Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the Jewish year, offers a time for introspection: to look back at the past year, and plan on changes to make in the coming year. While some of us may feel we are ready to let go of the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many others who continue to struggle in the face of unprecedented and rapidly changing circumstances. Thousands of our vulnerable friends and neighbors are in need of assistance. This is where Ferd and Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service steps in – thanks to the generous support of our donors.

We are there for children, teens, adults, isolated seniors, Holocaust survivors and people with disabilities – the most vulnerable among us. We listen non-judgmentally, and offer a supportive shoulder, hot meal, and warm embrace. As one of our AmeriCorps volunteers shared, “The need for our services are very much appreciated by our clients. The loneliness we help to soften is real. Bringing a smile to their face brings relief. We may not turn back the clock but lending a sympathetic ear to their unique life experiences gives a renewed confidence and hope for the future. They are not alone.”

In Judaism, we are responsible for one another – arevim zeh bazeh. Let us consider that the shofar calls us to repentance and action. As Rabbi Brad Hirschfield said, “Rosh Hashanah is … all about…relationships which sustain us and help us do the same for others.” Many of us are well acquainted with the circle of life, and the cycle of a new year. The round challah that we eat at our Rosh Hashanah dinners symbolize this, as the eating of apples and honey is representative of the wishes that we share for a sweet new year.

Your gift can help enhance the life of someone less fortunate, helping us maintain the programs and services that keep our clients empowered and connected, and feeling safe and supported. Please make your check payable to Alpert JFS (tax ID #59-1520581). You also may donate online at AlpertJFS.org/donate, or contact Chief Development Officer Kelley Whiter, J.D., at [email protected], to discuss your gift.

We thank you for your all that you do for our agency and community and wish you L’Shanah Tovah.

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