During this season of lights, we celebrate the essential support Jewish Family Services (JFS) brings to our community during times of transition and vulnerability. JFS’s programs serve people regardless of income, age, or religious observance — and Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is proud to support their transformative work. Read on to learn about several of JFS’s life-changing initiatives.

 

Honoring Our Survivors: Nearly 150 Holocaust survivors call Greater Hartford home, and it is our shared honor to care for their needs in their remaining years. To that end, community lay leaders Gayle Temkin and Alan Lazowski recently established the Holocaust Dignity Fund in association with the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. JFS supports their efforts by directing funds to local survivors: providing prepared meals, helping defray the costs of Jewish burials, and addressing other needs to ensure they live with dignity, comfort, and security. If you know of a Holocaust survivor in Greater Hartford who may need assistance, please contact Miriam Brander at mbrander@jfshartford.org.

Hero: Nancy Lichtenberg, LCSW, has served as a trusted mental health counselor at JFS for more than 20 years, providing compassionate support for adults and couples throughout Greater Hartford's Jewish community. Nancy’s impact was highlighted in "West Hartford LIFE" through the story of a senior client who struggled with isolation and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with the client's rabbi and a JFS technology expert, she helped reconnect her client with loved ones and guided her back to emotional stability. The "Hartford Business Journal" recently recognized Nancy as one of 23 Healthcare Heroes across Connecticut. To learn more about JFS’s mental-health support services, visit our website or contact us at info@jfshartford.org.

Turning Financial Crisis into Opportunity: Financial instability can affect anyone, regardless of income level. Our Comprehensive Community Supports program, powered by Micah Philanthropies, provides one-on-one financial counseling through our client support specialists. These skilled staff members help clients evaluate their income and expenses, establish a budget, and connect with social services when needed. Through their assistance, participants regain economic security and develop realistic financial goals. There are no income limits — high or low — required to participate in this program. In fact, many of our participants are just one crisis away from financial difficulty, though ineligible for benefits  — and we work with them to uncover new opportunities. Contact Alicia Walker at awalker@jfshartford.org to learn more.