Glossary

Benchmarking

Benchmarking

The process of comparing business and performance metrics to industry standards. The JCC Association benchmarking program helps JCCs improve their services and operations proactively by identifying and tracking important, measurable indicators of organizational health.

Boker tov

Hebrew for “good morning"

Briefs

Periodic email newsletters from JCC Association to share information, resources, opportunities and news with JCC professionals.

Email discussion list

A way to communicate with your peers at other JCCs who work in the same areas. Also known as a listserv.

Field

Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps and the people who work and volunteer in these organizations.

Governance

Matters pertaining to JCC lay leadership boards of directors and other volunteers. Governance includes leadership training, roles and responsibilities, structure and effectiveness, self assessment and by-laws.

JBrand

The JCC Movement's continental branding initiative. More than 100 JCCs have adopted the JBrand and have been creative in the ways they interpret it for their communities.

JCC

JCC

Depending on the context, the abberivation JCC is used to refer to both a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish Community Camp (a camp not operated by a center but which is part of JCC Association), or only a center.

JCC Association Database

JCC Association maintains a searchable database of JCCs across the continent as well as the professionals who work there. The database is a fantastic tool for JCC staff to network, share practices and support one another - and learn about other JCCs including the composition and titles of staff; facilities, services and populations served; which JCCs are similar in size; which are integrated with their local Jewish Federation, etc. Sometimes this database is referred to as Masterfile.

JCC Association of North America

JCC Association leads and connects the JCC Movement, some 170 Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps across the United States and Canada.

JCC Maccabi Games

The largest organized in-person Jewish teen sports experience in North America that—combined with Jewish cultural, social, social action, and leadership components—promotes belonging around sport; is rooted in pluralistic Jewish values; and fosters Jewish identity, peoplehood, and connection to Israel; a signature program of JCC Association, held annually

JCCs

JCCs

Depending on the context, the abbreviation JCCs is used to refer to both Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps (camps not operated by a center but which is part of JCC Association), or only centers.

JFest

An arts festival for the JCC Movement that offers rich, high quality Jewish cultural and educational arts content to viewers through Virtual J. JCC professionals can use complementary materials and resources to offer related, in-person programming in local JCCs.

Kaddish

A Jewish prayer in Aramaic that is said several times in the course of a regular prayer service, including as a memorial prayer for the dead.

Kiddush

Literally, “sanctification;” a blessing over wine; can refer to the meal following Shabbat services when the blessing is said.

Kivunim

Kivunim

Kivunim, Hebrew for directions, is a 12-month program for first-time JCC CEOs/EDs. Kivnum helps execs help their JCCs better achieve their Jewish mission; helps them build a network of colleagues with whom they can share their professional learnings and challenges; and is an opportunity for to benefit from myriad JCC Association resources.

Masterfile

Usually referred to as the JCC Association Database, the searchable database of JCCs across the continent as well as the professionals who work there. The database is a fantastic tool for JCC staff to network, share practices and support one another - and learn about other JCCs including the composition and titles of staff, which JCCs are similar in size, which are integrated with their local Jewish Federation, etc.

Merrin

Merrin

Merrin is the Merrin Teen Professional Fellowship, a 14-month learning and professional growth opportunity for early-career JCC professionals working with teenagers.

middot

character traits inspired by Jewish values

Mitzvah

Often used to indicate a good deed. Hebrew for “commandment.”

movement

movement

The JCC Movement, or the movement, refers to the network of Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps (JCCs) in North America led by the JCC Association of North America. It's a large, inclusive platform for Jewish life, encompassing over 170 JCCs and serving over 1.5 million people weekly. The movement aims to strengthen and enrich Jewish life, create vibrant communities, and support Jewish identity.

Peer Communities

Professionals who work in a similar area of a JCC and gather to share professional practices, discuss common concerns and solutions, and support one another.

Peer Community

Professionals who work in a similar area of a JCC and gather to share professional practices, discuss common concerns and solutions, and support one another.

ProCon

JCCs of North America Professional Conference; a multi-day gathering that offers professional and personal development opportunities for JCC employees

professionals

professionals

Professionals refers to the thousands of folks who work at JCCs across North America; it's JCC staff members! The term professionals can be used to distinguish these folks from lay leaders, board members and others who have volunteer leadership roles at JCCs.

Shabbat

Weekly day of rest, which in Jewish tradition is the seventh day of the week; begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday after nightfall.

Shabbat shalom

Literally, “a peaceful Shabbat;” used as a Shabbat greeting.

Shabbat Shuvah

The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Shaliach

Literally, “emmisary;” refers to an Israeli who spends at a Diaspora agency or organization, such as a JCC, to build and strengthen connections with Israel. Shaliach is the masculine form, shlicha is the feminine.

Shavuot

Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai; also known as the Festival of Weeks.

Sheva

Literally, “seven;” Sheva Center: Innovation in Early Childhood Jewish Education and Engagement leads JCC Association’s innovative approach to early childhood education. It is so named because its framework comprises seven core principles of early care and education that are augmented by contemporary and ancient texts, as well as seven Jewish lenses that reveal universal values.

Shiva

Literally, “seven;” refers to the week of mourning following the death of a family member. Example: “He is sitting shiva and won’t be in the office.”

Shlemut

Hebrew for "Wholeness."

Shlicha

Literally, “emmisary;” refers to an Israeli who spends at a Diaspora agency or organization, such as a JCC, to build and strengthen connections with Israel. Shlicha is the feminine form, shaliach is the masculine.

Shlichut

Literally, “missions;” refers to the time an Israeli emmisary (shaliach) spends at a Diaspora agency or organization, such as a JCC, to build and strengthen connections with Israel. Typically between one and three years.

Spotlight

Spotlight

The Excellence and Innovation Spotlight is an exciting opportunity that will highlight outstanding JCC programs and initiatives...during ProCon and beyond.

Sukkot

A holiday that celebrates the fall harvest; also known as the Festival of Booths, so named because of the impermanent booths (sukkot) farmers used for shelter during the harvest. A seven- (in Israel and Reform Jewish communities) and eight-day holiday in the rest of the Diaspora

TAG

TAG: Daily Living Through a Jewish Lens™ is a resource library used in JCC camp, after-school, and teen programs to prompt conversations about Jewish meaning in today’s world.

Tisha BAv

Literally, “ninth day of [the Hebrew month of] Av;” a day of mourning and, for some, a sunset-to-sunset fast that commemorates the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem and other calamitous events in Jewish history

Torah

The Hebrew bible; the Five Books of Moses; the scroll containing the Hebrew text.

Tzedakah

From the Hebrew word for justice; often used interchangeably as charity.

Yom HaAtzmaut

Literally, “Day of independence;” Israel’s Independence Day, which falls on the day after Yom HaZikaron

Yom HaShoah

Literally, “Day of the Holocaust;” Holocaust Remembrance Day.