News

The High Holidays are a time for reflection, connection, and renewal – but they don’t have to feel heavy or intimidating. This year, we’re creating spaces where young adults can celebrate authentically while building genuine friendships with peers who share similar life stages and experiences.

Whether you’re new to town, looking to deepen your Jewish practice, or simply want to meet like-minded people in their 20s and 30s, we have two beautiful opportunities coming up that blend tradition with the casual, meaningful connections our generation craves.

Don’t wait to register – these are the kinds of experiences that remind you why community matters, especially during the High Holidays when we’re all thinking about the year ahead and the connections that ground us.

Your 20s and 30s don’t have to be a time when you drift away from Jewish life. Instead, they can be when you discover what Jewish community looks like when it’s built around your actual needs, interests, and the authentic connections you’re craving.

In a time when discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict often dissolve into heated arguments or uncomfortable silence, the Boulder Jewish Community Center will host an extraordinary conversational experience designed to change how we approach one of the world's most complex issues.

"The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation" arrives at the JCC on October 20 from 7-9 PM, offering audiences something rarely seen: a space where conflicting narratives can coexist, be heard, and be thoughtfully examined without the expectation of reaching easy consensus.

Created by Israeli-born producer Ami Dayan, who moved to Colorado 26 years ago, the production blends immersive theater with live community dialogue. The format deliberately blurs the lines between performance and reality, drawing audiences into what feels like an authentic high-stakes debate over issues that affect millions of lives.

"We certainly cannot fix anything. We can talk about it, and that's what we're trying to do," says Dayan, whose personal experience with the conflict spans decades and continents.

The Boulder JCC invites you to a special event designed to help you align your charitable aspirations with innovative financial strategies.

On Monday, October 6, from 3:15-4:30 pm, Marianne Luu-Chen, Wills, Trusts, and Estates Attorney from Hutchinson Black and Cook, LLC, and Matthew Rich, Senior Financial Advisor from UBS, will discuss best practices for balancing efficient wealth transfer to heirs with charitable goals. Designed for individuals who want to review their existing estate plans with a critical eye towards establishing their philanthropic legacy, this discussion will focus on strategies for creating a lasting impact while optimizing tax benefits for both donors and beneficiaries. 

The Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center Marks 40 Years of Community and Learning

What began as a vision shared by four dedicated women over 40 years ago has blossomed into a cornerstone of Boulder's Jewish community. On Sunday, September 14, the Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center celebrated its 40th anniversary with a heartwarming gathering that brought together 150 people representing every era of the school's remarkable history.

The celebration was a testament to the enduring impact of Jewish early childhood education in Boulder. From members of the very first class to recent graduates, attendees shared stories, toured the familiar halls, and reconnected with the community that has shaped so many young lives over four decades.

The event paid special tribute to the four founding mothers who dared to dream of a Jewish preschool in Boulder more than 40 years ago: Jen Feldman, Ardee Imerman, Judi Morosohk, and Julie Shaffer. Their vision and dedication not only brought the school to life but also made this milestone celebration possible.

The Boulder JCC, in partnership with local Jewish organizations, will host a community commemoration on Sunday, October 6, marking the second anniversary of the tragic events of October 7, 2023, in Israel.

The commemoration aims to create a sanctuary for our community to find comfort, strength, and connection in shared sorrow. The event will provide opportunities for both personal reflection and collective mourning as the community gathers to remember the lives lost on that devastating day.

On October 7, 2023, a day of unspeakable tragedy unfolded in Israel, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and our people. The commemoration will specifically focus on honoring the memory of those who were killed and the hostages taken that day, while acknowledging but not centering on subsequent events.

The event is presented through a collaborative effort between the Boulder JCC, Israeli-American Council (IAC), and Haver: Boulder’s Council of Rabbis & Cantors, demonstrating the unified response of Boulder’s Jewish community organizations.

The Boulder JCC's Messinger Art Gallery is preparing to unveil an extraordinary celebration of contemporary fiber art, featuring the innovative works of three accomplished artists: Camille McMurry, Julie Rothschild, and Sara Goldenberg White. This new exhibition promises to transform the gallery space into a tactile wonderland where traditional textile techniques meet bold, modern artistic vision.

The opening reception offers art enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves in these captivating works while enjoying light refreshments and engaging in meaningful conversations with fellow art lovers. This celebration of creativity and inspiration represents exactly the kind of cultural programming that makes the Boulder JCC a vital community hub.

As the community prepares to welcome this new exhibition, art collectors have a final opportunity to acquire pieces from Artie Sandstone's current "Smile" Gallery exhibition, which will be coming down soon. Those interested in purchasing Sandstone's work can feel good knowing that a percentage of all art sales profits will be donated back to the Boulder JCC, supporting the organization's continued commitment to bringing exceptional cultural programming to the community.

Have you ever considered teaching a class on something you're passionate about? Exchange: A Hub for Learning is the lifelong learning program at the Boulder JCC.  The leadership committee is reviewing proposals for the Winter 2026 session.

Exchange offers engaging classes for adults 55+ taught by passionate senior adults to share their expertise with peers. Whether your background is in history, literature, science, the arts, wellness, or any other field, this is your chance to inspire others while deepening your own connections in the community.

We invite you to submit a proposal to teach either a six-week or three-week course. These short-term formats make it easy to design a class that is both manageable and impactful. You don’t need to be a professional teacher—what matters most is your knowledge, enthusiasm, and willingness to guide others in exploration and discovery.

Teaching at the Boulder JCC in the Exchange program is a rewarding way to celebrate your experiences and interests. You might share a career specialty, a personal passion, or a skill you’ve honed over the years. Past courses have ranged from literature discussions and music appreciation to hands-on workshops in acting and music. Others have focused on current events, memoir writing, or wellness practices that enrich daily life. The possibilities are wide open—if you have a topic you care about, chances are others will be eager to learn from you.

The Boulder JCC’s preschool will mark an extraordinary milestone next month as it commemorates four decades of nurturing young minds in our community. What began with just six children has flourished into a vibrant educational center serving over 100 students—a testament to its enduring value and educational excellence. We hope that former students, parents, teachers, administrators, or anyone connected to the school in any way will join us at the JCC on Sunday, September 14, from 10 am to 1 pm to celebrate this incredible milestone.

This remarkable journey has woven the preschool deeply into the fabric of Boulder’s families, creating multi-generational connections that speak to its profound impact. We’ve witnessed former students return as dedicated educators and have celebrated cherished traditions, such as Shabbat Sing, with three generations of families participating together.

Before the Boulder JCC existed, there was the Boulder JCC Preschool. What began in 1984 as a humble satellite program of the Denver JCC, with just six children meeting three mornings a week, has blossomed into the vibrant Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center, which now nurtures hundreds of Boulder families.

The story begins with a visionary first director, Jen Feldman, who planted the seeds for what would become a cornerstone of Boulder’s Jewish community. Those seeds took root in shared space at Congregation Har HaShem, where the school’s earliest traditions were born.