Program areas at JCC
Health and physical fitness:the 186,000 square foot facility houses a large swimming pool, family pool, indoor track, full gymnasium; youth play gym for children 2 to 10; studios for yoga , dance, trx and pilates, racquet ball courts; cardio and strength training facilities; and fields. More than 70 group fitness classes are offered each week for adults. In addition, a variety of classes and lessons are offered to children of all ages throughout the year including red cross certified swimming lessons.the jcc has formed a strategic partnership with Rochester regional health, which has a satellite office located within the jcc. This partnership is creating holistic health and wellness programs and services for our members.
The Jewish Community Center's comprehensive approach to children and youth programming incorporates social, educational, cultural and fitness programming into after-school care and summer camping experiences. The after-school care program at the jcc serves the needs of families with school-aged children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Jcc's after school program is a bridge between home and school, with after school activities and classes, recreation programs, and school vacation programs. The jcc serves a vibrant day-camping Community grounded in Jewish values and culture. Day camp programming helps children age 5 through 15 develop confidence, happiness, and kindness through an integrated program that builds lifelong memories and respect for Community. Camp seneca lake is the jcc's overnight camp serving children between the ages of 8 and 16 for more than 80 years. Located on more than 200 acres on seneca lake in western, ny, csl is committed to providing a wholesome Jewish camp Community dedicated to developing the physical, social, and emotional identities of its campers. Campers experience a balanced program of group and individual activities led by a mature and skilled staff. This is accomplished while providing campers an exciting and fun-filled summer in a beautiful lakefront setting, creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Early childhood (unduplicated program participants 125, includes members and non-members):the jcc wolk children's Center provides an accredited full-day and part-time early childhood experience for children between the ages of 8 weeks and 5 years. The program offers a richly varied curriculum that encourages intellectual curiosity, builds self-confidence. Complementing our daily core program, children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of enriched programming, including music, science, physical education and aquatics. Families from all backgrounds enjoy cultural, recreational, social, educational and judaic programs throughout the year at the jcc.
It should be noted that that the descriptions which follow in this section describe the typical (non-pandemic) activities of the jcc. Cultural arts and theater arts and culture (25,000+ visits/year)arts and cultural programming at the jcc reflects our Community's values and commitment to using the arts to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of everyone in the Rochester area. Our dedicated staff work in conjunction with volunteers and Community leaders to deliver arts and Jewish cultural programs at the jcc and other venues throughout the community.the ames-amzalak Rochester Jewish film festival is the largest Jewish cultural event in western new york. In 2022 we celebrate 22 years of screening the finest new film by, for and about Jewish life and history in the jcc and the historic dryden theatre at george eastman house.the lane dworkin Jewish book festival has been showcasing Jewish authors and books of Jewish content since 1993 at the jcc. Each year we offer a mixture of light and serious fare, local authors, well-known figures and notable writers.formed in 1977, centerstage theatre is the local, professional theatre program of the louis s. wolk Rochester Jewish Community Center. Centerstage produces a subscription season of plays and musicals and other special events. Centerstage has been has been at the forefront of new play development including jason odell williams' church & state (off broadway 2017, off broadway alliance nomination best new play), kasha davis' there's always time for a cocktail (off-broadway premiere 2015), deb margolin's imaging madoff, wendy kout's naked in encino, david hein/irene sankoff's my mother's lesbian Jewish wiccan wedding, jason odell williams' handle with care (off broadway 2013) and oy vey, it's the calamari sisters. Survivors is a play by wendy kout, commissioned and produced by the Rochester jcc and based on the words and lives of 10 local holocaust survivors. The play tours to area schools and Community groups and is current being licensed for productions in cities throughout north america.tykes (theatre young kids enjoy) is Rochester's premier professional children's theater company. A program of the jcc since 2004, tykes captivates families with beloved plays and musicals brought to live on stage by adult professional actors. Tykes strives to inspire an appreciation of the arts, literary awareness, and social skills while teaching key life lessons. Performances, school field trips, after-school classes and summer camp take place in the jcc hart theatre.yiddish cultural Center at the jcc was established to encourage the revival of the yiddish language as well as yiddish culture. The beautifully decorated Center was made possible through the generosity of donors passionate about keeping yiddish alive and well in Rochester. It contains hundreds of yiddish books that have been donated throughout the years. Jcc members and members from the Community may visit the Center to watch yiddish movies, read yiddish periodicals (both in yiddish and english), have access to yiddish books, and use the computer for research on yiddish subjects.the feinbloom library is a hub for Jewish learning at the jcc. The library features an extensive collection of books of Jewish interest, books by Jewish authors, large print books. The library is home to the tech age computer learning Center for older adults.
Adults and seniors adults: the Jewish Community Center adult program in partnershp with lifespan provides adults with opportunities to participate in a setting that reinforces and promotes healthy aging on multiple levels in a Jewish environment. Healthy aging involves more than physical health or absence of disease. It is a broad concept that encourages and extends a balance of physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual health throughout mature adulthood, the jcc of Rochester offers classes, activities, programs, artistic endeavors and special events designed for the mature population and supports healthy aging including exercise and wellness programs; entertainment, socials and guest speakers and current event discussion groups, escorted travel club; afternoon movies; informal socializing; cards, mahjongg and board games; and holiday celebrations.the jcc serves to support seniors to enable them to live longer independently in their own homes. The jcc works toward this goal by providing information and referrals in partnership with Jewish family service.