J Blog

Mayor Sylvester Turner recently announced the first awardees of the new grant program Festival Grant via the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA). Sixteen festivals with venues across Houston were selected for funding totaling $145,475. 

We are proud to announce that the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC's Jewish CultureFest is one of the recipients of the 2018 Festival Grant. We thank the City of Houston and HAA for its support of this unique community event. 

As some of you may remember, we were days away from putting on our first Oy Vey! 5k Family Fun Run at Godwin Park in Meyerland when Hurricane Harvey hit our city last year. Obviously, the J, the City of Houston and especially the community of Meyerland were in no position to even consider hosting such an event at that time.

While we made some attempts to reschedule the event, we never felt confident about the timing. Nearly a year later, our community is coming back to life, and it's the perfect time to bring this event back to life also!

It was 45 years ago that my mom, Henrietta Bell, started the Nite Owls program. My sister was in her teens when my mom realized she would need a peer group for social activities to meet her developmental differences as she aged. This was in 1964.

Jewish tradition is deeply rooted in welcoming the stranger. Our Torah teaches: "You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9).”

June 20 is World Refugee Day, and the J is proud to be a part of our #HoustonStrong community, coming together to assist families seeking resources and comfort at detention centers in McAllen, Texas at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

On June 24-July 1 we will be hosting an event to participate with other JCCs to connect to and cycle along with the Jewish community in Krakow.  We will be hosting two book end cycle classes of 55 minutes to mark the occasion as well as times to use the spin studio on your own to complete your own 55 mile ride all week to honor the JCC Krakow. 

We are grad students from UH, writing as part of a community healing through storytelling initiative. We will be offering free workshops centered on telling the story of Meyerland--your stories of Meyerland, tracing your experiences from your first arrival through the storm and to the present day. Community members can share their storm stories and learn how to help their neighbors share their storm stories, as well as their own unique perspectives on this unique neighborhood. The process is both a healing act and a mode of community documentation, a chance for those affected by the storm to shape their neighborhood’s story.

On Thursday mornings at 5:30 AM or 6:05 AM, come to the Fitness Center to take our new class, Express HIIT. 

What is HIIT?

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. Basically, work your booty off in intervals for maximum benefit. We will work in bursts of energy and short bursts of rest for a short amount of time.

This type of work out is well suited for all fitness levels and modifications, and you are expected to work 80-90% of your max. The workouts are efficient because you burn a high amount of calories in a short amount of time. 

Ceramics is a fulfilling hobby. There are endless components that test one’s skills. 

Starting with wedging, the process of making the clay supple, there are unlimited techniques to learn. Whether you like hand building or use the wheel, it’s a challenge that takes practice. 

Until this fall, my preference was building all sorts of items on the wheel. The tactile sensation of working the clay on the wheel and the visual affirmation when your product is complete is an amazing feeling. Bowls, mugs, colanders to serve berries, plates, even made a lemon squeezer...the projects are infinite.  

The Splash 'n Dash, benefiting Justins TRIumph Over GAN, an organization that raises funds and awareness for Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), was held on Sunday, May 6 at the J. The event was organized for kids aged 7-15:  7-10 year olds swim 100m and run 1/2 mile, and 11-15 year olds swim 200m and run one mile. 

The J hosted the event, race packet pick up and provided lifeguards. One very determined child and his mother shared their experience with us: 

Summer is almost here and with the Outdoor Pool now open weekends, it’s time to think about preparing your child to pass the swim test.  All swimmers under the age of 18 must pass the test, which allows them to use any area of any pool past the 3 ft. depth marker rope line. 

It’s fairly common for kids to have the jitters about passing the swim test, especially if they haven’t been in a pool since last summer. 

To help our young swimmers build their confidence and review the skills needed to pass the test, we’re offering a NEW Swim Test Class beginning May 22. The class will be offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:15 PM—4:45 PM or from 4:45 PM—5:15 PM for four sessions.