Jewish Family Service Corps
Education-Activism-Action for the WHOLE Family!
Jewish Family Service Corps is a Jewish service and education program for families with students in Elementary and Middle School. Rooted in the core values of Judaism, the whole family participates together to strengthen family ties while serving the constituents of JFS including refugee families and individuals, older adults in guardianship, and families in need.
Join us for this opportunity to engage meaningfully together as we form a cohort of families committed to social action.
when
Date: Four Sundays
October 27th, 2024, Welcome Dinner, 5pm to 7pm
December 15th, 2024, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
February 9th, 2025, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Sunday, April 27th, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
PLUS: once the program is under way we will organize a Shabbat dinner and Havdalah gathering.
where
JFS of Western MA
15 Lenox St.
Springfield MA
cost
$54 donation per family to the JFS program area of your choice
*An informational interview will be conducted for every family that wishes to enroll. Space is limited. We hope you will join us!
Major funding for this program is from the Family Education Initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Questions? Email Rosalind Torrey at r.torrey@jfswm.org or call 413-737-2601.
Learn more about our pilot year Jewish Family Service Corps:
Serving families with elementary to middle school aged children with the following goals:
- To build community and increase the reach to the constituents we serve
- To engage Jewish families in their local Jewish Social Service Agency
- To raise awareness about social justice issues
- To teach people they can make a difference no matter their age
- To create activist families
- To educate meaningful Jewish values in tangible, hands on ways
- To create experiential learning experiences
- To form a community of caring ambassadors to encourage caring about our neighbors
- To have fun and make a difference in the lives of the underserved among us
- To share ideas and learn from the families serving as first time service ambassadors
- To support families in changing the focus from consumer or entertainment culture to service/activist/caring culture
Volunteering is often thought of as “adult” work. Youth who engage in helping activities feel more confident, empowered, and are activated to engage in the world in new ways.
Sharing the experience of making a difference within a family system strengthens the family, creating new bonds and resilience to the outside pressures of everyday culture. In a time when everyone is pulled in different directions, we are looking to engage families as a whole unit, with every member an important contributor to the whole.
Rather than the parents leaving for their commitments, or kids leaving for theirs, this project will engage the whole family at one time.
Families will learn about the Jewish values of JFS and study texts and stories that highlight why the Jewish community is involved in this particular type of social service work. Additionally, families will participate in social justice projects serving JFS’s constituents forming a cohort of families who care about the same issues.
Families will commit to 4 service projects throughout the year and will also create community through shared Havdalah, Shabbat and Seder experiences. Wherever possible we will include JFS staff and JFS clients to build new relationships and understanding.
Questions? Email Rosalind Torrey at r.torrey@jfswm.org or call 413-737-2601.
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