J Blog

J Camps opens in a few short weeks. We are getting excited about everything that we have to offer this summer, and we cannot wait to welcome you and your children. 

One of the many things that makes J Camps special is the diverse population of our campers and staff. The world that we live in is ever-changing, and the needs of our campers and staff constantly evolve. The social and emotional well-being of our campers and staff is as important to us as their physical safety here at camp.

Last summer, we contracted with a psychologist on a part-time basis to help us on this front and felt that even though the help was limited, it made an important impact. 

The J invites you to two free screenings of this important film.

A famous story in the Talmud teaches about a gentile who came before the great Shammai and said: “I will convert [to Judaism] if you can teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot.” Shammai pushed the man aside with a ruler that was in his hand. The man then came before the great Hillel [with the same proposition], and Hillel converted him, saying, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor, that is the entire Torah, the rest is just commentary, now go and learn.”

Every summer, we, as parents, have to make choices about the experiences that we want for our children. We look at the 12 weeks that our children will not be in school and think “How can I make this time meaningful and fun for my kids?” 

There are so many different choices: family vacations, spending time with extended family, staying at home, volunteering, going to work with a parent, going to residential camp and attending day camp.

One of the best things about fitness classes is that you have an entire room of people in the same boat as you. It could be your first class ever, or the third this week, all of you are in it together.

When someone asks me where to begin when joining a gym, I always recommend checking out the class schedule. From dance, to cycle, there is something fun to do, the instructors know what they are talking about, and all eyes are not on you.

Bringing Israeli Tech and Innovation to Campers at the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC 

We are excited to bring this amazing program from across the globe to Houston this summer. In #BIGIDEA camps, creative and curious campers can choose from 10 different workshops including gaming, graphic design, coding, robotics, electronic DJ-ing, mobile app development, music video production and more. Campers are encouraged to explore, learn, engage and achieve in the spirit of Israel's high-tech industry. 

Hosting guests in our homes can often feel like an overwhelming task. We need to devise a menu, shop for ingredients, cook a meal, and clean up. On the holiday of Passover, hosting can be even more daunting because there is the added element of planning and leading a Seder. And yet, opening our homes is one of the most significant and impactful ways to observe Passover. 

As we approach what is often referred to as "swimsuit season," a desire to look our best becomes a priority. This desire can motivate us to try weight loss options that we wouldn't normally consider or that may prove to be a risk on our health. Safe and healthy weight loss requires patience and self control along with some basic guidelines.

The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC hosted a group of Chase bank volunteers to assist with delivering Meals on Wheels to the local community. The group delivered to nearly 60 of the 300+ hungry seniors that receive a hot meal Monday-Friday each week.

Our seniors really enjoy seeing a friendly face and a hot lunch, and our volunteers feel rewarded by being able to help with such a unique and special experience.  

The 15th Annual Houston Jewish Film Festival is right around the corner, and we have many exciting and entertaining Jewish and Israeli films from around the world to share with you.

Clear your calendars from March 30-April 10, 2019 as we have over 19 award-winning films, and you won’t want to miss a single one!

As your Evelyn Rubenstein JCC President and Chief Executive Officer, we would like to take this opportunity to share some important updates about the J as we look to the future.

Prior to Hurricane Harvey, we were engaged in a master planning process for the Levit campus which would have included significant renovations and updates to our 50-year-old building. Hurricane Harvey forced us to pause our planning and fundraising to focus on reconnecting the community to the J. We set about reengaging programs and completing post-Harvey renovations. The last of the renovations was completed in December, with the installation of the flood gates and wall in front of the Joe Weingarten Building to protect the J from future flood damage.

Throughout the months-long process, we - like many homeowners - found ourselves contemplating our future. We are pleased to announce that, at our February meeting, the Board of Trustees of the J voted by an overwhelming majority to proceed with plans to reinvest in the Levit campus. We also remain committed to expanding our off-site and outreach programs and opportunities for meaningful Jewish engagement across Houston.