20 | JANUARY 21 • 2021 T he Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit is in the beginning stages of developing a concept called “Off-Center” — a satellite JCC operation to serve as an “east side hub” located in the Oak Park-Berkley area and a possible additional location in Downtown Detroit. JCC Assistant Executive Director Judy Loebl, who helped conceive of the idea, says this is the latest step in the JCC’s shift from being a “building” to a “concept” — the ability to pro- vide programming to the entire Metro Detroit Jewish community. The Off-Center idea is part of the JCC’s current strategic plan, though the center has no time- line yet for bringing it to fru- ition. It was discussed by JCC CEO Brian Siegel in an inter- view with MyJewishDetroit. Siegel said the JCC would explore leasing “hyper-efficient touchpoints of moderate scope and size — approximately 3,000 to 8,000 square feet of floor- space — where the community can easily gather for activities and events. ” Loebl confirmed the JCC would lease, not own, its Off- Center locations, and that it is looking for multi-purpose space: “Something that could be used from morning to evening. ” Possible uses would include “multi-generational programs, ” including exercise classes, Judaic studies, senior and chil- dren’s programming, and book fairs. In 2015, the JCC closed its satellite Oak Park location, which upset many community members. Since then, the JCC has used synagogues and temples, Aish HaTorah and Jewish Senior Life facilities in the Oak Park area for events. But as it expanded its pro- gramming, Loebl said, it began to look for a non-affiliated site of its own. “We saw the need for a place that the whole community could gather that was neutral, ” Loebl said. The JCC had been close to identifying an Off-Center loca- tion in the Oak Park-Berkley area when the pandemic hit and put the search on hold, Loebl said. The JCC is also looking at doing more programming in Downtown Detroit, includ- ing possible programming at the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. These new plans don’t mean the JCC will stop working with congregations or facilities they’ve partnered with in the past, Loebl said. “The logistics make it much easier when you have your own place. ” JCC to lease space in Oak Park- Berkley, and possibly Downtown. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER JCC ‘Off -Centers’ Judy Loebl IN THED JEWS H illel International has launched its first-ever “Winterfest” through- out the month — virtually connecting students through small group experiences at 85 campuses. University of Michigan Hillel is participating in Winterfest, and Rabbi Lisa Stella, U-M Hillel’s director of religious life & education, knows how valuable these opportunities are in a time where it’s difficult for students to learn and bond in ways they’re used to. “These learning experiences have been a way for students to connect with each other, build community and also develop their Jewish identity further, ” Stella said. U-M Hillel is doing a couple programs through Winterfest, including “New Year’s Boot Camp for the Soul, ” a program where students received daily messages in the first week of January including songs, podcasts and exercises to practice mind- fulness and work on character traits, including gratitude and generosity. Another program is a cook- ing class called “Knead to Know, ” which started with a lat- ke-making class for Chanukah. Every class is themed either for a holiday or a Shabbat experi- ence. Rabbi Benjamin Berger, Hillel International’s vice president for Jewish education, believes Winterfest can help with the dramatic increase in mental health concerns for college stu- dents. “The reality is this situation has been hard on college students. There’s a profound sense of loneliness they’re feeling. One of the ways Hillel has been really effective over the course of the pandemic has been through the development of small group learning, ” Berger said. EVENTS AT CAPITOL Hillel International is also using Winterfest as an opportunity to be responsive to the dramatic and traumatic events of the moment, and quickly developed a teaching session about the defilement of the U.S. Capitol. Berger said the teaching tied in Jewish history, Jewish text and what prayer looks like in times of crisis, having the students develop their own prayer for the nation in this moment. “We put that out there to all these campuses saying, ‘use this as you wish, ’” Berger said. “Our teaching is a way of processing and providing a Jewish sense on what’s going on in this moment in our country. ” Hillel International will go back to regular programming in February. Representatives for Michigan State University Hillel and Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit told the Jewish News they are not participating in Winterfest. U-M Hillel slates extra Jewish learning events during January. DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER Student ‘Winterfest’