In the mood to exercise? Are you hungry? Maybe lonely? Looking for volunteer opportunities? It seems like people in Tenafly frequently feel this way; yet, even after frantically searching for a solution, most cannot find a suitable, local place to meet their needs. However, most of these people are probably unfamiliar with Tenafly’s hidden gem: the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades.
Located at 411 East Clinton Avenue, just 10 minutes from THS, stands the vibrant and exciting JCC. Its slogan, “Where Community Unites,” perfectly describes the atmosphere of Tenafly’s Jewish Community Center. The center has been in Tenafly for over 75 years and has remained a place that satisfies the expectations of all members of the Bergen County community. The JCC has three pools, a modern, well-equipped fitness center, dance studios, an eatery, two state-of-the-art auditoriums, and both a children’s and a senior center. If you are looking for a summer job, you can find a plethora of options at the JCC, ranging from lifeguard certification courses to serving as a paid camp counselor at their Neil Klatskin Day Camp program. Throughout the year, high-school students can intern at their music school, volunteer with Heart To Heart, a program designed for elementary-aged students looking to build meaningful relationships with their peers and improve their English skills, participate in the Teen Fellowship Program run by Richard Conboy—read more about Conboy in The Tenafly Echo— or serve as a barista at its cafe.
Younger members of the Bergen County community can attend pre-school or kindergarten at the Leonard and Syril Rubin Early Childhood Center, and seniors 75 and over can participate in pottery and exercise classes at the JCC’s Senior Activity Center. Teenagers are welcome to volunteer with these programs, get CPR certified with accredited instructors at their aquatics center, swim on the WaveRunners swim team, play competitive volleyball on the Palisades Aces, or take dance classes with the JCC Dance and Dramatic Arts School. If you are 16 or older, you can even become a certified Water Safety Instructor and become equipped with the skills to give swim lessons to infants and adults alike.
Still, the excitement at the JCC does not end there; the opportunities are truly endless, and there is always something new coming to 411 East Clinton Avenue.
For Holocaust Remembrance Day, the JCC facilitates an annual presentation that tells the story of a Holocaust survivor and encourages the audience to take action. They host seasonal fairs that promote the products of local businesses at lower prices. Occasionally, the JCC organizes movie screenings or invites a popular figure on social media to speak at one of its events. This coming Friday, April 24, for instance, the JCC will welcome celebrity trainer, choreographer, and Broadway dancer Isaac Boots to lead his iconic TORCH’D workout class, right here in Tenafly!
Moreover, you do not have to be Jewish to participate in just about any of these opportunities that the JCC offers. Becoming a member simply requires a recurring fee and the desire to be part of a buzzing, spirited community—one that I can guarantee will exceed your expectations.
If you are Jewish, though, you can participate in the Israeli Scouts (Tzofim) program, bringing together Hebrew-speaking Israeli students from 4th grade through their senior year of high school. Currently, the highly successful program contains more than 400 participants, bustling through the hallways of the JCC each Sunday afternoon to experience youth-led programs and grow their knowledge of Israeli culture. Furthermore, Hebrew-speaking children aged 7-12 can participate in the Start-Up Nation Summer Camp, an alternative to the Neil Klatskin Day Camp that is conducted in Hebrew and allows campers to immerse themselves in the vibrancy of Israeli life in Tenafly. Teenagers can also submit an application to work here over the summer.
The JCC’s inviting nature will never fail to please inhabitants of Tenafly. The colorful hallways of the Leonard and Syril Rubin Early Childhood Center, abundant with the innocent laughter and giggles of young children, and the calming, tranquil ambiance of the exercise area offer two distinct experiences that share one critical aspect in common: a sense of community. Standing the test of time, the JCC remains a staple of our small, suburban town.
If you want to find out more about the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, click here!
