J Blog

Periodically over the past few months, we have provided updates on the progress of our Capital and Endowment Campaign to renovate our J. I am thrilled to share with you to date we have raised $41.3 million towards our $50 million goal. While we still have an additional $8.7 million to raise, our Board of Trustees is confident of our ability to reach our goal and last month approved moving forward with our very exciting and transformational renovation plans.

For the purpose of this article, flexibility has nothing to do with yoga, Pilates or gymnastics. It has everything to do with taking a different approach than your normal way of accomplishing goals and overcoming set-backs. The definition of flexibility is "the quality of bending easily without breaking". While this the definition is in the physical sense, I feel that it is relevant with what our society has been dealing with and for what may be to come. We want to bend, change and adapt but not to the point of simply giving up. The real key is to be cognitively flexible in order to improve your ability to create options.

So many changes have come about since this past spring...

The following article is by Certified Personal Trainer Ellen Goren. Ellen has worked for the J nearly five years helping clients of all ages meet their fitness goals. Below is just a short recap of Ellen’s transformation to fitness and her dedication to working with others.

The other day I was training a client who said, “I never used to be able to lift the heavy bags of mulch into my car by myself before. Today I told the sales clerk...

We are pleased to announce that members will be able to enjoy Pickleball and Recreational Basketball at the Merfish Teen Center (9000 S. Rice) starting Sunday, November 1. Please continue to the full blog post for further details. 

We are happy to report that the J has started to offer family activities through the J’s new Family Engagement program! Many of us have missed family programming, Jewish and recreational, in a community setting. Family Engagement programs offer small, in-person, outdoor gatherings for families that are ready to attend events and provide activities that families may complete at home for those who prefer to stay isolated. These events celebrate Judaism through creative family activities.

The J’s Family Engagement programming is intended for families of pre-school and elementary-aged children. Many families have children in both age groups and want to be able to attend activities as a family. We will continue to offer...

Sunday, Nov 16 | 9:00 AM-1:30 PM

Join us as we do our part to help our community in this time of need. The J is partnering with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center for a Community Blood Drive. The Blood Center will be on site at the J at 5601 S. Braeswood, and those interested in donating should schedule an appointment. 

Blood donations remain an essential operation during the “Stay Home, Work Safe” order. The coronavirus does not pose any risk to blood donors, either during the donation process or while attending organized blood drives. Learn more about how the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is implementing safety measures to protect donors and the importance of donating during this difficult time. 

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Sam said, "The one thing that really hit me, was seeing how just how desperate and vulnerable some of my recipients are. Mr. and Mrs. F were so grateful from our last grocery delivery, that Mr. F broke down and cried while I was standing there with his meal in my hands. He opened up more about their needs and I learned that too often, they are hungry with no pantry supplies. It breaks my heart to know that they, along with other seniors, are in such need for food. This is why I continue to serve Meals on Wheels. Because just giving an hour or two each week goes so far for those who are in need.” 

This quote from Sam, who comes every Wednesday and delivers to twelve homebound seniors, has been...

Tennis is a great sport that challenges us on multiple levels. It is a great tool for stress relief as well. Tennis can be played by anyone no matter their age or ability.

The fact that tennis is a non-contact sport played on a 78-foot long court makes tennis the ideal sport for social distancing. In fact, the Texas Medical Association came out with a risk chart, and listed tennis at a level 2 with 1 being the safest and 10 being the least safe activity to participate in during these trying times. It's socially rewarding while being socially distant.

Read our Director of Fitness Services, Robin Fortenberry's, update on new Group Exercise classes and protocols, changes to our water exercise class schedule and information about our outdoor pool schedule as we head into the fall season. 

Most holidays on the Jewish calendar commemorate something involving the Jewish people, whether that be ritualistic, agricultural, or historical. On the surface, the holiday of Rosh Hashanah is no different. When we think of Rosh Hashanah, we typically summarize it as the “Jewish New Year,” the anniversary of the day that the world was created, the day we began counting Jewish time. Our liturgy echoes this notion, as we sing in services HaYom Harat Olam, “Today is the birthday of the world!” However, if we closely examine what our sages say about creation, we arrive at a radically different meaning of Rosh Hashanah.