Adult Programs
Fitness and Aquatics
We take a comprehensive body and mind approach with all of our programs. Our fitness and wellness team has degrees, certifications and expertise in a broad scope of areas including physical therapy, exercise science, sports medicine, nutrition and dietetics, water sports, exercise physiology and sports injury, safety and recovery.
You may be interested in:
- Pickleball classes, clinics and leagues
- Arthritis, core and HIIT shallow water group exercise classes
- Personal training
- RecoveryZone with advanced restorative equipment
- Yoga, Pilates, Tai chi, Pure strength, Pop Zumba Low impact cardio and weights and more
Learning and Conversations
Our hands-on classes help spark your inner self and engage your mind. No matter your age or experience, discover new interests and hobbies through art classes,
card and tile games, book clubs and Israeli dance. If you enjoy dialogue about current events and historical context, we have a variety of classes that will engage your mind and expand your
views.
Men’s Club
The J’s Men’s Club offers an opportunity to connect with peers and discuss a variety of interesting and topical issues. Participants socialize, share
ideas and listen to guest speakers. Most members are retired, have a wide variety of hobbies and are active volunteers in the community.
U.S. Masters Swim
This program is for dedicated, adult swimmers who want to experience an intense workout while advancing your swimming technique and skills. Level 1 Master Coach Laura Wright provides instruction and workouts tailored to each swimmer's individual ability. The goal is for you to become a more efficient and advanced swimmer.
Jewish Education
The J brings people of all ages together with activities that bridge the generation gap. From holiday celebrations to challah-making workshops we encourage the community to share experiences that unite the young and the young at heart. Our engaging adult programs include art classes, news and current events discussions, lectures, book club gatherings and classes on Judaism that explore Jewish history, life cycle events and Torah study.
Creative Aging
Creative Aging is not just about creative expression; it’s about living life to the fullest, celebrating individuality, fostering connections, and
embracing the joy of lifelong learning. Creative Aging fosters a welcoming environment for all individuals to live their best lives through learning new skills, keeping active, and most
importantly, socializing.
Cleveland Jewish FilmFest
Watch a diverse, international selection of dramas, documentaries, shorts and TV series that explore, educate, entertain and provoke discussion on the Jewish and Israeli experiences. From dramatic to humorous, we screen powerful and award-winning films for all movie lovers.
Featured Classes
Adult
09/16/2025 - 09/16/2025
This program helps participants reduce fall risks, improve balance, and stay active through practical strategies and exercises—beneficial for all mobility levels.
The program is designed to raise participants’ fall prevention knowledge and awareness, introduce steps they can take to reduce falls and improve their health and well-being. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance. Individuals with mobility issues can enhance their balance and safety, while those without any apparent impairments can still benefit by maintaining their current health status and preventing future problems.
Jewish Life, Adult
11/19/2025 - 11/19/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Jewish Life, Adult
10/29/2025 - 10/29/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Jewish Life, Adult
09/03/2025 - 09/03/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Fitness, Adult
09/04/2025 - 09/25/2025
Learn practical boxing and self-defense skills from an expert with 15+ years of experience. Build confidence, improve technique, and train with proven methods used by top fighters.
Build strength, confidence and real-world self-defense skills in our Boxing Fundamentals & Self Defense class! Learn proper stance, striking and movement through boxing and kickboxing techniques, guided by an expert with 15+ years of experience training with top MMA, UFC and boxing professionals. Hands-on partner drills ensure practical, effective learning.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
09/05/2025 - 10/17/2025
Uncover the untold stories of the Civil War—from daring women spies to a heroic enslaved man who stole a Confederate ship. Explore hidden history, surprising truths and the real reasons the war didn’t end quickly.
A look at what you did not learn in high school and correcting some of the lies that were taught. The class highlights interesting personalities from women spies to comparing Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, meeting slave Robert Smalls who stole a confederate ship and the doctor that developed how soldiers in the North were treated, Major Jonathan Letterman. The North, based on population, industry and money should have easily won the war within two years. We will explore why this did not happen.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
10/16/2025 - 11/13/2025
Explore art, culture, and history with hands-on artifacts from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Discover how creativity and functionality intersect across time and traditions.
Experience the Cleveland Museum of Art like never before, right here at The J! This engaging program offers a unique opportunity to explore three fascinating collections through hands-on interaction with real artifacts. Discover how art, culture and functionality intersect across history. Class meets on Oct. 16, Oct 30, and Nov 13.
Adult
10/03/2025 - 10/03/2025
Join University Hospitals for a fun, interactive cooking demo featuring healthy recipes, expert tips and tastings to inspire nutritious meals at home.
Join University Hospitals for a fun and interactive cooking demonstration where you'll watch our chef prepare a delicious, nutritious meal step-by-step. Learn helpful tips on ingredient selection, meal prep and healthy cooking techniques you can try at home. Tastings and recipes will be provided.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
11/21/2025 - 11/21/2025
Experience Dvorák's powerful Ninth Symphony at Severance Hall, enriched by a pre-concert lecture exploring its cultural influences and iconic melodies.
Join us at Severance Hall for Dvorák's Ninth Symphony. Informed by African American spirituals, Indigenous melodies, and Czech folk songs, Dvorák's Ninth Symphony proceeds from one memorable tune to another, including its exquisitely yearning slow movement and rollicking finale. We will arrive 1 hour before the concert for a lecture to learn about the music.
Adult
10/22/2025 - 10/22/2025
Enjoy the fall colors of Ashtabula County as you tour 10 scenic bridges with stops at Byler's Amish Bakery.
Experience the vibrant fall colors in scenic Ashtabula County. Discover 10 remarkable bridges, including both the longest and shortest covered bridges in the area. This tour features a 20-minute stop at Byler's Amish Bakery, as well as a break for a boxed Kosher lunch. After the first bus of 11 is filled, we will open up additional buses once we hit 4 more on the waitlist - so please continue to sign up using the waitlist process.
Adult
12/02/2025 - 12/02/2025
Gain practical skills on healthy living as we explore the latest research on aging well and the impact diet, exercise and mental engagement have on our brain and body.
For centuries, we've known that the health of the brain and the body are connected. But now, science is able to provide insights into how to optimize our physical and cognitive health as we age. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
11/03/2025 - 12/08/2025
Enhance your watercolor skills with advanced techniques, color theory, and creative exploration to develop your unique artistic style.
This class builds on basic techniques to help students develop their skills and explore more complex aspects of watercolor painting. Students will learn advanced techniques, explore color theory, and experiment with different subject matter, all while developing their personal artistic style.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
09/19/2025 - 10/10/2025
Learn the basic rules, strategies and tips while playing with others around the table. Perfect for beginners—includes the official Mah Jongg card.
Mah Jongg matches one’s playing pieces, called tiles, to a set of possible hands. It is a very social game played around a table with four players. This introductory class will teach the basic rules of play, strategies, tips, switching hands and more. Fee includes the current Mah Jongg card.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
09/08/2025 - 10/13/2025
Learn the basics of watercolor painting in this beginner-friendly class that builds a strong creative foundation.
This class offers a comprehensive introduction to watercolor painting, perfect for beginners or those looking to improve their skills. Participants will learn basic techniques like color mixing, brush control, and wet-on-wet and dry painting methods. The course will explore the fundamentals of watercolor painting, building a strong foundation for artistic expression in this medium.
Jewish Life, Adult
10/23/2025 - 04/07/2026
Explore Jewish holidays, history, and core concepts through engaging study and discussion, led by rotating rabbinic instructors in both in-person and virtual sessions. Open to all.
Explore Jewish observance of holidays and life-cycle events, major periods in Jewish history and significant Jewish concepts through lecture, engaging text study, meaningful dialogue and exploration in the community. Class will be taught in four sections with a different rabbinic instructor for each section. Some classes will be held in person at the Mandel JCC Community Room and some dates will be taught virtually via Zoom. Open to the community.
Jewish Life, Arts and Ideas, Adult
09/11/2025 - 09/11/2025
Celebrate the holidays and New Year through creative expression! Explore Judaic themes while making meaningful artwork, materials provided.
Embrace the spirit of the holidays and the New Year! This class invites participants to engage with the rich cultural and religious tapestry of Judaism by creating their own artworks that reflect these traditions. Join us on a journey of creativity, learning, and connection as we honor the beauty and significance of Judaic themes. All Materials will be provided.
Adult
10/16/2025 - 11/06/2025
Gain essential insights into long-term care, from costs and coverage to choosing facilities and exploring home care options—empowering families to make informed decisions.
This course provides an in-depth look at long-term care, addressing the challenges individuals and families face. It covers post-COVID-19 operational changes in facilities, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement systems, and the financial impact of long-term care costs exceeding $100,000 annually. Participants will explore options for home independence, selecting appropriate facilities, and navigating the admission process, gaining practical knowledge for informed decision-making in long-term care.
Fitness, Adult
09/04/2025 - 09/25/2025
Stay active and improve coordination, balance and agility in this beginner-friendly pickleball class focused on fun and fitness.
Pickleball for Mobility and Balance is designed for beginners who are interested in playing Pickleball as a casual hobby to stay active. The focus will be on enhancing overall coordination, balance, and agility, while playing a fun game.
Adult
11/14/2025 - 11/14/2025
Learn how to spot scams, prevent identity theft, and protect yourself from elder financial abuse in this important, informative session.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from financial scams and identity theft in this informative course. Learn how to spot warning signs, report exploitation and use practical tools to safeguard your personal and financial information.
Adult
11/18/2025 - 11/18/2025
Learn to recognize the 10 common warning signs of Alzheimer's, how they differ from typical aging, and the benefits of early detection and support.
Join us to learn about 10 common warning signs and what to watch for in yourself and others. This one-hour program covers typical age-related changes, common warning signs of Alzheimer's, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of early detection and diagnosis and Alzheimer's Association resources.
Adult
10/22/2025 - 10/22/2025
Gain a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's and dementia, including symptoms, stages, risk factors, treatments, and available support resources.
Join us to learn about he impact of Alzheimer's, the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, Alzheimer's disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available to address some symptoms, and Alzheimer's Association resources.
Adult Programming Leadership
Julia DiBaggio
Creative Aging Manager
216-831-0700 ext. 1014
Sarah Jaffe Kasdan
Director of Jewish Life and Culture
216-593-6288
Jill Rembrandt
Sr. Director of Jewish Life, Arts & Culture and Creative Aging
216-593-6254
Kate Toohig
Director of Wellness and Engagement
216-593-6265
Rich Zatta
Director of Fitness
216-593-6298