Community unites at Kaplen JCC in remembrance, reflection, joy
The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly commemorated three pivotal days in the Israeli calendar — Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’Atzmaut — conveying stories of sorrow and survival, remembrance and resilience, mourning and hope. The JCC community stood together, united across generations, organizations, and cultures, to honor the past, recognize the present, and celebrate a future we will build together.
On April 23, over 600 community members came to the JCC for a Yom HaShoah ceremony crafted by Shevet Metzada, the local chapter of the Tzofim (Israeli Scouts), in partnership with the JCC’s Israeli Center. These teens opened their hearts and shared their grief, reflections, and strength, telling stories of the Holocaust and offering personal narratives and poetic tributes.
In a time when antisemitism is on the rise, their message was urgent and clear: “Never Again” is not a phrase of the past; it is a promise for the future.
On April 29, a crowd of 1,300 attended a program for Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. In partnership with Shevet Metzada, the Israeli American Council (IAC), the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ (JFNNJ), and the JCC’s Israeli Center, the ceremony became a space for collective mourning and remembrance. A photo exhibit, which remained on display for several days, honored fallen IDF soldiers and Israeli victims of terror, each photograph paired with a memorial candle, and many of those pictured with personal ties to members of the local community.
On May 4, the JCC was transformed into a space of joyous tribute to Israel’s 77th year of independence. Families wandered through a bustling shuk, an Israeli-style marketplace with local vendors and food trucks serving up Israeli fare. Children created Israeli-themed crafts, teens engaged in spirited programs, and adults joined in Israeli folk dances. At one moment, a children’s flash mob burst into song and dance, waving Israeli flags and singing in Hebrew. This Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration was made possible through a collaboration between the JFNNJ, IAC, Bereshit, the Tzofim, and the JCC’s Israeli Center.
A donation station honored the Israeli hostages still held in captivity, reminding those in attendance that unity must become advocacy, empathy, and unwavering support.
— Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
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