History 1980-1990 

JCC continued to extend services to new areas where Jews were living and create innovative programs for these communities. In 1980, the National Jewish Population Study was published and it announced that the rate of interfaith marriage among Jews was on the rise. In response, JCC of Chicago made a decision to invest more resources in incorporating more Jewish content into all existing programs and services—especially through Early Childhood programs, Day Camps and family programs. JCC of Chicago was one of the first JCCs in North America to hire a full-time Director of Jewish Education.

In 1983, The Anita M. Stone JCC secured its own building in Flossmoor, IL in response to a growing Jewish population in the southern suburbs.

In 1983, North Suburban JCC in Northbrook launched nursery schools at local synagogues as more and more families moved into these neighborhoods.

At this time, JCC’s Early Childhood program only offered a full-day childcare program at Bernard Horwich JCC in Rogers Park. JCC was an active partner in studying issues of daycare (i.e. effects on child, impact on family life, etc). JCC redefined the concept of daycare, becoming more than only a drop-off facility by offering a full curriculum and social experience for young children. In the late 1980s and early 1990s (when more moms went back to work full-time) JCC began offering full-day childcare at the other sites.

In 1983, JCC launched new programs that integrated the Russian Jewish immigrants into the Jewish community. At this time, JCC assumed responsibility for the EZRA Multi-Service Center, an outreach agency that still serves people in need in Chicago’s Uptown community.

In 1984 the Northwest Suburban JCC moved to Buffalo Grove to serve the increasing numbers of Jewish families in the northwest suburbs.

In 1986, JCC purchased property in Northbrook for a day camp, named the “Z” Frank Apachi Day Camp in memory of Zollie S. Frank. This particular day camp introduced a new camping experience that focused on program choices and higher quality of specialty staff.

In 1988, JCC of Chicago hosted nearly 2,000 young athletes from around the world for the North American Maccabi Youth Games, the largest youth sporting event in the world. More than 1,800 volunteers, contributors and sponsors, as well as 900 host families supported the event and offered their hospitality.

Just as the agency had helped new immigrants adapt to American life in the early 1900s, JCC again designed special acculturation programs for new Russian Jewish immigrants in the late 1980s. JCC embraced this new Jewish population and offered English classes, job counseling, and assistance with public school, government and health care systems. In addition, JCC brought Judaism back into the lives of the immigrants, welcoming them with baskets full of prayers translated to Russian, Mezzuzahs, candlesticks, Kiddush cups, wine and challah. Later, JCC offered Jewish education classes to this community through Shalom Sunday: The Family School and other programs that matched Russian Jewish families with Chicago families for holidays and social opportunities.