Gordon Jewish Community Center: swimming, sports, classes and more
Published: Apr 3, 2009
Tucked away in the hills of West Meade sits the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Despite its name, the center's sports, educational, cultural or social activities are open to Jews and non-Jews alike. People of any faith — and all ages — can enjoy the lectures, sports facilities, indoor and swimming pools, children's preschool, lectures and more.
The center's deep history reaches as far back as the early 1900s. The Young Men’s Hebrew Association opened the first building downtown in 1908. Later, in 1916, the association joined with the Young Women’s Hebrew Association and a larger facility was opened in 1924.
Later in 1965, the center’s board voted to offer membership, programs and services to all members of the community, Jewish and non-Jewish. A year later, 52 acres on Highway 70 South were purchased, the location where the current building is located today.
The 90,000-square-foot facility features an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool in addition to a 25-meter indoor pool. The center also offers a state-of-the-art fitness center with fitness trainers on duty at all times (and free babysitting while you work out!), soccer and baseball fields, tennis and racketball courts, classes and lectures, an art gallery, senior and youth lounges, fully equipped playgrounds and covered picnic pavilions.
The Gordon Jewish Community Center offers quite a few classes and activities for children. At the preschool, children learn the Hebrew language through use of simple vocabulary and games. Other classes include Spanish, Taekwondo, ballet and “Iddy Biddy Sports,” which teaches the basic rules of sports.
For teens, social events are scheduled throughout the year, in addition to activities hosted by the Jewish Youth Coalition.
Membership fees begin at $576. Check the center's Categories and Fees page on their website.
The Gordon Jewish Community Center also offers a summer day camp, Camp Davis, as it has since 1930. Details and prices are in the Camp Davis brochure.
There’s something for adults, too. Visitors can peruse the art gallery located inside of the center and enjoy various social gatherings and theater performances. Social gatherings are also organized for singles of all ages.
For more information on the Gordon Jewish Community Center, visit www.nashvillegjcc.org or call (615) 356-7170.
- by Leah Caudle , Nashville Reporter for HelloMetro
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