An atypical scene unfolded this week at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Portland, Oregon, as Shluchim, Shluchos, and their families from across the state gathered for an afternoon of bonding and togetherness, hosted in cooperation with the local JCC.

The event, titled “JCC at the JCC – Join Chabad Community at the Jewish Community Center,” was organized by Chabad of Oregon as a special afternoon of appreciation for Shluchim, Shluchos and their families. The afternoon included swimming, basketball, food, and a special children’s rally.

The JCC reserved its pool for the Chabad community, with separate swimming sessions for men and women and separate lifeguards for each session. A basketball court was also available throughout the afternoon, while the kosher J Cafe provided each guest with a meal.

For families with young children, childcare was arranged for children from six months through six years, allowing parents to enjoy the afternoon as well.

The program also included a special children’s rally, where the children gathered together and recited the Twelve Pesukim, adding a special Chabad atmosphere to the afternoon.

“Life on Shlichus can often be demanding, and an opportunity for Shluchim and Shluchos from different parts of the state to spend time together in a relaxed setting was especially meaningful,” one of the organizers told Anash.org.

The families were able to meet, socialize and enjoy an afternoon in which they themselves were being taken care of.

The Shluchim also had the opportunity to meet with an individual involved with the Oregon Jewish Foundation and learn about ways Shluchim can potentially benefit from the foundation’s programs and resources. For the women, a speaker who travels internationally to speak with corporate employees about bringing joy into their work shared her message of doing things with simcha.

“The JCC staff viewed the afternoon as an opportunity to welcome a segment of the Jewish community that it does not typically serve, putting its name, ‘Jewish Community Center,’ into practice in a very real way,” one of the organizers said.

The organizers noted that the event created a sense of unity that went beyond the afternoon itself. The Shluchim and Shluchos felt that they were being appreciated and thought of, while the JCC staff had the opportunity to do something meaningful for another part of the Jewish community.