TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—Mayor Janet Sobkowicz on Nov. 22 praised a plan just announced by the leadership of the former Bergen YJCC on Pascack Road to rebrand and relaunch its offerings as a “mobile” or “virtual” community center that might serve more families than ever before.
[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
In a video conference call last week with more than 100 stakeholders and community members, the leadership of the Bergen YJCC announced the next steps in the center’s evolution, following the sale of its 10-acre property to Bethany Church this year.
Unveiling “The Jewish Community Center of Northern NJ,” the group’s CEO, Abby Leipsner, touted new programs and a vision for the next five years that will work to meet the community’s changing needs.
In a Nov. 21 press release providing a link to the conference call video, Leipsner described a unique JCC model for its patrons, which will go into neighborhoods and communities to create and implement programs.
As Leipsner explained on the call, and as she told the New Jersey Jewish Standard in June, instead of being tied to its building, the YJCC’s new model will let the center offer a rich variety of programs in public spaces.
Leipsner included parks, stores, malls, rooms in municipal buildings, and “spaces in the wide range of venues that people go to in the course of their lives, places that are both convenient and comfortable to them—and in synagogues.”
The new center will have no membership fees, which could make the new offerings all the more enticing.
“We will be developing programs that our community is looking for and delivering them in places that are convenient. We won’t be based out of one building, we’ll be providing services and programs in facilities throughout our community,” Leipsner added.
This announcement follows the sudden closure of the YJCC’s 80,000-square-foot, two-floor building, on 10 acres, in August 2015, leading to its sale earlier this year.
The YJCC’s building contents, including gymnasium and office equipment, were sold off separately.
With declining membership, JCC NNJ decided to sell the building to Bethany Church, an area Pentacostal organization, for $9 million for its own community center, rather than face a loss of more than $1 million in facility maintenance and upkeep.
[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
Meanwhile, Bethany Community Center is undergoing renovations and has yet to announce a grand opening.
It recently helped the township meet its affordable housing obligations. The substantial parcel defines one of two new affordable housing overlay zones the township council adopted.
Mayor Sobkowicz, told of the YJCC’s plans, said it made a great deal of sense for the Jewish Community Center of Northern NJ to pivot this way.
“That’s interesting. They’ll probably be better off. If they do it in our valley area they’ll probably be able to provide nice events. They always had a lot of good programs,” she told the Pascack Press.
Indeed, proceeds from the property sale have provided the foundation of resources that are being used to revitalize programs and classes, especially for young families and children with special needs.
JCC aims to relaunch several favorite programs, including Tween Scene, a teen mentorship program, adult classes, and senior adult fitness.
A perennial favorite now in its 17th summer, Open Hearts Open Homes will continue to transform the lives of Israeli teens affected by terrorism and the host families the teens stay with here in Bergen County.
Once again this summer, 20 Israeli teens will come to New Jersey for a brief respite from the living with the repercussions of/under threat of war and to make lifelong connections with their host families.
Among the new programs being launched, the j. family ambassador program will help welcome and serve as a resource for young families in Bergen County.
The program is composed of a group of part-time ambassadors who are working within designated micro-communities to engage with new parents.
From meeting up for coffee, to helping find programs for babies and toddlers, to making introductions to other families raising Jewish children in the neighborhood, the ambassadors will reach out to the Pascack Valley and surrounding communities.
According to Barry Kissler, JCC NNJ’s board chair, the new model gives members an opportunity “to create community, be a presence in neighborhoods, provide valuable moments for our constituents to connect, all while staying true to our values.”
He added: “We will be a JCC that strengthens our community, builds connections, and emphasizes our shared Jewish values.”
[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
The Jewish Community Center of Northern NJ has a Facebook page, “Bergen County YJCC,” which has links to video and audio-only versions of the conference call at which Leipsner made the organization’s announcement.