Family Table Talk 2024 by bostonjfcs

FAMILY TABLE talk

AMAZING MITZVAH PROJECTS

Kids fight hunger as they mark their passage into adulthood

FOR

SURVIVORS as they age with dignity

FROM THE DESK OF JF&CS CEO GAIL SCHULMAN

JF&CS Family Table is no ordinary food pantry—it’s a place where people come to nourish both their bodies and their souls. Whether clients are filling their shopping carts with nutritious food like kosher chicken, challah, eggs, and fresh produce in our welcoming space, or receiving home deliveries from a caring volunteer, they all benefit from choice and consistency they can rely on. And the caring connection goes beyond food.

How far beyond food? When people enroll in Family Table, they gain access to the wide array of integrated social services JF&CS offers under one roof. We help people apply for government benefits, find housing, meet mental health needs, navigate living with a disability, and more—setting off what one client called “a domino effect of goodwill.”

As social service innovators, we are constantly evolving to meet new needs. Through our leadership of the Greater Boston Hunger Network, we are harnessing the knowledge and experience of food pantries, soup kitchens, local farms, and food-related programs to improve access to healthy food and address the staggering increase in food insecurity across our region.

None of this would be possible without our generous supporters, volunteers, and partners who join us in caring for the community, transmitting our values of social justice and compassion across generations. Thank you for your investment in making people’s lives better. We could not undertake this work without you.

In This Issue

At JF&CS, our work is guided by a core set of Jewish values. One of them is “Welcoming the Stranger.” When I reflect on what it means to welcome the stranger at Family Table, my mind is flooded with images of people who came to our door and we provided food, care, and connections to resources so they could thrive in this new land.

Eduardo,* his wife, and their four children left Brazil due to religious persecution of Jews. They are observant and keep a kosher home. Being able to come to Family Table Marketplace has enabled them to maintain their Jewish home life. Now Eduardo and his family are becoming accustomed to the Jewish holiday foods that are typical in the United States—but he agrees that a good loaf of challah is a universal language!

Amid the upheaval of the Israel-Gaza war, many Israeli families came to the Boston area, seeking refuge. JF&CS responded immediately, connecting these displaced families to housing, food, and mental health support. Miriam,* together with her husband and daughter, arrived shortly after the war broke out, and moved in with her sister, who welcomed them while they looked for permanent housing. They had no source of income and were not eligible for benefits. Miriam has told us how grateful she is that with the food from Family Table she can lessen the burden on her sister’s family while they stay with them.

Melik* and his family came to the United States from Turkey in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake. He is self-employed but living in a town without many services for immigrants or low-income residents, and starting over has been difficult. Every time Melik and his family come to Family Table Marketplace, the room lights up with the energy and laughter of their fouryear-old twin boys. They play games as they make their way around the room, and everyone smiles as the boys excitedly pick out an apple or an orange to eat while mom and dad fill their cart with food.

The number of people Family Table serves continues to grow each month. The time, energy, and financial commitment you’ve made to our program over the past year has been critical to our ability to provide food for each and every one of these families. With your renewed support, we will continue to provide essential food and a caring Jewish connection to those who come to us in need… people like Eduardo, Miriam, Melik, and their families— welcoming them not as strangers, but as new neighbors.

With gratitude and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year L’shanah tova tikatevu,

Bernice Behar

Family Table Program Director

Caring for Holocaust Survivors through integrated supports at JF&CS

Remarkable Mitzvah Projects

kids address food insecurity in their communities as they come of age

Introducing Family Table Connect

a new initiative to combat social isolation

Community News volunteer highlights, new staff, Ride for Food

With Gratitude

special thanks to our donors and volunteers

On the cover: Estee Passer, who organized a food drive for Family Table for her bat mitzvah project, displays the beautiful tie-dye challah covers she made to grace clients’ Shabbat and holiday tables.

1430 Main Street | Waltham, MA 02451 (781) 647-JFCS (5327) jfcsboston.org | info@jfcsboston.org

The mission of Family Table is to end hunger in the Greater Boston Jewish community while serving people who need our assistance regardless of religious affiliation.

Family Table fulfills its mission by providing kosher food, creating a caring Jewish connection, and empowering people to make healthy eating a part of their daily lives.

Gail Schulman

Chief Executive Officer

Meredith Joy Director, Center for Basic Needs Assistance

Bernice Behar

Family Table Program Director

Karen Silverman

Chief Advancement Officer

Sarah Failla Director of Marketing & Communications

*Names changed to protect client privacy.

CARING FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

Each month, Family Table provides essential groceries and Jewish holiday items for nearly 200 Holocaust survivors—a number that often surprises people. The sad reality is that one in four survivors lives below the poverty level, compared to one in ten older adults in the general population.

Now in their 90’s and older, Holocaust survivors are known to live longer on average than the wider population. Many have complex medical issues—due to both natural aging and the trauma they experienced as children—and their need for support only grows with time. The multifaceted care JF&CS provides through Family Table and Schechter Holocaust Services is a lifeline for these vulnerable people.

Schechter Holocaust Services staff arrange home care services, financial supports, and social opportunities for Holocaust survivors, bringing a deep-rooted compassion for clients. “I am acutely aware of the trauma they experienced, their resilience, and potential triggers of traumatic

Your support helps these precious community members age with dignity.

memories that may bring up feelings of fear, anxiety, and sadness,” said Carol Laibson, a case manager and the child of a survivor herself.

Receiving nutritious kosher food from Family Table has special significance for many Holocaust survivors.

Marina, * who survived living in the woods as a young child during the Holocaust, never knew when or where food would be found. A family member taught her which wild berries were safe to eat. For the past 11 years, Marina has been receiving Family Table deliveries, and this assured access to food has had meaning beyond words.

Rebecca* loves people but has been socially isolated since her husband’s death. The uncertainty in her life brings up traumatic memories. Deliveries from Family Table, brought by a caring volunteer, help alleviate her anxiety and loneliness.

*Names changed to protect client privacy.

Sarah* was kicked out of school for being Jewish during the Holocaust; her father lost his job and the family home. Often their only meals were soup made from potato peels. The kosher food delivery from Family Table gives Sarah a sense of security in being Jewish—and relief that she no longer has to hide who she is.

DID YOU KNOW?

JF&CS is the only organization in Massachusetts dedicated to helping Holocaust survivors.

Ending hunger in the Jewish community is central to the Family Table mission. It is especially heartbreaking to realize how many Holocaust survivors live in poverty throughout Greater Boston. With the support of our volunteers and donors, JF&CS Family Table and Schechter Holocaust Services can bring nutritious food, compassionate care, and Jewish connection into their lives.

Volunteer highlights

Alex and Ben Chelminsky began coming together to pack and deliver groceries at Family Table because, in Alex’s words, “I thought it would be a good way to thank JF&CS for their initiative and help in providing services to Ben,” who has an autism diagnosis and is part of JF&CS CHAI Services.

Alex sensed that Ben would do well with the tasks, such as reading instructions and filling bags with food, and that he would enjoy it. They both find great satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment each time they come, and they enjoy spending the time together.

“On one occasion we got to the house of a woman who thanked us profusely for our work,” remembered Alex. “She excused herself for a second and came back with a chocolate bar for Ben. It was a tender moment to see a person of limited means looking for ways to say thank you.”

MEET OUR NEW STAFF

Shawn Connors

Food Coordinator

Shawn steps into the shoes of our longtime Food Coordinator, Vinny Vullo, who decided it was time to retire from his “retirement job.” Shawn brings many years of restaurant management experience to his role managing the food inventory of our three pantries. In addition to his passion for food, he enjoys writing poetry, doing game design, and spending time with his wife and young son. “With a background in food service and hospitality, I have seen firsthand how food insecurity can affect people,” says Shawn. “It is important for me to be able to support those who need assistance while providing access to a valuable resource.”

Maxine Rosenberg has long cared about food insecurity—and the first time she delivered groceries at Family Table, she was hooked! “JF&CS made me feel at home,” says Maxine. “It made me feel a part of the family.”

Maxine has been delivering to the same clients in Revere for several years. She loves getting to know them and enjoys the rapport that has developed over the years.

She also helps at our Waltham Marketplace distribution, delivers Passover meals, and is the Family Table Site Coordinator (liaison) at Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody.

Critically, when Family Table needed people who could make emergency grocery deliveries during the pandemic, she stepped up, frequently driving from her home in Danvers to pick up emergency groceries from our pantry in Waltham and deliver them on the North Shore. Even now, we know we can count on Maxine when such a need arises.

Introducing Family Table Connect

A new initiative to combat social isolation

Social iSolation iS a growing concern across our society, especially among older adults, and we are learning that feeling isolated can have a profound effect on both physical and emotional well-being. More than half of Family Table clients live by themselves; often they have lost a spouse and find themselves spending their days alone.

We also hear regularly from volunteers who wish they could spend a few extra minutes talking with the people to whom they deliver groceries. That was the starting point for Family Table Connect, a new initiative to promote greater connection between volunteers and clients. Family Table Connect is a pilot program, launching in September, in which volunteers and clients will have a short, planned visit together combined with their grocery delivery each month.

It will be a chance to get to know one another, share stories and, hopefully, a few laughs. We’re excited to begin this new initiative and to bring some additional human warmth into the lives of clients and volunteers alike.

Growing Up with Family Table Remarkable mitzvah projects that have an impact

Children who are on the cusp of becoming b’nei mitzvah in the Jewish community begin to consider how they can make an impact in the world around them. Volunteering and fundraising for Family Table have long been activities that many kids find meaningful. In the past year, several kids have dedicated their mitzvah projects to Family Table and our clients.

Arni Rosenthal organized a project to make Purim bags (mishloach manot) filled with healthy snacks. “I have been volunteering for Family Table my whole life and I was looking for something meaningful to do with my out-of-town family. In this project we made a fun assembly line system where each person had a certain job…until we finished nearly 200 bags. Volunteering for Family Table means that I can give a helping hand to people who need it.”

Estee Passer grew up volunteering with her dad and sister at Family Table, where they packed and delivered groceries to families in need. “I remember seeing how grateful these families were, which motivated me to do something similar for my mitzvah project,” said Estee. “I wanted my mitzvah project to be both creative and meaningful, so I decided to hold a food drive and make tie-dye challah covers.”

Max Sussman worked with his parents to plan their own cycling event in conjunction with the 2023 Ride for Food. “Team Max” ended up raising more than $3,500 for Family Table. “I’ve decided to use my tzedakah to support organizations that help people with food insecurity,” said Max. “With this bike ride I was able to offer support while creating a fun experience for my family and friends.”

Danya Zarch first visited Family Table with her Hebrew school, Kesher. “I learned that sometimes it is hard to get fresh produce. The theme of my bat mitzvah was fruit, so I thought collecting enough fruit for one Sunday morning for Family Table could be my mitzvah project. I organized a fresh fruit drive and brought some friends who had never been to Family Table before to help deliver food on a Sunday morning. I’ve already been back two more times to help deliver food and plan on continuing next year!”

THANK YOU!

We are deeply grateful to the many synagogues, schools, and JCCs for their commitment to Family Table. We also want to thank the hundreds of individuals and families who support Family Table throughout the year. Altogether, the Jewish community provides more than 60% of the food we distribute. We are especially thankful to the dedicated Site Coordinators (Family Table liaisons) of these communities who spearhead donation efforts, recruit volunteers, and keep the Family Table mission in focus.

Family Table Collection Sites

Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel ∙ Ahavath Torah Congregation ∙ Beit Sasson, the Sephardic Congregation of Newton ∙ Beth Abraham Sephardic Congregation of New England ∙ Beth El Temple Center ∙ Beth Menachem Chabad ∙ B’nai Tikvah South Area Jewish Congregation ∙ Chabad of Chestnut Hill ∙ Congregation Beth El, Sudbury ∙ Congregation Beth El-Atereth Israel ∙ Congregation Beth Elohim Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills ∙ Congregation Eitz Chayim Congregation Etz Chaim ∙ Congregation Kehillath Israel ∙ Congregation Kerem Shalom ∙ Congregation Mishkan Tefila ∙ Congregation Or Atid, Wayland Congregation Shaarei Tefillah ∙ Congregation Shirat Hayam ∙ Congregation Sons of Israel ∙ Epstein Hillel School ∙ Gann Academy ∙ Harvard Hillel ∙ JCC of Greater Boston, Newton ∙ JCC of the North Shore ∙ Jewish Community Day School Kesher Newton ∙ Maimonides School ∙ Minyan Ma’Or ∙ Minyan Shaleym NewBridge on the Charles ∙ North Suburban JCC ∙ Rashi School ∙ Schechter Boston Striar Hebrew Academy ∙ Temple Aliyah ∙ Temple Beth Avodah ∙ Temple Beth David of the South Shore ∙ Temple Beth David, Westwood ∙ Temple Beth Elohim Temple Beth Emunah ∙ Temple Beth Israel ∙ Temple Beth Shalom, Melrose Temple Beth Shalom, Needham ∙ Temple Beth Zion ∙ Temple B’nai Abraham Temple B’nai Brith ∙ Temple Chayai Shalom ∙ Temple Emanu-El Temple Emanuel, Newton ∙ Temple Emunah, Lexington ∙ Temple Hillel B’nai Torah Temple Isaiah ∙ Temple Israel of Natick ∙ Temple Israel of Sharon ∙ Temple Israel, Boston ∙ Temple Ner Tamid ∙ Temple Ohabei Shalom ∙ Temple Reyim Temple Shalom Emeth ∙ Temple Shalom of Medford ∙ Temple Shalom, Newton Temple Shir Tikva, Wayland ∙ Temple Shir Tikvah, Winchester Temple Sinai, Brookline ∙ Temple Sinai, Marblehead ∙ Temple Sinai, Sharon Temple Tiferet Shalom ∙ The Boston Synagogue ∙ Tremont Street Shul Walnut Street Minyan ∙ Young Israel of Brookline ∙ Young Israel of Sharon

We are also grateful to the following institutional donors and in-kind supporters:

Institutional Donors

Bilezikian Foundation

Botwinick-Wolfensohn Foundation & Wolfensohn Family Foundation

Brookline Community Foundation

Bushrod H. Campbell and Adah F. Hall Charity Fund

Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Community Foundation for MetroWest

Dedham Savings Community Foundation

Digital Federal Credit Union

Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program

Keel Foundation

The Hillel Foundation at Tufts University, Inc.

RIDE FOR FOOD

Ride/Walk: Sunday, October 6

Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, MA

Strap on your cycling helmet or lace up your walking shoes and join Family Table for the Ride for Food! This annual event is our single largest fundraiser of the year, and we are counting on everyone to support our team.

Cycling options include 25, 50, or 62.5mile routes starting and ending at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham. Walkers will enjoy the 5K x-country trail on the school campus. All are invited for the celebration lunch afterwards.

Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein

Charitable Foundation

Marblehead Female Humane Society

M&T Bank | M&T Charitable Foundation

Perpetual Benevolent Fund

Project Bread—The Walk for Hunger

Sol Goldman Charitable Trust

TJX Foundation

In-Kind Supporters

Boston Area Gleaners

David Greenfield Photography

Food Link

Greater Boston Food Bank

Hope and Comfort

Trader Joe’s

Our goal is to raise $85,000. All funds raised by our team go to Family Table and will enable us to provide food for our pantry in the coming year.

For more information, or to register or donate, visit jfcsboston.org/RFF2024

1430 Main Street

Waltham, MA 02451

FAMILY TABLE DISTRIBUTION CALENDAR

WALTHAM

JF&CS Headquarters 1430 Main Street Waltham

September 8, 2024

November 3, 2024

December 8, 2024

January 5, 2025

February 2, 2025

March 9, 2025

April 6, 2025

May 4, 2025

June 8, 2025

July 13, 2025

August 10, 2025

WALTHAM

JF&CS Headquarters (Allston/Brighton deliveries only)

September 15, 2024

NORTH SHORE Temple Sinai 1 Community Road Marblehead

September 22, 2024

OCTOBER: GIFT CARDS

November 17, 2024

December 22, 2024

January 26, 2025

February 23, 2025

March 30, 2025

April 27, 2025

May 18, 2025

June 29, 2025

July 27, 2025

August 17, 2025

November 10, 2024

December 15, 2024

January 12, 2025

February 9, 2025

March 16, 2025

April 6, 2025

May 11, 2025

June 15, 2025

July 20, 2025

August 24, 2025

SOUTH B’nai Tikvah 1301 Washington St. Canton