Jack I. Fox Last week, I walked into the Katz JCC to be greeted by the friendly faces in the Exhibit "Portraits of Resilience," portraits of survivors who live in our community that were included in the recently published book of the same name by Stockton College's Holocaust Resource Center. People were assembling in the lobby as they looked at the exhibit and waited for the community commemoration of Kristallnacht, a partnership program among our community agencies and synagogues that was presented at the JCC.

At the same time, upstairs in the JCC boardroom, a Jewish Education program developed in a partnership between the JCC and the Gateways program of Lakewood, New Jersey, was being offered. As I walked down the hall and saw the banners for the Pirkei Avot Ethical Start Program at the Preschool, I reminded myself, "so what is Jewish about the JCC? So much!"

In a brochure entitled "Adult Jewish Education in Atlantic and Cape May Counties" that we recently organized for the community in partnership with the Board of Rabbis and our local agencies, a wide array of Jewish programming at the JCC is catalogued, ranging from Israeli Bagels and Brunch to parent Ethical Start Pirkei Avot lectures. The JCC is also proud to be the group facilitator for a professional mission to Israel, planned later this year that include Federation Agencies and Synagogue professional staff.

What is Jewish about the JCC? The myriad of cultural, entertainment events, Jewish educational programs and religious events presented throughout the year that recognize and celebrate the "yiddishkeit" of our local community.

Last week, the JCC Board of Directors passed a resolution to extend the hours during which the JCC is open on Shabbat, moving the opening from 1 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the closing from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m., mirroring decisions that have been made by JCCs throughout the country and elsewhere in New Jersey. This decision was made following a 6-month study that included asking the community for its views with regard to the JCC's hours of operation. A majority of the Jewish community supported the extension of Shabbat hours for limited JCC operations. The JCC Board of Directors gave a great deal of

thought to the question of whether the limited extension of Shabbat hours would effect any change in what is Jewish about the JCC. After substantial discussion, the Board of Directors was satisfied that the JCC's identity as a Jewish institution could only be enhanced by the decision. As an integral part of determination to extend Shabbat hours, the Board of Directors accepted a recommendation of the Board of Rabbis to increase Jewish ambience in the building; in the coming months, physical changes will be made to the facility to reflect this emphasis. In addition the Board determined to require that JCC members not park in the Beth El parking lot during the hours of Shabbat services. The Board also decided that the JCC would develop other Shabbat programming,

including the possibility of presenting Havdalah services within the JCC. Of course, the Board reaffirmed the longstanding JCC policy to observe Kashrut in all events in the facility, and also limited activities during the extended Shabbat hours.

The JCC philosophy is one of inclusion - for those people who want to exercise on Shabbat - include them. For those individuals who care to participate in JCC public events that are observant - include them by making the events kosher.

The JCC serves the entire community, but it is fundamentally a Jewish institution. The Board of Directors recognizes and will continue to meet its responsibility to address community needs while faithfully maintaining the essence of what is Jewish about the Jewish Community Center.