With leadership, planning, hard work and fundraising, the dream of building a Jewish Community Center of Central Florida (JCC) in Maitland takes shape, 1973.
In 1973, with more than 1,300 local Jewish families, the Jewish Community Council embarked on establishing a physical location for the JCC. Abe Wise, who became the first JCC president, chaired the fundraising effort. Jerry Bornstein, Council president, wrote in his appeal “[We] look forward to this opportunity to create a facility which will serve our entire Jewish community, our children and grandchildren.” On July 9 of that year, the JCC opened in a small house on a former orange grove with a summer camp, led by 28-year-old Brooklyn native, Marvin Friedman. There was no swimming pool, so campers were carpooled to swim in Casselberry. By fall, the JCC launched a small early childhood program. The JCC building expanded steadily over the years. In 1975, an office area and multipurpose room were added, and in 1976, a program building. Israeli-Canadian transplant Eli Bercovici was hired in 1982 to continue building the JCC’s sports and fitness programs. The JCC quickly became the hub of Jewish life in Central Florida, expanding to the 64,000-square-foot facility on the same site today. A generous gift from Susan and Jerry Roth resulted in a name change to Roth Family JCC of Greater Orlando in 2008.
Daniel Wise
The JCC opens its doors, 1973.
Note the small house in left background.
Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, LHD, Founding Executive Director
JCC Summer Camp, 1975
While the JCC raised over $1,000,000 to fund the opening of its pool in 1973, community leaders diverted the money in October of that year to support Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The pool opened in 1974. Today, summer campers and year-round swimmers continue using the same Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool. Pride in being Jewish is at the heart of the summer camp program, where Hebrew is taught, Shabbat is celebrated, campers earn virtue bracelets to reinforce Jewish values and Israeli emissaries interact with campers. The JCC has been a second home for middle and high schoolers through special events, like dances and community service days; by serving as a home for BBYO, the international Jewish youth leadership program; and by employing high schoolers as counselors in the after school, summer camp and aquatics programs. On the first day of camp in 1973, there were about 30 campers. Today, the enrollment averages 600. The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater
Orlando Archives
Middle schoolers earn spirit stick at Camp J’s Tayarim,2015.
This is earned on the last day of camp for demonstrating positivity and passion.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
Teens show pride for the JCC at camp, 2013.
L-R: Matthew Solomon, Allie Crasnow and Arden Wallman spell out “JCC” while participating in Camp J at the JCC’s Andrew Hansen Mandell JCC Summer Camps.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center annual Bubbe (grandmother) and Zayde (grandfather) Shabbat program, 2007.
Bonnie Friedman began the preschool in 1973 with eight children and tuition of $36 per month. Recognized for its high educational standards, it has grown into a soughtafter preschool for families of all religious backgrounds. The program regularly invites parents, grandparents and other family members to celebrate Jewish life with the children through weekly and annual observances. Jacob and Harriet Polejes (left) and Dottie and Dick Appelbaum share Shabbat with their granddaughter Brea Polejes.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
The teaching of Jewish culture, values and history is emphasized for preschoolers, 2013.
Teacher Judith Arieli shares a one-on-one educational moment with Daniel Isaak during Chanukah.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
The Center Players stage The Diary of Anne Frank, 1994.
Andra London (right) stars as Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank, alongside her costars Loraine O’Connell (Edith Frank) and Mark Cooper (Otto Frank). For more than three decades, the JCC’s Center Players has staged productions in its Harriett & Hymen Lake Cultural Center Auditorium. Professional quality theater continues at the JCC today under the new name “Theater at the J.”
Bonnie Sprung
JCC Youth Theater stages Alice in Wonderland, 2015.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
The JCC’s Women’s Tennis Team has competed for three decades, 1982.
The tennis courts were built in 1974. By the time Eli Bercovici (left) retired in 2013, his programs had impacted thousands, through basketball, tennis, soccer, fitness and aquatics programs.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
Runners Beat the Heat in Annual 5K Road Race, 2005.
The race raised $8,500 that year toward the JCC’s children’s scholarship fund, which subsidizes early childhood, after-school and summer camp programs for those who cannot afford them. The race attracts a diverse mix of JCC members and local runners, and is the JCC’s longest-continuing event, founded in 1984 by Sports Director Eli Bercovici and Chairman Dr. Eli Porth.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
Local teens represent Orlando at JCC Maccabi Games, 2013.
Jesse Render practices a layup before a game representing Team Orlando in Austin, TX, at the JCC Maccabi Games. This Olympicstyle sporting competition held each summer in North America is the second-largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world. Render is one of thousands of students who have played in the JCC’s youth basketball league.
The Roth Family Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando Archives
Claire Mercer (left) and Lillian Berkowitz installed as copresidents for the 39ers, the JCC’s social group for seniors, 2008.
In 1974, the group’s founders chose the name “39ers” because legendary comedian, Jack Benny always claimed to be 39 years old, regardless of his actual age. The 39ers continue to meet at the JCC multiple times per week.
Harriet Weiss
JCC’s longtime executive director Marvin Friedman (right) retires, 2009.
JCC board presidents Jodi Krinker and Kevin Weiss present a check in honor of Marvin Friedman in the amount of $195,332 toward JCC scholarships. Friedman served the JCC for 36 years—the last 29 years as executive director—overseeing multiple building expansions and the development of dozens of new programs.
David Basher/A Magic Moment