When I first moved to Mercer Island in 1999, I bought a house just off East Mercer Way, across from the Stroum Jewish Community Center. I walked across the street one day to check out the “J,” as it’s often called.

“I’m not Jewish,” I told the person at the front desk, “but can I join as a member?”

“Of course,” I was told. “We welcome everyone here.”

That was 25 years ago and I’ve been a member ever since. I started working out regularly at the gym, used the hot tub, sauna, and steam room. I went to lectures, films and concerts. I made lots of friends of all ages. Once I had grandchildren, my wife and I got a family membership and enrolled the kids in daycare and preschool classes. We went swimming in the pool, took walks around the garden, and went to holiday celebrations such as the Purim Festival, which the kids loved. The J became an important part of our lives.

“I’m surprised at how many people think they have to be Jewish to join,” Amy Lavin, CEO, told the Rotary Club of Mercer Island last week. “We like having everyone.” (See SJCC.org for details.)

The J is 75 years old this year and busier than ever. Hundreds of Islander households are members, and many more use it as guests or attend events. Lavin gave Rotarians a history and rundown of the J’s many different activities and programs.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Lavin noted, Jewish people were not allowed to own homes in many communities in the Seattle area, including here on the island. Neither were African Americans. Black and Jewish people were not allowed to join country clubs or other social organizations.

“That was true all over the country. Seattle was not unique,” she said.

While the first Jewish Community Center movement originated in 1854, our local JCC incorporated in Seattle, housed at the Elks Club, in 1949. A group of founders bought land on Mercer Island in 1966, broke ground in 1968, and opened in 1969. It was expanded and updated in the 1980s and named after major donors Samuel and Althea Stroum in 1982.

Why did MI become a focal point for a strong Jewish community center?

“In many communities, Jewish families are the only Jewish families in their neighborhoods. Their children are often the only Jewish students in their classrooms,” Lavin said.

In contrast, according to best estimates, 15% to 20% of Mercer Island residents are Jewish. And it’s an actively engaged community, with the SJCC, two synagogues, Northwest Yeshiva High School, Chabad, Friendship Circle and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society.

“We want everyone to be part of what we do and the values we like to foster,” said Lavin. “Come to the J. I will personally tour you around.”

In her presentation, Lavin shared the J’s vision statement, which is to be “the most open and welcoming community-centered Jewish organization, creating opportunities to amplify profound connections for all generations.”

“We want people to come in and our staff will know your name. They’ll ask what you had for dinner? How are the grandkids? We try really hard to connect people and establish lifelong friendships,” she said.

She added: “We want to combat the epidemic of loneliness. Everybody needs to be seen in this world. [The J] is the antidote to loneliness.”

Lavin said the J supports about $200,000 in scholarships every year to fund Early Childhood School students, summer J Camp families, membership, ticketed events, and more.

“Price should never be a barrier to anyone,” she said.

Examples:

Every day, there are 200 kids in Early Childhood School.

425 kids a week in J summer camp.

Hundreds workout and swim daily.

3,050 swim lessons taught last year.

Over 1,700 attended cultural arts programs, including the Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

In addition, the J is one of the island’s largest employers, with jobs for 140 people a year, plus approximately 70 more each week at J camp who work as counselors or lifeguards.

“We are the first place of employment for many young people,” she said. “They get trained on how to be great employees. They learn vital skills to function in a community.”

Other programs include “Dinky Dunkers” basketball; “J Explorers,” mostly for fathers and kids; a climbing wall for young people; and “Parents Night Out.”

The J’s community garden offers “pea patches” and educational programs on gardening, plus delivers produce and meals to needy families.

The J’s auditorium holds 375 people for concerts, lectures, films, and other programs.

With the recent rise in antisemitism and the war between Israel and Hamas, the J has tried to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue. It held a “Speaking Across Conflict” workshop in May, and more than 300 people participated in an online program back in March.

“We want to drive really strong dialogue that is respectful, exploratory, and helps us understand each other,” Lavin said. “This past year has been particularly devastating for our community.”

Security at the J has always been a priority, but it has been beefed up, “with added security personnel, technology, and other measures” Lavin noted.

At 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at the J’s auditorium, a film called “Supernova” will be shown about the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. It will feature first-hand accounts and video footage. It also will be streamed online from Sept. 16-22.

“It’s about the rich, vibrant life in Israel and the horror of the current situation,” Lavin said. “Unfortunately, it’s a part of our daily life right now.” The day before she spoke, hundreds of people marched to mourn the execution of six hostages held by Hamas in the tunnels beneath Gaza.

A few years ago, the J and Rotary collaborated on a project. Some of our members collected the “Lost and Found” clothing from the J, washed and categorized it all, and donated it to Rising Star Elementary School in South Seattle, where we were tutoring at the time. This year we did that again and collected 50 bags of kids’ clothing (including Lost and Found from MISD elementary and middle schools). We plan to make that a regular project.

What is in the J’s future? A redevelopment and expansion plan is in the works, but the entire property first needs to be rezoned and that will require City Council approval, which Lavin expects to be reviewed by next summer. But that’s the subject of a future column. Stay tuned!

John Hamer is a former Seattle Times editorial writer/columnist who has lived on Mercer Island since 1999.