Alpert JFS News

No Excuse for Abuse Surpasses $300,000 Goal!

Alpert JFS is proud to announce that we surpassed the $300,000 fundraising goal set for our 18th Annual “No Excuse for Abuse” Virtual Evening. The event, now in its 18th or “Chai” year, raises money to support our Domestic Abuse and Mental Health services and programs. A sincere “thank you” to to our sponsors and our 2022 Co-Chairs Renee & Rob Gordon, Patti & Tony Lampert, and Barbara & Peter Sidel, as well as the evening’s Emcees Wendy & Geoff Stahl. […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/no-excuse-for-abuse-surpasses-300000-goal/

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Yom HaShoah is the day all of Israel and Jews around the world commemorate the Holocaust, the six million Jews who perished, and the heroism of Jewish resistance of that period…and survivors. It is a day of great importance – for tradition, continuity, connection, and familiarity with all that is meaningful. We have, and will continue to remember – for ourselves and for future generations. It has never been more important to make history relevant. . .to care and share […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/yom-hashoah-holocaust-remembrance-day/

Two Initiatives Bring Passover Meals to the Homebound and Holocaust Survivors

Approximately 60 volunteers from The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach county’s Jewish Volunteer Center, and Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service prepped, packaged, and delivered 500 meals for the Passover holiday, with some very special surprises! Drivers navigated throughout Palm Beach County, making deliveries in masks and gloves, practicing social distancing. They safely dropped off festive, traditional meals (gefilte fish and horseradish, salad, chicken, brisket, kugel {a baked casserole side dish}, tzimmes {a […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/two-initiatives-bring-passover-meals-to-the-homebound-and-holocaust-survivors/

Mental Health First Aiders Are Listening!

Like many programs and services in the age of COVID-19, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a nationally renowned, evidence-based training course that teaches participants the skills to help someone developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis, has gone virtual. Presented by Alpert JFS, the Palm Beach County coordinator for Mental Health First Aid, in partnership with Palm Health Foundation, Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition, and 14 agencies that comprise the Mental Health First Aid Coalition […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/mental-health-first-aiders-are-listening/

Alpert JFS Continues Domestic Abuse Support During Month Dedicated to Awareness

October has been designated Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. For many, home is anything but a sanctuary during COVID-19; we have seen a spike in the incidence of abuse and violence. Lockdowns may have ended with Florida’s Phase 3 Reopening, but the abuse will not stop, and our education and prevention work must continue. At Alpert JFS, we provide domestic abuse services, an online support group and community education, plus offer a teen dating abuse and bullying prevention program to help […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/alpert-jfs-continues-domestic-abuse-support-during-month-dedicated-to-awareness/

Addressing More Frequent, More Severe, More Dangerous At-Home Violence

Home should be where life plays out, joyfully. Unfortunately for two local-area sisters, their mother’s home is where their lives ended at the hands of an ex-boyfriend of one. Family members of shooting victims Sofia and Rebeca Davila want to spread awareness about domestic violence, and urge people who are suffering, and those who love them, to speak up about it.  The young women were 19 and 20 years old; the killer, 22-year-old Anthony Ashan Stoutt, a former high school […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/at-home-violence-crisis/

Mentoring 4 Kids Match Celebrates “Lucky 7” Milestone

Sam and Steve are a mentee and mentor, respectively, in the Judith & Jack Rosenberg Mentoring 4 Kids (M4K) program, part of Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service (Alpert JFS). They’ve been a dynamic duo for seven years now, having the special distinction of being the program’s longest match! When they first met in 2013, Sam was a six-year-old boy in a single-parent home who hadn’t had much exposure to outside activities, and Steve was a retired man looking […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/m4k-lucky7/

Alpert JFS Observes Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)

We Remember. In a twist of fate, this year’s Alpert JFS Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) tribute to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, and the heroism of the Jewish resistance of the period, was celebrated online.  There were no public gatherings in schools, synagogues or community centers. Despite the fact that COVID-19 has affected the way we teach, feel, talk and learn, we remembered – together – while apart. We did this for Holocaust survivors, for […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/yomhashoa2020/

Purim: The Holiday of Masks – Am I Wearing One?

This article was contributed by: Olivia Tartakow, LCSW, M.ED, Director of Community Directions at Alpert Jewish Family Service  Masks are a key symbol of Purim. However, we all wear masks at various times throughout the year. We have different roles, and the roles we play may determine what kind of mask we wear at different times. It’s part of being flexible and knowing when a mask is appropriate, and which mask fits the situation. Healthy behavior is when we’re conscious […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/purim-the-holiday-of-masks-am-i-wearing-one/

What is Gaslighting?

  This article was written by Sara Walsh, LCSW, Director of Alpert JFS Domestic Abuse Program   It seems like we can’t look at our Facebook newsfeed or watch the “Today Show” these days without learning about gaslighting; the new buzzword for emotional abuse. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse, in which a person – to gain power and control – makes someone question their reality, judgment, and sanity. The term was inspired by the 1944 film, “Gaslight, starring […] https://www.alpertjfs.org/gaslighting/