JCC Association of North America

Since 1854, JCCs and YM-YWHAs have imbued millions of American children with the joys of Judaism and Jewish peoplehood through their preschools and camps, while integrating waves of Jewish immigrants into American life. With the steadfast support of the federation system, few other Jewish institutions have touched the lives of so many Jews in North America. Whether observant or not, affiliated or nonaffiliated, rich or poor, Jews feel welcomed and appreciated at their Jewish Community Center.

JCC Association is the service organization for JCCs, YM-YWHAs, and camps at more than 350 sites across North America, serving more than two million people annually. It represents the largest network of Jewish camps and early childhood programs in the United States and Canada. The goal of JCC Association is to help JCCs, YMYWHAs, and camps to fulfill their crucial mission of building community, transmitting Jewish heritage, teaching children, caring for the elderly, helping immigrants, and providing a warm, fun place to spend time and make friends.

JCC Association does this through its signature programs, such as the Jewish-identity-building programs for teens JCC Maccabi Games, JCC Maccabi ArtsFest, and JCC Maccabi Israel. JCC Association’s early-childhood values curriculum, An Ethical Start, and TAG: Jewish Values through JCC Camping, impact thousands of children. Lekhu Lakhem, Hemshekh, and Chizuk, all staff development programs, enrich the Jewish ambiance of JCC camps. A new program, Journeys: Adult Jews Living and Learning, is engaging a large cohort of JCC members. GesherCity enables JCCs to attract and involve Jewish young adults, a difficult group to reach. The Merrin Center for Teen Services trains a new generation of JCC professionals, and the Mandel Center for Excellence in Leadership and Management provides timely services and consultations to guide JCCs through challenging economic times. Without JCC Association, JCCs would be unable to do their jobs as effectively. JCC Association’s JWB Chaplains Council has supported Jewish armed forces personnel wherever they’ve been stationed, both in peace and in war. At this momentous time, the Chaplains Council’s work is even more important. JCC Association’s long-range planning, leadership development, professional training and recruitment, and continental focus support JCCs across the United States and Canada as they do their essential work.