JCC Blog

Exploring Judaism Together

My Tribe Families Make Connections to Each Other and Their Faith

When Beth and Dave Markowitz’s oldest son finished preschool, they realized that they wanted a new way to explore Jewish culture and traditions as a family. After doing some networking and searching, they landed on My Tribe. My Tribe is a nine month-long experiential, opportunity for families and communities to come together with others who want to explore fun, meaningful ways to tap into the rhythm of the Jewish calendar and experiences.

My Tribe operates on a “Come as you are” approach, welcoming families of all kinds, and all levels of Jewish observance, interest, and understanding. “My Tribe has been a strategic attempt to build something co-collaborative that resonates with the “New Jewish Family” explains My Tribe founder Rabbi Jessy Dressin, Senior Director of Jewish Life at...

Summer Science and Circus Adventures

J Camps Plus lets Parents and Campers Mix Things Up!

Are you looking for an incredible summer learning adventure for your camper – a place where you know your child will still get to play, swim and celebrate, but also have a fun time creating, exploring and learning new things? 

J Camps Plus provides busy families with one-week camp experiences in the STEM, Creative Arts, Nature, and Lifestyle categories.  These shorter creative camp options are perfect for coordinating around vacations, sleepaway camp, and end-of-summer plans.   

Our partners - who are experts in the fields of Science, Arts, and more - share their backgrounds and insights on these specialized camps:

The Science Guys of Baltimore (X-treme Science at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC and X-treme Science at the Downtown Baltimore JCC)

Siena...

Sharing Israel Experiences with J Kids and beyond

Meet Shinshinim, Shani & Bar

The JCC of Greater Baltimore is thrilled to have two Israeli high school graduate-emissaries on its team this year -- Shani Kalmanovich and Bar Ling.  Shani and Bar work at the JCC three days a week as part of an expanded “Shinshinim” program sponsored by the Jewish Agency of Israel, funded in part through The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore and locally facilitated by The Louise D. & Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education.  (Shinshinim stands for Shnat Sherut, which translates to a year of service in Hebrew).

Shani and Bar deferred army service for a year to volunteer in the Baltimore...

Meet Michael Feinstein

Michael Feinstein headlines J Live at the Gordon April 8

When Michael Feinstein moved to California at the age of 20, he went to a psychic to receive some life’s direction. A waiter at a piano bar where he was playing had suggested he do so.

“I had never been to a psychic,” he says, “And I figured $25, what the heck?”

The psychic told him that in the future he’d be singing music and be known as much for the way he “set up” songs, in addition to the way he’d be singing them. That’s exactly what Feinstein is doing today.

Feinstein’s breakthrough performance came together in the spring of 1985 when, by default, he was offered a gig at San Francisco’s Plush Room, a venue for jazz and cabaret artists.

“Someone fell out and they needed someone to do a show,” Feinstein recalls.  This was the first time he did a show where the...