Dear Friends, 

There is nothing like a good book – especially one you find yourself reading over and over again. There is even a book that makes me happy just to have it near me so I can see the title. This book is Gratitude by Oliver Sacks. It’s amazing how an outlook of gratitude can influence how we see the world and interact with others. I have so much goodness and abundance in my life and looking at that book is a constant reminder to always be appreciative and grateful, regardless of what may be happening in the world around us.

At Thanksgiving, I want to share my gratitude for YOU – our incredible supporters, volunteers, clients and leadership that help to ensure that everyone in our community who wants a mentor – someone who cares and believes in them – can have one. This year alone approximately 600 volunteers dedicated 20,000 hours to enhancing someone else’s life. Wow!!! Now that is something for which we can all be grateful.

Thank you to everyone who has supported JBBBS through your volunteerism and generosity. As 2018 comes to a close, we hope that you will make a new or renewed commitment to JBBBS to help change lives through mentoring.

JBBBS Events & Updates

Rodman Ride for Kids

Thanks to Board Member and Ride Chair Beth Tuck and to everyone who rode and supported JBBBS at this year’s Ride! We had 50 riders and raised over $125,000 from 400 donors. 100% of the money raised, including an incentive, directly supports JBBBS programs. Save the Date for next year’s Ride on September 21, 2019! Click here to view the full photo album.



JBBBS Keeps Holocaust Memory Alive 

Maurice Poliborsky, a resident of Newton, recently passed away and left the personal belongings in his home to JBBBS. There was a safe hidden in Maurice’s basement with letters, artifacts, and photos of him in concentration camps. It appears that during his lifetime, Maurice chose not to share with others that he was a Holocaust survivor, but it is now time to share his story. Laura Jockusch, Brandeis University Albert Abramson Assistant Professor of Holocaust Studies at Brandeis University reviewed his artifacts and helped us understand Maurice’s story:

"Maurice was from Poland and survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald where he was liberated, lost his whole family in the Holocaust, and came to the US (where he had cousins) via Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, and became a US citizen in 1952. Most notably, Maurice was among the "Buchenwald Children," the 400 or so children and youth (among them was Elie Wiesel) who were cared for and kept alive by other prisoners in the last weeks of the war and then liberated by the US Army on April 11, 1945.” 

Included in the archive is poetry Maurice wrote as a 17-year old, in German, about his survival. 

We are deeply touched that Maurice entrusted JBBBS with his experiences and feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to share his story with others through the US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHM). Kimberlee personally will be delivering Maurice’s photos and letters to the curator of the USHM in January.

Congratulations to Alumni Big Brother Marty Kofman

Longtime Big Brother Marty Kofman received an Honorable Mention from the Invest in Others Awards for his exemplary volunteerism and as a result JBBBS received a $1,000 grant from the organization!

Big Sister Anna Fasman’s Article Published on Jewishboston.com

Please read Anna’s moving account of her experience with her Little Sister and JBBBS Programs Read the article here.

We are thrilled to announce that Laura Shulman Brochstein, MA, LCSW, has joined JBBBS as our new Program Director. In Laura’s role she will oversee all programs for children, teens and adults. Laura comes to us most recently from Jewish Family & Children’s Service, with 15 years’ experience working with children, with families, and with adults who have disabilities. She is a great addition to our incredible team. You can read more about Laura’s background here. 

As we welcome Laura, we also wish farewell to Jan Klein, Director of Programs for Adults with Disabilities and Anne Grossman, Assistant Director of Children’s Programs, who have both decided to pursue other professional opportunities. I am so appreciative for the leadership, clinical judgement, and compassion that Jan and Anne brought to the agency. In Jan’s 24 years with JBBBS, she grew our adult program from just a handful of matches to over 150 matches. Because of Jan, the Boston Jewish Community is a more inclusive place. Similarly, Anne brought compassion and professional to support many mentoring matches in her six years with the agency. 

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with abundance and the warmth of the holiday season.

Kimberlee

Kimberlee Schumacher, President and CEO

kimberlee@jbbbs.org

 

PS – Please mark your calendars for our Annual Gala on April 6, 2019 , where we will honor three extraordinary JBBBS leaders and volunteers – Carolynn Levy, Adam Riemer and Marc Seligman. Celebration will once again be at the House of Blues with the fabulous Hip Pocket Orchestra!