Letter From Our CEO

Katz JCC Family and Friends:

This is a moment in history that will be recorded as perhaps the greatest challenge faced in the 21st century. We will, as a country, be judged by how we came together as a community locally, nationally and internationally to help one another through this challenging time.

I’d like to share with you an inspiring excerpt from an article in “Grown and Flown” that I receieved from a colleague in Dallas, TX. It is a wonderful perspective for us to internalize and share with our family and friends.

“When the Apollo 13 oxygen tank failed and the lunar module was in danger of not returning to earth, Gene Kranz, the lead flight director overheard people saying that this could be the worst disaster NASA had ever experienced-to which he is rumored to have responded, “With all due respect, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.” Imagine if we could make our response to this crisis our finest hour. Imagine if a year or two from now we looked back on this and told the stories of how we came together as a team in our community, in our state, in our nation and across the world. Your contribution to the finest hour may seem small, invisible, inconsequential-but every small act of ‘not doing’ what you were going to do, and ‘doing’ an act of kindness or support will add up exponentially. These acts can and will save lives. The Apollo 13 crew made it their finest hour by letting go of the word “I” and embracing the word “we.” And that’s the task required of us. It can only be our finest hour if we work together. You are all on the team. And we need all of you to shine in whatever way you can.”

In a moment of crisis, we really determine who people are.  We are stronger together.  While there is so much uncertainty, we will get through this together.  This is an opportunity to spend time with your family, give your children some extra attention and spend quality time with your significant other.  Reach out to people who are alone, give them a call, and offer to shop for them (dropping the groceries at the front porch) and more.

Many of our JCC members depend on us every day for so many things ranging from preschool to senior activities.  Our senior lunch program which serves 800 meals a week throughout the county is delivering meals to people’s homes.  If you know a senior who is housebound, please email us and we will try to have a meal delivered to them.  We will be organizing virtual classes so we can keep in touch online for fitness and early childhood.

My friends, we will get through this. Let us make this our community’s “FINEST HOUR.”  Let us not take our life benefits for granted; this is an opportunity to be grateful for what we have. 

We look forward to seeing you soon at the JCC!

Jack I. Fox
Chief Executive Officer