Swimming might seem like a simple childhood skill, a rite of passage for summer days and poolside fun. But in Jewish tradition, swimming is much deeper.
The Talmud instructs that a parent must teach their child to swim, placing this life skill alongside other essential teachings, like Torah study and learning a trade. Why? Because the ability to swim can save a life, and in Judaism, preserving life, or Pikuach Nefesh, is among the highest commandments.
This life-saving mindset is at the heart of the J’s Aquatics Department, run by Ivanna Washington. From preschoolers learning to float, to adaptive lessons for children with different needs, to teens building stamina on the developmental swim team, our pool is a place of empowerment.
Rachael Neal, Aquatics Coordinator, sees swimming as a way to build confidence and resilience.
“I teach a lot of the kids that are very nervous about swimming,” she says. “But after a few weeks, they’re going underwater, they’re comfortable. They go from screaming to smiling.”
Rachael teaches group and private swim lessons, including sessions for children in the J’s Early Childhood Learning Center, which mostly focus on basic safety: what to do if you fall in, how to get to the wall, and how to float.
She recalls one student, a 4-year-old girl who once clung to the pool’s edge in fear.
“She used to scream and didn’t want to touch the water,” she explains. “Now she swims to the wall and goes underwater. And when something scares her, I remind her that I’m here to keep her safe.”
That safety-first, child-led approach has made a difference for Michaela and her daughter Maya, who has been taking lessons with Rachael for over six months.
“Maya started out not even wanting to go near the water,” Michaela says. “Now she loves swimming. Just this past Sunday, she dove down to get rings off the pool floor. The J has really respected her timeline and personality.”
For Maya, the experience has gone beyond water safety.
“She’s learning that just because something is hard doesn’t mean it can’t be joyful,” her mother reflects. “The J’s swim lessons teach determination, resilience, and how to enjoy the journey.”
This mix of structure and sensitivity also plays out in the J’s developmental swim team, open to kids ages 6 to 15. This non-competitive program helps young swimmers refine their strokes and build endurance.
“It’s a great way for kids to experience teamwork and improve at their own pace,” Rachael says.
And the J’s aquatics offerings aren’t just for preschoolers and school-age kids. There are infant-parent swim classes that build water comfort and strengthen bonds, and adult group lessons for those learning later in life. The center also offers adaptive swim programs tailored to individuals with disabilities, ensuring every swimmer is met where they are.
Volunteers like Rem Turatbekov, a high school senior who’s headed to Harvard this fall, where he’ll be joining their collegiate diving team, bring additional expertise and heart to the pool deck. As a competitive diver and student, Rem approaches swim instruction with the same thoughtful discipline he uses in his own sport.
“Diving is very mental,” he explains. “You have to be aware of your body and make constant corrections. And honestly, that mindset helps in school, too. You figure out what you don’t know, and then focus on improving it.”
That idea of continuous, mindful progress informs his teaching philosophy.
“I make sure to teach the kids in a progressive manner,” he says. “Meaning if they’re not able to do something right now, I’ll see what ways I can make sure they’re mentally ready or what drills I can do to make sure they’re physically ready for the skill that they’re going to learn.”
His patient, skill-building approach creates stronger swimmers and more resilient kids, helping them keep their heads above water.
“Hopefully, they remember this sort of teaching for their whole lives,” Rem adds. “That if something seems hard at first, it doesn’t mean they can’t do it, it just means they need the right support and the right steps to get there.”
The J’s aquatics center also plays a vital role beyond recreation and education. The Fairfax County Emergency Medical Services staff regularly trains in the pool to maintain their water rescue certifications, building readiness for real-life emergencies.
“It’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” says Andrew Klock, Director of Fitness. “They train here, but they also relax here. They grab coffee, exercise, connect. It’s a growing partnership.”
Andrew sees the pool as a metaphor for navigating life.
“Our aquatics program gives people the literal tools to swim, but also the figurative ones: discipline, community, resilience. Nobody can swim forever alone. But with support, with lifelines, we float longer.”
Teaching a child to swim isn’t just about paddling to the pool’s edge. It’s about instilling independence, capability, and the strength to face life’s choppy waters. That’s the value that the J brings to every lesson, anchored in the belief that teaching a child to swim is, truly, a mitzvah.