Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 40

ORGANIZATIONS

Jewish Community Center 6701 Hoover Rd„ Indianapolis, IN 46260 • 317/ 251-9467 • Fax 317/ 251-9493 www.jeeindy.org • [email protected]

OFFICERS: Ira Jaffee, executive director, Kevin McKasson, president; Helen Kur-lander-Coldstein, president-elect; Steven Glazier, Helen Kurlander-Goldstein, Larry Martin, Larry Rockafellow, Michael Rubin, Sandra Zeckel, vice presidents. BOARD MEMBERS: Rick Bentley, Sharyl Border, Don Fogle, Libby Fogle, Ellen Gabovitch, Steven Glazier, Judy Laiken, Alan Nelson, Deborah New, Melanie Ohlsen, Michael Rubin. Honorary Board Members: Brad Cohen, Tom Herman, Sharon Jacobs, Larry Martin, Sandra Zeckel. Life Board Members: Claudette Einhom, Edward Gabovitch, MD, Irwin Katz, David Kleiman, Gerald Kraft, Barbara Levy, Marks Levy, Sherman Weinstein. Honorary Past Presidents: Jon Abels, John Abrams, MD, Bradley Bell, Herbert Bodsky, Katy Cantor, Charles Cohen, Bruce Frank, Ronald Katz, Andrew Kleiman, Keith Pitzele.

GOALS: The Jewish Community Center shall create a positive Jewish environment and build and strengthen the quality of Jewish life in Indianapolis. The JCC shall be guided by the principles of Judaism and democracy and shall promote an understanding of, and a commitment to, Jewish thought, beliefs and values. The JCC shall enrich the life of the Jewish and general community by developing and implementing programs for their recreational, educational, cultural, physical and social needs. The JCC shall stimulate and amplify the individual's sense of responsibility to the local community and to society. HISTORY: ’ Although the Communal Building, the first physical structure bought by the Jewish community for leisure time activities, was not purchased until 1914, a program for group activities was already being conducted in the upper floor of a two-story frame house at 801 S. Meridian St. Many of our old-timers re-

call this Nathan Morris House where they took classes in millinery and sewing, its kindergarten, club meeting, naturalization classes, etc. Volunteers ran these activities with the National Council of Jewish Women as the guiding light. The Phoenix Dance Hall, on West Morris Street, was purchased in 1914 to house the Jewish Federation, which conducted all social service activities for the commuity. After a large fire, the premises were remodeled to include meeting rooms, dance hall, gym floor, kitchen and dining rooms, baby clinic, TB clinic and, shortly thereafter, a dental clinic and a playground. The building named the Communal Building became the focus of the entire community and all Jewish functions were held there, including weddings, bar mitzvahs, parties, dances, lectures, etc. All activities were conducted and supervised by a staff member of the Jewish Federation and as part of the Federation program.

Following World War 1, the city's Jewish population began to drift northward. In 1924, a Jewish population survey sharply pointed to the need for an additional building in what was then considered far north. At the time, Indianapolis was one of the first Jewish communities to recognize the need and responsibility to serve a total Jewish community instead of serving only the "needy." This revolutionary change in philosophy had some far-sighted champions who overcame considerable opposition. In 1924, a building was purchased at 2314 N. Meridian St. with funds provided by Rafael Kirshbaum for a memorial to his wife. Flora Kirshbaum. An agreement between Kirshbaum Memorial Inc. and the Federation gave birth to the Kirshbaum Community Center. In 1926, the Jewish Community Center Association was established with its own director in order to consolidate and gain efficiency in the recre-

Page 20 • The Directory of Jewish Life 2003