SPRINGFIELD/HOLYOKE – Following a fire at the Jewish Community Center on 1160 Dickinson St., the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts (JFWM) continues its operations in its temporary home at Venture X Holyoke at 98 Westfield Rd.

The fire broke out at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18. No injuries were sustained as police and fire crews responded immediately to the incident. The fire remains under investigation, although there are currently no indications that arson occurred, according to a JFWM press release.

For JFWM Chief Executive Officer Nora Gorenstein, she witnessed the rush of first responders firsthand while driving by the location.

“My immediate thought was about safety, what was going on and the security of our community,” said Gorenstein in an interview with Reminder Publishing.

With the damage causing the temporary closure of JFWM’s headquarters, Gorenstein focused in the immediate aftermath on ways to maintain operations for the JFWM and its multitude of services. She and her team then learned of Venture X, which is owned by JFWM supporter Ned Barowsky.

Venture X operates in close proximity to the Holyoke Mall. The building offers state-of-the-art office spaces for businesses to rent.

“That was not something we had known before our research, but it was a really wonderful coincidence … In speaking with [Barowsky] and hearing his support for our work, it felt like the perfect opportunity for us to temporarily be here in this space,” said Gorenstein.

Gorenstein said that Barowsky has been “warm and welcoming” throughout the relocation process. The temporary move also received immediate support from JFWM Board of Trustees President Robyn Newhouse. The commitment of both parties allowed Gorenstein and the JFWM to relocate in “a matter of days” after their initial inquire with Venture X.

“[Newhouse] really understood the need for us to be able to work out of another location and continue some of our in-person needs,” said Gorenstein.

The JFWM debuted their temporary office space on Dec. 5. While the organization is central in Springfield and Longmeadow, Gorenstein shared that the new office space allows JFWM to form richer connections with Jewish populations from other communities.

“We’re really taking this opportunity to be more present and visible in a part of our region that we don’t always spend as much time in … Because we’re here in Holyoke, this is a really great opportunity to connect more with the people in our Jewish community that live here,” said Gorenstein.

Gorenstein said most of the JFWM’s programs, like Rachel’s Table, continue to operate with minimal interruptions. The only delays come from processing of mail and other items tied directly to the Jewish Community Center.

“I would say it’s not a significant disruption. Everything that we would normally be able to do, we’ve been able to continue doing,” said Gorenstein.

Looking ahead, Gorenstein said the JFWM is eying a winter 2023 timetable for returning to the Jewish Community Center. The federation will use the wait time to maintain programs and further evaluate their services.

“It’s really a work in progress, but that is what we are anticipating. We are also taking this time as a federation to evaluate how we might better serve the community and be more present throughout the area,” said Gorenstein.

The JFWM also continues to find silver linings through a challenging situation. Gorenstein shared that the JFWM recently hosted their first in-person meeting since 2019 on Dec. 15 at JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow. She remains optimistic about the JFWM and its trajectory toward growth.

“I like to think there’s a silver lining to everything, and everything happens to some extent for a reason,” said Gorenstein.

Gorenstein shared that the best way to support the JFWM’s revitalization of the Jewish Community Center is support their 2022 annual campaign at https://jewishwesternmass.org/give/. Readers can also learn more about the JFWM at https://jewishwesternmass.org/.