North San Antonio | March

Nonpro t

BY JARRETT WHITENER

Barshop Jewish Community Center celebrates 145 years

For more than 145 years, the Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio has served as a center for community involvement both for Jewish people and the community at large. Around 25 years ago, the agency moved to the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Campus located o NW Military Drive and Wurzbach Parkway, oering recreational activities for the North San Antonio community, said Carisa Heiss, CEO of Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio. “Our three primary hubs of engagement are cultural, recreational and educational program- ming,” Heiss said. The details While focused around Jewish culture, Heiss said the organization works to provide activities for all age groups and backgrounds. “We are open to the entire community,” she said. “We love that a percentage of our member- ship is not Jewish, yet it is a very important part of their life and we get to watch families grow from preschool forward.” Amenities at the center include a tness center, tennis courts, basketball courts and an outdoor heated pool for aquatics training. Alongside these amenities, members have access to classes and programs oered at the center. What else? For families with children, the center oers a variety of classes and after-school programs. Chil- dren can take part in camps, recreational sports, swimming, learning and other development-cen- tered activities. Children at surrounding schools have the oppor- tunity to be picked up from school and brought to the center for recreational activities. Parents are encouraged to call the facility to see if their children would qualify. “By the time the parent or guardian is done with their workday, the kids have already started their extracurricular, which takes some of that pressure o the parents,” Heiss said. Get involved For those interested in learning more about the nonprot organization, tours and membership options can be found on the website, or by calling 210-302-6820.

Members can take part in tness classes and programs held each day.

PHOTOS COURTESY BARSHOP JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO

A heated outdoor pool is located on the campus, focusing on aquatics training.

Educational programs are available for children after school hours.

Heiss said she is thankful for having been part of the organization and is looking forward to future community involvement. “Our mission is focused on strengthening individual life and Jewish identity,” she said. “The best thing we can do is help educate people, and I am proud that we have been doing that for more than 140 years.”

12500 NW Military Highway, Ste. 275, San Antonio www.jccsanantonio.org

NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION