EVJCC Blog
Lost in thought, found in mindfulness
When my kids were preschoolers, I remember seeing the movie “Blade Runner.” Or, more precisely, I remember not seeing it. After the initial viewing, I had almost no recall about it. There are many plotlines in this sci-fi cult classic. However, they were totally lost...
Mindful moment: Change your perspective
Picture this. The moment has turned tense. You are on your last good nerve. You look at each other ... bewildered, hurt and disappointed. How did the situation go sideways so fast? What planet is this person from anyway? Unfortunately, this is an oh-so-common...
EVJCC receives grant for podcast, Holocaust education and exhibits
The East Valley JCC is proud to announce that it has received a $15,000 grant from Arizona Humanities and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The grant supports the EVJCC’s Conversation with the Rabbi...
EVJCC, St. Vincent de Paul to start kosher food pantry
The East Valley JCC will host a monthly kosher food pantry beginning Wednesday, Oct. 27 in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. The JBox Food Pantry will be St. Vincent de Paul’s first partnership for a kosher pantry in Arizona. “We are honored to be part of making...
Mindful walking trains the mind to be present in the moment
Every morning, at the crack of dawn, I'm out for my daily walk. I've got to get my exercise in before it gets too hot. Somewhere during this constitutional, my purpose changes. My pace slows down, my tummy relaxes and I begin to take deep breaths. I become more...
Organization celebrates and supports grandparents
There are several resources for parents in existence, including magazines, blogs and books, but how about for grandparents? In celebration of National Grandparents Day, which falls on Sept. 12, 2021, we thought we’d share some information about the Jewish Grandparents...
Introducing mindfulness
Wayne Benenson, Ph.D., aka "Dr. B," an educator and researcher on peer mediation, shares his practice of mindfulness with the East Valley JCC community. WAYNE BENENSON, PH.D. For several years, I have been a mindfulness teacher in a local public school and on Zoom. I...
What’s happening at the EVJCC this fall
We are excited to announce that we are planning to resume in-person programming in August! While we’ve had children in our building for the Early Learning Center and Camp Rimon since last summer, we’ve missed seeing all the adults in our community over these past 15...
Those returning to work may be eligible for child care assistance
Parents and guardians who return to work after collecting unemployment benefits may be eligible to receive three months of child care assistance through the State of Arizona. This assistance is part of Gov. Doug Ducey's Arizona Back to Work plan, to help support...