”When the JCC implemented the Hineni award, the intent was to highlight philanthropy of the highest order, a dedication that sets the bar for all who wish to make a lasting and global impact with their giving,” Gary Yourtz, JCC Board president, explained. “The selection of Joyce Zeff as the first recipient made this statement with resounding clarity. Now, the selection of Eddie and Dick continues to powerfully reinforce our intention to acknowledge this kind of transformational philanthropy.  We could not be happier.”

The award will be formally presented to the Robinson brothers at the JCC Annual Dinner, slated to take place at the Grand Hyatt on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012.

Dick and Eddie Robinson are 4^th Generation Denverites, whose great-grandfather, Lewis Robinson, established Robinson Dairy in 1885. Dick and Eddie joined the family business in 1954 and 1956 where they spent their entire working careers. Both brothers graduated from East High School and attended Colorado A&M, now known as Colorado State University.

Being active in community and charitable organizations has been a mutual passion. “This city has been very good to us and the Jewish community has been very good to us”, stated Dick Robinson. “We feel it is our responsibility to give back”. Dick has been active in a multitude of community and charitable organizations.  He presently serves as a member of Consolidated Containers LLC.  He serves on the boards of the Denver Art Museum, HCA-HealthONE and Regis University.  He is past Chairman of the Rose Community Foundation, past Director of US Bancorp in Minneapolis, past Chairman of the Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America, past Chairman of the Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of Mountain States Employers Council and past Chairman of the CSU Board of Governors.  Dick is also the past Chairman of the Milk Processors’ Education Program that presents the famous milk moustache ads.

Younger brother Eddie is also involved in a myriad of community and charitable organizations. Eddie currently serves as a lifetime member and past Chair of the Denver Zoological Foundation, the Denver Metro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and National Jewish Health Medical and Research Center.  He is the past Chair of St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and past board member of both Metro State College of Denver Foundation and the Colorado Commission of Higher Education.  Eddie also served on the Board of Central Bank Denver, and subsequently on the U.S. Bank Local Advisory Board.  “My father didn’t care about money,” he said. “He cared about people. He was always very generous and he instilled us with philanthropic ‘genes’. I learned to give by example.”

Both brothers have a long association with the JCC. Dick sat on the JCC Board for four years in the 1980s and both brothers actively support the JCC each year and were generous supporters of the 2010 JCC Maccabi Games.

Jerry Gray, long-time JCC Board member and highly respected community leader, expressed his delight when the Robinsons were unanimously selected as the Hineni recipients.  “I am proud to say that Dick and Eddie have been my friends for over 60 years,” Mr. Gray remarked.  “I have witnessed the many business and community accomplishments they have performed. The Robinson Brothers epitomize what the Hineni Award represents.”

For more information about the Hineni Award or the JCC Annual Dinner, please contact Michael Rudnick, Associate Executive Director, at mrudnick@jccdenver.org.

3/4 M,WF/T,TH 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
3/4/5 M-F 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Extend day hours still available

Openings still available in the Fall 2012- 20113 School Year. We strive to enrich the lives of our children and provide a nurturing and engaging experience for your whole family. Our emergent approach and play based philosophy allow children to take an active role in their learning while co-construction knowledge with their teachers. The following programs still have a few spots open:

Infants M-F 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
2’s TTH 9 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
3/4′s TTH 9 a.m -12:30 p.m.
Extend day hours still available

“All Around Ceramics,” Tuesdays, June 5 – Aug. 7 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. offers students a chance to work with Todd Redmond, an instructor that is adept at teaching wheelthrowing as well as handbuilding techniques and much more. This class is suitable for beginners and advanced students alike. Todd has been a working ceramic artist for over 25 years and an instructor at MACC for the past five years. Come and join the fun in this relaxed environment and see why Todd is such a popular instructor.

“Handbuilding Ceramics,” a Wednesday night class, features instructor Vicky Smith. The focus of this class is – but is not limited to – handbuilt projects. Vicky says “If you are looking for a fun, creative outlet for the summer – then this is the place for you!” Handbuilding Ceramics is suitable for all levels and runs June 6-Aug. 8 from 6:30 -9:30 p.m. each night.

“Taking a ceramics class at MACC is a fun, creative outlet that most people find therapeutic and relaxing. It’s the perfect way to keep your creative juices flowing throughout the summer months when other parts of your schedule are a little less busy,” says Roberta Bloom, Art Academy director.

Learn More

There are many ways in which Pesach and Shavuot are linked.   Conceptually our tradition teaches that freedom (Pesach) by itself is incomplete and lacks significance;   only when the road leads to Sinai (Torah) can the real meaning of redemption from Egypt be understood.   Freedom allows Torah—the creation of a covenantal community with the goal of the establishment of a just society.   Pesach and Shavuot are also connected by the period of the counting of the Omer.  The Omer was a harvest-offering brought to the Temple on Pesach.  The Torah indicates that after seven weeks of counting a holiday is to be observed on the 50^th day; Shavuot.

It is quite remarkable that in the present day we can observe the renewal of the agricultural component of the Shavuot celebration.  In Israel today primarily on kibbutzim Shavuot is observed by recreating part of the ancient Shavuot pilgrimage.  This included a procession of people carrying baskets filled with the various offerings to be brought to the Temple.  Many kibbutzim replicate this process with children carrying baskets filled with the agricultural bounty of the land.

These celebrations suggest both the historical experience of the past and represent the effort in our own times to engage in rituals and observances that are particularly meaningful in the modern context.   The modern State of Israel has achieved tremendous success in the agricultural sector and this is a source of great pride in the country.  Shavuot becomes an opportunity to connect with the past and to celebrate and embrace the realities and accomplishments of the present.

In the absence of the agricultural context in the primarily urban centers in which we live, we may wonder how to make a meaningful connection between the agricultural and historical/spiritual aspects of Shavuot.  We are fortunate in our community to draw upon experiences and a culture that values and celebrates the natural beauty of the world around us.  We have devoted a considerable amount of time and energy in the ECC to fostering and nurturing appreciation of and reverence for our environment both for ourselves and for our children.  The great scholar and teacher of the last century, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel suggests that this outlook can lead us to a greater understanding of the spiritual aspects of our tradition.  He writes:

“Only in moments when we are able to share in the spirit of awe that fills the world are we able to understand what happened…at Sinai.  Revelation means that the thick silence which fills the endless distance between God and the human mind was pierced and man was told that God is concerned with the affairs of man; that not only does man need God, God is, also in need of man… (A.J. Heschel, God In Search of Man)

Heschel reminds us how important is our sense of appreciation and our recognition of the daily wonder around us.  If our minds and hearts are open to these experiences on a regular basis, only then can we attempt to reach for the understanding of an event so immense as revelation.

As you know we have been working diligently to prepare the ECC sacred garden for the upcoming season.  As we work as a community in the garden, we are afforded many opportunities to enhance our appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.  This provides us in the ECC with a tangible connection to the agricultural component of the holiday of Shavuot.  And we continue to receive and learn Torah daily in the ECC in deepening our understanding of the cycle of the Jewish year and in our commitment to be a part of a community in which Jewish values inform our actions and relationships.

While Camp Shai has a long history of tradition, trying new things, just like campers do each day at camp, is how we grow. After all, camp is about creating room to grow, fostering self-confidence, Jewish identity, community consciousness, integrity, and respect for others. And it’s about recognizing when it’s time to change. You asked for more specialized programs, so this year, we are offering specialized programs for campers Kindergarten – grade one, and chuggim (electives) for grades three – five. As for location, the expansive fields, large classrooms, outdoor trails, and multi-purpose spaces at Denver Jewish Day School (Camp Shai North) and Ames Elementary School (Camp Shai South) provide many advantages.

In addition to our new programmatic offerings, we are thrilled to introduce you to our new Camp Shai team! If you have not had an opportunity to meet them, please stop by the Camp Central office or contact them directly.

Rachel Hagar, Camp Shai North and Youth Programs Director: Rachel relocated to Denver from Los Angeles in December and has been successfully running Club J, the JCC’s after-school program, vacation camps, and planning summer day camp. Rachel has been the director of Teen Programs at Westside JCC in Los Angeles for the past three years. In that role she oversaw all teen programs including the JCC Maccabi Games, a Counselor-In-Training Program, and all social and service learning events. (Contact Rachel: rhagar@jccdenver.org or (303) 316-6392)

FUN FACT: Want to know a lot of information in a short amount of time? Listen to Rachel talk your socks off with her speed reading, speed talking talent.

Dani Wynn, Camp Shai South Director and South Family Programs Coordinator: Dani will be returning to Ames Elementary for her second summer at Camp Shai South and is happy to be stepping into the role of director.  Dani was an early childhood educator for ten years, teaching at the Hebrew Educational Alliance and the JCC. Dani has been hard at work planning for the summer and looks forward to growing the Camp Shai South program for families living in the south Denver suburbs. (Contact Dani: dwynn@jccdenver.org or (303) 799-6975)

FUN FACT: I Love love love love the show “Glee”…I am a “Gleek” 

Dani Salinger, Camp Shai North Assistant Director and Youth Program Coordinator: Dani has been involved with JCC overnight camping for 15 years –  seven years as a camper and eight years as camp staff. She has served in a multitude of roles at the JCC, from camp counselor to program director at Ranch Camp to her current role as Camp Shai North assistant director and youth program coordinator. Dani has a background in Jewish studies and loves working in the camping world. This summer will be her first year at day camp, and she is really looking forward to this new experience. (Contact Dani: dsalinger@jccdenver.org  or (303)-316-6307)

FUN FACT: Have a dance off with THIS star. Dani was a competitive hip hop/break dancer for 10 years in Boulder.

Melissa Hoch, South Denver, Day Camp, and Youth Programs Director: Melissa has been at the JCC for almost two years managing the JCC’s south expansion. Her focus has been to establish and build relationships with families with young children who live in South Metro Denver, including working on the inaugural year of Camp Shai South. Melissa now collaborates with the entire camp team on both Camp Shai North and South, youth, and south programs. (Contact Melissa: mhoch@jccdenver.org or (303) 316-6418)

FUN FACT: Melissa is not the most graceful person, occasionally running into things and tripping on flat ground; however, she somehow managed to complete three marathons, five half marathons, and seven triathlons.

One of the festival components, back for its second year, is a family Bike Swap.   Sponsored by Wish for Wheels, a non-profit which provides bikes for underprivileged children, families have the opportunity to donate used children’s bikes before the festival and/or purchase these re-tuned bikes at the festival. Donations are being accepted from now until May 18. If you plan to bring a bike into the JCC, please call ahead to the JCC sports desk at (303) 316-6300 or email jyourtz@jccdenver.org.

Funds raised from this swap will benefit the JCC’s Family Programs Department and ActionIsrael’s Biking with Kids Under Fire, who will help make bikes available to children living in fear of attack in places like Sederot to strengthen their emotional and physical health. Also, proceeds will support pre-natal, parenting and young children’s programming under the JCC Family Programs department.

The festival, including the bike swap, is open to the public. Admission is free and there will be kosher food and rides for purchase. New this year is the opportunity to purchase a VIP package for $50 ($60 Value), which offers fast registration in the VIP line, unlimited ride wristbands for two children, $25 food card and a special gift bag from the JCC. Register online for the VIP package at www.jccdenver.org/celebratefamily.

Families will find a myriad of activities, games and creative arts, with live performers plus exhibits filled with practical information and useful resources. There will be a wide range of entertainment ranging including music, the Reptile Guy, Science Matters, a petting zoo, bounce houses, a trackless train – and the ever-amazing helicopter landing.

A nursing and diaper-changing area will be available. Most activities are intended to take place outdoors in the JCC parking lot, though there will be a few indoors too. Rain or shine, the festival will proceed (with more activities inside if necessary).

The first such festival at the JCC occurred in 2003, as Celebrate Baby! Since its origin, the event has undergone various changes — becoming Celebrate Family! to appeal to families with a broader age range of children, in 2007 becoming part of the Denver Jewish Festival and during 2008, part of the Israel-60 celebration — and more recently recurring in annual solo format. While admission to the Celebrate Family! festival is free, nominal fees will be charged for some attractions such as rides and refreshments – and for bike purchases.

For more information about the Family Bike Swap, contact Jeff Yourtz at jyourtz@jccdenver.org or 303-316-6300. Also, Dani Wynn, exhibitor coordinator, is seeking sponsors, vendors and exhibitors. For details on sponsorship levels or reserving booths, those interested can contact her at 303-799-6975 or celebratefamily@jccdenver.org. Others willing to volunteer for a shift — to help with set up, registration, pedestrian flow or activity staffing — can reach Melanine Gruenwald at 303-316-6325, mgruenwald@jccdenver.org. Volunteers must be at least age 15.

at the 9th Annual JCC Ozzie Malek Poker Tournament

There is still time to reserve your spot at the Thursday, May 10, JCC Ozzie Malek 9th Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. The $250 donation per player includes entry fee, dinner, adult beverages and the opportunity to win over $20,000 in prizes. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. in the JCC Phillips Social Hall and we “shuffle up and deal” at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the tournament will support programming in our new JCC South location.

The JCC has been running this fun fundraiser for the last eight years and it has developed quite a following among both casual and more serious poker players. Several years ago when Ozzie Malek, one of the tournaments avid supporters, passed away, the tournament was renamed in honor of his memory. “My dad loved the JCC and loved to play poker. Enough said!” emphatically states Charles Malek, Ozzie’s son and event co-chair.

“This tournament is always a lot of fun”, states Michael Rudnick, JCC Associate Executive Director. “But this year, we upped the ante and have some really incredible prizes, ready to be claimed.” The grand prize is a trip for two to Las Vegas with entry in a Las Vegas tournament. Other large prizes include a; golf trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, three-night package to Copper Mountain with lift tickets, weekend trip to Blackhawk with tournament entry, dinner and hotel packages, concert tickets, Nuggets and Broncos tickets, and more. In addition, your donation is eligible for the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit.

You don’t have to be winner to win! Raffle prizes will be drawn randomly every 20 minutes and re-buys are available for the first hour.

“Unlike some tournaments that last up to seven hours, our tournament lasts about three hours,” states Dave Eisner, event co-chair. “The more compressed time frame favors the more average players, so you don’t have to be a ‘pro’ to compete successfully. And it’s a truly good time with old and new friends.”

If you have any questions, contact Michael Rudnick at mrudnick@jccdenver.org.

Register Now!

A Workout for The Soul

By Leah Klass, JCC Sports & Fitness Member

Last Monday morning I dropped my daughter off at her classroom and walked through the Jewish Community Center to the locker rooms. The pool was recently converted to salt water and I’d been trying to make time for a swim for a while.

“It’s a good skill to have, besides, she may need it if she’s ever in shark-infested waters,” I retorted. “I was once for 5 hours!” responded the man.

The locker rooms at the JCC are larger and more well-equipped than most I’ve seen. When you walk in there is a comfortable sitting area with a coffee pot, a television and some sofas.  Hanging out with friends is encouraged by this set up.

Further on there are long wooden benches where you can sit and tie your shoes or place your gym bag after a workout. The showers always have hot water, and I’ve found that the shampoo and conditioner provided make my hair look nicer than what I’ve got at home!

Once in the locker room I usually choose a place to stash my belongings and then change into my suit, making sure to shower before I head to the pool. Last week I really needed a work out. We had been finalizing our plans for Passover and cleaning the house and feeling a bit stressed out about it all.

There was a rather large group of women in the pool taking one of the two morning aqua fitness classes. They were having fun and chatting as they kicked and bounced and smiled.  I walked toward the one lap lane that is cordoned off at that time and set my towel down on a chair. There was an older gentleman moving toward the lane as well and a woman at the far end treading water.

“ I am going to walk, you are going to swim and she is also in here! How are we all going to share one lane? “ he asked me.

“Carefully!” I replied with a grin.

“She’ll be out soon,” he said, referring to the treading lady.

“It’s a good skill to have, besides, she may need it if she’s ever in shark-infested waters.” I retorted.

“I was once for 5 hours!” responded the man.

As he and his colleagues prepared to disembark, 30 Japanese Kamikaze planes were spotted above their ship and as the General said, “You know what those are. They are in it ‘til the end.”

And that was how it started.  I moved my goggles to the top of my swim cap and asked the man if I could walk beside him, instead of swimming around him.  For the next half hour we walked up and down the lap lane and talked about our life adventures. The “General” as he likes to be called, told me the tale of his Air Force unit that had arrived in the Phillipines during WWII.

The first nine pilots had disembarked and gone on to their missions safely.

He was not so lucky.

As he and his colleagues prepared to disembark, 30 Japanese Kamikaze planes were spotted above their ship and as the General said, “You know what those are. They are in it ‘til the end.”

He was lucky enough to survive the raid and landed in the water where he had to practice that treading that we’d seen at the end of the lap lane. Apparently, the water was nice and warm, about 85 degrees. He didn’t mention any sharks.

At the time, the General was a young pilot. He and the others who survived the air raid were picked up by a U.S. destroyer later that same day. He went on to become one of the first Jewish generals in the U.S. Air Force. His service took him to remote and exotic locations where he lived many an adventure: New Guinea, Australia, Japan and Europe. When he was in New Guinea, there were still headhunters on the islands!

I might not have gotten the physical workout that I’d come for, but I certainly had a workout for my soul.  

At 91 years of age, I was sure that he has many more wonderful tales to tell.  So at the end of our walk in the pool, I asked the General if he has written down his life story.

“I’ve done some writing,” he told me, “but my story isn’t exciting enough for any one to want to write about it. I wasn’t captured or made a POW or anything like that.”

“Well I sure am glad that you weren’t a POW!” I exclaimed. “And I think that your story is incredible just the way you told it.”

Our 30 minutes of walking was up and I reflected on the fact that I hadn’t done the many laps of free style that I had originally planned. I might not have gotten the physical workout that I’d come for, but I certainly had a workout for my soul.

The General had given me the gift of something new while reminding me of something old. It was not so long ago that my own Saba used to tell tales of his days in the military.  Thanks to a simple interaction, I’d had a lovely exchange with a new friend made all the more exciting by his incredible stories.

Each time I exercise at the JCC I am reminded that it is our relationships that make this a special place, a true Community Center.

“You should try this!” I wanted to shout to all the people I passed as I walked toward the exit of the JCC. “Try talking to someone here who you don’t know yet! You will find something wonderful and unexpected!”

Each time I exercise at the JCC I am reminded that it is our relationships that make this a special place, a true Community Center. I am grateful that my family has the opportunity to interact with so many different people, and I am positive that every time we visit, we leave healthier and happier.

During the endless dialogue about how to launch this new school-wide initiative in a meaningful way, thanks to Stuart Raynor, JCC Chief Executive Officer, the project became known as “Tzedakah Outside the Box”. We challenged ourselves to think about the mitzvah of tzedakah, outside of the literal box of dropping a coin in a pushke each Friday. Our hope was to create a common language and to promote dialogue among teachers and parents that nurtures children’s kindness and compassion.

We found the book Calm and Compassionate Children by Susan Dermond (2007) and read it as a foundational support to explore our interests and to engage with the children in unique and meaningful ways. Calm and Compassionate Children builds on inherent qualities like openheartedness and trust, so that parents and teachers can help children develop empathy and integrity. Dermond shows us that as children grow and mature, children who’ve developed such qualities are better equipped to meet challenges with a positive attitude, and they ultimately have the inner strength and determination to thrive in later life. Susan’s columns on conscious child-rearing have appeared in Tikkun Magazine. Editor of Tikkun, Michael Lerner provides testimony for Susan’s work. He writes, “ A powerful and important guide that proves kindness and gentleness can be taught and shows how this path deepens our own spiritual development. A must read for every parent and every teacher!”

Each chapter, filled with both inspiration and practical steps, guided us through the spring and summer of last school year as the teachers taught and learned along side the children. One chapter in particular, “Nature Awakens Feelings” framed our work to begin school gardening.

When children have the chance to be aware in nature, they always feel that kinship, and feeling kinship with any form of life increases one’s compassion. You never know what experience in nature will touch a child’s heart.
                                    Susan Dermond, Chapter 2, Nature Awakens Feelings, Calm and Compassionate Children

Our dedication to what we call seamless Judaism supported us as we embraced this opportunity to weave Judaic values, customs, culture and text throughout the project.

Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually.  To be spiritual is to be amazed.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
(mid 20th century)

Summer was filled with children’s experiences in four new planter boxes constructed by teachers and parents, in the revitalized raised beds, in the overall area that we named the “sacred garden”. The community deepened its dedication to children’s learning in the natural world, gained momentum through the joy of growing native plants, as we embraced the concepts and practices in Susan’s Dermond’s chapter and made connections to bigger ideas and Judaic values.

The DJFF is very grateful for the continued support of title sponsor, Wagner Wealth Management as well as the SCFD, Udi’s Handcrafted Foods, Rose Youth Foundation, and the bevy of other sponsors for making the DJFF possible.

Due to the continued construction on our Elaine Wolf Theatre, the DJFF partnered with The Denver Film Society (DFS) who welcomed them into the DFS venue, the Denver Film Center/Colfax (DFCC).  Despite the last minute displacement, the festival’s passionate patrons found their way to the new venue, where they discovered many amenities to enjoy.

Film goers at the DJFF selected Audience Choice Awards for Best Narrative and Best Documentary by rating films and turning in ballots each night.  The winner of the Best Narrative Film was the Russian historical drama, I Shall Remember.  Based upon the true story of two teenage boys whose lives become unexpectedly and sometimes uncomfortably entwined when the Nazis invade their small seaside village in 1942, this sensitive film was previously selected as Best Narrative Feature at the Fargo Film Festival.

Nicky’s Family was selected as the Best Documentary Film and introduces us to Sir Nicholas Winton, described by many as England’s Schindler.  Winton was responsible for organizing the rescue of 669 Czech and Slovak children just before the outbreak of World War II.  He did not speak of these events to anyone until his wife discovered a suitcase full of details documents in their attic 50 years later.  His actions have inspired not only those that he saved, but thousands of others to invest themselves in positive actions around the world.  This moving documentary has been collecting awards nearly everywhere it has screened including Best Documentary at the Montreal World Film Festival, Audience Award Winner at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

MACC and the Denver Jewish Film Festival selection committee look forward to next year, when an entirely fresh selection of films will screen and DJFF’s faithful patrons will return to MACC’s home location, the brand new and absolutely stunning venue, The Elaine Wolf Theatre.  Sharon Haber, chair of the festival, said “We are so proud of the fact that each year we are exposing a growingly diverse audience to the richness of contemporary Jewish film.  This festival has become the signature event for the MACC and an important event on the community calendar.”

For more information on the Denver Jewish Film Festival and MACC programs, please visit www.maccjcc.org.