The Worcester Jewish Community Center has been an institution of excellence for almost 60 years.

Organized in the 1940s as an activity center for Jewish youth, the JCC first occupied the second floor of Mr. Abraham Persky’s factory building on Franklin Street in downtown Worcester.

In 1951, as the local Jewish population grew, so did the need for more services, the Worcester Post of Jewish War Veterans donating a building at 111 Elm Street as a new home. Though the mid-1960s, the Center flourished. Youth programs became popular and active groups of volunteer leaders drove the Center to the forefront of Jewish life.

In 1965, community leaders once again saw a need to expand and modernize, relocating the Center to keep up with growth and geographical movement of the Worcester Jewish community. 

Visionaries purchased land on Salisbury Street and a massive campaign to raise funds to build a new Jewish Community Center began.

The new Center opened in 1967 and again the JCC was at the core of Jewish life in Worcester.

By 1988 we had once again outgrown the existing facility as confirmed by a comprehensive strategic study. In response to the findings of this study, a Capital Campaign was initiated in October 1993. The result of this campaign is our current beautiful facility.

Opened in 1996, the indoor swimming pool, health and fitness center, and state-of-the-art early childhood education wings are proud additions that contribute to the overall growth and success of the JCC.