J’la 2023
December 4 @ 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Please join us for J’la, the J’s Annual Fundraising Gala!
Everyone is welcome at the J. Period. We enrich the lives of all members of our community through lifelong learning, physical fitness, social engagement, and cultural experiences. The Jewish Community Center is also the central meeting place of the Jewish Community; it is a place to come together to engage with Jewish traditions and culture. It is also the premier community center in St. Louis; its members are as diverse as St. Louis itself. It’s the one place where families, regardless of affiliation, can feel comfortable and welcome. The programs provide for a variety of needs at every stage of life. From our world-class fitness facilities to state-of-the-art camping; from acclaimed arts programming to weekly kosher meal delivery; from access to community groups for people on a journey through cancer, and programming for people of all ages and abilities—the J has it all.
Honoring Lynn Wittels
This year we are thrilled to honor Lynn Wittels, the J’s President and CEO, on the eve of her retirement. Lynn began at the J in 2005 and the J has grown and thrived under her leadership, becoming one of the most successful Jewish Community Centers in the country. During her tenure, the J has more than doubled its annual budget, grown its three campuses (Staenberg Family Complex, Marilyn Fox Building, and Camp Sabra at Lake of the Ozarks) to unprecedented heights, and weathered a global pandemic. Lynn has also served on numerous boards in the St. Louis Jewish community, contributing to the health of the entire St. Louis area at large. In fact, she has raised her family at the J; her children participated in programs at the J and now she can be seen leading her grandchildren through the halls of the Staenberg Family Complex. Lynn has led with a passion for the J mission: to enrich lives, build community, promote inclusivity, and create meaningful Jewish experiences.
