Finding Home Through Community:

Johanna Goldblatt & Andrew Helfman

While I grew up as a part of a Jewish family in Georgia, the area I grew up in did not have a large Jewish community. When I moved to Connecticut and met Andrew, our eyes were opened up to the thriving Jewish community in the Hartford area which was different than anything we had ever experienced. Soon into our relationship, we joined the JCC. While the amenities and Fitness Center are great, it's the community that makes it a cornerstone of our daily life. Going to the JCC feels like home, like family. From the staff, to the members, we've created a familiar community that we wouldn't have had without the Mandell JCC. As we think about building our future together, being near the JCC and the West Hartford Jewish community is important to us. It's changed how we look at what we value and where we want to spend our time!