From the Desk of CEO Judy Halper: February 2025

JFCS edirections newsletters are prepared over the course of each month. Knowing today that our newsletter would arrive in your inboxes just as the world learns of the most recent tragedy of the Hamas-Israel War, the return of the murdered bodies of the Bibas Family and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz, we respectfully acknowledge our collective trauma and our heartfelt grief for the families and all who mourn. Please know that JFCS offers resources to assist with trauma and grief. We are proud and honored to currently have two of our clinical staff attending an intensive trauma training workshop in Israel, while also extending care to the many individuals and communities in need.

Last week, 25 staff and Board members from Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and Jewish Family Service St. Paul spent a day at our State Capital advocating for the people we serve and the programs we provide. A total of 19 visits to State representatives took place. It felt important and empowering to meet with our State legislators and share our concerns, as well as convey what is needed to continue serving Minnesotans who need our help.

Though JFCS and JFS are not advocacy organizations, we are organizations engaged in advocacy work. While we respond to people across the age span with essential programs and services intended to sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering and offer support, we acknowledge we can also accomplish more when we approach it “upstream”. By that, I mean working to maintain and strengthen systems that promote prevention and well-being is just as critical as helping folks once needs emerge.

Advocacy is all our responsibility. If you like what your representatives locally and nationally are doing, be sure to call their legislative offices and let them know that. If you are unhappy with what they are (or aren’t) doing, let them know that, too. It is the best way to have your voice heard. Daily logs of constituents calls and messages really do inform your representatives (who work for you).

We’ll continue to make our voices heard on issues such as hunger relief and food accessibility, telehealth as it relates to mental health resource availability, gun safety, and early childhood home visiting programming. Making sure accessibility and resources are available to assist our most vulnerable citizens is consistent with our values, and critical to being Here For All, Always.

On a separate note, thank you for your good wishes regarding my retirement at the end of 2025. I love hearing from all of you, and I continue to be honored to serve JFCS.

Here for all. Always.