For many in the Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County community, the Bender JCC of Greater Washington is a hub of Jewish activity. From children’s summer camps to a senior satellite program, the JCC’s offerings are very diverse in terms of which audiences they cater to and what subjects they focus on.
You don’t even need to be Jewish to participate in JCC activities or utilize its facilities in Rockville, as the JCC aims to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone. So it’s no wonder that one of the Best of Jewish Washington awards they’ve won this year is for their inclusion at Lessans Camp JCC, which provides accommodations so that campers with disabilities can play and learn alongside campers without disabilities.
“Inclusion is not a switch we turn on and off but a dial we hone, a practice we must commit to daily. While the Bender JCC’s legacy of inclusion spans decades, in many ways, we have only just begun our work,” said Brandon Chiat, Bender JCC’s chief marketing officer. “But camp is just the start. As a community, we can do more to expand our culture of inclusion beyond seven weeks in the summer to a 365-day-a-year commitment where inclusion permeates every facet of the Bender JCC.”
Additionally, the Bender JCC was honored with the awards for Best Fitness Center, Best Senior Center and second place for Best Place to Israeli Dance. The JCC has won the Best Fitness Center award every year since 2022, with Lessans Camp JCC being the runner-up for Best Day Camp in 2022 and 2023.
But Chiat added that there’s far more to the JCC than what they’ve won awards for.
“You may first come to the Bender JCC to work out in our premier fitness facility, swim all year round in our heated indoor and outdoor pools or experience the joys of summer camp, but you’ll soon discover why the Bender JCC is the ‘best kept secret’ in Greater Washington: there’s so much to do here!” he said. “With hundreds of monthly activities, classes, experiences and events available to you, a Bender JCC membership offers more than just a great workout or a refreshing swim; it’s an invitation to pursue your passions.”
