Temple B’nai Chaim (TBC) in Wilton and the Stamford Jewish Community Center (Stamford JCC) announced that they have entered into a new strategic partnership — an initiative that leaders from both organizations describe as “transformative,” “symbiotic,” and potentially groundbreaking for the Jewish community structure, both locally and nationwide.
The collaboration will bring the JCC’s expertise in early childhood education, youth and family programming, arts and culture, and community engagement directly to TBC’s campus in Wilton’s Georgetown neighborhood, while supporting and bolstering TBC’s Reform congregational life. Leaders say the result will be a strengthened regional hub for Jewish connection spanning Wilton, Redding, Ridgefield, New Canaan and northern Fairfield County.
A “Transformative and Sustainable New Chapter” for TBC
TBC Co-President Allie Berger Rabinowitz said the partnership represents a pivotal moment for the synagogue.
“This partnership marks a transformative and sustainable new chapter in TBC’s 50-year journey. By partnering with the JCC, we remove the burden of administrative and operational duties so we can focus on what matters most to us — our community, our worship and our education.”
She added that the alliance ensures TBC’s long-term vibrancy while opening doors to expanded programming.
“It also allows TBC to continue thriving as a vibrant center of Reform Jewish life in Wilton, Redding and the surrounding communities, while tapping into the JCC’s expertise and resources to bring even more value to our members… helping us grow, connect and flourish together.”
According to TBC Co-President Jess Diskin Evans, the earliest conversations began with an exploration of early childhood education needs.
“The initial idea came from a desire for TBC to bring early childhood education to our campus. Since the Stamford JCC has such a strong track record in that space, we began exploring what a partnership could look like. As we got to know one another, it became clear that our missions and values were closely aligned, and that by sharing resources and working together, we could create something much bigger — which naturally led to a broader strategic partnership.”
According to Stamford JCC CEO Marshall Kurland, this type of collaboration between a JCC and a synagogue breaks new ground. A JCC is a non-sectarian community hub offering Jewish-values-based programs — early childhood education, arts, wellness, camps, and cultural events, while a synagogue is a religious home for worship, clergy leadership, and lifecycle rituals. They serve overlapping communities but distinct purposes.
Kurland said that JCCs nationwide often operate programs inside synagogue buildings but typically maintain separate staffing structures. What’s unique here is the sharing of professional leadership and integrated programming across both institutions — and membership, as TBC members will now have membership at the Stamford JCC.
“For current TBC members, this means expanded and elevated programming, shared professional leadership, and full access to the Stamford JCC’s wide range of offerings… all while maintaining TBC’s active Reform Jewish congregational life,” Diskin Evans said.
Kurland summarized the value alignment this way:
“Temple B’nai Chaim has… a 50-year-old, deeply committed reform-based temple community… and that really aligns with the Stamford JCC ethos of… meeting people where they are, and… helping people find their people. From our perspective, it was a perfect match.”
Berger Rabinowitz added that the impact extends beyond TBC itself to the broader Jewish community in Wilton.
This partnership creates a new regional hub and a stronger ‘center of gravity’ for Jewish life in our area,” she said. “This collaboration will expand Jewish engagement, strengthen connections across communities, and ensure a vibrant future for generations to come.”
Kurland said the JCC plans to begin rolling out new offerings in phases. Within 3–6 months there will be enhanced arts and culture programs, community events and support for TBC’s existing religious school and lifecycle programming; those programs will be even more robust next fall. Birth-to-two programming (JCC’s J Baby) could launch in 2026, with a full early-learning center targeted for the following year.
“We are meeting with architects already… and ideally, we’d be able to open the school in September of 2027… [but] we believe we can beat that,” Kurland said.
Something else that will happen in the next year is TBC’s milestone 50th anniversary. “The Stamford JCC is so grateful to be able to help augment those celebrations with this renewal,” Kurland said.
It was also, he said, part of strengthening the local Jewish community for the future.
“Going at it alone can only get one organization so far… If the idea is a strong and vibrant Jewish community, then we have to think more regionally,” Kurland said.
He encouraged current, former or curious community members to reach out with ideas or questions.
“Get people to reach out to tell us what they want so that we can meet their needs… because ultimately, that’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to serve the community and create, engage and build a membership-based community.”
Inquiries can be sent via email to Marshall Kurland or TBC.