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Dear Friends,
Our offices are closed but we're as busy as ever with virtual as well as "safe distance events" happening now. Our agency provides government-defined essential services, so we are able to reach our community in their time of need.
Even as we shelter in place, Passover is still coming! During this unprecedented time, we are balancing Jewish tradition along with the need to stay safe. Are you having a Zoom seder? We are in my house. It will be a bit lonely - but we will do our best to be surrounded by those we love.
With my very best wishes for a happy, healthy Passover. Chag pesach sameach!
B'shalom,
With love,
Mindy
Mindy Berkowitz
Executive Director
P.P.S. Thank you to everyone for their kinds words to me during this time. Here are two quotes:
From Wayne Firsty: "Thank you for leading JFS in playing such a great role in our community."
From Bobi Lotman: " Stay warm, dry & safe - you are important to many, many people."
Passover is Coming!
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Sheila and her daughter Yayla prepare Passover packages
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JFS staff along with help from 25 volunteers assembled and delivered 230 Passover packages for isolated seniors (including many Holocaust survivors), adults living with disabilities, low income families and housing insecure adults.
When we asked the volunteers how they felt doing this on a beautiful day outside the Levy Family Campus, they said, "We love it! We'll do it again."
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JFS Volunteers deliver Passover packages |
We appreciate your support for this program and our other services through the Passover Freedom Drive. Your support makes it possible for us to:
- Keep up with the demand for home-delivered meals and groceries
- Recruit more volunteers as necessary to reach out to our most frail clients
- Hire additional counseling staff as the need for emotional support increases
- Continue to assist recently-arrived refugees to help them navigate their strange, new world
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Families volunteer to assemble Passover packages
in front of the Levy Family campus.
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News from the JFS SV Staff
Gratitude from Galina
I want to share with you many thanks! Twenty-seven of my Holocaust survivor clients received meals prepared by Pars Kosher Market. They loved receiving them and expressed their gratitude for these tasty dinners.
Greetings from
Nellie Rochon-Ellis
I joined JFS SV on February 24th as the new Career Counselor and Job Developer. As with any new position one takes on, there is a bit of anxiety: "Will I perform well?", "Will the staff like me?" - and - "Did I make the right decision to join this company?" I can truly say that this has been the most exciting start to any job I have ever taken!
Love from Lori
 For me the story is that volunteers are truly wanting to help and they are inspirational. They are sewing masks, signing up to grocery shop and run errands for isolated seniors, and becoming Friendly Visitor phone buddies.
Knitzvah Blankets the World with Love
In addition to providing blankets for our newly arrived refugees, Knitzvah members have been making masks for Valley Medical Center.
Thank You to
The Sobrato Family Foundation
We are grateful to The Sobrato Family Foundation for
their recent grant of $35,000 to support Jewish Family Services' essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Young Adult Leadership Initiative
All Young Adults in their 20's and 30's are invited.
YA-LIVE events create tikkun olam in our broken world. Come join us!
Upcoming YA-LIVE event:
for Young Adults/Professionals (20s - 30s)
Virtual Attendance
Sunday, April 19th, 3-5PM
During our event local survivor Tamar Jacobs will tell her
story. We will discuss hatred in our time, host a memorable
candle lighting ceremony, and invite adults of multi-faith backgrounds to join in dialogue.
In Memory of Burt Epstein
It is with a heavy heart that we tell you of the passing of Burt Epstein.
Burt, a founder of Jewish Family Services (and Chai House, and Jewish Film Festival - and so many more fine institutions), was one of the kindest and smartest men you'd ever want to meet.
Burt deeply loved our community, and lent his fine leadership wherever it was needed.
A memorial service will come later after danger of the spread of COVID-19 has abated. Burt leaves a big hole that will never be refilled. We will miss him deeply. Enjoy some pictures of him, his wife Sandy and dear friends when we honored Burt at our 2005 gala, and from prior JFS Annual Meetings.
The family has requested that donations in Burt's memory be made to Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley.
(Please see note below re: donations.)
Donation Update from JFS
We use PayPal as our website donation portal. We are working with them to make our drop-down menu and comment section more intuitive.
If you do not see the named fund you would like to donate to, you can choose any fund (or no fund) and put your preference in the comment section that appears after you click on Donate.
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Help JFS maintain essential services for our community during the COVID-19 pandemic
If you do not see a fund listed you would like to donate to, you can make any choice, and put your preference in the comment section.
Do you need home care? JFS partners with 24hr HomeCare to provide safe, high quality service and individualized care for you or your loved one.
Have an old car taking up space in your driveway? Donate it to Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley! We accept all types of vehicles, and it is tax deductible.
We accept most cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RV's, motorcycles, off road vehicles, heavy equipment and most other motorized vehicles; and you get a tax deduction based on the sale value of the vehicle.
Support Our Refugee Services
Have a place in your heart for refugees? We do too! Support
emergency services for refugees. JFS provides pre-arrival support, vocational ESL and employment services, and legal advice.
JFS Quick Links
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