Boston YMHA Hecht House

              The Hecht Neighborhood House
The Hecht House is located in Dorchester a short distance from
Roxbury and Mattapan.  In this area live ab-ut seventy thousand Jews.
This Institution has a membership of five thousand.  Those members who
can afford to pay dues and those who cannot, receive the same privileges
as the paying members.  The dues alone do not meet the expenses so the
Associated Jewish Philanthropies help out.  Adults as well as children
belong to this community center.
A fully equipped non-sectarian nursery school is maintained
nine months of the year for two and one half to four year olds.  A
trained staff keep these children busy during the day.
At three fifteen, the school children come in and participate
in some of the following clubs: camera, arts and crafts, orchestra, sewing, woodworking, play-group, music, dramatics, science, metalworking
and many other activities. Altogether, there are about fifty of these
clubs,    Jewish Holidays are celebrated with parties and refreshments.
Ihe children leave at half past five and Hecht House closes until
seven thirty.  At this time the House opens for young people of fourteen
years and over who have boys and girls debating clubs and who participate
in the same club projects that the younger children did earlier. They
enjoy the use of a fin£canteen.   Mon profit plays are given for which
the only charge made is to cover the cost of producing the play and the
use of the hall.    This grouo has a council consisting of a representative from each club.
The Hecht House sponsors many extra activities. One of these is
a 3oy Scout Troop which has the ubo of "Scoutland", a large scouting reservation; also a Girl Scout Troop.
During the summer, a canteen Is operated two nights a week.
Also, two day camps with limited enrollments that go to Nantasket twice a
week are operated.    A basketball team that plays in a league and
practices in a fine indoor court, is included.     Every Sunday, the