Hanukkah began at sundown yesterday, and for each of the next seven nights those who celebrate will light a candle against the darkness—an age-old tradition of resilience and hope. Speaking of lights, the Christmas season is in full swing––and no place does Christmas...
Dear Friends of JCCA, Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season––a time of joy and celebration that is often combined with stress. For some of us, there is even pain. During these particularly challenging times, we at JCCA are going to focus on hope and...
Dear Friends of JCCA, For those following the Jewish calendar, the High Holy Days, referred to in the Torah as the Days of Awe, begin Sunday at sundown. The word awe, implying a sense of both amazement and humility, also describes something I often feel when...
During a national crisis in children's mental health, there simply aren't enough supports for young people with serious psychiatric needs. Read CEO Ron Richter's op-ed about the need to invest in services for children in crisis.
Dear JCCA Colleagues, I write to you today to wish you a joyous Juneteenth and meaningful Father’s Day. Being a father to my amazing daughter, Maya, who just turned 12 years old in May (I can hardly believe it!), has transformed what love means to me. Opening my heart...
June is teeming with excitement. Summer is around the corner. We are days from high school graduations at PCS, Edenwald, Liberation, and throughout the City. Many are cheering young people on at “moving up” ceremonies. We are still basking in the afterglow of our...
Mother’s Day offers us the opportunity to celebrate the invaluable care and nurturing that mothers provide, recognizing that love and guidance show up in many different forms. The work we do at JCCA makes us especially appreciative of the many expressions of affection...
On April 8, 1822, a group of Jewish Americans met to found New York City’s first Jewish charitable organization, the Hebrew Benevolent Society. With $300 ($6,600 in today’s dollars) collected, these Jews, who had arrived from England and Holland in the 17th and...
Dear JCCA Colleagues, I know that many of us have been closely following the trial of Derek Chauvin. But you don’t need to watch the trial to appreciate the horror of George Floyd’s death, the grief of those who witnessed the murder live, and the courage it took for...
Dear JCCA Colleagues, Last week’s horrific attacks in Atlanta underscore the vicious grip of white supremacy and xenophobia on our country. Far from an isolated event, these shootings represent a frightening escalation of frequent anti-Asian harassment and assault...