From the Executive Director

What a great first month I have had here at the Barness Family East Valley JCC. A special thanks to each and every member who has stopped by to say hello and introduce themselves. If I haven't met you yet, please take a moment and stop by my office or introduce yourself when you see me in the halls. A number of exciting things are happening this month that I wanted to let you know about:

• We are offering new choices for membership renewals. For those of you choosing to renew your membership and pay in one lump sum there is now a 5% discount incorporated into your membership rate. There is also the availability to renew your membership and pay on a monthly basis (with a credit card authorization form). Either way, thanks for being a member of the Barness Family East Valley JCC and we look forward to continuing to serve you in the upcoming year. Call Meg Gabay at (480) 897-0588 or email her at meg@evjcc.org for membership information.
• Our lobby and surrounding areas will now offer free wireless internet to members with wi-fi enabled devices. For those of you who have a longer commute to the center, or are early for pick-up, or are just looking for a place to work in-between appointments, the JCC lobby is now the place to be! If you need to use our wireless internet connection please see our front desk for instructions and the wireless encryption code.
• We are beginning to take registration for Princeton Review SAT prep classes to be held in February at the Barness Family East Valley JCC. Classes will be held twice a week at the center with 3 tests held on the weekends. For more information please call 800-2REVIEW.

Steve Tepper
Executive Director
Barness Family EVJCC

---

JCC Adds Membership & Marketing Coordinator

Meg Gabay, our office manager for the last four years is assuming new responsibilities and becoming our Membership & Marketing Coordinator. Meg's new duties will include the recruitment of new members, retention of existing members, planning membership retention events and providing marketing support for JCC programs. In addition to Meg's new responsibilities she will be moving from the front desk and occupying an office in the back. Diane Umeda, will move a few feet down and cover the front desk until we can find a more permanent replacement. If you have any questions about your membership, or suggestions about things you would like to see at the Barness Family East Valley JCC please call Meg at 480-897-0588 or e-mail her at meg@evjcc.org.

---

2006-07 School Registration

Registration for the 2006-07 school year is just around the corner. Registration materials will be in the class cubbies the last week of January; children may be registered officially on February 1.

Spaces in each class are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The first two weeks in February are reserved for the registration of children already attending our school, their siblings and children in Centercare. On February 15, open registration will begin.

As long as there are openings, children may be registered for a variety of schedules; whatever best accommodates each family's needs. Early registration is the best guarantee of securing a preferred schedule. A deposit in the amount of May, 2007 tuition will hold a place in a class that meets the JCC's birth date policy. Please call Cynthia or Diane at (480) 897-0588 for additional information or to request registration materials.

---

Welcome New Members

• Steven and Jeanine Baer
• Frank and Elaine Billeck
• Robin Lowitz and Ned Hoffman
• Morton and Lenore Huskey
• Scott and Sara Mercill
• Michael and Jackie Oliver
• Allan and Ann Marie Pearlstein
• John and Debra Smith

AROUND THE CENTER

Adult Education

The EVJCC in conjunction with Chabad of the East Valley and the Bureau of Jewish Education will offer adult education classes on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Classes will be held at the East Valley JCC. All registrations must be made in advance with the appropriate organizations.

Bureau of Jewish Education - Begins January 5, 2006

THESE ARE SIX-WEEK CLASSES
Cost for both BJE courses, cost is $35 EVJCC members / $45 for Non-Members
Contact the Bureau of Jewish Education to register at 480-634-8050.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY JANUARY 2ND.

Class Title	Day	Time	Instructor
Maimonides	Th	9:30-10:30	A.Scholar

Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, known in Hebrew literature as the Rambam and in Western culture since the Renaissance as Maimonides, is unquestionably one of the outstanding figures of Jewish history - a figure whose commanding influence has been widely recognized by non-Jews as well as Jews. We will study his teaching about G-d, the Existence of Evil, Free Will, Repetence, the World to Come, Idolatry and Superstition, Health and Hygiene, the Messiah and the Messianic Era.

Class Title	Day	Time	Instructor
Ethics of Our Fathers	Th	10:40-11:40	A.Scholar

Ethics of Our Fathers will be studied in English using the actual text. This course will examine the Jewish approach to piety, ethics, purpose of life, love of G-d and man, etc. Ethics of Our Fathers is a section of the Talmud. Open to new and continuing students.

Jewish Learning Institute - Begins February 15, 2006

THIS IS AN EIGHT-WEEK CLASS
Contact Chabad of the East Valley to register at 480-855-4333
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY FEBRUARY 13TH.

Class Title	Day	Time	Instructor	Cost
Kabbalah of Time	W	10:00-11:30	Rabbi M. Dietsch	$89*

Explore the mystical teachings of Kabbalah.

*Cost includes study guide.

Seniors' Terrific Tuesdays

Join us, bring along a friend, and enjoy! Come enjoy stimulating programs and interesting speakers! Call Claudette at (480) 897-0588 for more information.

Tuesday, January 3rd @ 10:30 a.m. - Today we have the pleasure of having as our guest speaker, Janet Arnold of the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. Her program will be interesting as always, with facts about the theatre as well as her personal experiences.

Tuesday, January 10th @ 10:30 a.m. - The Phoenix Art Museum presents "Black History" by docent Sherry Koopot. The story of Black Americans starts before there even WAS an America. Follow the thread of Black History from the Revolutionary War through the Civil Rights movement as we examine some of the visual records of the lives and contributions of Black Americans to American History stretching from early paintings and sculptures to modern photography.

Tuesday, January 17th @ 10:30 a.m. - Our local Rabbi of the month, Rabbi Lester Frazin of Temple Havurat Emet will speak about King David and what we do and do not know about this famous Biblical character.

Tuesday, January 24th @ 11:00 a.m. - PLEASE NOTE TIME & LOCATION CHANGE! We will meet at the Corporate Offices of Eddie Basha to view his extensive art collection and lunch afterwards. Please join us!

Tuesday, January 31st @ 10:30 a.m. - One of our very own seniors will review her book, recently published, called "Grand Army Plaza" by Riva Spiro Luxenberg. She will take us down the road she traveled in writing this wonderful novel. It should be most interesting and informative.

SCHOOL • YOUTH

SCHOOL INFORMATION

School Open House

On Thursday, January 19th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., the East Valley JCC will hold an Open House for parents, prior to the February registration for the 2006-07 school year. Childcare will be provided during this time at no additional charge.

Parents will have the opportunity to visit preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

Parents attending will receive a preview of the next step in their child's educational, developmental and social journey. Teachers will discuss curriculum, goals and objectives and general program information.

Please join us for this important opportunity as we prepare to embark upon our second year in our wonderful facility.

---

Day School Open House

Sunday, January 22, 2006, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. the Barness Family East Valley JCC would like to invite you to an open house preview for the Day School.

Please join the staff of the East Valley JCC Day School for an informative afternoon to learn more about Day School programs. The Open House is geared for parents of children entering 1st through 6th grade. The EVJCC Day School offers an innovative curriculum with low teacher/student ratios. Come meet the teachers, discuss the Day School philosophy, learn about the curriculum, the daily schedule and more!

At 2:45 p.m. parents and children are invited into the classrooms with the teachers for age appropriate activities.

Childcare will be provided by BBYO, free of charge for the duration of the Open House.

Call (480) 897-0588 for additional information about both Open House opportunities.

---

Thank You!

Thank you to all those who participated in our Community Blood Drive! December is an urgent month for this cause, and everyone who participated did a great mitzvah!

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Parents Night Out

Parents Night Out is back! This is your chance to spend an evening away from your children and leave the babysitting up to the JCC! We provide the staff, snacks and fun while you go out for a night on the town! What better way to spend the evening - drop your kids off at the JCC then hit the town! Here are all the details!

WHEN:	Saturday January 28th
WHERE:	East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, AZ
TIME:	6:00 - 11:00pm
COST:	$3.50 per hour per child

A $5.00 Non-refundable deposit (This will be deducted from your total cost.) per child is required to reserve a space.

Parents must supply diapers and formula for those children requiring them. To sign up or for more information call or see Lisa.

---

Youth Clubs

Come build with us! This month our Youth Clubs are off to Lowes Home Improvement for an evening of building! We will meet at Lowes on Tuesday, January 31st at 6:30pm. There will be a nominal fee for this Youth Club event. Please call Lisa for more information no later than Friday January 30th.

---

Me & My Mom

Mom's, please grab your children and join us as we venture to Lakeshore Learning Center on Sunday, January 29th at 1 pm. You and your child/ren will make a collage picture frame. This activity is free to JCC members and $2.00 per family for non-members. Don't miss out on all the fun! RSVP to (480) 897-0588 no later than Thursday, January 26th.

Enjoying a lollipop at the Annual
Community Chanukah Party