News

The Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center is pleased to announce the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program for the 2026-2027 school year! This innovative program is designed to provide the perfect bridge between preschool and Kindergarten, ensuring your child enters their elementary years with confidence, competence, and a strong foundation for success.

The ECC's Transitional Kindergarten is an extension of Pre-K, specifically tailored to help students master the skills needed for Kindergarten readiness. It offers an engaging, enriching, and developmentally appropriate alternative for children who could benefit from an extra year of growth before starting a traditional Kindergarten class.

Key Benefits of the Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center TK Program:

• Optimal Timing: TK is particularly beneficial for children with late birthdays and who are turning five by October 1. Instead of repeating what they have already accomplished in Pre-K, they gain a year of focused development.
• Social & Emotional Focus: We place significant emphasis on social-emotional development and mastering complex social situations, which are crucial for success in the school environment.
• Building Independence: The program is designed to build independence and provide significant practice with following multi-step directions in a supportive setting.

Get ready to celebrate the Festival of Lights with a dazzling array of events at the Boulder JCC and around the community! From family concerts and vendor markets to a night of gut-busting comedy and the county’s largest menorah lighting, there is something for everyone to enjoy this Chanukah season.

Jeff & Paige Chanukah Concert
Sunday, December 14 | 10 am – 12 pm | $18 per person / $20 at the door. Children 2 and under are FREE.

Bring the whole family for a cherished annual event! Join Jeff & Paige in Levin Hall for a magical, wintertime concert blending their original nature and science-based music with beloved and original Chanukah songs. Expect playful skits, vibrant costumes (including the famous Latke Man!), and catchy melodies that explore nature, its connections to Judaism, and the traditions of Chanukah.

This family-friendly program is especially delightful for children ages 3–8. The first 50 families to arrive will receive a free gift from the Boulder JCC!

Please arrive early to enjoy our exciting vendor fair before and during the concert!

• Food & Drink:
  • Cafe at the J: Open with Chanukah cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, and a specialty Chanukah beverage.
  • Community Table Kitchen: Selling latkes, breakfast potatoes, and pastries.
  • Chanukah Cookie Kits by Katie Roberts (Pre-order by December 1!).
• Activities & Shopping:
  • PJ Library: Book Swap (Drop off donation books the week of December 1).
  • Where the Wild Things Art: Face painting.
  • Jeff and Paige: Merchandise.
  • Green Judaica: Handmade ceramic Judaica.
  • The New Local: Kids’ art activity and Craft classes info.
• Authors & Community:
  • Local Authors: Randi Nahmias (Mystery of the Missing Menorah) and Michael Rosenzweig (David the Dreidel).
  • Boulder JCC: Learn about upcoming programs.
  • Photography by Bridget Dorr Photography.

The Boulder JCC is ringing in the holiday season with laughs and latkes. On Dec. 14, it will host its first-ever Haha-Hanukkah: A Festival of Laughs, a stand-up comedy night that swaps traditional candlelight for a lineup of nationally touring comics, wine, jelly doughnuts and jokes about Jewish mothers, menorahs and the awkward beauty of December in

The aroma of yeast and sugar filled the air at the Boulder JCC on Thursday, November 6, as hundreds gathered for the 10th Annual Great Big Challah Bake. The incredible demand for this milestone event was apparent even before the doors opened, with registration hitting capacity well in advance.

More than just a baking event, the evening served as a powerful reminder of community strength, tradition, and shared joy, particularly after Executive Director Jonathan Lev acknowledged that it has been a “challenging year for the community, for the world, and for the JCC.” Addressing the eager crowd, Lev emphasized that what makes this event GREAT is not the challah, but the people, the community coming together.

The sentiment of resilience was palpable. Lev noted how the community appreciates everyone “standing with us, coming together in times of sorrow and also of joy.” The Challah Bake, hosted by the Women of the J, offered a meaningful space for connection and the comfort of tradition, a central element of Jewish Sabbath and holiday celebrations.

Attendees were ready to experience the joy of creating challah by learning to prepare and braid the traditional dough from scratch, then taking it home to bake for Shabbat. Later, while the dough was rising, participants paused for a dessert break, further cementing the communal and celebratory atmosphere.

In the aftermath of tragedy, competition for limited resources often intensifies, creating tension between organizations in need. Following the devastating antisemitic attack in Boulder on June 1, 2025, local Jewish organizations faced the familiar challenge of securing adequate crisis funding. The attack had shaken the community to its core, leaving physical damage, emotional trauma and urgent financial needs in its wake. 

This past year, two Boulder JCC Farmers had the opportunity to deepen their personal and professional growth through immersive experiences rooted in Jewish learning, environmental stewardship, and community building—both hosted by Adamah, a national Jewish environmental organization. With fresh inspiration and ideas to cultivate within our own community, these experiences reflect the Boulder JCC’s commitment to investing in staff as not only farmers, but also as educators, leaders, and changemakers.

We take pride in more than just our space — we’re passionate about service. From initial planning through on-site management and logistics, every element is thoughtfully curated to ensure the best possible experience. Hosting your event at the Boulder JCC also means supporting a larger mission: fostering programs and services that connect people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs to learn, grow, and celebrate together. 

Ready to plan your next event? Let’s make it happen — stress-free and spectacular. Contact our Rentals Team at rentals@boulderjcc.org to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life.

Bring the whole family—grandparents, toddlers, and everyone in between—for a joyful celebration of Sukkot at Milk and Honey Farm! On Sunday, October 12, from 10 am 12 pm, families are invited to connect with the rhythms of the Jewish agricultural calendar in a fun, hands-on way that brings the holiday to life.

If you're navigating the challenges of infertility, you don't have to face them alone. A free monthly support group offers a safe, welcoming space for women in Boulder and surrounding communities experiencing primary or secondary infertility.

Infertility affects more people than many realize. According to the CDC, 12.5% of women in the United States use infertility services. Whether you're just beginning your journey or have been on this path for some time, connecting with others who understand can make a meaningful difference.

At the Boulder Jewish Film Festival, the projector will roll, the popcorn will pop and the post-screening Q&As will veer into debates about character arcs and camera work.

But outside of the Dairy Arts Center, the world isn’t exactly a cushy arts hub with world-class popcorn on tap. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive following the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, according to reports from the Gaza Health Ministry on Oct. 1.

Closer to home, Jewish communities also still face violence, including the horrific anti-semitic terror attack in Boulder at a protest in June on the Pearl Street Mall that left one woman, who was burned in the attack, dead less than a month later.

The 2025 Boulder Jewish Film Festival (BJFF) arrives in the midst of this chaos, where memory and identity keep elbowing their way into the headlines. But inside the Dairy Arts Center, festival director Kathryn Bernheimer is determined to remind audiences that the lineup isn’t only about grief. Thrillers, comedies, even a Western or two are sprinkled in, which is proof that the Jewish Film Festival in Boulder can still make room for laughs and a little lightness, even when the outside world feels like anything but.