September/October 2011 Family Matters Newsletter

FamilyMatters Volume 21, No. 5 • September/October 2011 Family Matters is published bimonthly by Jewish Family Service of Colorado, 3201 S. Tamarac Dr., Denver CO 80231

To our JFS family, e and reflect on the very New Year offers another opportunity to paus year, I’ve been amazing impact JFS has had on our community. This beyond the initial recipient reminded that the good we do often extends well of people directly helped of our services. Each year, we measure the number of thousands of people

by JFS. But what we can’t measure is the hundreds ach, or a senior is able to that indirectly benefit when a child has a full stom life, or a person with disstay in his/her home and live a more independent part of JFS, as an abilities finds meaningful employment. By being a a recipient, or a friend, you employee, a board member, a volunteer, a donor, immediately see or feel are part of a Chain Reaction of Good. We might not sands of people we might the impact of these seemingly small acts, but thou lives. never know have undoubtedly happier and healthier

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In This Issue Reel Hope 2011 2 Volunteer Spotlight 3 Program Spotlight 4 Youth Corner 5 United Way Grant 5 Thank You for Caring! 6 JFS Legacy Society 8

my office and handed me A few months ago, an elderly gentleman came into r. He came to say that a check. He had been resettled by JFS 50 years earlie path that changed not just the work of JFS, all those years ago, set him on a with hundreds of letters his life, but many others. I have an entire book filled many other lives, were from people telling me how their lives, and therefore touched by JFS.

Babi Yar Memorial 9 High Holy Day Services 10 Summer Magic 11 JFS Staff Anniversaries 11

Chain Reaction of Good.

This year we are kicking off a campaign about the carried into the future by Started by you, sustained by your generosity, and how your many good your ongoing commitment. We want you to know entire community. deeds affect others, and how that in turn betters our Happy New Year,

Follow JFS on: www.facebook.com/jfscolorado

Yana Vishnitsky, President & CEO

www.twitter.com/JFS_Colo

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Save the Date for Reel Hope and Look for Exciting Event Changes!

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ou won’t want to miss Reel Hope this year, our annual movie themed fundraiser! After 15 years, we are changing the venue to the stunning, fashionable Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

So, mark your calendars for Thursday, December 8 at 6 p.m. and plan to join us as we honor Ken and Rebecca Gart as the 2011 Jack Shapiro Community Service Award recipients and Sue and Harvey Allon as the 2011 Kal Zeff Business Leaders of the Year. As you watch the program and the to-be-announced Hollywood movie, you will feast on dinner prepared by Kevin Taylor (how often will you be able to say that?)!

Stay tuned to www.jewishfamilyservice.org, our e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages for more details.

Thank you to the following sponsors to date (as of July 21, 2011): Producers Steve and Elizabeth Kris

Casting Directors Community Banks of Colorado Meyer and Geri Saltzman

Production Managers Will and Sheri Gold Phil and Elle Winn

Associate Producers Feldman Mortuary, Inc. Jon and Sheryl Goodman Jordon and Essie Perlmutter Richard and Michele Right Robinson Management Company

Planned Giving is Easier Than You Think!

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teve Kris, immediate past board chair, is assuming his new post as planned giving chair in September! He says, “I’m excited to begin meeting with community members who have expressed a passion and commitment for the work of Jewish Family Service.” Steve will focus on educating our supporters with the opportunities they have to make a visionary statement through legacy giving.

With a legacy gift you can plant the seeds to ensure we are able to care for our community for years to come.

There are so many easy ways to join the JFS Legacy Society by naming JFS as a beneficiary in your estate plans, life insurance policies, IRAs, and 401(k) plans. G For more details on planned giving, please contact Dawn Richard, development director, at (303) 597-5000, ext. 308 or drichard@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Steve Kris

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Volunteer Spotlight

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Summer Family Safety Net Volunteers

hat do three students and a teacher have in common? Besides the obvious, they all worked together this summer to help JFS provide food, books, and school supplies to local children in need through our Lunch & Learning program.

With the help of these volunteers, the Family Safety Net department distributed lunches and books to 21 children each week and gave each child school supplies in August. All of these children’s families receive comprehensive case management services and food from the Weinberg Food Pantry throughout the year. The Lunch & Learning program provides enough food for five lunches per week during the summer for children who receive free or reduced lunches at school during the rest of the year.

Thank you to the following four volunteers who helped make this program possible: Sarah Borenstein is an eighth grade science teacher at Campus Middle School. She has three children who have volunteered in various capacities with JFS. This summer, Sarah gave her time to the Lunch & Learning program by shopping for the lunch food and distributing it each week to the families. She says, “I wanted to volunteer with JFS because I am proud of how our community reaches out to people from all walks of life. Now that my children are older, I feel like I am at a stage in my life where I can start giving back to my community.”

She adds about this experience, “I have enjoyed meeting other people who work at the Food Pantry, particularly Chad and Jessica. I admire how they treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve. I also, of course, liked meeting the people who came in to receive lunches for their children or grandchildren. The people were very grateful to receive food and books provided by the program. As a teacher, I especially enjoyed watching the kids pick out books to take home with them. I am grateful I had the opportunity to be involved with the summer lunch program and JFS's mission of tikkun olam (repairing the world).”

Jordan Shamon did a mitzvah project at JFS when she became a Bat Mitzvah three years ago and often volunteers for the agency with her family.

When she learned she needed to complete 150 hours of community service at various locations before she began the IB (International Baccalaureate) program at

Littleton High School this fall, she chose to work 10 of those hours at JFS. Jordan took inventory of our school supplies and organized them all to get them ready to distribute to our clients. In addition, she helped distribute school supplies to the students in August. She certainly accomplished a lot in 10 hours!

And a big thank Sarah and her niece, Alexa, volunteering in the Pantry you to our Youth Corps volunteers, Emma Theis (who returned for her second summer in a row) and Matt Tedeschi, who helped sort food for the summer lunch program, organize the Pantry, and use their teen muscles to do some heavy lifting!

How great is it that these three students and a teacher helped Jordan in the school supply closet after she organized it children in our community have a healthy summer and start the school year off right? G To learn about volunteer opportunities at JFS, please contact Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services, at (303) 597-5000, ext. 369 or nbenyamin@jewishfamilysevice.org. Or visit www.jewishfamilyservice.org/volunteer for a list of current opportunities.

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Program Spotlight

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TANF Program and Marcella Jackson

hen one person finds a job, it affects more than just that one person. There is a ripple effect felt throughout the community. When a single parent who is dependent on government support gets a job and becomes self-sufficient, he or she not only becomes a productive member of society, but teaches his or children important job skills that can break the cycle of poverty. Every week, the TANF team at SHALOM Denver, a division of JFS, helps single parents find jobs and get on the road to self-sufficiency. In July alone, this team placed 11 people in hospitality, food service, retail, warehouse, and medical jobs.

We sat down with Marcella Jackson, industry partner job developer since October 2010, who works with a 10-person team at SHALOM Denver to teach people in the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program important skills to help Marcella Jackson them find and maintain employment. Most of the TANF recipients are single mothers and have several barriers to employment; many do not have a high school diploma or GED, and some have felonies or misdemeanors.

Thanks to a grant from Denver Human Services, JFS recently opened an annex near the SHALOM Denver work center in central Denver to accommodate more clients for this program. The new building has a full computer lab and room for classes and trainings.

In July, this team started offering classes three days per week in the areas of: • One-on-one job search on the computer • Creating resumes and cover letters

• Interview skills • Dressing for success Marcella looks for available positions through a job database based on the clients’ skills and work history. She also searches for jobs on the Internet and finds out about employment opportunities through job fairs and networking in the community. She emails job listings to the TANF team, puts up flyers to announce hiring events, and drives clients to job interviews. “Many of our clients don’t have transportation and when I drive them to their interviews, I can support them when they are nervous “My favorite part of and help build their working at SHALOM confidence,” explains Denver is seeing my Marcella. clients get and keep Once we help their jobs.” someone get a job, a case manager follows —Marcella Jackson up and stays in touch over the next year to see how the job is going, if he/she has received any raises, and to find out how else we can provide support.

“My favorite part of working at SHALOM Denver is seeing my clients get and keep their jobs.

They get so excited and have hope. It’s a great sense of accomplishment to find jobs for people and to see the change in their attitude, demeanor, and confidence levels from when they started our program to when they complete it.” She adds, “I love being part of the amazing TANF program team!” G If you are an employer who would like to find out more about hiring our TANF program participants, please contact Marcella Jackson at (303) 922-2100, ext.

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JFS Holiday Closures

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FS will be closed for the High Holy Days on September 29, and 30, October 13, 14, 20, and 21. The office will close at 2:00 p.m. on September 28 and October 7. We apologize for any inconvenience. Happy Holidays! G

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Youth Corner

Sydney Gart

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y mom told me the story of a family. This is how it went: An Orthodox family was in a bad situation. The mother had died, and the father was grieving, leaving three boys and one girl without an active parent. They needed clothes badly for the school year. This is where JFS came in. They emailed us with a message containing the boys' sizes and clothing requirement for the upcoming school year.

We drove to Target and I helped pick out everything that they needed. This made me feel so lucky to have the chance to choose my OWN clothes with my “What really matters is mom or grandmother. I liked just to know that we picking out different bright colors for the boys’ shirts, and helped a family in need.” believing that this would make —Sydney Gart them happy.

Then, we went to JFS to drop off the clothes. Everyone there was so thankful, especially Shelley. She said that we were amazing that we did this, but what really matters is just to know that we helped a family in need. G —Sydney Gart Sydney Gart

Donor Spotlight JFS Receives $100,000 Grant from Mile High United Way for Homeless Prevention

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hank you to Mile High United Way (MHUW) for a recent $100,000 grant for homeless prevention! The grant came about in an interesting way. Last year, JFS managed a pilot program, Single Access Network in Denver (SAND) with Denver Urban Ministries, Catholic Charities, and Senior Assistance Center, to create a single phone number for Denver residents to call for emergency rent assistance.

While we did not have funding to continue this program for another year, we learned important information such as how many people all four partner agencies that used the phone number served. Plus, all the organizations shared grant information, so we knew how much money was available in the community for homeless prevention, which turns out was not nearly enough.

Shelly Hines, Family Safety Net manager, and Amy Wood, director of government and community affairs, have a close relationship with MHUW and

told its staff that our community was going to be hundreds of thousands of dollars short for homeless prevention services in the coming fiscal year (which began July 1).

Fortunately, MHUW was able to provide a generous grant. With this money, we are able to do in-depth case management services with four to six new households each month for a year. “Rather than providing one month of rent assistance and sending people on their way, our case managers are able to work with these families to set financial goals, put a plan in place to keep their homes, and do regular evaluations to make sure they’re on track,” says Shelly. “And since government funding for homeless prevention services was cut this year, this grant is a huge help for us to serve more people with this important work.” G

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Thank You for Caring!

The following donations reflect tribute gifts received during the period from June 1, 2011 to July 31, 2011. Due to space limitation, we are only able to list tribute gifts received during this time, but all contributions are greatly appreciated.

WITH GRATITUDE FOR Gareth and Betsy Heyman’s commitment to JFS Jeffrey Hirschfeld JFS Frances Wolpo Allan Markman’s Dvar Torah at Celebrate JFS Nancy Benyamin My poetry friends Jari Thymian Roberta Reinfeld’s heart-felt work at JFS Congregation Har Hashem IN HONOR OF ANNIVERSARIES Marvin and Jackie Cooper Ralph and Berta Goodman Morris and Ita Garnek Mirella Schreiber Harold and Marilyn Lande The Board and Staff of Jewish Family Service Paul and Marilyn Bogan Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Robert and Barbara Guttsmann Ted and Sandra Pomeranz Seymour Rubenstein and Charlene Loup Cecille Silverberg Sally Spivak Daniel and Judy Pepper Debra and Leonard Herz Jay Spivak and Muri Sigman Howard and Carol Torgove Bernard and Lois Schaffner Arnold and Phyllis Hayutin

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hank you for your generosity! Your support makes all our good works possible. Please accept our apologies for any omissions or errors.

IN HONOR OF BAR MITZVAH Josh Pusar Cyndi Silver IN HONOR OF BIRTHS Great Grandson of Gen and Jerry Mellman Shirley Gilman Eva and Isabel Sanders Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard IN HONOR OF BIRTHDAYS Ruth Aronson Shalom18 Alan and Gloria Kris Joyce Bockman Howard and Donna Lutz Lawrence Bub Bennie and Joan Bub Wally Degginger Alvin and Bettie Steinberg Judi Haley Marvin Tyor Leonard Herz Donald and Henny Kaufmann Howard and Carol Torgove David “Duke” Kaminsky Elly Valas Andy Lowinger Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Alan Mayer The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Scott and Gail Lasater Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Karen Pepper Daniel Foss and Carole Kornreich Andrea Pollack Steven and Robin Chotin Wendy Robbins Howard and Donna Lutz Libby Rosen Don and Linda Neuman Seymour Rubenstein Marvin and Shirley Leff Aya Schmidt Sheryl Noven Erin Yourtz Bennie and Joan Bub

Joyce Zeff Max and Elaine Appel The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Bennie and Joan Bub Steven and Robin Chotin David and Cindy Goldberg Rachel Grynberg and Rick Shepis Gil and Jane Hermann Debra and Leonard Herz Leland Huttner Mark and Cathlyn Huttner James and Eleanore Judd Bob and Robyn Loup Sally Steele Metzger Sam and Zondra Pluss Eric and Ellen Pollock Hilda Schwartz Robert and Carole Slosky Lynn and Lisa Taussig Dan and Ann Veenstra

Sheryl Goodman Gary and Debbie Mandelbaum Mark and Michele Hellerstein Joe and Sandy Bean Roselyn and Ernest Jacobs Larry and Debra Jacobs JFS Accounting Department and “Celebrate JFS” Daisy Flynn Harold Locketz Harold Locketz and Janice Temple Nancy Richard Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Micah Rosenbaum Marty and Melissa Rosenbaum Michael and Starr Rothberg’s Wild Eggs opening Jennifer Hoffman Leland Rudofsky Barry and Randie Winograd

IN HONOR OF FATHERS

RECIPIENT OF THE JFS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Edward Green Bill and Alaina Green Bill Green Hannah Green Jim Sharon Bill and Alaina Green Milton Sharon Bill and Alaina Green Leonard Strear Linda Liman Don Thymian Jari Thymian IN HONOR OF MARRIAGE Gail Best and David Miller Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Max Wohlauer and Dita Garlick Mark and Susie Barter Eyal Sella and Sarah Klahn Alan Curtis and Kathy Fulton Austin and Lee Hamre Kathleen Von Stein IN HONOR OF Tibor Engel’s retirement Jordan and Sue Hochstadt

Daisy Flynn David and Nancy Benyamin Milton and Linda Brandwein Marion Goldstein Hedda Hoffer Elaine Long WITH WISHES FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY Ralph Goodman Jackie and Marvin Cooper Vicki Eskanos Barton and Marci Rivkin Gerald Lande Harold and Marilyn Lande Marvin and Shirley Leff IN MEMORY OF My Parents Carol Boyd Mickey Barter Jeffrey and Sandra Barter Joseph Berenbaum Mandelbaum Family Foundation

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Joseph Bernstein Adeline Lutz Don and Linda Neuman Shirley Ann Cohen Estate Robert Berris Robyn Stone Hedly Sharon Lasky Gary and Joyce Lozow William Bromberg Lorraine K. Banning David and Nancy Benyamin The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Joan Daniel Georgia Dunn-Kutz Gary and Janet Friedland Jordan Ginsberg Ralph and Berta Goodman Robert and Barbara Guttsmann Sharon Lasky Bob and Robyn Loup William and Patricia Mogg I. Bernard and Leba Munishor Richard and Patricia Perlman Janet Peterson Ruth Pipkorn and Beverly Cohen Eileen Price Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Arnold and Annelie Sherwood Maxine Shpall Kathleen Stellor Lynn and Lisa Taussig Maynard and Sally Telpner Michael and Joan Thomason Carolyn Wold Brother of Dr. & Mrs. Howard Selinger Joe and Sandy Bean Laurence Eskanos Vicki Eskanos

Sheldon “Butch” Ginsberg Trude Bershof Cynthia Chapman Gary and Joyce Lozow David and Gayle Ann Weinstein Lester Gold Ely Birnbaum and Shirley Londer Ellen Greenholz Harvey and Judith Cohen David Gross Mark Pogrebin Eva Gross Earl and Rhonda Hanna Keri Hale Myra Schneider Gertrude Hirschman Scott and Alice Alban Maxine Katzson Marcie Bayaz The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Gordon and Zelda Friednash Marleen Konieczny Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Yana Vishnitsky and Jim Wolfe Edward Khazanov Yana Profilet Basia Kononov Dmitry Kononov and Olga Titova Max Leder Les and Estelle Levitt Marvin Tyor Gerald Leiser Betty Karsh Jacqueline Levy Sally Steele Metzger

Stanton and Jane E. Rosenbaum Evelyn Lipp Norman and Stephanie Friedman Marvin Lubeck Cynthia Chapman Harvey and Judith Cohen Buzz and Shelley Krovitz Sally Steele Metzger Ernest Madison Jerry and Julie Pluss Max Paula Moore Michael Nowak Jari Thymian Clayton Pyle Jari Thymian Estelle Rifkin Mark and Susie Barter Andy Robinson I. Bernard and Leba Munishor Goldie Sandberg Steve and Linda Goldstein Charles Schneider Myra Schneider Minnie Schneider Myra Schneider Lorraine Sekerak Michael Sekerak Steven Sekerak Michael Sekerak Jack Shaffer Les and Estelle Levitt Claire Yoelin Dick Sheldon Goldstein Associates Company Morey Shuster Gary and Joyce Lozow Sylvia Shuster Paul Cohen

Gifts Needed for Bright Holidays Program

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t is not too early to begin planning for the winter holidays! If you can help brighten the holidays for families in need by purchasing gifts for them, please contact Shelley Kolman at skolman@jewishfamilyservice.org to learn more and sign up for this program. G

Adele Sollender The Board & Staff of Jewish Family Service Buzz and Nancy Neusteter Nicole Segal Jack L. Titus Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Eugenia Wald Arnold and Bonnie Silverman Shirl Werber Ely Birnbaum and Shirley Londer Alan Wolff Stanley and Toby Rubel IN-KIND DONATIONS Beth Evergreen Beth Shalom BMH-BJ B’nai Chaim B’nai Havurah B’nai Torah East Denver Orthodox Ekar HEA King Soopers – Monaco King Soopers – Reclamation LDS Canning Micah Pizza Hut – Leetsdale Rodef Shalom Safeway Shar Chadash Temple Sinai Sunflower Temple Emanuel Whole Foods – Cherry Creek Whole Foods – Tamarac Zera Avraham

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JFS Legacy Society (Members through July 28, 2011) Thank you to the following JFS Legacy Society members. You are the JFS supporters who had the vision to include us as a beneficiary of your estate plans.

Anonymous Sanford Alpert Barbara Altenberg McDonald Judy Altenberg and Bruce Plotkin Elaine and Max Appel Rabbi Eliot and Dr. Hilary Baskin Estate of Michael Baum Robert and Samantha Baumgarten Bruce and Jennifer Bendell Steve and Sandy Berkowitz Estate of Jack Bernstone Mel Brody William Bromberg Jerry and Bobbie Carr James and Alissa Cohen The Winters Creasey Family Ken and Sheryl Feiler Estate of Terry Fisher Rabbi Steven and Joyce Foster Estate of Max Frankel Brad and Laurie Friedman Benjamin & Lillian Ginsburg Charitable Trust Estate of Lewis J. Goldsmith

Richard C. Goldstein Estate Sidney and Ann Grazi Philanthropic Fund Chuck and Anne Gross Estate of Louise F. Guggenheim Jerry and Zelda Gutman Jeffrey and Sharon Haber Estate of Betty Ann J. Halperin Ken and Linda Heller Peggy Hermann Irwin and Jacquie Hoffman Ron and Gale Kahn Sterling and Ruth Kahn Trust Estate of Lottie R. Klebe Lisa Koenigsberg Estate of Elizabeth S. Krash Steven and Elizabeth Kris Buzz and Shelley Krovitz Estate of Alan Laff Harold and Marilyn Lande Estate of Mary Latanik Howard and Blanca Lerman Estate of Guscile and Rona Levin J. Leonard & Myra B. Levy Family Fund

Estate of Edith Lewitt Leonard and Sylvia Litvak Bob and Robyn Loup Sandey Luciano Irene Mayer Estate of Walter Mielziner Estate of Ruth Milzer Perry and Susie Moss Stephen and Lois Nadler Gail Nussbaum Gail Pennington Shirley Politzer Eric and Ellen Pollock Dean Prina, M.D. Andy and Renee Raabe Estate of Irene Rantz Dawn Richard John and Lore Roth Estate of Minnie Rothchild Estate of Corinne Rottman Dr. & Mrs. Richard and Jo Sanders Chet and Louise Schwartz Estate of Edith Schwartz Meyer Jean B. Seeman Charitable Trust

Dan and Marian Seff Estate of Pearl Shames Amy Shapiro Helen Shapiro Estate of Ruth Shapiro Donald and Debbie Silversmith Barry and Regina Silvestain Sally Steele Metzger Estate of Lillian Stein Estate of Samuel H. Sterling Estate of Susie Strait Lynn and Lisa Taussig Jorge and Francine Topelson Estate of Walter Vasen Dan and Ann Veenstra Yana Vishnitsky and Jim Wolfe Estate of Alan Irwin Wandel Lary and Lori Weintraub Estate of Sandor Weisz Phil and Elle Winn Debbie Zimmerman and Charles Van Gundy

Thanksgiving Food Needed

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s you plan your Thanksgiving meal this year, please consider donating some holiday meal items to the Weinberg Food Pantry to help the people in our community who might not otherwise be able to celebrate.

We are in need of all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal, including frozen turkeys, cranberry sauce, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, gravy mixes, canned pumpkin pie mix, and aluminum foil roasting pans. Grocery certificates for clients with special dietary needs are also greatly appreciated.

Please bring all donations by Wednesday, November 16th to Jewish Family Service, 3201 South Tamarac Drive. Please either hand donations to one of the employees or volunteers in the Food Pantry or leave them in front of the Pantry door. Monetary donations to the Weinberg Food Pantry are also always welcome! Please mail checks to the JFS office or donate online at www.jewishfamilyservice.org. Please indicate “Pantry Holidays� on your checks or online orders.

Thank you in advance for your support! G

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Babi Yar Memorial to Be Held September 25

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ewish Family Service, the Mizel Museum, and Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann’s office have teamed up to sponsor this year’s Babi Yar Memorial on Sunday, September 25 from 11:00 a.m. to noon.

If you’ve attended the annual memorial, you know that the setting of Babi Yar Park, just west of Havana on Yale Avenue, inspires reverence.

We are delighted that Dr. David Shneer will be the keynote speaker at this year’s memorial. He is an exceptional thinker, scholar, and a favorite of the Russian-American community for his knowledge and his facility with six languages, especially Russian and Yiddish.

When he’s not traveling the world to teach and research his areas of interest, he is a history professor and director of the Program in Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado. His talk is entitled: “Many Babi Yars: The Holocaust on Soviet Soil.” Dr. Shneer will translate for the Russian-speakers.

Many Americans are surprised to learn that there were “many Babi Yars,” found in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. Though there were 30,000 people killed in the first

two days of the Babi Yar massacre, which started on Yom Kippur, 1941, it is estimated that there are 2,500 other mass graves, most of them yet to be found.

Sherman Jacobs, violinist extraordinaire, will also give a short concert of music reminiscent of shtetl life.

For more information, please contact Deanne Kapnik at the Mizel Museum, (303)749-5019 or Alla Milstein at Jewish Family Service, (303) 597-5000. G

Babi Yar Park

Spiritual Healing Bereavement Group Begins September 14

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afael Spiritual Healing Services, a program of the Counseling Center of Jewish Family Service, is offering a bereavement group for people who have experienced a loss. The group will begin on Wednesday, September 14. The time will be set based on the needs of the participants. This unique eight-session group will not only support you through the process of grieving, but will also foster connection with self, faith, and community by integrating Jewish traditions and rituals.

The group will be co-facilitated by Rabbi Eliot Baskin, D.Min, Jewish Community Chaplain, and Arleen Gershen, LCSW, a JFS psychotherapist.

The bereavement group is held at Jewish Family Service, 3201 South Tamarac Drive in Denver. Participants are asked to make a commitment to attend all eight sessions. The cost is $100. Arrangements can be made for those unable to pay.

For more information or to register, contact Arleen Gershen at (303) 597-5000, ext. 357 or agershen@jewishfamilyservice.org. G

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High Holy Days Food Drives

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ue to the very difficult economy, we need your help more than ever to provide nutritious food to people in need. Stores are trying to save money, so we are getting less donated food; we received 150,000 pounds less in donated food from 2010 to 2011!

When you attend services during the High Holy Days, please drop off food at your synagogue. If you do not attend services, please drop food off at JFS, 3201 South Tamarac Drive.

Below is the Pantry’s Top 10 List. Please add as many of these items to your shopping list as you can to ensure that those struggling in our community can have a sweet New Year.

The Weinberg Food Pantry’s ability to purchase items through Food Bank of the Rockies allows a dollar to go many times further than at the grocery store, so cash donations are always welcome! Please mail checks to the JFS office or donate online at www.jewishfamilyservice.org. Please note “Pantry Holidays” on your checks.

If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Paul, Family Safety Net coordinator, at (303) 5975000, ext. 359, or jpaul@jewishfamilyservice.org. G

WEINBERG FOOD PANTRY TOP TEN LIST 1.

Canned protein

6. Peanut butter and jelly

2. Canned fruit

7.

Cereal

3. Juice

8. Canned Soup

4. Canned vegetables

9. Shelf-stable or dry milk

5. Spaghetti and tomato sauce

10. Full-sized toiletries

JFS Senior Outreach Program Hosts High Holy Day Services

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FS will host more than 25 High Holy Day services throughout September and October for Jewish residents of long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, a mental health center, and four correctional institutions in metro Denver. Boulder JFS will also sponsor several retirement community High Holy Day services in Boulder.

Denver area services will be led by Rabbi Eliot Baskin, JFS Jewish community chaplain; Dr. Leonid Baksht; and JFS Bikur Cholim volunteer Para-chaplains Paula Breese, Bob Epstein, Deb Fowler, Barb Hahn, Leland Huttner, Allan Markman, Jay Miller, Bob Rottman, Sheldon Spector, Michelle Stern, Andy Thangasamy, and Leslie Tjarks. These Para-chaplains lead Shabbat services throughout the year as well as conducting High Holy Day services.

The JFS Senior Outreach Program reduces social isolation of Jewish nursing care facility residents through visitation services of Jewish Family Service para-chaplains and volunteers.

Information: Beth Lippa, Senior Solutions Volunteer Outreach coordinator, (303) 597-5000, ext. 303 or Ingrid Swords at Boulder JFS, (303) 415-1025. G

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Summer Magic Goes to Shwayder and JCC Ranch Camp

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ummer Magic, sponsored by the Jewish Disabilities Network, brought more than 30 campers with disabilities and their teen buddies on two separate action-packed days to Shwayder Camp and the JCC Ranch Camp. At Shwayder, participants made bubble paintings, rode horses in the new corral, played tetherball, and enjoyed a terrific lunch.

At the JCC Ranch Camp, campers made very messy finger paintings, enjoyed the little farm, rode horses, ate a delicious lunch, and hung out with new friends. Some of our campers have been to JCC Ranch Camp since the first year Summer Magic started there; others were newcomers to the program.

Thank you to the staff at both camps for their hospitality and for welcoming our campers with open arms! G

Happy Anniversary to JFS Staff Members!

The following staff members are celebrating their anniversaries with the agency in the months of September and October: September: Sara Leeper, 18 years; Rabbi Baskin, 14 years; Dawn Richard, 11 years; Elias Tedla, 10 years; Marcie Jacobs, 9 years; Melissa LaLonde, 6 years; Valdemar Alekson, 5 years; Kim Finnestead, 3 years; Eileen Clayton, 2 years; Cynthia Nodland, 2 years; Julie Rubsam, 2 years; Jari Thymian, 2 years; Yakov Russonnik, 2 years.

October: Cathy Grimm, 17 years; Laura Grushcow, 14 years; Brenda Stephenson, 11 years; Sue Frakes, 8 years; Mirjana Bijelic, 7 years; Alison Joucovsky, 7 years; Alaina Green, 7 years; Amy Hill, 6 years; Joana Yacubu, 4 years; Claire Gordon, 3 years; Michele Weber, 3 years; Leslie Wilson-Langsdon, 2 years; Lynn Cooper, 2 years; Mulu Berhe, 2 years; Jackie Rodriguez, 1 year; Marcella Jackson, 1 year; Danielle Cummings, 1 year; Amira Assad, 1 year; Lisa Twardowski, 1 year.

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NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID DENVER, COLORADO PERMIT NO. 1217

Joyce and Kal Zeff Building 3201 South Tamarac Drive Denver CO 80231-4394 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

tel: 303-597-5000 fax: 303-597-7700 www.jewishfamilyservice.org Beneficiary Agency of Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and Mile High United Way