EVJCC Blog

Meet the new ELC Kindergarten teacher, Tori Sheppard

Tori Sheppard returns to the Early Learning Center at the East Valley JCC to teach the new ELC Kindergarten class. ELC Director Pam Morris speaks with Tori Sheppard, who will teach the new ELC Kindergarten class when it begins in July 2023. Pam: Tell me how you got...

EVJCC community programs free in 2023

The East Valley JCC will be offering most of its community programs for free beginning in January 2023.  “With so many people facing financial challenges, we want to remove any barriers that may prevent them from attending community programs whether in person or...

EVJCC presents TikTok series about Tanach (Hebrew Bible)

The East Valley JCC is starting a new education program geared toward the TikTok generation: Torah.Tok. The program will include videos of stories and issues that are different from what is traditionally taught, both in content and format. The aim is to present Torah...

Rugelach Love: Family recipes connect generations

The East Valley JCC is excited to announce a project being developed by one of our Doing Jewish grant recipients. Julia Talore Zilman of Scottsdale has launched a project that started as a family recipe book but has grown to include a fundraising event for a Kyiv...

August: Jewish history, Israeli film and women’s brunch

The next season of programming of the East Valley JCC is starting soon! Here’s a look at what is happening in August. Open Beit Midrash offers two classes beginning this month: ‘Jewish History: The Journey of the Jewish People” at 10 a.m. and “Maimonides: A...

Mindful Monday: The Filter of ‘both/and’ thinking

By Wayne "Dr. B" Benenson, Ph.D.   This is my last post for the EVJCC blog. I am left with two seemingly opposite feelings, of both sadness and gratitude. I feel sad since I will no longer be sharing these monthly moments of mindfulness. And, at the same time I feel...

Early Learning Center receives NECPA accreditation

The Early Learning Center of the East Valley JCC recently achieved National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).  The National Early Childhood Program Accreditation was established in 1991 to encourage quality and recognize excellence in early childhood...

Mindful Monday: Tame your monkey mind

By Wayne "Dr. B" Benenson, Ph.D.   If the mindfulness movement had a mascot, it would probably be a chattering monkey. Imagine a jabbering monkey jumping from tree to tree. Now imagine a mind that jumps from thought to thought. The term “monkey mind” is an uncanny...
JBox program receives community award

JBox program receives community award

  The East Valley JCC received an award from the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix for its JBox program at the CJP's March 21 Lighting the Spark breakfast. The Belle Latchman Award, which recognizes local Jewish nonprofit programs that enhance the...

Meet the new ELC Kindergarten teacher, Tori Sheppard

Meet the new ELC Kindergarten teacher, Tori Sheppard

Tori Sheppard returns to the Early Learning Center at the East Valley JCC to teach the new ELC Kindergarten class. ELC Director Pam Morris speaks with Tori Sheppard, who will teach the new ELC Kindergarten class when it begins in July 2023. Pam: Tell me how you got...

EVJCC community programs free in 2023

EVJCC community programs free in 2023

The East Valley JCC will be offering most of its community programs for free beginning in January 2023.  “With so many people facing financial challenges, we want to remove any barriers that may prevent them from attending community programs whether in person or...

EVJCC presents TikTok series about Tanach (Hebrew Bible)

EVJCC presents TikTok series about Tanach (Hebrew Bible)

The East Valley JCC is starting a new education program geared toward the TikTok generation: Torah.Tok. The program will include videos of stories and issues that are different from what is traditionally taught, both in content and format. The aim is to present Torah...

1,000+ Hanukkah greetings sent to lone soldiers

1,000+ Hanukkah greetings sent to lone soldiers

The Lone Soldier Project of the East Valley JCC is sending more than 1,000 Hanukkah letters and messages to lone soldiers serving in the Israel Defense Forces through the fifth annual Hanukkah Greetings campaign.  The campaign, organized by Lone Soldier Project...

New ELC kindergarten opens in July 2023

New ELC kindergarten opens in July 2023

The Early Learning Center (ELC) at the East Valley JCC will open a kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. An information session about the kindergarten will be held 5-6 p.m. Tuesday,  Nov. 29. Below is an interview with Pam Morris, ELC director, about this...

Rugelach Love: Family recipes connect generations

Rugelach Love: Family recipes connect generations

The East Valley JCC is excited to announce a project being developed by one of our Doing Jewish grant recipients. Julia Talore Zilman of Scottsdale has launched a project that started as a family recipe book but has grown to include a fundraising event for a Kyiv...

EVJCC invites AZ schools to take virtual tour of Auschwitz

EVJCC invites AZ schools to take virtual tour of Auschwitz

 The Center for Holocaust Education of The East Valley JCC provides a unique learning experience through its virtual live tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, which are led live via Zoom by an Auschwitz educator in Poland.   Thanks to a grant from the...