Sep 27, 2019
As we begin a new year, it is a tradition to take stock of the last year, reflect on what we did well and what we would like to improve, and set some goals for ourselves for the coming year. In that spirit, I humbly offer a week-by-week guide for...
Aug 30, 2019
Shuli Zilberfarb Sela is closing the door on a meeting room so full of school supplies, you can’t sit down. It all came out of the power of weaving an idea across multiple groups who were primed to help. Two weeks ago, in a Hebrew-speaking Facebook group where people can give...
Aug 26, 2019
If you’re picturing an absolutely irresistible, hilarious member of the community who you wish was your aunt, you’ve found her in Deb Kurland. A retired LCSW, Deb and her husband got involved in this JCC in 1984. “My kids went through preschool, summer camp and our daughter became a counselor...
Aug 5, 2019
For longer than the biblical Israelites wandered in the desert, the Jewish Community Center of Palo Alto wandered in search of a home. Although the Palo Alto JCC existed in some form since 1961, we didn’t have a permanent location until 2009. It was a miracle that the Taube Koret...
Aug 1, 2019
Judith Stubbs is a retired educational therapist who is active in the arts and in giving back to the community. A Palo Alto native, her life journey took her near and far in the world until fate brought her back home to Palo Alto, and “things began falling into place.”...
Jul 17, 2019
For our family vacation this summer, we chose to go back to discover our roots. We started in Poland, where the Ashkenazi side of the family could learn more about our past, and ended in Spain to explore our Sephardic heritage. In each country, we captured images of castles and...
Jun 28, 2019
“Women see texts differently than men do, ask different questions and bring different answers.” This is a quote that has inspired the Kol Isha learning cohort throughout their study, community-building and social justice work. This week, OFJCC Director of Jewish Content Tova Birnbaum and I along with 13 participants from Palo...
Jun 25, 2019
OFJCC Social Media Specialist Yana Z. does not do things halfway. When she went on a camping trip earlier this summer, she and her friends enjoyed a top-notch outdoorsy experience. Here, she shares with us five unexpected tips to win at camping all summer long. I am what you’d call a...
May 9, 2019
Home is where is the heart is. My wife and I have invested a lot of time and effort in making our home a place that we want to spend as much time as possible. Because I have the opportunity to work at the JCC, I already have a home...
Apr 29, 2019
Sure, Glenn Martinson picks up the phone when people have questions about their membership at the OFJCC. But did you know he is also a dedicated hiking enthusiast? Despite an appreciation for the sport, he had never hiked a long trail before. That all changed last year when Glenn and...