News

Spring is a season for growth, and this April, the EXCHANGE lifelong learning program is offering a vibrant lineup of classes designed to spark curiosity and foster community. Hosted at the Boulder JCC, these programs are open to everyone—no membership or religious affiliation is required.

While these sessions are tailored for adults aged 55+, all lifelong learners are welcome to join us for a season of exploration.

Spring EXCHANGE Open House

Before the classes begin, join us for a morning of socializing and discovery. This is your chance to meet the people behind the podium and get a "sneak peek" at the upcoming curriculum. Meet the instructors, hear brief overviews of each course, and enjoy bagels and fruit while connecting with fellow learners.

Monday, March 23 | 10 – 11:30 am | FREE

In a world of "good, thanks" and endless scrolling, how often do we actually sit down and talk? Not just about the weather or our job titles, but about the things that actually make us think deeper?

This Friday, March 13, from 6 - 9 pm, the Boulder JCC is inviting the 20s and 30s community to trade the "surface level" for something a bit more substantial. Shabbat Beyond the Small Talk is more than just a dinner; it’s a curated experience designed to bypass the social scripts and dive straight into genuine human connection.

The evening balances the ancient warmth of Shabbat traditions with modern, intentional dialogue. We’ll set the tone by welcoming Shabbat together with the traditional lighting of candles, sharing wine, and breaking challah. A delicious, catered three-course dinner from Flower Child provides the backdrop for the evening. Forget the pressure of wondering what to say next. Throughout the meal, you'll be guided by thoughtful prompts specifically designed to spark curiosity and foster presence. 

Whether you are a Boulder native or new to the area, finding "your people" can feel like a chore. This event removes the awkwardness of typical networking or social mixers. It’s a space built for curiosity and presence, allowing you to leave the evening feeling more connected to your community than when you arrived. There’s a unique kind of magic that happens when you combine a shared meal with the intention to really see and hear the person sitting across from you.

Is your little one ready to burn off some energy, make new friends, and learn to play soccer? We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Boulder Maccabees Youth Soccer League, a program designed specifically for 4 and 5-year-olds.

Our league provides a fun, supportive, and developmentally appropriate environment where children can discover the fundamentals of soccer while building essential life skills.

To help our young athletes progress, each week features a specific "Skill of the Day" that we’ll practice before the big game: dribbling with control, stopping the ball, passing to a partner, shooting on goal, basic defensive positioning, and understanding boundaries and teamwork.

We know life is busy! This league is part of our extended after-school care. Our staff will pick up students directly from their classrooms and transport them to the soccer field, making the transition seamless for parents.

If you’ve ever found yourself curious about the "why" behind Jewish traditions or if you’re looking for a modern way to engage with ancient ethics, the Boulder JCC is opening its doors for a transformative series.

Starting Wednesday, April 8, and running through May 13, the Boulder JCC will host a six-week exploration into the heart of Jewish culture, history, and practice. Unlike a standard lecture, this course is designed as a community-centered experience, using original source texts to spark conversation and connection.

The program will be guided by Amy Kopkin Atkins, a powerhouse in the Boulder education scene. With two decades of experience spanning Jewish summer camps, secular boarding schools, and even Buddhist-inspired universities, Amy specializes in creating "safe and brave spaces" for exploration.

As the founder of Loomeries and Program Director for Youth Celebrate Diversity, Amy brings a unique lens of equity, inclusion, and experiential learning to the classroom. Under her guidance, students aren't just memorizing facts; they are "weaving" (as her organization’s name suggests) their own identities into the broader Jewish story.

One of the most welcoming aspects of this series is its accessibility. No prior knowledge or Hebrew skills are required. All source materials are provided in translation, and there is no textbook to buy. The only prerequisite is an open mind and a desire to engage with your neighbors.

The Boulder JCC is blooming with new opportunities for families. This spring launches a diverse lineup of Early Learning and Parenting classes designed to help little ones reach milestones and parents build lasting community connections.

Registration for these programs is officially open! Whether you are navigating the first months of parenthood or looking for a high-energy outlet for your active toddler, here is a guide to what’s coming this season!

Choosing the right environment for your child’s early education is about more than just finding a classroom—it’s about finding a community where they can flourish. At the Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center and Preschool (ECC) at the Boulder JCC, our preschool programs are designed to nurture curiosity, foster independence, and build a lifelong love of learning.

Whether your child is ready to spread their wings in our Butterflies class or is preparing for the transition to elementary school in our Pre-K or Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs, we offer a play-based, child-led journey rooted in excellence.

Get ready to shake your groggers and put on your finest costumes! Purim is nearly here, the joyous holiday where we celebrate the bravery of Queen Esther and the victory of the Jewish people over Haman’s plots in ancient Persia.

This year, the Boulder JCC is offering multiple ways to celebrate, including a cozy family Shabbat, a high-energy family program, and a social event for young adults. Whether you're here for the hamantaschen, the music, or the chance to give back, there’s a place for you at our table.

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.

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.