JCY/Westchester Community Partners

 600 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701
 Established in 1919

Our History

History of the JCY (this section will include photos of the JCY)

In 1919 the Jewish Federation of Yonkers was formed.  As the Jewish population, particularly young children and teens increased in numbers, their objective was to develop a meeting place for them.  Several temporary meeting places were acquired.  The Jewish population continued to increase.  Therefore a decision was made to develop a new JCC building.

In 1923 the Jewish Federation developed the Jewish Center Committee.  Both entities planned the details of the building.

In 1929 a 43,000 square foot building, including a swimming pool, health club, gym, auditorium and danced studio, opened at 122 South Broadway in downtown Yonkers (opposite St. Joseph’s Hospital). This building served the community for many years.

On December 20, 1965 a fire was set by a teenager, Thomas Ruppert, who was being trained as a maintenance aide. The fire caused 12 deaths and several serious injuries to participants in the Music School on the 4^th floor of the JCC building.

From 1966-1972 Murray Gunner was Executive Director of both the Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation.

In 1967 Arthur Friedland became the President of the Jewish Federation. This new role was developed.

In 1968 a new development took place.  The Jewish Community Center published The Center News, a widely read paper. This newspaper continues today as the Westchester Jewish Chronicle and is privately owned.

In the meantime, several population changes were taking place.  The Jewish population in Southwest Yonkers was beginning to decrease.  There was a substantial increase in the number of black and Latino populations. The schools reflected this population change.  Standards in the schools changed.

In 1972  New York Federation accepted two agencies as beneficiaries:  a) Jewish Federation became Jewish Council of Yonkers; and b) Jewish Community Center was to become a separate institution (no longer a committee of Jewish Federation).

In 1973 Graenum Berger from Federation offered $50,000 as a beginning allocation. That was the beginning of the JCY relationship with Federation.

The Jewish Federation of Yonkers had to change its name to the Jewish Council of Yonkers in 1973, based on a request made by NY Federation.

In 1990 Murray Gunners (the executive director) primary responsibility was to put out a weekly newspaper.  There was a lack of other programs and deficits were mounting.  NY Federation threatened at the time to abolish its $10,000 grant.  They insisted on programs, not only on a newspaper. Coming to America a program celebrating diversity in the schools, Neighborhood Stabilization program promoting Jewish Culture in Yonkers, and 3 $250 scholarships for high school seniors made up the program agenda

In 1997 Janice Lubin Kirschner joined the JCY staff bringing with her senior programming in apartment buildings (SOS). Today we work in 29 buildings in 9 communities in Westchester. In March 1997 SMART (Students and Mature Adults Read Together) was launched with 20 seniors from Jeffrey Park (SOS building) and Gorton High School. Today we are in 24 schools in Yonkers, 3 in Mount Vernon, and Elmsford with plans to expand into Mount Kisco and Tuckahoe. STACK (students teach adults computer knowledge) followed the next year and is in 5 schools in Yonkers and White Plains. Coming to America became Passport to Yonkers. The JCY partnered with Midchester Jewish Center and Helene Alalouf in bringing a Holocaust Program to inner city students in Yonkers and now Greenburgh. Open Book, Reading Aloud is Ageless, was subcontracted to the JCY around the year 2000. Reading Buddies began at the Will Library and the Riverfront Library also around the year 2000. The Westchester chapter of NYSIgN (New York State Intergenerational Program) was launched in 2006 and our newest program SMART Afterschool began this year.

In 2006 Janice Lubin Kirschner became the Executive Director

Currently we are Westchester’s leader in intergenerational volunteer programming. We sponsor literacy programs, services to the 50+ population and we provide programs to improve our relationships with other ethnic and racial groups 

In 2008 the JCY wrapped up a 4 year long strategic plan which resulted in new bylaws. In recognition of the changes in the JCY, a new name was adopted in 2008. Westchester Community Partners; Programs serving all generations will be launched. The Jewish Council of Yonkers will continue to do the work of a Jewish Community Council in Yonkers and be part of the Westchester Community Partners

Who we are

Some employee and volunteer short bios with photos

Revised December 1, 2008