Feb 14, 2012
Miami Beach JCC Prepares for Opening with Special Ceremony
On Sunday, February 12, members of the community gathered to celebrate the topping out (the placing of the last beam on the structure) of the new Galbut Family Miami Beach Jewish Community Center. The highly anticipated community landmark, which began construction on July 14, 2011, was on display for the first time during the ceremony and hard hat tours. Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, City Commissioners, Greater Miami Jewish Federation Board Chair Barbara Black Goldfarb, and other local civic, religious and organizational leaders participated in the ceremony.
The property was made available to the JCC through a 99-year lease, provided by the City of Miami Beach. Construction was initiated with a loan that was generously guaranteed by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “Our Federation is extremely proud to have advanced the funding to support the construction process of the new JCC,” said Goldfarb. “We know how much this facility will mean to Miami Beach residents.”
The new 35,000-square foot facility and its three-acre property, located along the Intracoastal Waterway at 4221 Pine Tree Drive, are scheduled for completion this September and will become the first full-service JCC facility in the 97-year history of Miami Beach.
“Miami Beach is the largest Jewish population center in the United States that currently lacks its own full-service Jewish community center,” said Jerry Sokol, President and Campaign Chair of the Miami Beach JCC. “When the doors of our new facility open later this year, it will mark a real milestone with the introduction of new and innovative programs that will serve to unify a truly diverse Jewish population.”
The Galbut Family Miami Beach JCC will feature a variety of specialized facilities to meet the recreational, cultural, creative and social needs of the Miami Beach Jewish community, including a 6,500-square-foot gymnasium, a 4,200-square-foot outdoor swimming pool and a multi-purpose outdoor playing field.
It will also offer a 4,200-square-foot fitness center with state-of-the-art workout equipment; designated rooms for Pilates, aerobics and spinning; and a staff of expert instructors and trainers. Classes and programs will be made available to men and women of all ages, and tailored to fit their specific needs.
The new facility will also host a variety of special events, including concerts, art exhibits, cultural presentations and holiday celebrations. Additionally, it will offer a schedule of children’s events, day camp sessions, senior programs and enrichment activities.
For more information about the Galbut Family Miami Beach Jewish Community Center, please contact JCC Executive Director Jay Roth at 305-534-3206 or at [email protected].
