Blog

During a non-pandemic year, December 25 evokes holiday thoughts of delicious celebrations, presents, and family. For many Jews, the joke is that we go to the movies and eat Chinese food. Not at the Merage JCC. Seven years ago, JCC Cares, a social action committee at the Merage JCC in Irvine, launched a December 25 Day of Service with a variety of volunteer projects for families and individuals. In our first year, 150 volunteers participated, cooking holiday brunches for shelters, delivering ...

During the past year, the Merage JCC participated in a JCCA benchmarking study measuring excellence amongst JCCs across the nation. The study focused on financial results, member satisfaction, and governance. Comparing results to previous years’ surveys and peers, the Merage JCC shined! 86% More than 86% of Merage JCC member respondents agreed that our JCC makes an impact in the overall community. 75% Merage JCC maintained a whopping 75% retention rate (pre-COVID). ...

When the Sherman Family moved from their native town of Chicago to Orange County in 2004, they arrived just in time to become inaugural members of the JCC. They felt at home at the JCC, active in every corner and department area. As a family, the activity they enjoyed the most was spinning, so it was not a surprise that they chose to honor the JCC by naming the Sherman Family Spin Room. “We wanted to express our love and support for the J,” explained Julie Sherman. “There ...

For 28 successful years, the OC Jewish Arts Festival at the Merage Jewish Community Center (Merage JCC) has provided our community with a cultural extravaganza, featuring lauded lineups of authors, musicians, filmmakers, celebrities and influencers. Through the years, we have played host to superstar Matisyahu, famous DC satirists Capitol Steps, Tovah Feldshuh, Dennis Ross, Alan Dershowitz, George Mitchell, Rita Rudner and Ed Asner – just to name a few! From history to mystery, fact to ...

Merage JCC’s new Board Chair Entrepreneur and avid golfer, Hal Altman, began his tenure as the Merage JCC’s new Board Chair, in August at the J’s Annual Meeting. Following founding Chair, Irv Chase, Hal has big shoes to fill. With a keen eye for growing businesses, affinity for developing collaborations, and strong connections to community, Hal is posed to develop a legacy around community and Jewish continuity. Joining the board in ...

Irv Chase Retires as Board Chair “Acharai,” the Hebrew word for “after me,” is a popular concept suggesting that one leads and motivates others by jumping in. No word is more apropos of Irv Chase’s leadership. He is the first to jump in, advocate, recruit, and inspire. Prior to 2004, the Jewish community in Orange County was small and spread out, with few connections. Irv’s wisdom of local Jewish life and experiences with his family at the JCC Maccabi ...

What are the experts saying about families teaching from home? In the New York Times, Jennie Wiener, Professor of Educational Leadership, shares, “This is going to be messy and that is o.k.” Dennis Shirley, a professor at Boston College, shares tips on teaching at home, “Involve your children in drawing up colorful schedules that are posted prominently in the home. Set the schedule and stick to it. Avoid negotiating about what comes next.” Fenya Galev and Chelsea ...

Working with young children has special advantages during this challenging time. Despite limitations that COVID has imposed on most schools, and the challenges it has created for me as a preschool director, the kids still manage to make me laugh with their constant (funny) questions and carefree attitudes. Their smiles remind me of the good in the world. The difficulties of our current reality can’t be diminished by easy platitudes, but our little ones remind me that there are silver ...

Dear Friends: Today marks eight months since I stepped into the role as the Executive Director. Nothing could have prepared me for these past few months, but I continue to be grateful to have the support and dedication of our fantastic Board. Today is also the 70th day since we closed, and while my son, Noah, can’t yet count to 70, I am grateful today for children. My child, your children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces, and all of our children in our camp, preschool, aquatics, and ...

As our community wrestles with the many challenges that come with COVID-19, our Executive Director, Scott Braswell, reminds us that gratefulness is a part of resiliency and that we will get through this together. Friends, Below you will find my weekly Shabbat gratitude remarks that I shared with the staff on our weekly All-Staff Shabbat call. We had a beautiful Shabbat call today with over 83 people, highlighted by Joel and Chelsea Block (plus their beautiful children, minus ...