Marking meaningful moments together
Holidays and Jewish Life
The Bender JCC celebrates Judaism throughout the year with a variety of holiday celebrations and observances, family and community gatherings, and festive workshops.
Anchored by Timeless Traditions and Values
Jewish culture, tradition, and values have anchored our community for generations – but you don’t need to be Jewish to join the Bender JCC or participate in our programs! We believe Jewish values are also universal life values – like community involvement (kehillah), working together (b’yachad), social action and repairing the world (tikkun olam), and having respect for one another (kavod ha-briot) – and provide a foundation for a meaningful life. At the Bender JCC our Jewish and non-Jewish members embrace this timeless wisdom in a way that makes sense for their modern, everyday lives.
Be Awed by Jewish Life
We strive to be many things, while one concept remains constant: we are a center of Jewish life for everyone without judgment, restrictions or expectations. The Bender JCC creates enriching experiences so that our members are inspired to connect to something greater than ourselves — a tradition and community upon which we can rely. At the Bender JCC, we support each other in expressing our Jewish individualities. In our community, you’ll find the space and support to embrace your Jewish identity in a way that works for you, surrounded by a no-judgment mindset that validates your Jewish journey, wherever you might be on that path.
Jewish Experiences at Every Age and Stage
Jewish holidays separate life’s everyday and sacred moments. At the Bender JCC, we set our calendars to the rhythms of the Jewish year. Whether gathering for all-ages, sensory-friendly High Holidays celebrations – including programs and ritual services for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot – our nightly community menorah lightings during Hanukkah, our annual hamantaschen sale for Purim, or celebrating Israel at our annual Israel Day event, the Bender JCC proudly serves as our community’s destination to mark Jewish moments, together.
Both the Bender ECC and Bender-Dosik Parenting Center offer families meaningful ways to connect with the Jewish community, Shabbat, and holiday celebrations. Through shared experiences of Jewish customs and traditions in the classroom, Bender ECC families explore their own values, regardless of their background. By experiencing Jewish customs and traditions together, families explore their own values, whether they are Jewish or not. Additionally, the Bender-Dosik Parenting Center supports children in developing their own beliefs and perspectives through energetic, kid-friendly Jewish celebrations held throughout year – including unique programs centered around Jewish holidays like “Apples and Honey,” “I’m Sorry Day,” “Sukkah Village,” and of course, “Little Noshers” cooking classes for Passover, Purim and more.
It’s never too late to learn Hebrew! The Bender JCC is pleased to offer a variety of virtual and hybrid daytime and evening Hebrew classes year-round, from beginner (Aleph level) to advanced (Hay level), in Ulpan Ben Yehuda conversational Hebrew. Ulpan is an Israeli method for teaching and improving all Hebrew language skills—speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Ulpan classes at the Bender JCC are taught by highly qualified and experienced teachers. We are the only Ulpan in the area that offers in-person classes and uses a multimedia curriculum created by the Israeli Center of Educational Technology (CET), which includes Hebrew language learning, Israeli culture, and literature as well as Jewish tradition.
Connecting our community to the people, history, culture, and land of Israel remains a core value of the Bender JCC. From lectures and dance to film, music, and art, the Center offers exciting, innovative ways to learn about Israel—past, present, and future. More information coming soon!
Support the Bender JCC
We rely on donors to help make many of our programs and services possible, such as inclusion, gallery exhibits, senior programs, ESOL classes, literary events, young family outreach, and much more.
