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JFS in the News
“With this program, we hope to become more knowledgeable, appreciative and respectful of the diversity of our Jewish community and toward individuals of the GLBTQ community,” says Rabbi Michael Shulman of Wise Temple. Host families for “From Toleration to Acceptance to Celebration: Our Connections to the GLBTQ Community” include Ginny and Mendy Fisher, Patti and Hirsch Wise, Kathy and Irvin Wise, Susan and Sam Knobler, and Brooke and Daniel Guigui. Rabbi Horowitz is the rabbi emeritus of Temple Israel in Akron, Ohio. He has been active on many community and religious boards including Chair of Akron’s Community Relations Council, a member of the National Committee on HIV/AIDS for the Union For Reform Congregations, and President of the Akron Area Interfaith Council.. He continues to serve as a past president of the Akron chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and presently serves as secretary of PFLAG’s national Board of Directors. The author of the chapter, “David” in A Family and Friends Guide to Sexual Orientation, Rabbi Horowitz was also the topic of a chapter entitled “Every Day the Rabbi Helps Gays” in Dan Woog’s Friends and Family/True Stories of Gay America’s Straight Allies. He lectures widely on issues dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender concerns, the challenge of the radical right, as well as a variety of Judaic subjects, to academic institutions, religious institutions, and corporations throughout the United States and in foreign lands. For information: (513) 766-3395 or sgoldsmith@jfscinti.org
Monday, May 19, 2008 Join Rabbis Ruth Alpers of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Ilana Baden of Isaac M. Wise Temple, and Sissy Coran of Rockdale Temple when Jewish Family Service presents Woman to Woman, a multigenerational dialogue about couples' relationships. This event, open to women only, begins with a dessert reception at 6:30 pm and continues with the discussion at 7 pm, Monday May 19 at Wise Temple, 8329 Ridge Road, Amberley Village, Ohio. Babysitting will be available. “Are we in a healthy relationship/marriage? Culture has taught women what an ideal partner should be like, but we sometimes give up or compromise too much to be in the relationship that only looks perfect to society…or to their mother,” says Linda Kean, Director of Family Life Education at Jewish Family Service. Woman to Woman will use examples of women’s relationships from the Bible to illustrate the myth of the perfect Jewish relationship. The dialogue is sponsored by DVASH (Domestic Violence Advocacy, Support, and Healing), a Jewish Family Service initiative, and Adath Israel Education and Action Group . Free, but registration recommended. (513) 766-3318 or lkean@jfscinti.org
Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project a Success Families and individuals ranging in age from 3 to 83 years old gathered Sunday, April 6, at Cincinnati Hebrew Day School to assemble packages including matzah, gefilte fish, apples, juice, and a cooked chicken dinner. They then delivered these Passover packages to homes throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. Deliveries were made as far north as Hamilton, OH and south to Northern Kentucky; west to near the Indiana border and east past Anderson Township. Howard and Stephanie Kaplan of Indian Hill, along with their daughters Hannah, 9, and Sarah, 6, steadily worked at the school to ensure that all of the boxes were properly assembled. “It’s a great way to give back and to get the kids involved,” said Stephanie as she commented on the importance of volunteering with her family. The Englander family of Blue Ash agreed. Shep and Hayley and their three children Gabe, 15, Lila, 11, and Jacob, 8, were eager to donate their time to assist in delivering Passover goods to others. “For the kids to do something hands on, where they can be of help, is really important,” said Hayley. Felicia Zakem of Wyoming and her four-year-old daughter Sydney Heldman were all smiles as they loaded up boxes of Passover food into their car. Felicia emphasized the value of including her daughter in the project. “It is such an easy way to involve children, and it really makes a difference in peoples lives,” said Felicia. “The elderly really enjoy seeing the children, and they are all very welcoming and generous.” “This project would not have been successful without the support of all members of the community,” says Fran Gafvert, Director of Vital Services at Jewish Family Service. “In addition to the many individual donors, I especially want to thank Rockwern Charitable Foundation as the lead sponsor, the Feinstein Family Foundation, Ma’Ott Chittim, a program that offers financial assistance funded by Adath Israel Synagogue, and Jewish Federation. Our special gratitude goes to Cincinnati Hebrew Day School for offering their facility the past four years, and Golf Manor Synagogue that hosts the year- round Jewish Family Service Food Pantry.” A full listing of volunteers and donors is available at www.jfscinti.org. Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project, which first began in 1999 by a committed group of community members, brought to light the necessity of creating a kosher food pantry to feed those in need throughout the year. Today, Jewish Family Service Food Pantry provides kosher food and personal care items to over 100 people each month.
“The generosity and
foresight of this community, its donors and volunteers, has made the mission of
serving the Jewish community’s people in need a reality,” says Gafvert.
“Maintaining a kosher pantry and working closely with clients whose needs range
from food to housing, medical care and other basic essentials, requires
resources. We are fortunate to have caring individuals in the community and
grateful for all the help Jewish Family Service gets in fulfilling these needs.”
Jewish Family Service's 5th Annual Miriam O. Smith Educational Series Sunday, March 9 was a rousing success. Despite digging out from a record snowstorm, close to 500 people attended Straight Talk on Addiction in the Family to hear internationally renowned author Claudia Black, PhD explain how addiction by one family member can impact the rest of the family. Marcie Bachrach and Susan Shorr were co-chairs.
"Our Miriam O. Smith Educational Series has earned its own reputation and has achieved status as a premiere educational program for professionals and community members," says Jewish Family Service Executive Director Beth Schwartz, MSW.
Pat McCollum, LSW, of College Hill agreed that this event was very helpful to her practice and her personal life. An adjunct professor at University of Cincinnati, McCollum works with an organization that helps women who are addicted. "And I see it in my home with my foster children," said this foster parent of six children ages 5-18 years old.
During Straight Talk on Addiction in the Family, Black used stories about families in treatment to portray how being raised as a child of an addict can affect their adulthood.
"Dr. Black gave me confirmation for my perfectionist attitude -- having to do it right or I am not okay-that was ingrained in me as a child," said Denise Eichler of West Chester, a member of ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics).
Although most people think of addiction to mean substance use, Black explained that addiction includes behavioral addictions such as gambling, eating or shopping.
"Everyone can relate to the issues, not just addictive families," said Carol Adkins of Clermont County.
Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel was a Partnering Sponsor of this event; Deborah Smith-Blackmer and Ben Blackmer, Cephalon, and Dr. Philip and Barbara Lichtenstein were Supporting Sponsors. Plans are now being made for the 6th Annual Jewish Family Service Miriam O. Smith Educational Series Sunday, March 15, 2009 with Joan Borysenko, PhD. Borysenko, author of 13 books including the bestseller "Minding the Body, Mending the Mind", is a world-renowned expert on the Mind/Body Connection. She has appeared on Oprah and Good Morning America, and public television; hosts a radio talk show; and featured in U.S. News and World Report, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Vogue, Ladies Home Journal, and many other magazines and newspapers.
Surviving Divorce, Grief & Loss, and Mothers in Transition Support Groups Forming Jewish Family Service is offering three new support groups to guide people through major changes in their lives. Topics include divorce, grief and loss, and a mother’s changing role.
“These new groups run for seven weeks and offer therapeutic support,” says group facilitator Shari Goldsmith, MSW of Jewish Family Service. “At the end of the seven weeks, each participant should feel a sense of closure and some resolution with the their issue.”
Goldsmith, an experienced licensed professional, applies the principles of individual therapy in the group setting. The therapeutic support groups combine established methods of support, discussion, and education.
Surviving Divorce is open to men and women who are considering or experiencing divorce. Participants learn to manage the feelings associated with divorce to improve the quality of life.
The second group, Grief and Loss, is for those having a difficult time coping with the loss of a spouse, partner, friend or family member. Participants will be guided through the grieving process while receiving comfort as they regain balance in their lives.
Mothers in Transition, the final new group, helps mothers redefine life when their children are grown and married.
Jewish Family Service also offers Let’s Get on With our Lives, a twice-a-month Widows and Widowers support group. The new therapeutic support groups are scheduled according to participants’ availability. The are held at Jewish Family Service, 11223 Cornell Park Drive, Blue Ash, Ohio. For more information, contact Shari Goldsmith at (513) 469-1188 or sgoldsmith@jfscinti.org.
Cindy Getty was installed as the new President of the Board when Jewish Family Service (JFS) staff, Board members, and friends gathered for the JFS annual meeting July 11, 2007 at Cedar Village in Mason. Passing the gavel was outgoing President John Youkilis who stressed the importance of a strong partnership between Board and staff. The meeting began with a D’var Torah by outgoing Immediate Past President Barbara C. Rabkin. Jewish Federation of Cincinnati CEO Shep Englander praised the impact Jewish Family Service has on the community, emphasizing that JFS “makes real the Jewish values we learn and teach our children.” This was Beth Schwartz’s first meeting as executive director of the agency, although she has been with Jewish Family Service for eight years. In her report, she acknowledged the successes achieved by the sacrifice and dedication of the staff in 2006, including the reduction of a large inherited operating deficit by over 95%. “2006 was a year of evolution,” Schwartz said. “We focused on three primary themes: financial discipline, introspection, and integration. Through transition and challenge, JFS continued to do what it has done so well for more than 60 years – strengthening lives.” Schwartz and Getty expressed similar visions for the future of Jewish Family Service. “The agency will continue to provide the prevention and intervention, or safety net, programs and services that are so vital to our community and will expand into the areas of life enrichment, enhancement, and wellness,” said Getty. Also elected to the Executive Committee with Getty were Bruce Baker as a Vice President, Danny Lipson as Treasurer, and Mark Kanter as Secretary. Susan Shorr was reinstalled as a Vice President.
Award presentations completed the evening. Staff members received gifts for reaching longevity milestones. Vicki Ventre was recognized for 10 years of service to Jewish Family Service; Barbara Forbus, Rita Gerber, Luda Gikhman, and Paula Tompkins were recognized for 5 years of service. The
Miriam H. Dettlebach Award, given in honor of the first executive director of
Jewish Family Service as recognition of exceptional volunteer service to the photo
caption: Past Presidents
Goldsmith joins JFS Goldsmith earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from The Ohio State University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. She has a background in business management and social service program development. She was previously the clinical committee coordinator for Warren County Educational Service, which coordinated support services for the intensively at-risk children in the county. “I see my major focus being support groups, which I consider an integral part of the recovery process,” says Goldsmith. “Individual therapy is often needed, but therapeutic support groups fill the need for a network of support.” She is now planning two groups. One will focus on recovery after divorce and the other will offer support for dealing with grief and loss. To schedule a counseling session with Goldsmith or to find out more information about the support groups, contact Goldsmith at (513) 469-1188 or sgoldsmith@jfscinti.org.
JFS
to hold 2007 Annual Meeting. "2006 was a challenging, but truly great year for Jewish Family Service. I'm excited to invite the entire community to our annual meeting to share what we've been up to and how we've made a difference in the lives of so many people," says Executive Director Beth Schwartz. This is Schwartz's first annual meeting since being named as executive director in September. Cindy Getty will be installed as President along with Bruce Baker and Susan Shorr as Vice Presidents, Danny Lipson as Treasurer, Mark Kanter as Secretary, and John Youkilis as Immediate Past President. Mark Miller and Gary Smith are rotating off the Executive Committee and nominated for a three-year term on the Board. Binem Dizenhuz will be re-elected to a second three-year term. New Board nominees to be installed are Aaron Fritzhand, Pat Goodwin, Bruce Lazarus, Lisa Levine, Judy Levenson, Ernesto Levy, Liz McOsker, and Lauren Scharf. They will join existing Board members continuing their terms: Marcie Bachrach, Gail Friedman, Alan Gross, Debbie Horewitz, Sam Knobler, Sam Lobar, Penny Pensak, Pam Sacherman and Michael Schwartz. Rotating off the Board are Dana Auer, Sara Behrman, Arna Fisher, Gig Franklin, Kathie Kaplan, Simon Moksin, Sharon Spiegel, Phyllis Tobias and Felicia Zakem. The Miriam H. Dettelbach Award, given in honor of the first executive director of Jewish Family Service, will be presented recognizing exceptional volunteer service to the agency. Staff reaching longevity milestones will also be recognized. This includes Barbara Forbus, Rita Gerber, Luda Gihkman, and Paula Tompkins for 5 years; and Vicki Ventre for 10 years. To attend the Annual Meeting, and for accessibility accommodations, please RSVP by July 2 to Paula Tompkins at 766-3326 or email ptompkins@jfscinti.org.
Town Hall meeting with
Congresswoman Jean Schmidt
Jewish Family Service thanks community volunteers and sponsors for helping make the 9th Annual Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project a success. 115 volunteers of all ages gathered Sunday, April 1 at Cincinnati Hebrew Day School to package and deliver more than 375 kosher Passover meals to Jewish households throughout the tri-state area that have difficulty providing for their own Passover needs. The volunteers included families, children, couples, and individuals who delivered the boxes filled with a frozen chicken dinner, matzo, soup mix, macaroons, gefilte fish, horseradish, grape juice, Passover candy, and holiday artwork created by local students. “Support from the community, as well as donations from various congregations made this project come together,” said Fran Gafvert, Jewish Family Service director of volunteer programs and vital services. Rockwern Charitable Foundation was the lead sponsor for the 2nd year. Other sponsors and contributors include Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation; Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; MAZON; Centerpiece for Tzedakah; Adath Israel Congregation Religious School and Moos Chittim; Golf Manor Synagogue; Cincinnati Hebrew Day School; Yavneh Day School; Temple Sholom Religious School; Congregation Ohav Shalom Religious School and Moos Chitim; Congregation B’Nai Tzedek; Valley Temple; Issac M. Wise Temple; Rockdale Temple; Congregation Beth Adam; Northern Hills Synagogue; Beit Chaverim; Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis; The Feinstein Foundation of Rhode Island; Bigg’s; Irv’s Kosher Market & Deli; and many contributions from individuals in the community. Cincinnati Pesach Delivery Project was started in 1998 by a group of dedicated volunteers from Northern Hills Synagogue and Yavneh Day School.
Educational symposium a huge success
Photos The symposium was held March 18 at Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel in Sharonville. It was co-chaired by Deborah Smith-Blackmer and Susan Shorr; WCPO-TV reporter Hagit Limor was the emcee. A private reception, hosted by Susan Shorr and Dennis Mitman at their Symmes Township home, was held the prior evening for supporters of the event. The seminar, titled “Getting the Love You Want: How to Build, Mend & Strengthen Relationships”, taught creative and proven strategies that support the growth and enhancement of healthy relationships. The audience included community members from the tri-state area as well as professionals. Continuing education credits were available for counselors, psychologists, therapists, social workers, nurses, and teachers. "Dr. Hendrix taught new techniques that I can use with my clients,” said Judy Buka, a therapist from Montgomery. Connie Hermann of College Hill said, “He teaches us how to break the cycle of negativity, which not only helps our relationship as a couple, but also allows us to model a good relationship to our children so that they can learn what a healthy relationship needs.” Sponsors for Getting the Love You Want: How to Build, Mend & Strengthen Relationships included WCPO-TV; Duke Energy; Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel; Arkadia; Benjamin & Deborah Smith Blackmer; Barbara & Philip Lichtenstein; Rogers Jewelers; United Dairy Farmers; Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, LLP; Arbonne International; Carol & Steve Boymel; Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professionals; Cincinnati Trauma Connection; County Animal Hospital – Dr. Gary and Leah Smith; Lesha & Samuel Greengus; Dianne & J. David Rosenberg; and Gene Smiley & LifeSpan Solutions, Inc. This seminar was one of a variety of programs Jewish Family Service offers that focus on the importance of communication in relationships. Active Communication is a class that teaches the skills to powerfully communicate and successfully resolve disagreements to promote teamwork, respect, and joy in a committed relationship. For more information about this class, contact Linda Kean at (513) 766-3318 or lkean@jfscinti.org Jewish Family Service will host the 5th annual symposium March 9, 2008. The keynote speaker will be renowned author Claudia Black, PhD, internationally recognized for her work with family systems and addictive disorders. JFS holds 63rd Annual meeting Gail Friedman, Sam Lobar, Sam Knobler, Michael Schwartz, and Felicia Zakem were also installed to a new 3-year term; Debbie Horewitz was reinstalled for a second 3-year term; and Sara Behrman remained on the board through a Presidential Appointment. Nancy Minson and Vera Sanker exited the board. Sanker received special recognition for her 46 years of involvement with Jewish Family Service including over 25 years of dedicated service on the board. The Miriam H. Dettelbach Award, given in honor of the first executive director of Jewish Family Service to recognize exceptional volunteer service to the agency, was presented to Getty and Behrman. In his President’s Report, Youkilis emphasized the importance of JFS working together with others in the community to provide services more efficiently. He also reinforced his appreciation to the JFS staff and board for their commitment to the mission of the agency, “As long as life just goes on, some will always need help for their lives to be strengthened, to be simply made better. I know that each of you undoubtedly shares my feeling of privilege to be doing our small parts during our short time to make someone else’s life just a little better.”
Volunteers Transcend Healing Technology to Offer Spiritual Connection
Thanks to the Hospital Shabbat Visiting Program, a collaboration of Jewish Family Service and Jewish Hospital, volunteer visitors are helping Jewish patients observe the Jewish Sabbath.
"I saw a special need for Jewish patients to have a connection with other Jews, observe Shabbat, and transcend the experiences of being a patient," explains Rabbi Elena Stein, chaplain at Jewish Hospital. "We live in a time when many strides have been made with the technology of healing; however, with these technologies the personal and spiritual aspect of healing is often lost. The volunteers are able offer this personal and spiritual connection that is needed for complete healing."
Rabbi Abie Ingber, executive director of Hillel, president of the Board of Rabbis agrees, "At a time when a person is hospitalized they feel most alone; all the surroundings are foreign and all their visitors are focused on their illness. What an important time to bring a little piece of home and a little piece of Shabbat to them."
The program is the first and only program of its kind in Cincinnati and offers a personal and spiritual connection during a patient's time of need. Volunteers visit patients on Fridays, which begins the observance of Jewish Sabbath, and provide a listening ear, offer Shabbat lights and prayers of healing, refer patients to a hospital rabbi or chaplain, and contact patient's congregational clergy upon request. They also deliver colorful get-well cards decorated by local area Jewish children.
The volunteers are organized through Jewish Family Service's Bikur Cholim: Jewish Visiting Initiative. "Bikur Cholim, which means visiting the sick in Hebrew, is exactly what the Hospital Shabbat program does," says Terry Susskind, the project coordinator of Bikur Cholim, which is funded in part by Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
Terry says she was delighted when Rabbi Stein cam e to her with the idea. "This program is a wonderful collaboration because we are able to help Jewish Hospital provide the best care for patients while, at the same time, advancing Jewish Family Service's mission to strengthen lives," she explains.
The Jewish Family Service mission of strengthening lives is accomplished for the patients as well as their families. A daughter of one of the patients, who was visiting from Israel, returned home reassured that her father had the support of the Jewish community in Cincinnati.
Additionally, volunteer's lives are also strengthened. "The volunteers benefit because they feel they have received as much as they have given and they are able to fulfill one the Jewish commandments of visiting the sick," explains Elena.
Donna Dansker, who volunteers with her husband Emil, agrees, "Not only does it strengthen lives of those in the hospital, but it also is something nice that my husband and I can share this experience together."
CINCINNATI May 16, 2006
Specifically, Burke was asked to speak about the importance and success of providing supportive services to Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), which are neighborhoods where residents continue to live independently in their homes and communities where they are familiar. “AARP research tells us that 9 in 10 older adults want to age in place and receive the services that allow them to do so,” Burke testified. “In our local experience, we have created a supportive environment to prevent situations from deteriorating to a point where a move (to an institutional facility) is the only choice left.” Options Cincinnati, the JFS NORC Supportive Service Program, is currently offered at Amberley House and Indian Creek apartments. It allows older adults to age in place with optimal health, dignity, and independence by providing residents with social work services and health, recreational and transportation programs. Burke explained that the NORC model is flexible and can be adapted across the nation for the changing continuum of care required as older adults age. It is also a natural complement to services and programs already existing in communities. “A program designed to be proactive, rather than reactive, can help reduce the burden on limited resources and improve the health and social outcomes of the seniors served,” Burke testified. Senator DeWine also invited Joyce Garver Keller, executive director of Ohio Jewish Communities, to testify at the hearing. Keller, in collaboration with United Jewish Communities and lobbyist Dick Weiland, was instrumental in helping Jewish Family Service secure federal funding for this innovative program. Options Cincinnati receives support from a grant from Administration on Aging, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, as well as local businesses, including CMC and Towne Properties. More pictures can be found at the Senate website
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Do
Jewish women feel pressured to be in or stay in a relationship because it fits
Jewish culture's expectations?
photo caption: Pat
Goodwin, Aaron Fritzhand, Judy Levenson, Ernesto Levy, Lauren Scharf, Bruce
Lazarus. Missing from photo: Lisa Levine, Liz McOsker
agency, was given to Susan Shorr. Also receiving a gift honoring her service to
the agency was Barbara C. Rabkin who exited the Board after 25 years. “I am
dedicated to JFS because I know how vital our services are to improve lives,”
she said.
Jewish Family Service welcomes Shari
Goldsmith, MSW to its team of counselors. She will be providing individual and
family therapy as well as developing therapeutic support groups.
Board President John
Youkilis welcomed staff, board members, and guests to the Jewish Family
Service annual meeting July 27, 2006 at Terwilliger’s Lodge in Montgomery.
Following an inspirational message by board member Arna Poupko Fisher,
Immediate Past President Barbara C. Rabkin presented the new slate
Holocaust
Services Advocate Mark Rothman (2nd from right), from Bet Tzedek Legal
Services House of Justice in Los Angeles, trained Jewish Family Service
staff and volunteers July 19, 2006 to assist Holocaust survivors with the
completion of applications for Hungarian Holocaust Restitution benefits.
The program is intended to provide compensation for loss of relatives in
concentration camps. The deadline for the postmarked completed paperwork
is July 31, 2006. Jewish survivors should contact Gail Mermelstein,
director of the Center for Holocaust Survivors at Jewish Family Service
(513)766-3309.
At the
invitation of U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), Ann Sutton Burke, Jewish Family
Service program director of Options Cincinnati, testified May 16 about older
adult issues at a hearing before the Subcommittee on Retirement Security and
Aging. Senator DeWine is Chairman of this Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate’s
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which is considering
reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.