Rabbi Debra Bennet on Jewish Life, Learning, and Building Inclusive Community at the Mid Island Y JCC
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Vocal.Media
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/10/22
Rabbi Debra Bennet is the Director of Jewish Life & Learning at the Mid Island Y JCC in Plainview, NY. She received her rabbinic ordination in May 2007 and has previously served as the Rabbi Educator at Temple Beth Torah in Melville and as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Chaverim in Plainview, where she developed teen programming and worked to strengthen connections to Judaism and the Jewish Community. In her current role, she continues to educate and inspire her community while addressing pressing social issues, fostering dialogue and collaboration across faith traditions, and cultivating an inclusive, connected community throughout the JCC.
In this interview with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, Bennet discusses how Judaism infuses every aspect of community life—from education and the arts to social support and interfaith collaboration. In conversation with Scott Douglas Jacobsen, she explores how the JCC measures impact through meaningful connections rather than attendance, fosters teen engagement through authenticity and reflection, and integrates Jewish values across departments. Rabbi Bennet emphasizes honouring intra-Jewish diversity, cultivating interfaith understanding, and promoting genuine allyship against antisemitism through shared values, compassion, and sustained, trust-based relationships.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What does “Jewish Life & Learning” mean at a community JCC?
Rabbi Debra Bennet: At a community JCC like the Mid Island Y JCC, Jewish life and learning aren’t confined to a classroom or a specific program; they’re infused into our entire community. Judaism shapes everything we do, both in visible and more subtle ways. Whether we’re helping those facing food insecurity, educating children, or supporting people as they age, the values of our tradition guide our work at every step. When someone walks through our doors, they may experience Jewish life through a holiday celebration, a Hebrew song in an early childhood classroom, or feel it in the way we show care or build community. Both the explicit and quiet expressions of Judaism are essential. Together, they create a space where everyone can connect meaningfully in ways that feel authentic and relevant to their lives.
Jacobsen: How do you measure impact? Not simply attendance.
Bennet: At the Mid Island Y JCC, we measure impact by the quality of connections people make here. While numbers matter, actual impact is defined by meaningful moments, whether finding support, purpose, community, or an unexpected experience. Someone might come for the gym but stay for a Shabbat song; a family might enroll a child, then discover a young parents’ group. Our success is reflected in the depth of relationships we foster, the belonging people feel, and the ways Jewish values enrich daily life in our community.
Jacobsen: Which program bridged Jewish tradition with contemporary community needs for your community?
Bennet: One program that deeply resonates right now is Teens for Israel, which equips teens with tools to understand and express the Jewish people’s connection to Israel, while thoughtfully addressing today’s challenging realities. As antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment rise, this program empowers teens to navigate difficult conversations with knowledge and confidence. Grounded in Jewish tradition, it creates a space for asking questions, gaining context, and hearing new perspectives.
Jacobsen: What works in 2025 for teen engagement?
Bennet: In 2025, teen engagement thrives when it prioritizes authentic relationships, relevance, and flexibility. With teens busier and more stressed than ever, they’re drawn to spaces where they feel seen, heard, and valued. Programs that help them explore their core values provide grounding and direction, while discussions tied to their real-life experiences, like mental health and responses to antisemitism, spark deeper connections. Engagement grows when teens help shape the experience and when there’s space not just for activity, but also for reflection and meaning finding.
Jacobsen: How do you collaborate across departments to ensure Jewish values inform the arts?
Bennet: Jewish tradition teaches us that we work best when we work together. The concept of chevruta, or partnered learning, is rooted in the idea that knowledge is deepened through dialogue and that one person’s insight sharpens another’s. This model guides how we collaborate across departments at the JCC: Jewish values aren’t meant to live in isolation. Instead, they thrive when infused into every aspect of community life.
By integrating Jewish learning, culture, and values across all departments, from arts to fitness to early childhood, we create a shared language and deeper purpose. It helps members connect to something larger than themselves, whether they identify as Jewish. It also allows our staff to work from a values-based foundation, where creativity, compassion, justice, and community are guiding principles. When Jewish wisdom is woven throughout the Mid Island Y JCC, it strengthens the sense of belonging and meaning for everyone who walks through our doors.
Jacobsen: In a pluralistic setting, how do you honour intra-Jewish diversity?
Bennet: We honour intra-Jewish diversity by meeting people where they are and creating space for multiple expressions of Jewish identity. We find common ground by validating different beliefs and traditions, ensuring everyone feels seen, respected, and welcome. Our goal is to work from a place of openness, without making assumptions about what people know or don’t know. With this perspective, we aim to foster an environment that encourages less judgment and more opportunities for sharing and learning.
Jacobsen: What is your philosophy on interfaith partnership at the JCC?
Bennet: At the Mid Island Y JCC, where staff and members come from many backgrounds, it’s essential to create a culture where everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included. We focus on shared values, like community and compassion, while celebrating the richness that different beliefs and cultures bring to our shared space.
Jacobsen: What are productive community-level responses to allyship and antisemitism beyond performative gestures?
Bennet: True allyship means speaking up for one another, showing up in difficult moments, and continuing hard conversations even when they’re uncomfortable. It also means building authentic relationships across communities through cultural sharing. In doing so, our mutual support is grounded in a deeper trust, rather than just surface-level statements.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Rabbi Bennet.
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