15 Acres. Endless Possibilities.
Building Our Future Campaign
The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC has been Central New Jersey's home for Jewish life, connection, and community for 26 years. Now we're building what comes next.
Campaign Overview
$7M
Total campaign goal for our community's future
15 Acres
Adjacent acres being acquired — once in a generation
5
Transformative projects funded by this campaign
26
Years of serving Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties
We turn everyday minutes into moments remembered for a lifetime.
For 26 years, our community has relied on the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC to be the primary destination for engagement and connection. Did you meet new friends here? Maybe your children learned the Shabbat blessings in our preschool, or learned to swim at Camp Ruach. Perhaps you found your sport — and your people — on our pickleball, tennis, or basketball courts.
In each generation, the activities have varied slightly, but the impact is the same. Now is the time to ensure the next generation has all of that — and more.
15 Acres of New Land
This land is about more than expansion. It is about ensuring Jewish life in our region has room to grow and thrive. A stronger JCC strengthens the entire Jewish community by welcoming more families, building deeper connections, and supporting our synagogues, schools, Federation partners, and other local organizations.
For our JCC, this additional space would be transformative. It would allow us to expand programs in camp, wellness, education, special needs, and community engagement while creating more opportunities for people of all ages to connect, learn, and belong. It also gives us the ability to grow our inclusive and special needs programs with spaces designed to provide greater dignity, opportunity, and support.
The details will continue to evolve, but everything begins with securing the land. With it, we can create the space our community needs for the future.
Expand Camp Ruach
For generations, Camp Ruach has been a gateway to Jewish community life, where children build confidence, form lasting friendships, and create joyful memories. For many families, camp is where they first discover a true sense of belonging.
Additional space would allow Camp Ruach to welcome more children while expanding outdoor, hands-on, and nature-based experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and Jewish connection. It would also strengthen our inclusive and special needs programs, providing more space and greater opportunities for children and adults of all abilities to thrive.
This investment is about more than growing camp. It is about creating a stronger, more connected, and more inclusive community for generations to come.
Year Round Home for JCares
Camp Ruach's camp building is home to many of the spaces that define the camp experience, including the art studio, cooking station, gaming area, bathrooms, and camp offices. Winterizing the building would transform it into a year-round resource, expanding its impact far beyond the summer months.
A permanent home for JCares would provide adults with special needs a thoughtfully designed space for social connection, life skills, recreation, and community, while complementing the JCC's broader special needs programming for children and families. More space means greater consistency, expanded opportunities, and an environment where individuals of all abilities can thrive.
This investment is about more than a building. It is a lasting commitment to inclusion, dignity, and creating a place where everyone belongs.
From Snack Bar to Learning Kitchen
The current Swim Club snack bar serves a limited seasonal purpose. By expanding and redesigning the space, we can transform it into a year-round learning kitchen that supports programming across the JCC.
The new kitchen would serve JCares, children with special needs, preschool, camp, and community cooking classes. It would provide hands-on opportunities to build life skills, confidence, independence, and vocational experience while creating meaningful experiences for children, families, and the broader community.
This investment transforms an underused space into a vibrant, mission-driven resource that expands opportunities, strengthens inclusion, and brings people together throughout the year.
Making Room to Welcome: Expanded Parking for Our Community
The Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC welcomes families, members, and guests every day for preschool, camp, fitness, aquatics, sports, cultural programs, and community events. As our community continues to grow, so does the demand for parking.
Expanding our parking lot is an investment in accessibility, convenience, and the future of our JCC. Additional spaces will make it easier for members, staff, and visitors to participate in everything we offer, ensuring our campus can continue to grow alongside the community it serves.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- President: David Bernstein
- Immediate Past President: Josh Wang
- Vice President-at-Large: Richard Hirsch
- Past President-at-Large: Josh Leibner
- Past President-at-Large: David Bunevich
- Past President-at-Large: Geoff Feinstein
- Past President-at-Large: Seth Geldzahler
- Past President-at-Large: Peter Horowitz
- Past President-at-Large: Richard Skydell
- Treasurer: Mark Lederman
- Assistant Treasurer: Ben Greenfield
- Secretary: Shana Enny
- Andrea Berkow
- Michael Bloomstein
- Howard Cohen
- Nancy Gorrell
- Judy Gross
- Deborah Hercky
- Linda Jerrow
- Natanya Levitz
- Stephen Offen
- Jonathan Slass
- Sherry Steger
- Sandra Uretsky
- Jed Weinstein
- Diane Wolf
- Michael Yakubov
- Jerry Zweig
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Laura Friedman email
Chief Executive Officer
Paige Silberfein email
Chief Operating Officer
Jinny Strawderman email
Chief Financial Officer
Melea Henig email
Development Director
PAST PRESIDENTS
- Doron Steger z”l
- Alvin Levine
- Harriet Blank
- Barry Ages
- Addie Kluger
- Peter Horowitz
- David Bunevich
- Ken Bernstein
- Richard Skydell
- Seth Geldzahler
- Geoff Feinstein
- Josh Leibner
TEEN BOARD
- Etai Cohen
- Max Kotkin
- Brayden Kupperman
- Marley Perle
- Max Weinstein
New Season. New Goals. No Joiner Fee.
🌞 September Reset Special: September 1–30
✔️$0 Joiner Fee (Admin fee applies)
✔️First Month 50% Off
✔️FREE Fitness Assessment Orientation
✔️FREE Guest Passes
