October 2013 "THERE ARE HUMOR, HERRING NO WORDS" AND HOME RUNS Devin and The Lessans Family Gena Mitchell Annual Book Festival Page 1 Pages 11-12 MEET VOLUNTEER AMIT SPOTLIGHT Connecting Ruth Brinn Brings It the JCCGW Page 12 with Israel Page 7 STORY CAMP JCC SPECIAL NEEDS & INCLUSION PROGRAM centerThere Are No Words By Andrea Kronzek Down syndrome. With the support of an there are no words to express the value of inclusion counselor, Devin participates in the Camp JCC Inclusion Program for not just all camp activities alongside her typically- the campers with disabilities, but also for developing peers. the typical campers, the counselors and the community. The Camp JCC Inclusion Program welcomes approximately 100 campers with a wide “Camp JCC is so much more than just a range of special needs each year. No other summer camp,” said Gena. “While it gives camp in the community accepts individuals campers like Devin a safe and nurturing with such complex or multiple disabilities. environment in which to figure out how to The American Camp Association has navigate the world, it also provides a strong presented an award to Camp JCC for model for typical children for how to interact setting the U.S. standard for inclusion in a with individuals who have disabilities. This recreational setting. can’t be taught, it must be experienced, as it is at Camp JCC.” To Gena Mitchell, it is abundantly clear why Camp JCC has earned this national “The life lessons that all the children and recognition. counselors are learning at Camp JCC will be fruitful to those individuals, their families “Devin is embraced at Camp JCC. She wants and society as a whole.” acknowledgement for her thoughts and feelings, just as we all do; Camp JCC gives The JCCGW is dedicated to ensuring that Camper Devin Mitchell, right, shares a laugh with her that to Devin. She is appreciated for what parents of all campers pay the same tuition, buddy, counselor Kate Lappin. she brings to the table.” even though the expenses associated with accommodating children with special “When I arrived at the JCCGW to drop Devin The skills that Devin learns at camp certainly needs—such as lift-equipped buses, off, she was so excited to be there! She was benefit her in daily life throughout the year. one-to-one counselors, nursing support, greeted enthusiastically when she got out of Devin is learning how to act appropriately sign language interpreters and additional the car. The content smile on her face was in different situations and how to follow lifeguards—can be three times as much as it priceless. As a parent, to see that, there are directions. The support of a buddy—a costs to accommodate a typical camper. no words to describe the feeling.” one-on-one counselor—gives Devin the independence and the confidence to take The annual Dinner of Champions is the So stated Devin’s mother, Gena Mitchell, of risks. “All of these factors will help Devin as primary source of funding for the JCCGW Devin’s reaction upon arriving at the JCCGW she grows older.” special needs and inclusion program. For for the first day of summer camp. information about the event, to be held this Just as Gena has no words to describe year on November 23, please see page 4, or Summer 2013 marked the second year at the feeling she gets in knowing that her visit jccgw.org/champions. Camp JCC for 10-year-old Devin, who has daughter is so happy and safe at Camp JCC, CENTER SCENE EDITORIAL STAFF Adrienne Fierro Center Scene, the magazine of the Jewish receives support from the United Way and Chief Communications Officer Community Center of Greater Washington, Combined Federal Campaigns. is issued monthly from September through Mauricio Garcia June. For advertising information, contact Production Artist/Design Molly Rosenberg at 301.348.3725 or Andrea Kronzek The Center is a member of the Jewish [email protected]. Editor Community Centers Association of North America, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Center Scene assumes no responsibility for Molly Rosenberg Federation of Greater Washington, and the kashrut status of products advertised. Communications & Marketing Associate 1 6125 Montrose Road • Rockville, MD 20852 • jccgw.org • 301.881.0100 OCTOBER 2013 LEADERSHIP OFFICERS Engaging our Community in New Ways Bradley C. Stillman, President Message from Michael centerRobyn Judelsohn, Vice President for Administration/Treasurer In her September 11, 2013 column, Washington Jewish a few participants responded when we asked what the Heidi Hookman Brodsky, Week Editor-in-Chief Meredith Jacobs asks, “Do we program meant to them: Vice President for Development need synagogues?” Jacobs raised the issue of the • “It was a way for a family who doesn’t usually Mindy Berger, Vice President for Member Services Center partnering with Shalom Learning to offer an celebrate the holiday to expose our children to their Arthur Polott, Vice President for Programming innovative Jewish youth education culture.” Neil Gurvitch, Vice President and General Counsel program for families who do not • “It meant we all had a place to Felicia K. Gottdenker, Secretary belong to synagogues. Lest it be be together and celebrate without Andrew Chod, Assistant Secretary construed that I don’t think we need spending a fortune. Times are tough. Brian Pearlstein, Assistant Treasurer synagogues, I do believe synagogues When your kids are young and you Monique Buckles, Ombudsperson and synagogue communities are an aren’t sure which synagogue you want EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE integral part of our Jewish community. to belong to, it’s nice to know the JCC Robert G. Epstein In fact, my wife and I actually belong will have a simple, but spirited place Matthew Weinberg Michael E. Winer to two synagogues. The thorny for you to celebrate Jewish holidays.” issue that Jacobs didn’t raise is the • “It was wonderful. We all felt a BOARD OF DIRECTORS ever-increasing overlap of offerings sense of wonder and joy with seeing Gilly Arie Helen Rubin Brent Berger, MD Andrew Sachs from synagogues, JCCs and other our grandchildren enjoy celebrating Robert I. Black Tracy Bloom Schwartz communal agencies with regard to Michael Feinstein, CEO with music, etc.” Nathan Bortnick Reed Sexter education, wellness, seniors programs • “It was a way that we could Andrew Bridge Darryl Shrock Brian Gaines Andrew P. Shulman and others. The boundaries have become blurred as we celebrate the New Year together instead of just going The Honorable David Waghelstein all try different programs to welcome and attract those to synagogue and dropping the kids off in babysitting.” Douglas F. Gansler The Honorable Jeff who are not affiliated and retain current members and • “It was a great experience and we had a wonderful Amy Guberman Waldstreicher Holli Beckerman Jaffe Samantha Wasserman participants. time! I think it is incredibly special to give families Randi K. Meyrowitz Sharon Zissman an opportunity to have a ritual holiday program in a Adam Polsky As the executive director of a JCC, I certainly have my communal environment… We aren’t quite ready for COUNCIL OF ADVISORS own perspective. For the Center, membership dues are a [shul] commitment, and this program gave us an David S. Bender Alan Meltzer really the program fee to participate in our fitness and opportunity to observe the holiday in a meaningful way.” Stuart Bindeman Pamela Nadell, Ph.D. aquatics center. In essence, membership is a measure Dean Eisen Robert Phillips Bernard Forseter Howard Ross of the success of our fitness center as we recognize Does our offering programs such as Apples & Honeys Greg Friedman Julie Silver that, by and large, our community typically does not and Shalom Learning mean that we are competing with Eric Kassoff Kathy Sklar belong to an institution for the sake of belonging. While synagogues? I don’t think so. At the Center, we strive to Michael Kay Marc Solomon Mark Lerner Robin Taub we believe that membership should have its privileges, support Jewish discovery in ways that are individually Jeffrey Linowes Susan Zuckerman such as discounts on other programs, fitness is the only meaningful and respect individual preferences, whether Lawrence Mann program that requires one to be a member of the JCC. for an individual or interfaith couple or family interested PAST PRESIDENTS We are certainly interested in growing our membership. in exploring Jewish culture. We believe that many Morris Cafritz z”l Harry M. Linowes But, so much of what we do is about engaging people who participate with us will eventually join Marcella E. Cohen Steven D. Lustig our community in Jewish discovery and activities. synagogues. The fact is that two-thirds of our members Scott M. Cohen Philip N. Margolius The Honorable Col. Benjamin Ourisman z”l Through our preschool, camp, seniors programs, belong to synagogues. For one-third of our members Stuart E. Eizenstat Sydney M. Polakoff holiday celebrations and cultural offerings, we provide and many others in our community, however, we Barry P. Forman Richard B. Reff, M.D. opportunities for people—especially those who are not may well be their primary Jewish connection and we Rosalie B. Gerber z”l Leo Schlossberg z”l Michael S. Gildenhorn Burnett Siman z”l otherwise connected for whatever reason—to connect, want to provide the quality educational, cultural and Col. Julius Goldstein z”l Beth C. Sloan celebrate and learn. As a result, there are times when recreational programming that meets their needs. z”l Simon Hirshman Charles E. Smith z”l we find ourselves in that blurred gray area. Lesley Israel Andrew M. Stern Rosalyn Levy Jonas John D. VerStandig I do not believe that the question is whether we Edward H.