History of the Gordon Jewish Community Center
Nashville is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the United States, yet it did not have a shared community space until just over a century ago. What is now the Gordon Jewish Community Center (GJCC) has grown through 114+ years of vibrant membership, determined leadership, wellness-focused programming, and events that have shaped generations. Through every chapter, our mission has remained constant.
Our Mission
The Gordon Jewish Community Center provides programs and services grounded in Jewish values and traditions. We welcome members from across Nashville and surrounding communities to connect, exchange ideas, build community, and grow together.
“Through its four locations, its several names, and its century of committed members, the Gordon Jewish Community Center proudly sits nine miles from its original location. It is a testament to the spirit of the Jewish community of Nashville—its stability, persistence, capability, and resourcefulness—and to its potential for another hundred years and more.”
First Meeting (1902–1903)
December 31, 1902: Twenty young men gathered at the Gay Street Synagogue to form the Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) of Nashville.
February 12, 1903: The YMHA incorporated “for the maintenance of a literary and gymnasium club… and in athletic sports.”
November 30, 1903: A public reception was held at the first accommodations on 223½ Cherry Street (now 4th Avenue), an area then known for its rough reputation. Leaders continued to seek a permanent home.
A Place to Call Home (1907–1908)
March 25, 1907: The cornerstone was laid for a new YMHA building on Union Street; the first meeting was held that October.
With a dedicated building, the YMHA expanded amenities for just one dollar per month, as noted in a 1908 membership pamphlet.
YMHA News (circa 1915)
Entering its “Bar Mitzvah year,” the YMHA launched YMHA News, a publication featuring community updates, cartoons, and even wartime coverage—always with a lively voice.
YWHA and Community Leadership (1920s–1948)
A Ladies’ Auxiliary soon formalized as the Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA). By 1924, the center became the YM–YWHA. The YWHA engaged young women, supported community initiatives—including wartime efforts—and elevated issues central to women’s lives.
The YWHA thrived until 1948, when the YM–YWHA officially became the Jewish Community Center of Nashville.
A plaque honoring YWHA presidents is displayed outside the GJCC library.
Dances at the Y (early–mid 20th century)
Dances were a beloved tradition, drawing all ages for community, music, and celebration—immortalized in Frances H. Finklestein’s playful poem “Nowhere’s to Go.”
Athletics & the PEPS (1920s–1950s)
Sport was central from the start. The YMHA fielded Nashville’s first Jewish basketball team in 1920, quickly rising to city champions in 1921 and competing with Vanderbilt and teams across Kentucky and Alabama.
The original “PEPS” included Max Eisenstadt, Harry Diamond, “Professor Gordon,” Phil Cohen, Izzy Silver, Leo Goldner, and (seated) Sam Caplan, Jack Diamond, and Abe Levine. The tradition continued for decades, inspiring the successful women’s “PEPPETTES” in the 1950s.
Summer Camp Through the Decades (1930s–present)
Since the 1930s, summer camp has offered Nashville’s Jewish youth a place to explore and cool off. Early programs met under a well-known tree in Centennial Park for swimming, arts, hikes, singing, cookouts, and occasional overnights.
With the Highway 70 campus in the 1970s–80s, camps expanded—Shalom, Maccabee, Yaldot, K’toni, Tiyul—and added specialty offerings in sports, drama, performing arts, and outdoor adventure. A transformative gift from the Cal Turner Family Foundation named the program Camp Davis, honoring Mildred Davis.
50 Years & the West End Era (1947–1952)
As membership grew, the Union Street building was sold in 1947. After several temporary locations, the organization became the Jewish Community Center of Nashville in 1948. A cornerstone was laid in late 1951, and the new JCC opened at 3500 West End Avenue in 1952, just in time for its 50th anniversary.
Alumni recall the West End years with affection: day camp, ballet and swimming lessons, racquetball, a bustling rec room—even a bowling alley. For many, the Center was a second home and a vital place of belonging.
Early Childhood Program (1948–present)
Reflecting national changes after WWII, the Center began offering early childhood programming in 1948 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., five days a week). With the West End facility complete, trained staff led three- and four-year-olds in arts, music, games, and storytelling. The move to Percy Warner enabled further growth, including evening seminars for parents.
The 1958 Bombing
On March 16, 1958, the Nashville JCC was bombed. Though no culprit was identified, the attack targeted those advocating for progress and racial equality. The Center’s support for interracial organizations and school integration placed it squarely on the side of civil rights—then and now.
A New Outdoor Campus off Highway 70 (1966–1982)
The JCC acquired 52 acres on Percy Warner Boulevard in 1966, using the land for sports and outdoor activities by 1969. By the late 1970s, West End’s limits—plus the planned I-440 connector—prompted a full relocation decision in 1980. Construction began in December 1982.
Century Celebration & Expansion (1990s)
By the 1990s, membership again outpaced facilities. In 1998, the Center announced plans to expand fitness spaces, grow the preschool and library, create an auditorium, and add multipurpose rooms—positioning the J for its next century.
Documenting the Story: From Y to J (2000s)
Seeking a comprehensive account of Nashville’s Jewish community, educator Jean Roseman researched the Center’s history through the lens of the YMHA and the JCC, resulting in From Y to J: The Hundred-Year History of Nashville’s Jewish Community Center. The GJCC is deeply grateful for her scholarship; much of this timeline draws on her work.
