Greetings!
It’s been a while since I’ve ridden amusement park rides, but I had the opportunity to do so recently while entertaining my 3- and 6-year-old grandchildren. Sitting beside me on the Tilt-A-Whirl was my grandson, and let’s just say it would be a toss-up as to which one of us was going to….well, toss up first! We had fun, and it was a thrill, and it made our heads spin a lot too!
Where do we go from here? Practicing self-care and avoiding burnout
By Leah Persky, PhD & CFLE • Family Life Education Manager

How is it possible that there have been more than 300 mass shootings in our nation in just six months? A week has not passed without a mass shooting in the U.S. in 2022. The recent events in Highland Park, Ill., and Uvalde, Tex., have only made new the pain and suffering of needless violence that exists in our culture. Families across the nation continue to struggle to feel safe.
National 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline is now live
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis and needs support at any time, help is available. You can now call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

988 offers 24/7/365 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:

  •    Thoughts of suicide
  •    Mental health or substance-use crisis, or
  •    Any other kind of emotion distress

The 988 dialing code operates through what was formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is a network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers around the country. 988 serves as a universal entry point, so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

JFCS Counseling and Mental Health Services are also here for you. Highly-skilled, licensed therapists, social workers, and case managers work with care and compassion to address the challenges people face throughout their lives.
Backpacks with school supplies for kids in need from United Way's Action Day
JFCS has received a limited number of backpacks filled with school supplies for those who are in need from United Way’s Action Day. If you, or someone you know is interested in receiving a backpack (while supplies last), please call JFCS at 952-546-0616. You will be connected with an Intake Counselor who can assist you.
PJ Library to host Book Mitzvah event in honor of 13th anniversary
Please join us to celebrate PJ Library’s 13th year in Minneapolis! We’ll have a bounce house, book swap, games, ice cream and more. This event is for kids and adults of all generations.

Sunday, July 31 @ 5:30 p.m.
Brookview Park Pavillion
316 Brookview Parkway S, Golden Valley


PJ Library founding sponsors: Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Harry and Sandy Lerner Family Foundation
Lead Sponsors: Richard and Beverly Fink Family Fund, Jacob Garber Endowment Fund of the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation, Susie and Hart Kuller
Volunteer Spotlight July 2022: Get to know Mickey Greenberg
Mickey Greenberg, pictured here, was looking for an organization to volunteer with in 2018 with an active Jewish outreach.

Can you tell us about yourself and your background?

I am a 1961 graduate of North High School, went to the University of Minnesota for undergrad and law school (1969). I worked as a corporate attorney for Fingerhut Corporation before moving to Israel in 1974, where I worked as Purchasing Manager for Elscint Corp. in Haifa. I returned to Minnesota in 1975 and started work as an administrative law judge for the state. I became a District Court Judge in Hennepin County in 1987 and retired in 2005 to begin a career as a mediator and arbitrator, which I still do.


Contact Dana Shapiro, Community & Volunteer Engagement Manager, at dshapiro@jfcsmpls.org or 952-417-2112 to learn more about volunteer opportunities at JFCS or complete the volunteer application. Stay informed about volunteering at JFCS through our quarterly volunteer e-newsletter. Let Dana know if you want to be added to the list to receive future editions.
Save the Date: Twin Cities Jewish Community 22nd Annual Conference on Mental Health
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year marks the 22nd year of the Twin Cities Jewish Community Annual Conference on Mental Health. The conference is produced by Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul (JFS), partners in improving mental health access, understanding, and education in the community. The conference is FREE and open to everyone.

Watch for more information to come. Registration will open in early September.