After 50 years, Jewish Youth Mentoring Program says farewell
JFCS will continue to serve youth in numerous ways through 30+ programs and services
By Dori Gelfman • JFCS Education and Learning Coordinator
In 1975, the world was introduced to the rise of disco dancing, the debut of “Saturday Night Live,” Microsoft was founded, and the popular fashion of the times were bell bottoms and leisure suits. For Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, 1975 brought the launch of Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister Program. Renamed the Jewish Youth Mentoring Program in 2019, this program was a community-based mentoring program for Jewish-identified youth designed to promote positive social-emotional-spiritual development and increase engagement in the Jewish community. Since the program’s inception 50 years ago, we have matched over 400 Jewish youth with caring mentors.
Much like how trends, technology, and fashion continues to evolve, the Jewish Youth Mentoring Program has also evolved and adapted to the needs of the times over these last 50 years. It has become clear that although the need for connection has remained strong, the desire for this type of one-to-one programming has changed, with fewer individuals requesting mentors and fewer individuals volunteering to mentor. We honor and cherish the many relationships that were developed in this program over the years, some of which have lasted years and decades beyond the program’s typical timeline of service.
The youth mentees and the dedicated volunteer mentors were the heart of this program. We value all the participants who we were able to support. JFCS is grateful to all those who supported the program with generous donations over the years. We also hold in high esteem all the staff that made Jewish Youth Mentoring Program possible for half a century, especially Lois Kozberg who started the program in 1975 and Bobbie Goldfarb who coordinated the program for almost 30 years until 2018!
When Bobbie retired, she was quoted as saying, “For me, the core of it is to keep your eyes open for possibilities” – which is exactly what JFCS continues to do. We remain true to our mission to provide essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds to sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering and offer support in times of need.
With the sunset of the Jewish Youth Mentoring Program at the end of May 2025, we will continue to serve youth in our community in numerous ways. Responding to the emerging need for intergenerational connections, we have begun hosting events and trainings with local youth and seniors in the community in partnership with our Senior Services. We will continue to provide opportunities for both Academic and Camp Scholarships for youth. We remain committed to supporting youth and families in our community – from providing learning opportunities and wellness programs facilitated by our Professional and Community Education; therapy and support groups by our Counseling staff; mitzvah volunteer opportunities; and countless of other ways by all our services.
With change comes the opportunity for innovation, creativity, and new experiences. We look forward to continuing the mission of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and creating meaningful services. If you have ideas or interest in contributing to new programming, please reach out to Dori Gelfman, Education and Learning Coordinator, at dgelfman@jfcsmpls.org.