JCC Gets Set to Debut New Community Center

Photo: Philip Liborio Gangi

by Peter Sciacca

After a two year wait, a modern and enlarged Jewish Community Center (JCC) will open this month. The new facility,  located at 3200 California Street, replaces one that served the organization since 1932.

Its going to be more than twice as large as the old building, said JCC Communications Manager Aaron Rosenthal.

As part of the expansion the JCC bought a neighboring property before work began in 2001. The JCC has been operating out of the former nurses quarters near the Public Health  Service Hospital in the Presidio during construction.

One of the most prominent features of the new JCC is its swimming facility.

The centerpiece of the aquatics facility will be a five-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool, Rosenthal said. Its about two lanes wider than our old pool.

The swimming area will also include a shallower, smaller pool and a jacuzzi. The second pool will be used for water therapy programs and swim lessons.

The new JCC will also have a theater that can seat about 440 people and a multipurpose gym that Rosenthal said is a huge improvement over the original one.

The old gym was very limited, he said. We were only able to hold one activity at a time.

The new gym is large enough to accommodate two separate events with a partition to prevent interference from either side.

It gives our members a lot more options, Rosenthal said. Its almost three times larger than the old gym.

Aside from the new facilities and modern equipment throughout the building, the JCC will also offer some new programs for its 4,300 members. An early childhood education program, services designed for Russian immigrants, special forums with guest speakers and adult education classes will be among the new offerings.

The main focus of the Russian immigrant program will be introducing these members to American culture, Rosenthal said. This includes sharpening their English skills, teaching them how to understand guides, such as bus schedules, and where to shop for certain groceries and household supplies.

The programs will be taught by instructors fluent in Russian and English. The program will also host lectures on topics specific to the Russian community and host discussion groups on major issues faced by immigrants.

Classes for all adult members include creative writing, cooking and computer skills training. The Havorah Youth Center, an after-school program, will include photography, sports, geography and science classes for children. Guest authors, scientists and artists will host a variety of lectures for all members.

For those who want a snack before a lecture or want to chow down after a strenuous workout, the new JCC will have a restaurant that is set to open in the spring. It will feature sandwiches, hamburgers and soups.

While serving the Jewish community is the focus of the organization, Rosenthal said the JCC is open to everyone in the city.

People from all cultures and ethnic backgrounds are welcome here, he said. A major part of being a Jewish program is to offer a variety of programs and services for everyone.

The $63 million raised over a five-year span to fund the new JCC came from a combination of private donors and large organizations.