News

In a world that often moves too fast, there is something profoundly grounding about slowing down to do something kind for someone else. On Monday, February 9, our community has a special opportunity to do exactly that.

Mitzvah Night, hosted by Women of the J, is more than just a gathering; it’s an evening dedicated to the Jewish concept of a Mitzvah (a good deed) that strengthens the world. This year, the heart of our efforts belongs to the Be Like Ellie Foundation, an organization born from a legacy of pure, unsolicited kindness.

To understand the mission of the night, one must grasp Ellie's spirit. At just six years old, Ellie was known by everyone who met her as a "protector." She didn’t just live in the world; she cared for it, looking out for people and animals alike with a heart far larger than her years.

After Ellie tragically passed away in an accident while playing in her backyard, her family chose to channel their grief into a movement. The Be Like Ellie Foundation was established to ensure her gift of thoughtfulness didn't end. By inspiring others to perform simple, everyday acts of kindness, the foundation proves that even the smallest gesture can have a ripple effect across a community.

For many in the Jewish community, anxiety has long been framed as a "family trait" or even a secret engine for success. We’ve been told that being "on edge" is a virtue that keeps us safe and motivated. But on Wednesday, February 11, the Boulder JCC invites the community to challenge that narrative.

Presented by the Men of the J, the program features Rabbi Caryn Aviv, Ph.D., as she discusses her groundbreaking new book, Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering.

Rabbi Aviv, the Rabbinic & Program Director for Judaism Your Way, brings a unique perspective to this topic. With a PhD in sociology and a career spanning the University of Colorado and the University of Denver, she combines academic rigor with in-depth exploration of spirituality.

Her core message is clear: Jewish anxiety is not just a trope, it is a real, inherited, and learned response to a world that has often felt unsafe. These patterns of fear, unworthiness, and shame are not personality traits; they are painful habits internalized from historical trauma and the repetitive, hateful messages of the wider world.

 Music often feels like magic, a fleeting sequence of sounds that can move us to tears or make our hearts race. But behind that magic lies a sophisticated architecture. This spring, the Boulder Philharmonic invites you to pull back the curtain on the creative process with a special Exchange program: "Orchestral Building Blocks: Core Elements of Musical Composition."

Led by the acclaimed Dr. Fernanda Nieto, this course is designed for anyone who has ever sat in a concert hall and wondered, "How did the composer do that?"

The Anatomy of an Emotion

At its core, composition is about more than just "writing a tune." It is a delicate balance of three primary pillars:

• Melody and Rhythm: The "storytellers" of music that create hooks we remember long after the concert ends.
• Harmony and Harmonic Structure: The "vertical dimension" that provides depth. Harmony acts as the emotional color palette, providing the tension and resolution that make a melody feel triumphant, tragic, or mysterious.
• Form and Organization: The blueprint. From the symmetry of Sonata form to the adventurous nature of through-composed works, we will explore how composers organize time itself to create a narrative arc.

As winter continues, the Jewish calendar turns its eyes toward the first signs of spring with Tu B’Shevat. Known as the "New Year for Trees," this holiday celebrates nature, sustainability, and our connection to the earth. The Boulder JCC is hosting a diverse lineup of events this February for every generation—from the youngest saplings to our community elders.

Family Farm Holiday: A Morning of Nature and Play

Sunday, February 1 | 10:30 am - 12:30 pm | $15/child, $7.50/adult

Bring the whole family to celebrate Tu B’Shevat through a unique blend of song, learning, and community. Designed for children ages 0-10 and their siblings, this program is the perfect way to get your hands dirty and celebrate the Earth.

Co-sponsored by IAC, Repair the World Colorado, and PJ Library.

JParent: Tu B'Shevat Community Coffee

Monday, February 2 | 8:45 - 9:45 am

Looking for a low-key way to connect? Join the Milk and Honey Farm team for an informal morning coffee. Learn about the JCC’s sustainability initiatives and the deeper meanings behind the holiday in a warm, friendly environment.

As we look forward to 2026, the Boulder JCC is thrilled to announce a diverse lineup of After School and School Day Out winter programs designed to keep children of all ages engaged, active, and inspired. Whether your child is a budding artist, an aspiring athlete, or a young performer, there is something for everyone in our upcoming season.

As the world marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Boulder JCC is presenting a two-part cinematic series at the Dairy Arts Center designed to bridge the gap between historical record and the lived human experience. By spotlighting "forgotten" narratives and contemporary acts of remembrance, these screenings aim to combat the "numbing" effect of historical statistics and the growing threat of historical revisionism.

On Monday, February 2, the Boulder JCC will host a screening and talk-back of the acclaimed documentary 999: The Forgotten Girls. The film brings to light a chapter of the Shoah that remained largely undocumented for decades: the story of the 999 young Slovak women—mostly teenagers—who were deceived into boarding the first official Jewish transport to Auschwitz.

The film details a harrowing betrayal. In 1942, these young women were told by their own government that they were being sent to a government-sanctioned "work service." Instead, they were sent on a one-way ticket to a death camp. Of the nearly one thousand girls who boarded those trains, the film chronicles the three-year struggle for survival of the few who lived to see liberation.

Following the screening, director and author Heather Dune Macadam will lead a discussion on the meticulous research required to bring these voices back from the brink of being forgotten. Macadam, who authored the international best-selling book of the same name, spent years interviewing the last living survivors to ensure their testimony was preserved.

As the frost settles over the Front Range, the Boulder JCC is inviting its youngest community members and their caregivers to find warmth, connection, and a touch of nature at the Milk and Honey Farm. This January, the farm will host two distinct "Farmside Shabbat" events, blending Jewish tradition with hands-on agricultural exploration.

The programs take place at the campus's 2+ acre educational sustainable Milk and Honey Farm. Known for its geodesic dome greenhouse, friendly goats, and commitment to donating thousands of pounds of produce to local food banks, the Farm serves as a living classroom where Jewish values meet environmental stewardship.

For families in Boulder, summer isn't just a season—it’s an opportunity for growth, connection, and exploration. At the heart of this experience is Boulder JCC’s Cherryvale Camps. Designed for children ages 4 to 13 (campers must turn 5 by October 15, 2026, and enter kindergarten in the fall - no exceptions), Cherryvale offers more than just a place to spend the day; it provides a vibrant community where kids can be their most authentic selves while building skills that last a lifetime.

As we look forward to 2026, the Boulder JCC is thrilled to announce a diverse lineup of After School and School Day Out winter programs designed to keep children of all ages engaged, active, and inspired. Whether your child is a budding artist, an aspiring athlete, or a young performer, there is something for everyone in our upcoming season.

The Boulder Jewish Community Center (JCC) is hosting a Vitalant Blood Mobile Drive on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, offering a meaningful opportunity for community members to save lives by donating blood locally. Do a mitzvah and join us to donate blood.