Supporting Our Global Community

A weekly e-newsletter from JFS of Middlesex County

JFS is a non-profit social services agency serving all members of the community from all backgrounds. Your generous support enables us to provide crucial programs for those in need.

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Thank You To Our Community

WOW! Thank you to all of you who donated items for our Ukraine Donation Drive. In one week we received many boxes of medical supplies, personal care products, sleeping bags, flashlights, socks and more. With full hearts, we thank you.

If you missed our donation drive but would still like to help, please direct monetary donations to the Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ or email media@jfsmiddlesex.org for information on donating items for the people of Ukraine.

Art for the Soul, Food for the Body

For Richard Hoffman (80), art has always been part of his life. He grew up knowing he was “always an artist.” Richard fed his creative soul at a young age with doodles in the back of his notebook and with drawings of his favorite cartoon characters. Born and raised in Newark, NJ, he attended Weequahic High School and went to college at Seton Hall. Though his parents were not thrilled with him choosing art as a career, Richard notes “I knew I couldn’t help myself, I had to draw.”

He was driven to trust his talents and found work as an illustrator. He focused on developing his comic strips and illustrating and writing children’s stories that brought his life into his art. Richard self-published four illustrated books highlighting his love of visual storytelling and favorite Jewish recipes. Richard taught art and driver’s education, which inspired him to share his talents within his community. Whether he was sketching and painting a mural at a hospital or creating a 3-foot replica of the constitution, Richard filled his life with creative pursuits and trusted his artistic vision to: “If I can see it, I can do it!”

One of his last murals was in 2015 at the age of 73 when he recreated The Kiss (“Der Kuss”) by Austrian painter Gustave Klimt for a senior center in northern Israel. When speaking on this experience, he shares that he was honored and delighted to be invited to uplift the spirits of seniors abroad. Over the years, he has expressed himself through shapes, colors and textures, which has helped him embrace life’s beauty and nourish his soul. JFS staff recently visited Richard, where he shared his appreciation for JFS’ Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW), and the kind and caring staff who reach out to him weekly. He states, “The meals are important. I stay at home and appreciate JFS checking in.” When asked what his favorite dish from KMOW was, he said “the stuffed cabbage.” Though, he admits it doesn’t compare to his wife’s stuffed cabbage--a recipe he includes in one of his illustrated books.

To support JFS' Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) which provides weekly meals to seniors in Middlesex County, call 732-777-1940, email office@jfsmiddlesex.org or donate online .

Richard's replica of the The Kiss by Gustave Klimt (1908) which inspired a mural painting.

Richard sharing his children's story books, and how his life helped him create art.

A self-portrait, sketched in pencil (2002).

A Mitzvah at Passover

As Passover approaches, Jewish families are beginning to prepare their homes and hearts to celebrate freedom and perseverance of community spirit. Working together ensures that our values and customs are preserved and encourages us to help one another in times of need. With your generosity, JFS helps more than 500 individuals observe Passover each year. As our list of families in need grows, it would be difficult to imagine a more timely, meaningful or effective mitzvah than your monetary donation that will allow us to purchase grocery store gift cards for those in need of Passover food.

To support this year’s Passover Drive, call 732-777-1940 or donate online and indicate “Passover Drive.”

Are you interested in donating your Chametz? Our Kosher Food Pantries are accepting food and self-care items to give out after Passover - please only unopened, undamaged and unexpired items. To view pantry staples needed, see our 2022 Kosher Pantry Wish List.

Bridging the Gap This Passover

Thank you to the Stonebridge Hadassah who recently donated hundreds of dollars’ worth of gifts cards for Stop-n-Shop and Shoprite for JFS' Annual Passover Drive. We are grateful for their commitment to helping JFS feed those in need this Passover.

To donate to JFS' Passover Drive, call 732-777-1940 or donate online and indicate “Passover Drive."

Middlesex County: In Solidarity with Ukraine

On Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 am, the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners will raise the Ukrainian national flag in solidarity with the local Ukrainian community to call for peace.

RSVP to jill.golden@co.middlesex.nj.us

JOIN OUR TEAM

JFS is seeking energetic, motivated clinical social workers to join our supportive multidisciplinary team providing counseling for children through senior adults; individual and family therapy.

JFS is hiring part-time drivers to help transport senior adults, including Holocaust survivors, to medical appointments and agency events, as well as to help with Kosher Meals on Wheels deliveries.