ABOUT THE APJCC

The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center (APJCC) of Silicon Valley is a Jewish nonprofit community center in Los Gatos that welcomes people of all faiths.

We work to enhance Jewish life in Silicon Valley, and to provide social, cultural, educational and recreational services for the entire community.

We always welcome feedback and would like to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected] or 408.358.3636 with your questions or suggestions.

Want to receive regular updates on what’s happening at the JCC? Subscribe to our mailing list.

The APJCC is a program of Jewish Silicon Valley.

HISTORY

Where did the JCC come from? It all started back in the 1850s when the first Jewish community centers were founded as cultural centers for Jewish immigrants. In the early 1900s, JCCs added athletic programs, and later in the century they began to offer summer camps, preschool, informal education, services for the aged, and all the services JCCs are known for today. As Jews became accepted into the mainstream of American life, JCCs began to serve the entire community and today, JCCs welcome people of all faiths.

Our JCC was founded in San Jose in 1973, and received official nonprofit status in 1974. In 1984 we moved to our current 9-acre campus in Los Gatos on the site of the old Berry School. A grant from Arnie and Cookie Addison helped purchase the campus. Mrs. Addison’s maiden name was Penzak, hence we became the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley.

The current building opened in 2005. Funds for construction came from Gloria and Ken Levy, Eli Reinhard, and many other donors whose names can be seen on the donor wall in our main lobby.

In February 2021, the APJCC merged with Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley to form a new entity, Jewish Silicon Valley, that combines the strengths of both organizations. The APJCC continues to exist as the programming arm of Jewish Silicon Valley.

Thank you to everyone in the community who has worked so hard to make the APJCC what it is today.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley welcomes everyone to create a strong community and fosters the well-being of all people through connection with Jewish values and traditions.