By Brooke Bowles
This year marked my fourth time attending the Mifgash Executive Leadership Forum,* the annual gathering of Jewish Community Center leaders from across North America. I had the opportunity to attend alongside Robert Scott, our chief operating officer, which made the experience even more meaningful. While each Mifgash has offered learning and connection, this was the first time in four years that the experience truly clicked for me.
For the first time, I felt deeply and unmistakably connected to something much bigger than ourselves.
At Mifgash, it became clear that our Levite Jewish Community Center is one small — but vital — part of a vast movement of approximately 170 JCCs across North America. Together, these centers are meeting the evolving needs of their Jewish communities, especially in the face of rising antisemitism, by creating spaces that bring together Jews and non-Jews alike in meaningful, values-driven ways.
Affirming Jewish identity
One of the most impactful moments of the conference was seeing powerful data presented by the Jewish Federations of North America. The data showed that following October 7, 2023, Jews across North America turned to Jewish Community Centers as places to express and affirm their Jewish identity. JCCs became safe, welcoming, and essential hubs at a time when people needed them most — and remarkably, the movement rose to meet that moment. Being part of an organization that could respond so effectively was incredibly grounding and affirming.
On a more personal level, this Mifgash felt different because relationships had matured. For the first time, I walked into rooms where I knew many people — and many people knew me. That sense of belonging didn’t happen by accident. When I became CEO three years ago, one of my goals was to intentionally reconnect the Levite JCC with the JCC Association of North America. Like many organizations, we lost touch during COVID, but over the past few years we have leaned back in — sending staff to regional and national conferences, participating in peer communities, and seeking individualized support.
As a result, the Levite JCC is now truly a fixture within the JCC movement, benefiting from shared expertise, sharpened skills, and a network that strengthens our work locally every day.
Keeping it practical
The conference workshops themselves were also excellent and highly practical. Sessions that stood out to me focused on:
- Creating a more engaged and connected staff culture
- Using artificial intelligence effectively and responsibly in the workplace
- Strengthening our ability to tell our story with impact
- Developing a clear and compelling vision for the future
I left Mifgash feeling more confident, more connected, and more inspired — not just by ideas, but by people. Most of all, I returned with a renewed sense that the work we do at the Levite JCC matters deeply, both here in Birmingham and far beyond.
We are not doing this work alone. We are part of something big. And that makes all the difference.
*Mifgash means “encounter” in Hebrew and traditionally refers to the meeting between Israeli and Diaspora (worldwide) participants.
Brooke Bowles is chief executive officer of the Levite Jewish Community Center.