“Culture can transcend social, political and religious differences among Jews, as well as between the Jewish community and other ethnic and religious groups,” says Lenore Naxon, director of the Eugene & Elinor Friend Center for the Arts at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.
The use of art as a kind of language for cultural understanding is common among Bay Area JCCs.
Naxon’s goal is to bridge the Jewish community with its surroundings. This strategy shows in her programming, which ranges from a talk by the Israel Center’s Shlomi Raviv on the state of Israeli-Palestinian affairs, to Michael Feinstein doing the songs of Cole Porter the next.
“We have a broad definition of Jewish,” continues Naxon, “and we find that the local community really reacts to diverse programming. That is something we will continue to provide.”
Ruth Phillips, program director of the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, takes a similar approach in her planning. Phillips strives to educate, entertain and provide skills to those who attend the day-long events.
“Most recently, we had our storytelling festival, which brought in a great variety of ethnic and racial attendees,” says Phillips. The festival begins with stories told to a large group, after which five separate educational workshops take place, all with very different target audiences. “This format really helps us present cultural programs to a diverse community,” she says.
Patty Gessner, the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center’s director of marketing and communications, says the San Rafael center has similar goals. “We are looking to provide a balance between world-renowned Jewish programming and events that will speak to a diverse audience of all generations.” 2005 will bring artists and performers from Congo and Madagascar, as well as a local classical music ensemble. Local performance artists such as Josh Kornbluth are on the calendar in April.
At the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, Director of Program Services Vickie Epstein attempts to provide both educational and cultural enrichment to everyone from preschoolers to older adults. A lecture series featuring local speakers such as Bay Area radio host Michael Krasny and author Sylvia Boornstein complements educational programs like the one Epstein and her staff are developing that teaches philanthropy to children. “We are so excited about the idea of tikkun olam,” says Epstein of the Los Gatos facility, “teaching our children the value of giving back and understanding their role in the community.”
Boris Vladimirsky, the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center’s emigre program director, has three goals in mind when developing arts and cultural events. “Help emigres preserve their heritage, reunite them with their Jewish heritage in the U.S. and aid them in adjusting to American life,” he says.
Various events at the Palo Alto center in English, Hebrew and Russian. The highlight of the year for the emigre program is the Russian-American Fair in May. Food, entertainment, art exhibits and a children’s petting zoo allow Vladimirsky and other Russian emigres to “present our segment of the culture to the larger Jewish community. That is a very exciting thing for us.”
The Peninsula Jewish Community Center — in a brand new home in Foster City this year — will strive to bring quality Jewish entertainment to the audience, according to Program Director Todd Braman.
In addition to this new effort, the Peninsula JCC is focusing on the visual arts. As many as 30,000 people may pass through its lobby every month, allowing the JCC to showcase a wide variety of styles. Israeli artist Neta Levi’s colorful paintings are currently on display.
“We do not shy away from stretching the way people look at artwork in a Jewish context,” says Braman.