In the spring of 1995, the JCC, beset by a deficit exceeding $1.6 million, was forced to close its health club, lay off workers and reduce programming.
After a massive reorganization effort, the JCC is expanding its activities.
“We will be hosting singles events, workshops with guest artists, weekly Judaism classes and other programs that attract previously underserved segments of the population looking for connections to the Jewish community,” said Katherine Feinstein, assistant executive director for programs and marketing.
“Jewish studies, the arts and, of course, early childhood education are critical parts of our mission.”
The JCC also has hired six new managers for its staff of 125 full-time and part-time workers.
These new staffers include Ronnie Jacobs, director of early childhood education; Matty Bloom, Montefiore Senior Center’s director of adult and senior services; Lenore Naxon, director of development; Joseph Offenberg, Jewish program manager; James Emanuel Britton, cultural arts manager; Kim Schneiderman, communications manager.
Jacobs, a co-founder of the Pacific Gateway chapter of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, spent six years supervising staff and designing curriculum as the Marin JCC’s assistant director of early childhood education. Her responsibilities include the direction, development, management and marketing of the JCC ‘s three preschool sites.
Bloom comes to the JCC with 20 years in social services and six years of management experience at the Stein Gerontological Institute of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged, one of the largest comprehensive long-term care organizations in the southeastern United States.
For the past year, Naxon has served as a consultant to Zev Hymowitz, JCC of S.F. executive director, helping to sustain funding sources and develop new ones. She also produced Elie Wiesel’s appearance for the JCC of S.F. Prior to this, she worked as a consultant for the Montefiore Senior Center, helping fund and produce the annual Festival of Active Living.
As a lecturer for Lehrhaus Judaica, Offenberg developed and taught a well-received introductory course to Judaism titled Foundations of Jewish Living. He also led a series on Jewish Identity in Film and recently served as the adult program director for Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland.
In addition to developing programs emphasizing Jewish culture, tradition and religion, he will also run the Hebrew University-affiliated Melton Adult Mini-School, a two-year certificate program in Jewish studies. The program begins in January, with a grant from the Jewish Community Federation’s Endowment Fund.
Britton, whose background is in dance and choreography, was the director of Congregation Emanu-El’s Arts Camp. He formerly taught preschool at the JCC of S.F., teaming up with storyteller Joan Sutton to develop a weekly musical enrichment class for young children called Let’s Pretend.
Projects in the works include cultural exchange festivals, voice and acting classes, a “Meet the Artist” series as well as adult and children’s performances.
Schneiderman, a former editor and reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in San Mateo County, is a volunteer with the Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal and a freelance writer for the Jewish Bulletin.
The JCC has also hired Greg Kopels to supervise the new S.F. Maccabi Youth Sports Club, which offers recreational activities to teens and prepares young athletes for the Maccabi games. The club’s activities will include ski trips, basketball, volleyball, hiking, camping and volunteer projects.