The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCCPGH) came to NCEJ in 2017 proposing a series of family holiday camps to reach families with children from 5-10 years old who weren’t engaged in the Jewish community. The goal was that by learning more about the meaning of the holidays, feeling welcome, and making friends, they would be more likely to embrace Jewish living. With NCEJ funding the JCCPGH was able to increase its advertising and expand its audience. The program was led by Rabbi Ron Symons, Senior Director of Jewish Life.

The Pittsburgh JCC Family Holiday Camps Experience

Program: “Hanukkah at the Carnegie Museum of Science and Snapology”

In November and December 2017, the JCCPGH prepared for Hanukkah at the Carnegie Museum of Science and at Snapology (a franchise that specializes in hands-on STEM projects using Legos and other building tools). At the Museum, families explored the meaning of light as they gazed into the Pittsburgh sky in the planetarium. At Snapology families learned how to make their own hanukiyot out of Legos and then how to light the hanukiyah.

Program: ‘Pirates, Perogies and Plagues’ – Preparing for Passover

In March 2018, families prepared for Passover through a program called ‘Pirates, Perogies and Plagues’. The JCC was the last group to rent the clubhouse of the Pittsburgh Pirates before opening day. One Shabbat morning was filled with explorations of the plagues represented in the Seder and how removing wine from our cups with each plague is equivalent to the ‘mercy rule’ in Little League baseball.

Over 200 people attended the family holiday camps and increased their connection to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh.

For more details about these programs contact Rabbi Symons, Senior Director of Jewish Life, JCC of Greater Pittsburgh, via email here, or call: 412-697-3235.

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