Monday, December 14, 2009

A Little Post About Jewish Family Service in Austin ...

From last night's email to the congregation for Day Three of Chanukah ...



An Idea to Help You Build the THIRD Candle of Your Chanukiyat Tzedek … and More to Do/Discuss …

One of the types of darkness people too often feel is emotional darkness, the darkness coming from not being able to manage one’s feelings and responsibilities. In Austin, we are fortunate to be our own Jewish Family Service agency to help us through times of emotional darkness.

JFS provides more services to the Jewish community than many of us realize, more importantly, providing these services with an understanding of Jewish culture and needs. One of the most important services JFS offers is counseling, both individual counseling and support groups for a wide constituency, all on a sliding scale so that people’s needs are met regardless of their ability to pay. Support groups offered by JFS meet according to interest but currently include one for single parents, “wellness with a disability,” a group for those with ongoing disabilities, and parenting children with disabilities, among others. Additionally, Mitch Sudolsky, Austin’s JFS Director, and I have been working together on a Jewish Cancer Support Group which will continue into the spring.

You might not know this, but JFS also runs an incredibly active seniors program, which includes providing transportation to activities at the Del Jewish Community Center campus as well as providing programming in congregate facilities. I have been fortunate to participate not only in Shabbat and holiday programming which keeps the Jewish soul nourished, but there are also exercise programs to keep the body moving, and discussion programs to keep the mind active. JFS also provides case management services to assist families with older relatives. From head to toe, JFS cares for our seniors.

Finally, JFS’s case management and crisis intervention services also extend to families dealing with divorce, death, job loss, domestic abuse, or health issues. Additionally, as you might remember from Friday’s email, I mentioned that someone from JFS had noted to me that they had seen an upturn in assistance being requested by middle class families. You should know that one of the most important programs (in my opinion) that JFS offers is emergency assistance to Jewish families in need. This assistance can come in the form of providing payment of utilities or rent, grocery store cards for families to buy food, and help with money for medication. However, the funds requested by too often far too often exceed the amount allotted each month and JFS must then refer families to other organizations to help.

While JFS is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Community Association of Austin and receives funding to support its work from them (www.shalomaustin.org), it also needs direct assistance from the community to be able to continue to provide these services.

So, this year, as you are considering ways to bring light to our darkened world, consider the good that JFS does for children, families, and seniors. To support JFS directly, OR IF YOUR FAMILY NEEDS ASSISTANCE, please contact them at: Jewish Family Service of Austin, 11940 Jollyville Road, Suite 110 South, Austin, Texas 78759. JFS’ phone number is (512) 250-1043 and their email is jfs@shalomaustin.org. Like us, JFS is here to help.

- Rabbi Cookie Lea Olshein    : )

PS ... We are delighted to announce that Mitch Sudolsky, the Director of JFS will be our guest speaker at CBI’s Shabbat services on Friday, January 29th at 6:30pm!

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