Marin JCC logo

About Us

Welcome to our community.

Since its founding in 1948, the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center has played a vital role in Marin County as a place to celebrate, strengthen, and sustain Jewish life and culture, to build cross-cultural understanding, and to enrich the lives of those in the community at large. We are a place for people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds to participate in cultural experiences, community events, and recreational activities. We welcome everyone.

Our Purpose is

…to nurture and sustain Jewish culture,
…to enrich lives, and
…to build an inclusive, welcoming community. 

Our Core Values

Kehillah – We are a community.
Hachnasat Orchim – We welcome all.
Limud – We are a learning environment.
L’Dor V’Dor – We believe in building from generation to generation.
Shlaymut – We encourage mind-body wholeness and wellness.
Two young girls smiling and hugging at an outdoor table. One has blonde hair and wears a lavender top; the other has brown hair, a colorful sun hat, and a blue shirt with a sun graphic. They appear happy and playful.
A group of people in swim caps and sunglasses participate in a water aerobics class at an outdoor pool, raising their arms above the water. Blue and white flags are strung above the pool, and trees are in the background.

History

The idea for a multipurpose Jewish center began in 1946 when a small group of Jewish men and women living in Marin first gathered. The group was inspired by a rabbi’s moving presentation of a Torah discovered during World War II in Czechoslovakia when he declared “I have come half-way around the world to bring this Torah from a Jewish community that died to a Jewish community that is about to be born.” In 1948, the dedication of the Marin Jewish Community Center occurred and the JCC began operating in a house at Mission and Forbes Streets in San Rafael.
Historical JCC black and white image
Many have dedicated themselves to our growth over 70 years, creating a home for Marin’s Jewish community with programs for all to enjoy.
historical house
scroll with Hebrew on it
scoping the land historical photo

Growth

By the early 1960s, the JCC had outgrown its facility and created a new home on North San Pedro Road. In 1980 a partnership of the Osher Marin JCC, Congregation Rodef Sholom, and Brandeis Marin Day School was created to develop a Marin Jewish Community Campus, one of the first of its kind in North America. The new Lonee C. Hoytt Jewish Campus opened in 1991 with a 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art JCC.

Aerial view of a large building complex surrounded by trees, featuring multiple peaked roofs, a swimming pool, parking areas, and winding roads.

The JCC campus is nestled into a beautiful hillside in San Rafael, CA, with a charming cafe, lounge areas, and modern fitness facilities including award-winning indoor and outdoor pools.

A spacious lounge with large windows and glass doors, featuring several people sitting and chatting on orange cushioned sofas arranged in a semi-circle. Outside, people are visible on a sunny patio with tables and umbrellas.
Outdoor swimming pool with several people swimming laps in marked lanes. The pool is surrounded by trees, greenery, white tents, and has a lifeguard on duty under a blue umbrella. It is a sunny day.
A cozy café with several people sitting at wooden tables, chatting and drinking. Large windows let in natural light. A counter with a menu and pastries is at the back, and a clock hangs on the wall above.

Today

Today, the Osher Marin JCC serves as a central hub for Jewish life, learning, wellness, recreation, and cultural engagement in Marin County. Each week, thousands of people participate in JCC programs and experiences. From preschool and camp to fitness, aquatics, performances, classes, holiday celebrations, and programs for older adults. Rooted in Jewish values and open to all, the JCC continues to bring people together across generations through shared experiences, learning, and connection. With the support of its members, donors, staff, volunteers, and community partners, the JCC continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community while remaining grounded in its mission and values.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Paul Castro, President
Marika Paez Wiesen, Vice President
Bob Nadjibi, Treasurer
Melanie Sperling, Secretary
Rachel Kertz, At Large
Gilli Cherrin
Vivian Cohen
Eric Fleekop
Alan Hakimi
Laurie Kahn
Susan Lachtman
Jonathan Lefferts
Sonia Fromm Lurie
Melanie Maier
Marc Rochman
David Weil

Management

Judy Wolff-Bolton, Chief Executive Officer
Josh Shenker, Chief Operating Officer
Tim Egan, Chief Financial Officer
Tim Schmidt, General Manager, Fitness & Aquatics
Hannah Dworkin, Director of Development
Kaitlyn Norman, Director of Marketing & Communications
Tamar Lai, Early Childhood Education Director
Aaron Golbus, Facilities Director
Brittany Mihalik, Camp and Youth Director
James Sokol, Adult Learning and Living Director
Rachel Chancellor, Center for Jewish Peoplehood Program Manager
Rachel Shensa, HR Manager
Stacey Schifter, Controller

Past Board Presidents

Daniel Barenbaum
Jon Welner
Eric Toizer
Deborah Stadtner
Marty Friedman
Rachel Kertz
Ruthellen Toole (z”l)
Becky Pell Kaplan
Joel Renbaum
Sharon Young (z”l)
Barbara Waxman
Susan Kolb
Ruth Willheim (Rosenthal)
Steve Isaacs
Sue Davis (z”l)
Kenneth Kurtzman
Madeleine Simborg
Richard Green
David Mishel
Max Shapiro
Mark Friedlander (z”l)
Fred Kanter
Mickey Austin
Louis Levy
Arlene Blumberg
Russell Shatz (z”l)
Isaac Silberman (z”l)
Richard Friedman
Morris Bode (z”l)
Sol Silver (z”l)
Richard Gladstein (z”l)
Philip Cohn (z”l)
Esther Goldbaum (z”l)
Julius Selinger (z”l)
David Rosenberg (z”l)
Philip Corin (z”l)
Morton Colvin (z”l)
Aaron Schwartz (z”l)
Max Gottlieb (z”l)
Julian Gosliner (z”l)
Merton Jacobs (z”l)
David Cohn (z”l)
Abe Blumenfeld (z”l)