stare at the TV.” That’s not to say senior centers are bad, Harel explained; they’re just not in line with the JLC’s style. “We’re here for those who live an active life. We’re go-getters and adventure seekers,” she said. “You’re going to have such a blast here that your kids will be jealous.” In addition to addressing health, education, and cultural needs, JLC also meets the community’s need for convenience, Rusgo said. “Say you come to the JLC for a class and you have a need that JFS can help you with or you are looking for a volunteer opportunity. All you have to do is walk down the hall,” she said. “Everything you need is in this building or on this campus.” JFS staff members are happy to see familiar and new faces come through the door to the JLC, said Nancy Newbury, executive director of JFS. “I am thrilled that the Jewish Living Center has moved into the Sekach Building. It brings people into this beautiful building for programs and activities and affords them the opportunity for personal consultation with our social workers,” Newbury said. “The JLC is evolving into a multi-dimensional program that will have new and exciting offerings in addition to the current favorites that take care of the body, stimulate the mind, and soothe the soul. Those who are looking for unique opportunities for a great value will find it at the JLC.”
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YJT Wine Tasting
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By Emily Gordon Few groups in the area can proclaim they have a space that was created by them, for them. But community members ages “60 and better” can, said René Rusgo, director of the new Jewish Living Center. At the beginning of the year, the Jewish Family Service Senior Adult Center relocated from Pelham Manor to the Sekach Building on the Federation campus. In the spring, it was renamed as the JLC and launched. “The JLC is based on a fresh and holistic approach to aging in which we serve the whole person, from wellness classes to learning sessions to travel,” Rusgo said. “It’s about living an adventurous life and connecting to fellow community members in a place where you can be yourself and be part of the process. We want everyone to feel comfortable sharing their ideas with us and telling us what they’d like to see under this roof.” The JLC is the result of community members’ feedback to a survey commissioned last year to learn about and evaluate their needs, said Joel Marcovitch, CEO of Federation. “We had a vision for what we wanted to do for this demographic of our community in the future, but we wanted data behind it,” Marcovitch said. Responses to the survey indicated that the Federation campus was a central location to most individuals in the demographic, and that their needs were changing. The JLC aims to meet those needs with its new space and programming, Rusgo said. “It all goes back to ‘honor thy mother and thy father.’ We’re mindful of community responsibility and we’re evolving with the community and its needs,” she said. “This is a core value of our Jewish community. We’re honoring ours by listening to what people have to say.” Marcovitch agrees.