June 2012 - Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington

KICKIN’ IT 

AT CORNELL 

Jenna Cantor Jets onto 

the College Soccer Scene 

Page 1 

ANNUAL 

BOARD 

MEETING 

and Volunteer 

Recognition Awards 

Pages 4-6 

Cover Photo: Zehavit Kandel, Member and Volunteer 

June 2012 

DANCE FUSION 

Dance School 

Students Dazzle 

Page 14 

LOOKING 

BACK 

Adult Services Director 

Selma Sweetbaum 

Set to Retire 

Page 15

center STORY 

Jenna Cantor Jets onto the College Soccer Scene 

By Andrea Kronzek 

Jenna Cantor in action at a Churchill High School 

soccer game. 

This fall, soccer enthusiasts will want 

to pay close attention to the Cornell 

University women’s soccer team, where 

JCCGW member Jenna Cantor was recruited 

to play. 

A Churchill High School student who will 

graduate this month, Jenna was named to the 

2011 National Soccer Coaches Association 

of American Girls High School Scholar All- 

CENTER SCENE EDITORIAL STAFF 

Amanda M. Goldstein 

Communications & Marketing Director 

Mauricio Garcia 

Production Artist/Design 

Andrea Kronzek 

Editor 

Molly Rosenberg 

Advertising Manager 

America Team. To be nominated for the 

honor, a player must have a cumulative grade 

point average of 3.75 or better (on a 4.0 

scale), must have demonstrated excellence 

in soccer at the high school level, and must 

have performed community service (Jenna 

has volunteered as a soccer coach for 

Special Olympics). Of 4,000 eligible players 

in the United States, Jenna was one of 35 

chosen for the team. 

Jenna was also named to the Maryland 

Association of Coaches of Soccer All State 

2011 First Team Girls, and the 2011 All- 

Gazette Girls Soccer First Team. 

Mark Cantor, Jenna’s father, says that his 

daughter was destined to be a soccer player. 

She started playing soccer recreationally at 

age 4, then competitively at age 8. 

In addition to playing for her school’s soccer 

team, Jenna plays on a club team, the 

Bethesda Freedom. She was a member of the 

Maryland Olympic Development girls soccer 

team, which is comprised of the top players 

in the state who are chosen to compete 

against the top players from other states. 

Just as Jenna’s soccer career has been a 

progression, so has her association with the 

JCCGW. Her parents, Mark and Lisa, have 

been members for many years. In fact, they 

met through the JCCGW softball league in 

the late 1980s when they were placed on the 

same team by chance. 

Center Scene, the magazine of the Jewish 

Community Center of Greater Washington, 

is issued monthly from September through 

June. 

The Center is a member of the Jewish 

Community Centers Association of North 

America, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish 

Federation of Greater Washington, and 

1 6125 Montrose Road • Rockville, MD 20852 • jccgw.org • 301.881.0100 

When Jenna was a baby, Mark and Lisa 

would bring her in a stroller to the JCCGW 

when they came to work out. When she got 

older, Jenna was a faithful fan at Mark’s 

softball games. She played on the JCCGW 

soccer teams for the Mid-Atlantic Junior 

Games and the JCC Maccabi Games. Now, 

she has joined the JCCGW to train for the 

college soccer season. 

Even with so many fitness centers in the area, 

selecting the JCCGW as her training facility 

was an obvious choice for Jenna. Besides 

the sentiment that both she and Mark 

express about the importance of supporting 

the JCCGW, Jenna asks rhetorically why 

she would go anywhere else. “The JCCGW 

health & fitness center has everything I 

need,” she reports, including great equipment 

and motivating and knowledgeable personal 

trainers like her trainer, Lior Klejner. 

If you have the opportunity to see a Cornell 

women’s soccer game this fall, be sure to 

watch closely. In a sport where speed and 

quickness are paramount, Jenna earned her 

nickname JJ—Jenna Jet—for good reason! 

For more information about the JCCGW 

Health & Fitness Center, which was 

recently awarded Washington Consumers’ 

CHECKBOOK top rating for quality (see page 

7), contact Amy Gantz at 301.348.3713 or 

agantz@jccgw.org. 

receives support from the United Way and 

Combined Federal Campaigns. 

For advertising information, contact 

Molly Rosenberg at 301.348.3725 or 

mrosenberg@jccgw.org. 

Center Scene assumes no responsibility for 

the kashrut status of products advertised.

center LEADERSHIP 

OFFICERS 

Scott M. Cohen, President 

Bradley Stillman, 

Vice President for Administration/Treasurer 

Mindy Berger, Vice President for Development 

Heidi Hookman Brodsky, 

Vice President for Member & Guest Services 

Randi K. Meyrowitz, Vice President for Program 

Abbe D. Lowell, Vice President & General Counsel 

Robyn Judelsohn, Secretary 

Darryl Shrock, Assistant Secretary 

Andrew P. Shulman, Assistant Treasurer 

Robert G. Epstein, Ombudsperson 

Robert Weiner, Executive Director Emeritus 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Rick Cantor • Felicia K. Gottdenker 

Matthew Weinberg • Michael E. Winer 

Daniel H. Abramowitz 

Gilly Arie 

Brent Berger, M.D. 

Robert I. Black 

Nathan Bortnick 

Andrew Bridge 

Monique Buckles 

Andrew Chod 

The Honorable 

Brian Feldman 

The Honorable 

Douglas F. Gansler 

Barbara Goldberg Goldman 

Amy Guberman 

David S. Bender 

Stuart Bindeman 

Bernard Forseter 

Greg Friedman 

Toni Goodman 

Eric Kassoff 

Michael Kay 

Mark Lerner 

Jeffrey Linowes 

Morris Cafritz z”l 

Marcella E. Cohen 

The Honorable 

Stuart E. Eizenstat 

Barry P. Forman 

Rosalie B. Gerber z”l 

Michael S. Gildenhorn 

Col. Julius Goldstein z”l 

Simon Hirshman z”l 

Lesley Israel 

Rosalyn Levy Jonas 

Edward H. Kaplan 

Joel S. Kaufman z”l 

Harry King z”l 

Fred Kogod z”l 

Robert P. Kogod 

Samuel Lehrman 

Harry M. Linowes 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

COUNCIL OF ADVISORS 

PAST PRESIDENTS 

Neil Gurvitch 

Nancy Jacobson 

Andrea Felzer Marmon 

Brian Pearlstein 

Sandy Perlstein 

Arthur Polott 

Adam Polsky 

Helen Rubin 

Andrew Sachs 

David Shapiro 

David Waghelstein 

Samantha Wasserman 

Sharon Zissman 

Lawrence Mann 

Alan Meltzer 

Pamela Nadell, Ph.D. 

Howard Ross 

Julie Silver 

Kathy Sklar 

Marc Solomon 

Susan Zuckerman 

Steven D. Lustig 

Philip N. Margolius 

Col. Benjamin Ourisman z”l 

Sydney M. Polakoff 

Richard B. Reff, M.D. 

Leo Schlossberg z”l 

Burnett Siman z”l 

Beth C. Sloan 

Charles E. Smith z”l 

Andrew M. Stern 

John D. VerStandig 

Bernard M. Weisz 

Bernard S. White z”l 

Morton H. Wilner z”l 

Donald E. Wolpe 

z”l of blessed memory 

EXECUTIVE TEAM 

Michael Feinstein, Chief Executive Officer 

Ruth E. Carski, Chief Financial Officer 

Tracey E. Dorfmann, Chief Program Officer 

Amy I. Gantz, Chief Operating Officer 

Tasha Museles, Chief Development Officer 

Amanda M. Goldstein, 

Communications & Marketing Director 

Living Our Values Message from Michael 

Over the last few months I have shared with you the 

Center’s new mission, vision and core values and 

howtogethertheyinformourdirection,theprograms 

we offer and the way we connect with our community. 

Throughout our strategic thinking and direction setting 

process,Iregularlyfoundmyselfwonderingwhetherwe,as 

a Jewish institution, are leading, following or 

in synch with the broader Jewish community. 

YoucanimaginemycuriositywhenIreceived 

the Public Religion Research Institute’s 

publication entitled “Chosen for What? - 

Jewish Values in 2012,” which provides 

the results of this year’s survey of Jewish 

Americans. 

The Jewish Values Survey seeks to 

understand distinctive Jewish values, 

culture and experiences, and their 

connections to Jewish political beliefs and 

behaviors. The importance of five Jewish values was 

surveyed: (1) pursuing justice, (2) caring for the widow 

and the orphan, (3) tikkun olam (healing the world), (4) 

welcoming the stranger, and (5) seeing every person as 

made in the image of God. The survey also looked at the 

importance of Jewish identity and religious practices and 

beliefs. From my seat at the JCCGW, you can imagine 

that I was most interested in the survey results related to 

Jewish values and identity. While the survey responses 

reflect demographic differences, I think the overall results 

are informative: 

• At least 80% of American Jews say that pursuing 

justice and caring for the widow and the orphan are very 

or somewhat important. 

• More than 70% of American Jews say that tikkun 

olam and welcoming the stranger are very or somewhat 

important. 

• A majority of those surveyed say seeing every person as 

made in the image of God is very or somewhat important. 

There is clearly a broad consensus on the importance 

of four of these values in informing political beliefs 

and activity. Our core values align well with the survey 

results, as our values include gemilut chasadim (helping 

those in need through acts of loving kindness), tikkun 

olam (making the world a better and more just place), and 

hachnassat orchim (welcoming guests). As a JCC, we are 

much more focused on activity than on political beliefs. 

Thinking about what we “do,” has led me to some serious 

organizational soul-searching. I know that we live our 

values of being welcoming and taking care of those 

in need. We can always do things better but I can see 

those values in action every day from how we welcome 

those new to the community and how we include those 

with different abilities, lifestyles and beliefs, to how 

we provide financial scholarships to those in need and 

nutrition programs to help seniors age in place. Everyone 

is welcome. 

Michael Feinstein, CEO 

JUNE 2012 

My disappointment is in the extent to which we engage 

in tikkun olam. Yes, each year our JCC Maccabi athletes 

participate in a “day of caring and sharing,” Camp JCC 

has its new Mitzvah Corps social action camp program, 

and we organize projects for Montgomery County’s MLK 

Day of Service and Federation’s Good Deeds Day. These 

are all important programs but 

they do not rise to the level of an 

ongoing commitment to social 

action that makes our community, 

our county and our world a better 

place. Avaluesodeeplyheldbyour 

Board and by the American Jewish 

community should play a bigger 

role in the daily life of the JCCGW, 

and this will be a key initiative as 

we move forward. I hope that I can 

count on you to volunteer as we 

increase our efforts in tikkun olam. 

The survey also looked at which qualities are most 

important to the respondents’ Jewish identity. Almost 

50% of American Jews identified a commitment to social 

equality, 20% cited support for Israel and 17% mentioned 

religious observance. Cultural heritage/tradition and 

general values did not register significantly. Our JCC’s 

commitment to connecting our community to the people, 

history, culture and land of Israel clearly puts us out in 

front of the Jewish community at large. To that end, we 

have a young shlicha (Israeli emissary) on staff to provide 

Israel education and bring Israel to life throughout the 

JCCGW and the community. We also offer a wide array 

of Israeli films, music and cultural programs and will soon 

be sponsoring trips to Israel and rolling out an exchange 

program for teens with the community centers in our 

Partnership Together (a program of the Jewish Agency for 

Israel that partners Jewish communities around the world 

with Israeli communities) sister city, Beit Shemesh. 

Our own benchmarking participant survey shows 

increases in the numbers of Jewish and non-Jewish 

respondents who say that we have helped them gain a 

better understanding of (1) the state of Israel, its people 

and culture, and (2) the complexity of the Middle East 

today. The positive impact on non-Jewish members of 

the community is particularly noticeable and gratifying. 

Over the long term, our goal is that a connection to Israel 

will increasingly be cited as a key component of Jewish 

identity in our community. 

In comparing the values survey to what we do, we see 

that in some areas we walk the talk; in the area of tikkun 

olam we are not yet there; and with regard to making 

Israel as a key component of Jewish identity, it appears 

thatweareleadingtheway. Yoursuggestionsonhowwe 

can better live our values are encouraged and welcome. 

Please let me know what you think by emailing me at 

mfeinstein@jccgw.org. 

2

center LEADERSHIP 

Humility and Appreciation 

A Message from JCCGW President Scott M. Cohen 

Many important Talmudic virtues can help 

guide our paths through the trials and 

trepidations of life. Two of those virtues 

which I wish to highlight this month 

are anavah, meaning humility, and 

hakarat hatov, meaning appreciation. 

The concept of humility can be 

interpreted in many ways. Ezra Taft 

Benson said, “Pride is concerned with 

who is right. Humility is concerned 

with what is right.” Charles H. 

Spurgeon stated, “Humility is to 

make a right estimate of oneself.” Each of 

us probably knows at least one person who is 

always right, knows everything about everything 

and never misses an opportunity to toot their own 

horn. The absence of humility prevents them from 

realizing just how foolish and unimpressive such 

an attitude can be. Experts in human behavioral 

sciences attribute such posturing to an attempt to 

compensate for low self-esteem. 

Scott M. Cohen, President 

While this may be true, I find it quite perplexing 

how any intelligent person could fail to realize 

that there will always be someone brighter, more 

successful, better looking or simply with a louder 

horn to toot. Why bother trying so hard to wage 

such a futile battle? My father told me that there 

will inevitably be times when I will find myself in 

the midst of a conversation with others in which 

Sunday, June 3, 1-5 p.m. 

at Rockville Town Square 

200 East Middle Lane, Rockville, MD 

I do not possess the slightest idea on the subject 

matter. At such a time it is best to listen and learn 

rather than to speak and appear the fool. There 

is no shame in not knowing that which 

you have yet to learn, but great shame 

in feigning one’s knowledge to others. 

In the end, one will only fool oneself. 

The Talmud states, “....he who offers 

humility to God and man shall be 

rewarded with a reward as if he had 

offered all the sacrifices in the world.” In 

other words, be humble and go far. 

The many teachings regarding hakarat hatov 

espouse the meaningful connection between God 

and us. How can we possibly express our gratitude 

to God for everything we are blessed with in 

our daily lives? It seems virtually impossible 

to adequately appreciate the magnitude of all 

that God has created for us to share and enjoy. 

I understand all too well that from time to time, 

each of us experiences sadness, loss, trouble 

and difficult challenges that weigh heavily on 

our hearts and minds. Yet, as my Bubbie always 

said, “This too shall pass.” And it always does. 

God certainly knows that we are incapable of 

expressing our appreciation on a level that is 

commensurate with God’s infinite gifts of nature, 

wonders, generosity and compassion. 

Featuring: 

Israeli rock ‘n’ roll legend Danny Sanderson and his six-piece band 

Tzofim (Israel Scouts) Friendship Caravan performance 

Local Israeli dance and a cappella performances 

Exhibits from Embassy of Israel in DC 

Israeli organic produce and boutique chocolates 

Demonstration of Krav Maga, a self-defense system developed in Israel 

Activities for children of all ages 

shalomdc.org 


However, people possess one very powerful 

emotion that transcends any obligation to 

appreciate that which we have received from God: 

Love. We can express love through self-respect 

and through respect for our parents, teachers, 

siblings, children, colleagues, people of other 

faiths, and strangers. The Talmud teaches us to 

respect and study Torah from the perspective of 

love rather than out of a sense of obligation. Love 

is the essence of all that is good in the world. Love 

is the seed of compassion and understanding. 

Love is our hope for peace around the world. 

Love is evident in many ways at the JCCGW. On any 

given day, one will find preschool parents who give 

their children extended hugs before parting for the 

day; volunteers who selflessly donate their time and 

energy; dedicated teachers who are eager to impart 

knowledge to passionate students who are excited 

to learn; performers who movingly demonstrate 

their well-honed skills; and individuals devoted to 

nurturing their bodies and minds through getting— 

and staying—in shape. 

The sense of love at the Center is inescapable. 

Come inside and feel it for yourself. 

Danny Sanderson, one of the most influential performers 

on the Israeli cultural scene, is both a legendary and 

contemporary pop icon. 

The Friendship Caravan 

consists of 10 Tzofim (Israeli 

Scouts) who are entering 

their senior year of high 

school. The Caravans 

travel throughout North 

America each summer as 

emissaries, sharing their 

lives in Israel through song, 

dance and story.

center ANNUAL MEETING • JUNE 5, 2012 

2012 Nominating 

Committee 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE 

Bernie Weisz, Chair 

Monique Buckles Arthur Polott 

Andy Chod Andy Shulman 

Brian Feldman Stuart Tauber* 

Robyn Judelsohn Eric West* 

*Community representative 

OFFICERS 

President Scott Cohen 

Vice President for Administration/Treasurer Andy Shulman 

Vice President for Development Robyn Judelsohn 

Vice President for Programming Mindy Berger 

Vice President for Member Services Heidi Brodsky 

Vice President and General Counsel Abbe Lowell 

Secretary Darryl Shrock 

Assistant Secretary Adam Polsky 

Assistant Treasurer Monique Buckles 

Ombudsperson Brad Stillman 

NOMINATED FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM 

Danny Abramowitz 

Rob Finfer* 

Tracy Bloom Schwartz* 

Reed Sexter* 

Jeff Waldstreicher* 

Seth Weiner* 

*Nominated as new member to the board 

NOMINATED FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM 

Brent Berger 


Andrew Chod 

Neal Gurvitch 

Brian Pearlstein 

NOMINATED FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM 

Randi Meyrowitz 

CONTINUING BOARD MEMBERS 

Gilly Arie 

Robert Black 

Andy Bridge 

Rick Cantor 

Robert Epstein 

The Honorable Brian Feldman 

Arthur Polott 

Helen Rubin 

David Waghelstein 

Samantha Wasserman 

Sharon Zissman 

Board Members Concluding Service 

Barbara Goldberg Goldman 

Nancy Jacobson 

Andrea Marmon 

Sandy Perlstein 

David Shapiro 

The Honorable Douglas Gansler 

Lisie Gottdenker 

Amy Guberman 

Andrew Sachs 

Matthew Weinberg 

Michael Winer 

IN THE 

CENTER SPOTLIGHT 


Please join us for our 

2012 ANNUAL MEETING 

AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS 

Celebrating the installation of new 

JCCGW officers and board of directors 

and recognizing the service of 

volunteers, outgoing board members and 

Selma Sweetbaum, Adult Services Director 

TUESDAY JUNE 5, 2012 

15 Sivan 5772 

7 p.m. Annual Meeting 

Social Hall 

VOLUNTEER AWARDS 

Flora M. Stetson Distinguished Service Award 

Jerry Hulman 

Vivian and Morton Rabineau 

Teen Volunteer Awards 

Dani Katz 

Shoshana Lasday 

Noga Raviv 

Special Volunteer Recognition Awards 

including Jonina Duker, Isadore Goldman and 

Arlene Mager, who each served more than 

300 hours this year 

2012 ANNUAL MEETING CHAIRS 


Adam Polsky 

4

center ANNUAL MEETING • JUNE 5, 2012 

Meet the Incoming Board Members 

ROBERT FINFER 

CEO of Integrity 

Capital Partners, 

LLC, Robert Finfer 

has been an active 

member of the 

Jewish community, 

having served on the 

board of the Jewish 

Social Service Agency and The School of 

Israel Studies at The American University. 

He is also a member of the Kogod Business 

School Advisory Board at The American 

University, where he teaches courses in 

entrepreneurial business planning. A 

member of Temple Beth Ami, Robert is a 

supporter of the U.S. Holocaust Museum 

and The Jewish Federation of Greater 

Washington. 

As a JCCGW board member, Robert hopes 

to make an active and ongoing contribution 

by way of fundraising, committee work, 

nomination work, marketing, and other 

areas where his skills will allow. 

TRACY BLOOM 

SCHWARTZ 

President of 

Creative Parties, 

Ltd., Tracy Bloom 

Schwartz has 

been a JCCGW 

member for about 

13 years. She 

works out in our 

health & fitness center, has taken bridge 

and mah jongg classes, and participates 

in our book fair and annual golf and tennis 

tournament. While it was still available 

at the JCCGW, Tracy participated in the 

Florence Melton adult education program. 

She is active with Bethesda Green, a 

public-private partnership that serves as 

a catalyst for environmentally-sustainable 

economic growth and living in Bethesda. 

Tracy is active within the 6th and I Historic 

Synagogue community. 

As a JCCGW board member, Tracy hopes 

to expand the outreach of the Jewish 

community. As an active member, she 

believes there should be a greater 

awareness of the programs and services 

available to people of all ages and from all 

walks of life. 

REED SEXTER 

A Louisville, 

Kentucky native, 

Reed Sexter says 

that the local JCC 

was the center of 

Jewish activities 

and a big part of 

his life growing 

up. Vice president 

and senior counsel of Shapiro, Lifschitz 

and Schram, P.C., Reed and his wife have 

attended many programs at the JCCGW. 

Reed has also been involved in fundraising 

for The Jewish Federation of Greater 


As a JCCGW board member, Reed hopes to 

make a meaningful contribution in the areas 

of fundraising, membership and strategic 

planning, which would include making the 

JCCGW a popular destination for the local 

Jewish community. 

JEFFREY 

WALDSTREICHER 

A JCCGW member for 

the past two years, 

Jeff Waldstreicher 

is a state delegate 

in the Maryland 

General Assembly. A 

Montgomery County 

native, Jeff utilized the Center as a child 

and teen, and his family is now active in the 


preschool and children’s programming. 

Jeff has served on the board of directors 

of JSSA and of Operation Understanding 

DC (an African American/Jewish coalition), 

and on the social justice committee of 

Temple Shalom, where he and his family 

are members. He has been a board member 

of Montgomery Coalition for Adult English 

Literacy, acted as pro bono counsel for 

Maryland Sierra Club, and chaired the legal 

redress committee of NAACP Montgomery 

County. He lives with his wife and twoyear-old 

twins in Kensington. 

As a JCCGW board member, Jeff hopes 

to use his skills and interest in the areas 

of strategic planning, physical space/ 

renovations, government relations and 

preschool to help further the Center’s 

mission. 

SETH WEINER 

As a youth, Seth 

Weiner was active in 

JCCGW programs and 

later, was a JCCGW 

Camp staff member. 

More recently, Seth 

and his family have 

attended holiday 

celebrations and participated in events 

including the annual Book Festival. 

President of Sonic Promos, a promotional 

marketing agency, Seth serves as a 

consultant for a variety of organizations, 

locally and nationwide. He is vice president 

of the Chesapeake Promotional Products 

Association, a member of several planning 

committees, and an editorial advisor for 

Advantages Magazine. 

As a member of the JCCGW Board of 

Directors, Seth is particularly interested 

in programming for young families and 

expanding the JCCGW reach up-county. 

Welcome to the JCCGW Board of Directors. 

Thank you for your willingness to serve.


Flora M. Stetson Distinguished Service Award 

JERRY HULMAN 

Jerry Hulman, top middle, shares a lighthearted moment with students from 

his computer class. 

Touted by Adult Services Director Selma Sweetbaum as one of the 

most giving people she has ever known, Jerry Hulman’s volunteer 

activities have probably touched every aspect of the JCCGW. 

Vivian and Morton Rabineau Teen Volunteer Awards 

SHOSHANA LASDAY, DANI KATZ AND NOGA RAVIV 

Shoshana Lasday, a Wooton High School junior, has been a camper, 

counselor-in-training and volunteer at Camp JCC. She has also been 

a camper at Capital Camps, where she has learned valuable skills 

through their leadership programs. 

Shoshana’s Camp JCC supervisors report that last summer, she was 

a valued member of the Omanut (creative arts for grades 1-6) camp 

team. She relates well to every camper and has a positive attitude. 

She loves helping the campers get involved in the general camp 

programs, as well as in the art programs. Shoshana is the type of 

volunteer who sees her role as a job, and always does whatever is 

asked of her with a smile. 

Jerry assists in the Culture & Arts Department by setting up shows 

in the Goldman Art Gallery and by working in the box office for 

concerts, films and special programs. He has taught AARP’s driver 

safety course at the Center, and has taught computer classes for 

the ACE (Adult Center for Education) program and for Camp JCC. 

Of Jerry’s teaching style, Continuing Education Director Kandy 

Hutman relates, “Jerry loves sharing his expertise with students 

in the computer lab. He brings his great sense of humor to his 

courses and has everyone laughing right from the start. Then they 

are relaxed and ready to learn. It’s a great recipe for success.” 

The Jacob Siegel and Sarah Siegel Sacks Memorial Fund for 

Volunteer Services was established by Jerry and his wife Jane, 

who was also a dedicated JCCGW volunteer, in memory of Jane’s 

parents. Following Jane’s death in 2009, Jerry established the 

Jane Hulman Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund in her memory. 

Jerry is willing to help whenever he is needed; he devotes more 

than 100 hours of his time to the Center each year. As Volunteer 

Director Gloria Derkay asserts, “We are very lucky to have him.” 

Dani Katz and Noga Raviv, 

Walter Johnson High School 

students, are active with the 

Israeli Scouts of the Greater 

Washington D.C. area, Dani 

as educational director/young 

leader and Noga as young leader. 

(Israeli Scouts is an organization 

in the United States and Israel in 

which students from third grade 

and up meet weekly to learn 

about topics related to Israel 

such as culture, nature and history. All of their activities are conducted in 

Hebrew.). 

Dani and Noga work together to plan, organize and lead most of 

the activities in which the Scouts take part. Their strong work ethic, 

extensive leadership skills and creativity were evident at several JCCGW 

events which the Scouts helped organize this year, including the annual 

Chanukah and Purim celebrations, Good Deeds Day (a community day of 

service) and a Holocaust remembrance ceremony. 

Next year Dani will participate in Shnat Sherot, a gap year program of 

volunteering in Israel run by the Friends of the Israel Scouts, Inc. − Tzofim. 

6

center HEALTH & FITNESS, MEMBERSHIP 

Member 

Appreciation 

Pool Party 

Sunday, June 10 • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 

Food, DJ and interactive games in honor 

of our wonderful members! For more 

information, call 301.348.3800. 

Slide into 

Summer 

A JCCGW three-month summer membership 

is the solution! Take advantage of these 

great rates. For details, call the membership 

department at 301.348.3800. 

Family $475 Individual $250 

Couple $350 College Student $150 

Dive Into Our Summer 

Aquatics Programs 

Coach Lisa Wolf welcomes 

swimmers of all levels. 

Early Morning Masters Swim Club 

is a noncompetitive workout that 

incorporates endurance and interval 

training, as well as technique instruction. 

It’s a perfect way to dip your toes into the 

world of Masters Swimming. 

In Youth Swim Club, swimmers build on 

current skills—including stroke correction 

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 

Summer Social 

Thursday, June 7 • 7-9 p.m. 

TheJCCGWMembershipDepartment 

invites young professionals to kick 

off summer at a poolside social with 

beer, wine, snacks, music and door prizes. 

For more information, please contact 

Jennifer Wenk at 301.348.3850 or 

jwenk@jccgw.org. 

in all four strokes, and on starts and 

turns—while establishing an aerobic 

base. 

Both programs will be held in the outdoor 

poolandwillbeledbyMastersSwimCoach 

Lisa Wolf. In addition to being a current 

Masters swimmer and multi-sport athlete, 

Lisa is certified as a USA Swim Coach, 

ASCA (American Swimming Coaches of 

America) Level II, ALST (American Learn to 

Swim Instructor) Stroke Technician, USMS 

(United States Masters Swim) Level II 

Coach, and a USAT (USA Triathlon) Coach. 

She has coached swimmers from novices 

to nationally-ranked levels. 

For the summer class schedule, please 

see page 9. For more information, visit 

jccgw.org, or contact Caroline Cardullo at 

301.348.3890 or ccardullo@jccgw.org 


Check 

It Out! 

H&F CENTER RECEIVES 

TOP RATING 

Washington Consumers’ CHECKBOOK* 

(volume 16, no. 2) recently awarded the 

JCCGW Health & Fitness Center their top 

rating for quality. Of the 94 customers 

surveyed, 73% rated the JCCGW Health & 

Fitness Center superior in the category of 

“Overall value for your money.” 

Of the health clubs in the Washington, DC 

metro area that were included in the survey, 

our Center ranked considerably above 

average in terms of the percent of surveyed 

customers who gave our facility a superior 

rating for: 

Quality/maintenance of facilities and 

equipment 

Cleanliness 

Adequacy of facilities/equipment for 

demand 

Quality of instruction 

Availability/convenience of group 

activities 

Friendliness 

Providing what the sales staff promised 

Why go anywhere else, when the JCCGW 

can efficiently and effectively meet all of 

your health & fitness needs under one roof 

and at an affordable price? And, if you 

refer someone to the Center and they join, 

you both receive a fabulous JCCGW logo 

umbrella**! For more information, call the 

membership department at 301.348.3800. 

*Consumers CHECKBOOK is an independent, nonprofit 

consumer organization that was founded with the 

purpose of helping consumers obtain high-quality 

services and products at the best possible prices. 

**While supplies last

center SUPPORT 

Caring for Our Community 

The JCCGW plays a unique role as the 

heart of our community because our 

doors are always open to welcome 

everyone. We are the place that so many 

of you call your “home away from home” 

– where you work out at the fitness center, 

relax and schmooze with friends over coffee 

or lunch, bring your kids to camp, take your 

grandchildren to preschool, and enjoy being 

part of a warm, welcoming, accessible 

community. 

As the heart and home of our community, 

the JCCGW serves as a vital resource for 

individuals and families in our community 

who are struggling financially. Each year, 

we receive requests for more than 

$500,000 in financial aid. With your 

support, we are able to provide financial 

assistance and support services to 

hundreds of children, adults and senior 

adults in our community in the form of: 

• Scholarships to families in need who 

otherwise could not afford to give their 

children a Jewish preschool education or 

summer day camp experience; 

• One-on-one camp counselors for 

children and young adults with 

special needs so that they can have 

a fun and meaningful summer camp 

experience in our nationally-recognized 

inclusion program; 

• Reduced-rate memberships for adults 

with disabilities living in group 

homes, so that they can enjoy all that the 

JCCGW has to offer; 

• Support services for senior adults, 

including hot kosher meals, continuing 

education, health & fitness programs and 

social opportunities, helping them to live 

independently as long as possible. 

Annual Fund donations make it possible for 

us to offer more than $500,000 in financial 


assistance each year to these individuals and 

families, so that everyone can participate in 

our programs and be part of a community that 

feels like home. 

With so many individuals and families 

counting on our support, please consider 

donating today to the JCCGW’s Annual 

Fund. Your compassion and generosity 

will have a tangible impact on their lives. 

If you have already given, thank you for 

your generosity! Your kindness is greatly 

appreciated. If you have not yet found the 

time to contribute, your thoughtful gift today 

will help someone in need. Donations may 

be made on our secure website at jccgw. 

org/donate or by calling Ali Gordon at 

301.348.3855. 

Thank you for helping us care for our 

community. 

The JCCGW Golf & Tennis Chairs and Committee invite you to spend 

an afternoon of fun and fundraising on the course or court! 

Proceeds benefit the JCCGW’s programs and services for senior adults. 

Monday, June 11 

Lakewood Country Club 

You can make a difference! 

Still time to register! Contact Jodi Shulimson at 301.348.3769 or jshulimson@jccgw.org. 

8

CLASS CODE AGE/GRADE DAY DATES TIME FEE** NO CLASS 

AQUATICS Caroline Cardullo • 301.348.3890 • ccardullo@jccgw.org 

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR ALL AQUATICS CLASSES ARE DUE AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO START DATE. 

Waterbabies 10492 6-18 mos Su Jun 24-Aug 12 9-9:30 am $90 M/$110 GP 

Watertots 10485 18 mos-3 yrs Su Jun 24-Aug 12 9:30-10 am $90 M/$110 GP 

Level 1: Su 10494 3-5 yrs Su Jun 24-Aug 12 10-10:30 am $90 M/$110 GP 

Level 1: Su 10495 3-5 yrs Su Jun 24-Aug 12 10:30-11 am $90 M/$110 GP 


Level 2: Su 10500 4-6 yrs Su Jun 24-Aug 12 10:30-11 am $90 M/$110 GP 


Level 4: Su 10488 6+ yrs Su Jun 24-Aug 12 11-11:30 am $90 M/$110 GP 

Level 1: Tu & Th 10496 3-5 yrs Tu & Th Jun 26-Jul 19 4:15-4:45 pm $80 M/$100 GP 

Level 1: Tu & Th 10497 3-5 yrs Tu & Th Jul 24-Aug 9 4:15-4:45 pm $60 M/$80 GP 

Level 2: Tu & Th 10501 4-6 yrs Tu & Th Jun 26-Jul 19 5-5:30 pm $80 M/$100 GP 

Level 2: Tu & Th 10502 4-6 yrs Tu & Th Jul 24-Aug 9 5-5:30 pm $60 M/$80 GP 

Level 1: W 10498 3-5 yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 4:15-4:45 pm $60 M/$80 GP Jul 4 

Level 2: W 10486 4-6 yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 5-5:30 pm $60 M/$80 GP Jul 4 

Morning Masters Swim Club 10493 18+ yrs Tu & Th Jun 19-Aug 16 6:30-7:30 am $90 M/$108 GP 

Mid-day Masters Swim Club 10489 18+ yrs 

M & W 

& F 

Jun 18-Sept 7 12-1 pm $195 M Jul 4; Sep 3 

Mid-day Masters Swim Club 

Punch Pass/10 visits 

Mid-day Masters Swim Club 

Drop-In Pass 

10490 18+ yrs 

N/A 18+ yrs 

M & W 

& F 

M & W 

& F 


S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 C L A S 

Jun 18-Sept 7 12-1 pm $75 M Jul 4; Sep 3 

Jun 18-Sept 7 12-1 pm $8.50 M Jul 4; Sep 3 

Swim Club 10491 7-14 yrs Tu & Th Jun 26-Aug 9 4:15-5:15 pm $96 M 

SPORTS Sarah Catanzaro • 301.348.3892 • scatanzaro@jccgw.org 

Lil' Dragons Karate 10477 3-5 yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 3:15-3:55 pm $110 M/$132 GP Jul 4 

Kid Tiger Karate 10476 6-8 yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 4-4:45 pm $110 M/$132 GP Jul 4 

Beginner/Intermediate Karate 10472 8+ yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 4:45-5:30 pm $110 M/$132 GP Jul 4 

Intermediate/Advanced Karate 10475 8+ yrs W Jun 27-Aug 8 5:30-6:15 pm $110 M/$132 GP Jul 4 

Advanced/Black Belt 

and Adult Karate 

10471 All ages W Jun 27-Aug 8 6:15-7 pm $110 M/$132 GP Jul 4 

Tumble Tots 10480 3-5 yrs Tu Jun 26-Aug 7 3:15-4 pm $67 M/$81 GP 

Gymnastics Level A 10473 5-8 yrs Tu Jun 26-Aug 7 4-4:45 pm $67 M/$81 GP 

Gymnastics Level B 10474 7-12 yr Tu Jun 26-Aug 7 4:45-5:30 pm $67 M/$81 GP 

Sports & Sorts 10478 3-5 yrs M Jun 25-Aug 6 3:15-4 pm $56 M/$70 GP 

Sports Zone 10479 5-8 yrs M Jun 25-Aug 6 4-4:45 pm $56 M/$70 GP 

GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES Margot Jacoby • 301.348.3710 • mjacoby@jccgw.org 

Bosu 10512 Adults Tu Jun 5-Jul 10 9:30-10 am $49 M/$69 GP 

Tai Chi 10513 Adults M Jun 25-Jul 30 11:30 am-12:30 pm $49 M/$69 GP 

Boot Camp 10516 Adults Su Jun 10-Jul 29 9-10 am $85 M/$115 GP 

HEBREW CLASSES Rivka Degani • 301.348.3810 • rdegani@jccgw.org 

Intensive Beginning Hebrew 10521 Teens & Adults Tu & Th Jun 14-Aug 2 7-9:30 pm $300 M/$375 GP 

Intermediate/Daily Life 

in Israel 

10522 Teens & Adults W Jun 27-Aug 1 7-9:30 pm $125 M/$160 GP 

Advanced/Let's Speak Hebrew 

through Short Films 

10523 Teens & Adults W Jun 27-Aug 1 7-9:30 pm $125 M/$160 GP 

GAMES Barbara Winnik • 301.348.3778 • bwinnik@jccgw.org 

Learn to Play Mah Jongg 10524 Adults Tu Jun 19-Jul 24 7:15-9:15 pm $50 M/$65 GP Jul 3 

MUSIC Private music classes are offered year-round for students 5 years and older. Contact Janet Getz at 301.348.3779 or 

jgetz@jccgw.org.

S E S A T A G L A N C E 


CLASS CODE AGE/GRADE DAY DATES TIME FEE** NO CLASS 

BENDER-DOSIK PARENTING CENTER Jennifer Silber • 301.348.3837 • jsilber@jccgw.org 

Music Together* 10461 Newborn-5 yrs Tu Jun 19-Jul 31 9:30-10:15 am $130 M/$150 GP Jul 3 

Music Together* 10464 Newborn-5 yrs Tu Jun 19-Jul 31 10:30 -11:15 am $130 M/$150 GP Jul 3 

Music Together* Babies 10467 Newborn-8 mos Tu Jun 19-Jul 31 11:30 am-12:15 pm $130 M/$150 GP Jul 3 

Music Together* 10517 Newborn-5 yrs Su Jun 24-Jul 29 9-9:45 am $130 M/$150 GP 



Free 

Story Time N/A Newborn-5 yrs W Jun 20-Aug 15 10-11:30 am 

Registration required 

To register, visit 

jccgw.org/storytime 

Free 

Jul 4 

Story Time N/A Newborn-5 yrs Th Jun 21-Aug 16 10-11:30 am 



jccgw.org/storytime 

Shabbat Shalom Playgroup N/A Newborn-5 yrs F Jun 22-Aug 17 10-11:30 am 

Free 



jccgw.org/parenting 

L'Amazing Baby 10484 Prenatal W Jul 11-Aug 1 7-9:15 pm $80 M/$100 GP 

PACE 

(Parent and Community Education) 

N/A Newborn-5 mos W TBD TBD 

$300 for series. 


pacemoms.org. 

BDPC Pool Party Date and time TBA. Visit jccgw.org/parenting for details. 

*To find out about special rates for families with more than one child participating in a Music Together class, visit jccgw.org/musictogether or contact Jennifer Silber. 

**M=Member • GP=General Public 

For descriptions and to register, please visit jccgw.org. 

SAVE THE DATE! 

21ST ANNUAL JCCGW DINNER OF 

CHAMPIONS: AN ALL STAR CELEBRATION 

Saturday, November 17, 2012 • 7 p.m. 

3 Kislev 5773 

EVENT CO-CHAIRS 

Brian and Mia Pearlstein 

Arthur and Anita Polott 

2012 

IRENE AND ABE POLLIN HUMANITARIAN AWARD 

Timothy Shriver Special Olympics Chief Executive Officer 

an all-star celebration! 

2012 SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 

Lucy Calautti • Bobby Cohen • Rick Eskin 

Ike Isaacson • Harry Pitt z”l • Julie Zetlin 

Presentation of the Hyman M. and Philip D. Perlo High School 

Athlete Awards, Cocktails, Dinner, Awards Ceremony, Raffle and 

More! 

The Dinner of Champions is the primary source of funding for the 

JCCGW’s nationally-recognized inclusion programs for individuals 

with special needs. 

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Jodi Shulimson at 301.348.3769 or jshulimson@jccgw.org. 

10

center CHILDREN & FAMILIES 

First-Time Mom? PACE Yourself! 

Because the JCCGW is dedicated to supporting young 

families, the Bender-Dosik Parenting Center has 

formed a partnership with PACE (Parent and 

Community Education), a nonprofit organization that 

provides educational and emotional support groups for 

sharing experiences and knowledge to promote family 

well-being. PACE believes that there is no one way to 

raise a child, and encourages each family to develop 

its own parenting style based upon its own value 

system. PACE empowers new parents to find their 

own voice. 

PACE was founded in 1973 in the Washington, 

DC area by two mental health professionals 

after the birth of their first children. Both 

of the women were new to the DC area 

and lacked the local family support 

they grew up with in their home 

towns. 

Mabel’s Labels 

You’ll be amazed at what you can label! 

As a way to target the problem of lost belongings and a 

sizeable lost-and-found closet, the JCCGW Preschool is 

fundraising with Mabel’s Labels, a company with all types 

of labels that are colorful, indestructible, easy to use and fun! 

Mabel’s Labels offers iron-ons, stickies, bag tags, allergy alert 

labels and more. Personalize your labels with names, nicknames, 

initials—whatever you choose. Cool icons help even little ones 

identify their own belongings. Dispatched within 24 hours, the 

labels are dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe. 

Visit jccgwpreschool.mabelslabels.com to place your order 

through October 31, 2012. 

Thank you for supporting the JCCGW Preschool. If you have any 

questions, please contact Adrienne Malickson at amalickson@ 

gmail.com. 


PACE groups meet at the JCCGW to discuss topics such 

as eating, sleeping, crying, attachment, disposition 

and play. Time is also set aside for members to share 

experiences, ask questions and raise concerns. The 

combination of educational and emotional support 

works so well that most PACE groups continue to 

meet on their own after the eight sessions. 

Groups are led by professionals trained in 

the fields of infant and parent development, 

family relationships and group dynamics, 

and who are also “seasoned” moms. 

New PACE groups form on an ongoing basis 

at the JCCGW; a class is planned to start 

this summer. For more information, visit 

jccgw.org/pace or pacemoms.org, or call 

301.348.3837. 

Truck Day Delivers 

May 9, 2012

center CAMP, YOUTH, TWEENS & TEENS 

Are You Ready for Opening Day? 

All required forms are due now! Visit 

jccgw.org/camp and click on “Parent 

Info and Forms”. 

IMPORTANT DATES 

Wednesday, June 13 • 7-9 p.m. 

Parent Orientation (parents only) 

Sunday, June 24 • 3-5 p.m. 

Family Open House (families) 

E. Jefferson St. 

No Parking 

Areas 

Camper 

Drop-off 

& Pick-up 

PARKING LOT 

BUILDING 

PLAYGROUND 

Please note that new traffic and 

parking procedures will be in effect 

while camp is in session, from 

Thursday, June 21 through Friday, 

August 10. Visit jccgw.org/traffic 

for details. 

We regret any inconvenience, and 

appreciate your understanding and 

cooperation in helping to ensure 

safety for all. 

FRIENDS 

I’m being squished...but 

by CAMP friends. 

I love it here! 


FUN • VALUES • FRIENDS • PERFORM • MEMORIES • CHALLENGE • SPORTS 

CAPITALCAMPS 

REGISTER NOW 

for after-school programs for 

the 2012-2013 school year! 

Visit jccgw.org/afterschool 

SAY HELLO: 866-430-2267 

WWW.CAPITALCAMPS.ORG 

12

center ARTS & CULTURE 

Polinger Family Honored for Vision, Generosity 

Gerry Polinger Gerry Polinger with musicians Philippe Quint, Zuill Bailey and Navah 

Perlman 

This year marked the 40th anniversary of 

the Polinger Artists of Excellence Concert 

Series. The season was dedicated to Gerry 

and Howard z”l Polinger in appreciation of 

their vision in creating the series and for 

their longstanding support of JCCGW music 

programs. 

On April 29, Gerry and her family were 

honored at a reception preceding the final 

concert of the season, which featured pianist 

Navah Perlman (Itzhak Perlman’s daughter) 

and her fellow musicians, cellist Zuill Bailey 

and violinist Philippe Quint. 

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington is supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating 

a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, 

a federal agency which believes that a great nation deserves great art. The JCCGW is also supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County 

Government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, the County Executive’s Ball for the Arts, and private sources. 


Gerry Polinger, seated, with her children (from left), Arnold, Lorre, 

Jan and David 

Polinger Artists of Excellence Concert Series 

2012-2013 • SUNDAYS AT 7:30 PM • Subscribe at jccgw.org/concerts 

JOSEPH 

KALICHSTEIN 

piano 

September 23, 


CHEE-YUN 

AND 

ALESSIO BAx 

violin+piano 

October 28, 


JCCGW CEO Michael Feinstein presented 

Gerry with a manuscript of Chopin’s First 

Prelude signed by Yefim Bronfman, an Israeli 

pianist who has performed several times for 

the concert series. 

We are so grateful to the Polingers for their 

generosity and foresight. Through their 

efforts, the Polinger Artists of Excellence 

Concert Series has provided our community 

with the unparalleled opportunity to enjoy 

affordable performances of the highest 

caliber, presented by both renowned 

BELLA 

HRISTOVA 

violin 

December 2, 


BORROMEO 

QUARTET 

string quartet 

March 10, 

2013 

musicians and emerging stars, in the 

warm and intimate setting of the Kreeger 

Auditorium. 

Please consider honoring the Polingers and 

supporting the Center’s music programs 

with a gift to the Gerry and Howard Polinger 

Concert Endowment. For more information, 

contact Tasha Museles at 301.348.3815 or 

tmuseles@jccgw.org. 

CARTER BREY 

AND 

GABRIELA 

MARTINEZ 

cello+piano 

April 14, 2013 

GOLDSTEIN- 

PELED- 

FITERSTEIN 

TRIO 

piano+cello+ 

clarinet 

May 19, 2013

Dance Fusion 

Sunday, June 10 • 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. 

The JCCGW Dance School will conclude its 2011-2012 season with dazzling shows 

in the Kreeger Auditorium. Students will perform works demonstrating new skills 

learned in a variety of dance styles including hip-hop, jazz, ballet, tap and modern 

dance. Bring your family and join us for an hour of sheer joy! 

To purchase tickets prior to June 10 or for more information, please contact Bunnye Levey 

at 301.348.3777 or blevey@jccgw.org. On June 10, tickets may be purchased at the box 

office one hour prior to each performance. 

Donations 


KASS JUDAIC LIBRARY 

New Collection 

of DVDs 

Looking for a great film to view in the 

comfort of your own home? We’ve 

added more than 25 Jewish-themed 

movies, many of which are international 

award winners, to our collection. Stop 

by the Kass Judaic Library to browse our 

fantastic new collection of films on DVD. 

Please note that films are for private 

viewing only. 

Please add to our newly-expanded 

collection! If you have DVDs or audio 

books on CD that you don’t intend to view or 

read again, donate them to the Kass Judaic 

Library. Please drop off your donation in the 

library, or at the front desk in the box marked 

“Library DVD/CD Collection.” Please note 

that the DVDs or CDs must be of Jewish 

content only. Also, we are not collecting 

physical books of any kind at this time. 

For more information, please contact Debby 

Goldberg at 301.348.3816 or dgoldberg@ 

jccgw.org. 

that you no longer want to keep? Donate them to JCCGW’s Better Treasures! Profits from our annual 

art sale will benefit future gallery shows and educational programming. Artwork is accepted anytime, 

all year. If you have artwork to donate, please bring it to the front desk anytime the JCCGW is open. Fine 

artwork is especially appreciated. 

Wanted! Do you have collectibles, paintings, limited edition prints, sculpture, or fine crafts, in good condition, 

For information, contact Phyllis Altman at paltman@jccgw.org or 301.348.3770. 

music to your ears 

MUSIC LESSONS 

Guitar • Piano • Violin • Flute • Percussion 

Voice • Clarinet • Saxophone 

Contact Janet Getz at 301.348.3779 or jgetz@jccgw.org. 

14

center ADULTS & LIFELONG LEARNING 

Selma Sweetbaum, JCCGW Director of Adult 

Services, has announced her retirement 

effective June 30. Selma has been a 

trailblazer in programming, advocacy and 

engagement on behalf of senior adults since 

joining the Center staff in 1976 and becoming 

adult services director in 1980. 

As an expert in her field, Selma has received 

numerous awards and has been appointed 

to many local and national committees and 

commissions, including the White House 

Conference on Aging. 

During Selma’s tenure, JCCGW programs 

for senior adults have grown exponentially. 

Read on for some of Selma’s thoughts as she 

looks back on her rewarding career. 

How do you explain your longevity at 

the JCCGW? 

The reason I’ve stayed here so long and feel 

so dedicated and committed is that working 

with and for senior adults is a calling and 

a vocation and a passion for me. And the 

opportunity to do this in my own community 

has made it even more enriching. 

Please talk about the senior nutrition 

program, which you instituted at the 

JCCGW. 

I knew that funds were available for senior 

nutrition programs through the federal Older 

Americans Act of 1965, and I wanted the 

Center to be a part of it. As one ages, it often 

becomes difficult to get to the store and to 

cook, and it can be isolating to eat alone. 

The senior nutrition program addresses 

these issues by offering our seniors a hot 

kosher lunch and the opportunity to socialize 

with peers. With the legislation came lots of 

regulations, but we were able to overcome 

obstacles and meet the requirements. 

What are some other programs that you 

were instrumental in starting? 

The George and Tess Hurwitz Internal 

Light Program for senior adults with visual 

impairment has been a valued service. I 

see it growing in importance as our aging 

population grows. 

AlthoughIdidn’tinitiateSeniorsOrganizedfor 

Change [our nonpartisan political advocacy 

group], I worked on its development. It 

has evolved as the demographics of the 

population have changed, now emphasizing 

education and empowerment. 

The Adult Center for Education, our continuing 

education program, was established 35 years 

agowithfiveclasses. Today,22classes,taught 

by knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers, 

are offered twice a week to appreciative and 

enthusiastic students. 

The partnerships that we have forged with 

area organizations—such as Leisure World, 

JSSA, Ring House, the Hebrew Home, 

synagogues, and Shady Grove Adventist 

Hospital—have been so vital in pooling 

resources so that we can meet the needs 

of our community in the most efficient and 

comprehensive ways. 

What obstacles have you faced? 

Finding funding sources has always been a 

challenge. In addition to trying to raise funds, 

we work very hard to be creative, careful and 

prudent with gifts that we receive. We want 

our donors to know that the funds they so 

generously provide are being used in a way 

that serves our constituents well and in an 

efficient and cost effective way. 

It has been said that you are “cutting 

edge.” Can you give a couple of 

examples? 

I instituted a class on sexuality and seniors long 

before it was the “in” thing to do. We actually 

found people to be receptive and open. 

We recently established a men’s group to 

give men a forum to discuss issues that are 


important to them. The group has grown in 

number each week, indicating that we are 

clearly meeting a need. The programs we 

offer mean so much to so many. 

Who has influenced your career? 

It was a great privilege to work with Toni 

Goodman, Felice Kornberg, Elaine Mann, 

Arna Mickelson, Sara Portman Milner and 

Jill Moskowitz, all strong, professional 

women from whom I learned a great deal. 

I am also inspired by the incredibly caring, 

empathic staff which we have been able 

to enlist. They are remarkable and give so 

much of themselves. 

Do you see any major changes on the 

horizon in this field? 

A big change will be in how we attract and 

interact with the baby boomers, who changed 

the social fiber of America in the 60s and 70s. 

What will they do as they age, and how will 

we reinvent ourselves to serve them? 

What are your plans for the future? 

Being in this field, I know that an important 

element to successful aging is to stay 

passionate about life and to keep learning and 

sharpening skills, which is what I intend to do. 

I was recently appointed to serve as senior 

representative to the Montgomery County 

Commission on Aging, and I look forward to using 

that forum to continue advocating for seniors. 

If you would like to honor Selma at this 

milestone in her life, please consider a gift to the 

Sweetbaum Family Endowment Fund for Senior 

Adult Programs. You may make your gift online 

at jccgw.org/donate, or contact Ali Gordon at 

301.348.3855 or agordon@jccgw.org.

A Lifetime of Perspective: Art by Older Adults 

Pride and Admiration on Opening Day 

Few moments are as exciting for an artist 

as the opening reception to an exhibit. 

Sunday, May 20 was the opening for 

the A Lifetime of Perspective: Art by Older 

Adults exhibit, drawing proud artists and 

their admiring and supportive family and 

friends to the Center’s Goldman Art Gallery. 

Talented artists 65-97 years of age were the 

center of attention, and deservedly so. Randi 

Meyrowitz represented the Center’s Board 

of Directors, enthusiastically welcoming 

the artists and commending them for their 

exceptional work. 

FREE SAMPLE SESSION 

Sage-ing Circle 


ASage-ing Circle is a gathering of 

adults interested in continuing to 

learn and enhance their personal 

and spiritual growth, and understand their 

uniqueness. It will be offered at the JCCGW 

two Sunday mornings per month, for a fee, 

starting in October. 

A free sample session of a Sage-ing Circle 

will be held at the JCCGW on Sunday, June 

24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Refreshments 

will be served. 

This exhibit is chaired by Karen Kaplan 

and is made possible through the auspices 

of Deena and Jerry Kaplan and family in 

memory of Deena’s parents, Eve and David 

Berliant. The exhibit is underwritten by the 

Kaplan Family, the JCCGW’s Deena and 

Jerome A. Kaplan Fund for Senior Adult 

Programming, and the Berliant/Kaplan 

Fund of the United Jewish Endowment 

Fund of The Jewish Federation of Greater 


A lifetime of Perspective is featured in the 

Goldman Art Gallery through June 5. 

This 12-session program was developed by 

Zalman Schachter-Shalomi from the book 

“From Age-ing to Sage-ing,” that he coauthored 

with Ronald Miller. It is currently 

offered to rave reviews at Adat Shalom 

Congregation, led by trained experts Fran 

Zamore and Vicki Breman. It will also be 

available at the DC JCC. 

For more information and to register for the 

free sample session at the JCCGW, please 

contact Selma Sweetbaum at 301.348.3860 

or ssweetbaum@jccgw.org. 


Let’s Talk About It 

Discussion Groups 

WOMEN IN TRANSITION 

Tuesday, June 12 • 1 p.m. 

The JCCGW is starting a new discussion 

group for women in transition. If you want to 

meet new friends, do some social networking, 

and discuss topics such as politics, religion, 

marriage and life in general, consider joining 

this group led by retired social worker Nancy 

Simon. This program is free, but registration 

is requested by contacting Selma Sweetbaum 

at 301.348.3860 or ssweetbaum@jccgw.org. 

MEN’S DISCUSSION GROUP 

Tuesdays • 1 p.m. 

Men are invited to this weekly get-together to 

meet new friends and discuss topics of interest 

such as current events, politics and health. This 

program is free, but registration is requested by 

contacting volunteer facilitator Toby Gottesman 

(301.530.7777 or tgottesman@yahoo.com) 

or Selma Sweetbaum (301.348.3860 or 

ssweetbaum@jccgw.org). 

For the best in child, family and senior services... 

Think JSSA 

JSSA has been helping people 

across the Washington metropolitan 

area meet emotional, social and physical 

challenges for more than 118 years. 

• Individual, couples, group and family counseling 

• Social skills therapy groups, clubs and camps for 

children, teens and adults 

• Pre-marital, marital, and divorce counseling 

• Parent training and education 

• Services for individuals with special needs 

• Autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan 

• Employment and career services 

Learn more and view our current programs: 

visit www.jssa.org 

301.816.2633 • contactus@jssa. org 

Jewish Social Service Agency 

16

center CONTRIBUTIONS 

Thank You for Your Support 

Making a contribution to the JCCGW is a meaningful way to 

acknowledge a special occasion, to offer wishes for a speedy 

recovery, or to extend condolences. 

A card is sent to the honoree or to the family informing them 

of the donation. (The amount of the gift is not disclosed.) An 

acknowledgement letter is sent to the donor. 

Contributions may be designated to an endowment fund, to 

support a specific program, or to provide general support. 

You may make your donation online at jccgw.org., or mail it 

to the JCCGW Development Department at 6125 Montrose 

Road, Rockville, MD 20852. 

Gifts of all levels are appreciated; only gifts of $18 and greater 

qualify as tributes, which are listed in the Center Scene. 

For more information about making contributions, or to inquire 

about establishing a named endowment fund, please contact 

Elizabeth Stern Lukin at 301.348.3861 or elukin@jccgw.org. 

The following list reflects gifts received between April 10 

and May 10, 2012. 

CAMP 

R. Andrew Helgeson “Heart of Gold” Memorial Endowment 

Fund for Camp JCC Counselor Awards 

• in memory of “our son, Andrew” 

by Rita and Richard Helgeson 

• in memory of Vickie Lee Ramey and Kenneth Ramey 

by Rita and Richard Helgeson 

• in honor of Dr. Alan Schneider 

by Jennifer, Rita and Richard Helgeson 

Jane Hulman Camp Scholarship Fund 

• in honor of Julie and Aria’s anniversary 

by Jerry Hulman 

• in honor of Sue Allen’s birthday 


CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES 

Brett, Olin, Sanger and Shesser Family Endowment Fund for 

Children in Need 

• in honor of Harriet Freedman’s special birthday 

by Susan Brett and Robert Shesser 

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS 

Michael David Perlman Children’s Theatre Fund 

• in honor of Phyllis Altman, Goldman Art Gallery Director 

by Stan Schofer 

CULTURAL ARTS 

Vera and Ralph Deckelbaum Music Endowment Fund 

• inhonorofCarlaandNealFreed’s30thweddinganniversary 

by Tracy and Alan Schwartz 

Charles and Mary Oshinsky Memorial Fund for Dance 

Programs 

• in memory of Mary Oshinsky Schneider at her yahrzeit 

by Bernice and Joel Breslau 

Gerry and Howard Polinger Concert Endowment Fund 

• in honor of Gerry Polinger 

by Joshua, Nan, Jay and Aaron Kaufman 

EARLY CHILDHOOD 

Bender-Dosik Parenting Center 

• in memory of Sondra Bender 

by Sandy and Howard Lipset; Carolyn Goldman and Sydney 

Polakoff; Nancy and Ira Sherman; Ellen and Bruce Winston 

Lee and Isidore Forman Endowment Fund 

• in memory of Isidore Forman 

by Margit Beckman; Martha and Stuart Bindeman; Paula 

and Neal Bobys; Shelley and Joe Chartoff; Marshall and 

Joan Cutler; Suzanne and Michael Feinstein; Bonnie and 

Larry Fields; Vicki and Leon Forman; Harriet and Gregory 

Friedman; Roz and Gary Jonas; Kandel and Shulman 

families; Becky and Ira Mendelson; Rolly and Ben Mulitz; 

John Ourisman; Susan and James Pittleman; Sandra and 

Ivan Sabel; Sageworth Trust Company; Michael Scheffres; 

Shenandoah Valley Golf Club; Roberta and Lawrence 

Shulman; Beth and Leonard Sloan; Elaine Weinstein 

• in memory of Alex Epstein 

by Carole and Barry Forman 

• in honor of Zachary Lee Forman’s birth 

by Elaine Weinstein 

Larry Osterman Nursery School Scholarship Fund 

• by Nancy and Richard Alpher 

Abraham and Anna L. Shulman Child Day Care Fund 

• in honor of May Savage on Mother’s Day 

by Cynthia Savage 

Marc Jeffrey Streidel Memorial Playground Fund 

• in memory of Bea Rosenberg 

by Robin and Glenn Streidel 

GENERAL PURPOSES 

Annual Campaign 


by Jodi and Scott Cohen and family 

• in honor of Michael Feinstein 

by Samantha Wasserman 

RESETTLEMENT 

Frances K. Stern Memorial Fund for New Americans 

• in honor of Samson Stern’s special birthday 

by Elaine Keehn and Douglas Keehn; Phyllis and Ruben 

Poplawski 

SENIOR ADULTS 

Deena and Jerome A. Kaplan Fund for Senior Adult 

Programming 

• in honor of Deena Kaplan’s complete recovery 

by Phyllis and Mort Lessans 

• in honor of Seena and Barry Gudelsky 

by Deena and Jerry Kaplan 

Dr. Coleman and Sylvia Raphael Endowment for Older Adult 

Programs 

• in honor of Selma Sweetbaum on her special birthday 

by Sylvia and Coleman Raphael 

Sweetbaum Family Endowment Fund for Senior Adult 

Programs 


by Selma and Harvey Sweetbaum 

• in honor of Ruth Carski’s speedy recovery 

by Selma Sweetbaum 

• in honor of Selma Sweetbaum on her birthday 

by Carol Malawer and Lawrence Gordon; Sandy and Mark 

Rothman 

• in honor of “Selma Sweetbaum’s retirement after her 

incredible career” 

by Kathy Sklar 


SPECIAL NEEDS 

Lee and Ellen Burstyn Family Fund for Campers with 

Disabilities 

• in honor of Emily Frank on her birthday 

by Cynthia and David Soffrin 

Benjamin L. Friedberg Endowment Fund for Children with 

Special Needs 

• in honor of Abe Friedberg on his birthday 

by Toby Friedberg and Shel 

Goldberg Goldman Endowment for Sports Activities for 

Children with Special Needs 

• in honor of “the indefatigable, committed, dedicated and 

incredibly talented Selma Sweetbaum, who makes our 

community a better place in which to live” 

by Barbara Goldberg Goldman 

David Lev Kandel Memorial Endowment Fund 

• in memory of Josh Weintraub’s mother 

by Melanie and Rami Kandel 

Special Needs and Inclusion Programs 

• in memory of Danny Rosenberg 

by Josh, Nan, Jay and Aaron Kaufman 

VOLUNTEER SERVICES 

Jacob Siegel and Sarah Siegel Sacks Memorial Fund for 

Volunteer Services 

• in memory of Harvey Hersh 

by Gloria Derkay 

• in honor of Julie and Aria’s anniversary 


thank you! 

Donate your 

vehicle and support 

three agencies. 

• jewish Foundation for 

group Homes 

• jewish community center 

of greater washington 

• jewish council for the aging 

240.283.6000 

www.car-j.org

center UPCOMING EVENTS 

FRIDAY, JUNE 1 

12 p.m. New Friends (group for widows and 

widowers). 301.348.3760 

SUNDAY, JUNE 3 

10 a.m. Books & Fellowship. Topic: Maryland’s 

DREAM Act. 301.348.3816 

1-5 p.m. Israel @ 64 at Rockville Town Square 

(page 3) 

TUESDAY, JUNE 5 

6 p.m. Jewish Singles 35+ Happy Hour at 

Matchbox in Rockville. 301.348.3860 

7 p.m. JCCGW Annual Meeting (page 4) 

THURSDAY, JUNE 7 

7-9 p.m. Young Professionals’ Summer Social (page 7) 

7:30-9 p.m. Marriage Seminar with Rabbi Stephen 

Baars meets Thursdays through July 19 (except 

July 5). 301.348.3760 


11 a.m.-2 p.m. Member Appreciation Pool Party 

(page 7) 

2 p.m. & 4 p.m. “Dance Fusion” JCCGW Dance 

School performances (page 14) 

MONDAY, JUNE 11 

Golf & Tennis Tournament (page 8) 

11 a.m. Internal Light low vision support group for 

seniors meets at Ring House. 301.348.3760 


12-3 p.m. MCPS Kid Koverage. 301.348.3767 

1 p.m. Women’s Discussion Group (page 16) 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13 

9 a.m.-3 p.m. MCPS Kid Koverage. 301.348.3767 

12-3 p.m. JDS Kid Koverage. 301.348.3767 

7-9 p.m. Camp JCC Parent Orientation (page 12) 


9 a.m.-3 p.m. JDS and MCPS Kid Koverage. 

301.3438.3767 

1 p.m. JCCGW/Hadassah Book Club: “Day for 

Night” by Frederick Reiken. 301.348.3816 

FRIDAY, JUNE 15 

9 a.m.-3 p.m. JDS and MCPS Kid Koverage. 

301.3438.3767 


Time TBD Jewish Book Club: “My Father’s 

Paradise” by Ariel Sabar. 301.348.3816 

MONDAY, JUNE 18 

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Coming of Age Day @ the Ring 

with musical entertainment. 301.348.3832 


10 a.m.-12 p.m. Mommy & Me at Rockville Town 

Square 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 

11:30 a.m. Coming of Age excursion to National 

Gallery of Art. 301.348.3832 


5:45 p.m. Jewish Singles 35+ at Co2 Lounge at 

Cesco in Bethesda. 301.348.3860 


10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free Sage-ing Circle (page 16) 

10 a.m. Books & Fellowship book selection: “The 

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca 

Skloot. 301.348.3816 

3-5 p.m. Camp JCC Family Open House (page 12) 


12:30-3 p.m. Coming of Age Food ‘n Fun (restaurant 

TBA). 301.348.3832 

7 p.m. Low Vision Support Group. 301.348.3860 


1 p.m. History Club. 301.348.3860 

7:30 p.m. 50+ Singles. 301.348.3860 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 

Independence Day 

7 a.m.-5 p.m. H&F hours 

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Outdoor pool hours 

Offices and preschool closed. 

SUNDAY, JULY 8 

10 a.m. Books & Fellowship. DVD: Martin 

Scorcese’s “The Godfather Trilogy.” Discussion 

only. 301.348.3816 

THURSDAY, JULY 12 

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Mommy & Me at Congressional 

Plaza 


10 a.m. Books & Fellowship. “Three Cups of Tea” 

by G. Mortenson and D. Relin. 301.348.3816 


Time TBD Jewish Book Club. “The Jump Artist” by 

Austin Ratner. 301.348.3816 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 

10 a.m. Books & Fellowship. DVD: “The 

Descendants,” based on a novel by Kaui H. 

Hemmings. Discussion only. 301.348.3816 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Mommy & Me at Congressional 

Plaza 


SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 

10 a.m. Books & Fellowship. “Born Digital” by J. 

Palfrey and U. Gasser. 301.348.3816 

Time TBD Jewish Book Club: “The Septembers of 

Shiraz” by Dalia Sofer. 301.348.3816 

FOR OUTDOOR POOL HOURS, 

PLEASE VISIT JCCGW.ORG/POOL. 

WEEKLY ONGOING PROGRAMS 

SUNDAYS 

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Elie Ronen Scott Family Gym 

MONDAYS 

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Satellite Program at 

Temple Solel, Bowie 

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Programs at Ring 

House 

7:15 p.m. Duplicate Bridge 

TUESDAYS 

1 p.m. Men’s Discussion Group 

WEDNESDAYS 

10-10:30 a.m. Free Storytime Singalong. Age 5 

and under with parent/caregiver 

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Satellite Program at 

Coffield Center, Silver Spring (except the third 

Wednesday of each month) 

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Satellite Program 

at Shomrai Emunah in Silver Spring (third 

Wednesday of each month) 

THURSDAYS 

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Programs at Ring 

House 

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Senior Adult Chorus at Ring 

House 

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Senior Adult Satellite Program 

at Har Tzeon Agudath Achim 

10:45 a.m. Seniors Organized for Change 

1 p.m. Scrabble Group 

3 p.m. Drop-in Discussion in Hebrew 

FRIDAYS 

9:30-10:30 a.m. Shabbat Shalom. Age 6 mos. 

to 3 yrs. 

HEALTH & FITNESS HOURS 

Monday-Thursday 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Friday 5:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 

Saturday 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 

Sunday 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 

The building closes ½ hour after the H&F 

Department closes. 

18


Washington Consumer’s CHECKBOOK recently awarded the JCCGW Health 

& Fitness Center their top rating for quality. See page 7 for details. 

Member Appreciation 

Pool Party 

Entertainment by 

Check us out 

this Summer! 

Great Summer Rates! 

Memorial Day to Labor Day 

$150 College Student $250 Individual 

$350 Couple $475 Family 


Food, DJ and interactive games in 

honor of our wonderful members! 

For more information, call 301.348.3800. 

JCC of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Road • Rockville, MD 20852 • jccgw.org 

19

June 2012 - Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington

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