Untitled - Schenectady Jewish Community Center

Meet Our New President
Deborah and Gary Goldstein were
looking to move out of New York
City. In 1987, they happened upon
the SJCC and fortuitously, Alex
Hallenstein, the former Executive
Director of the SJCC, was showing
his friends where the outside
pool would soon be built. “When
we realized that there was such a
lovely, welcoming Jewish community
here, it sealed the deal,” says
Deborah. The couple moved to Niskayuna the next year. The
SJCC played a critical role in the young family’s lives. Their children
attended the nursery school and day camp. Many summer
evenings and weekends were spent at that glorious new outdoor
pool.
Gary, who works as Director of Dental Program for Emblem
Health, as an Endodontist for First Advantage Dental, earned
an MBA and is currently working on a Master’s in Education,
believes “in life-long learning and continuous education.” In addition
to the time he spends at the SJCC, his volunteer work
includes work with the New York State Office for People with
Developmental Disabilities (“OPWDD”). He founded the Task
Force on Special Needs Dentistry and has been appointed by
several New York State governors to the OPWDD Advisory
Board.
Gary, who has been a JCC member since 1988 and is a long-time
WHAT’S NEW AT THE JCC?
Board member, previous Vice-President and now President
of the Board of Directors, hopes to guide the Center in a
positive direction for the future. He believes “the role of the
Center needs to continuously change to meet the ongoing
needs of the community.” He thinks the Center can provide
each person with anything that they’d like. “One of my goals
is to have a community center that I will be comfortable with
in retirement,” he said. Gary hopes that the SJCC will be the
type of place, where people can do things they like and discover
new interests. “Hopefully everybody will be comfortable
spending a day, an afternoon, have a meal, and engage
in constructive, fun activities.” He wants the SJCC to be “a
place where people can continuously educate themselves.”
Last September, Goldstein helped put together an interfaith
program where three scribes representing the Jewish, Christian
and Muslim faiths came together to create a piece of
art. “Our mission statement is meant to be very inclusive,”
he said. “We want people of all faiths to come and feel like
they’re welcome in the house. This place gives back to the
community.”
The Goldsteins feel fortunate that they found the SJCC nestled
in the Capital District. “It was something that attracted
us to the area,” Gary said. “And it’s something that we want
to maintain. We want to make it a hub of activity for the
entire community.”
In early May the JCC made a tremendous move forward with the launch of a
completely new software package to manage our membership, programming
and accounting. The DAXKO system will allow us to do a much better job
of communicating with our members and allow our members easier access
to their accounts while providing much more informative and easier to read
statements. By now everyone should have received information about picking
up their new membership cards. If there are any questions about the new
system do not hesitate to contact Program Director Adam Chaskin at 518-
377-8803 ext. 227.
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