WEEKLY Insider
Welcome to the updated Weekly Insider!
We value your feedback and welcome any suggestions to enhance our offering.
APRIL 8TH TIME OFF
For the upcoming special holiday Monday, April 8, 2024, JFS is allowing all employees four (4) hours of holiday pay All offices will be fully closed at 12:00pm Please adjust your arrival and departure times to work 3.5 hours. Timecards should be filled with actual hours worked and then a second line added with the code holiday and 4 hours.
Please reach out to Dee in Finance if there are any questions or concerns.
LOOK OUT FOR THE LEADING EDGE SURVEY
JFS is committed to creating an incredible place to work, so we want to hear from you! Each year, Leading Edge launches a survey to help us learn about how our team is doing and compare that to other Jewish agencies across the US. The survey tells us how we can better support you and the important work you do.
Look out for a link on April 9th from surveys@leadingedge.org.
EID MUBARAK!
By: Fatima Slimani, RICH“Eid al-Fitr” is the translation from Arabic to “festival of breaking the fast.” Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic festival that marks the end of the holy month of fasting. It is the first time Muslims can eat during daylight hours after fasting during Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, which is the tenth month in the lunar calendar Muslims around the world perform communal prayer at daybreak on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration during Eid al-Fitr varies from country to country but includes visiting family and friends, giving presents, enjoying feasts, wearing new clothes, and visiting the graves of relatives.
This holiday is also a reminder for Muslims to be grateful for what they have as well as to help the less fortunate This is known as Zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat is a requirement that all Muslims with the means to do so donate to the less fortunate. Zakat significantly increases during Ramadan and continues as an important part of Eid alFitr.
The common greeting during Eid al-Fitr is “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid.” This greeting is used to wish other Muslims well during Eid
In observance of Eid al-Fitr, all JFS offices will be closed on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. We hope this day brings joy, prosperity and togetherness for all who celebrate! Eid Mubarak!
APRIL 8TH 2024 ISSUE
ARE YOU READY TO HAVE A MATZAH BALL?
Thank you to staff who have already reached out to volunteer and/or purchase tickets for our upcoming Matzah Ball on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Temple Beth Zion.
If you would like to attend the event as a guest, we are happy to offer staff and one guest a discounted general admission ticket ($25/ each). Please use code JFSSTAFF25 at checkout. (PLEASE NOTE: this is a new staff code. if you purchased a ticket with the original staff code, please reach out to Lauren Maguire, lmaguire@jfswny.org)
GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
JOIN CATHOLIC CHARITIES’ BOOK CLUB!
Catholic Charities of Buffalo is inviting all JFS staff to participate in a relatively new community and TRP initiative, Book Club! This is only the second book club since it’s inception by CCB, so it’s easy to catch up!
The book will be: ‘The spirit catches you & you fall down’ by Anne Fadiman. In this nonfiction work, Fadiman tells a compelling story of the clash of two cultures as experienced by a newly arrived refugee family, the Lee’s, a Hmong refugee family arriving in the US in the 1990’s. The Lee’s youngest daughter is diagnosed with a rare form of Epilepsy and the family must navigate the US medical system as they try to heal their daughter using traditional medicine
If you’re interested in attending, here are additional details. When: Friday April 19th 2024; 11:30am to 12:30pm Location: Canisius University at the Library Learning Center
BUYYOURBOOK!
The Library Learning center is located in the Bouwhuis Library (C on their map). There is a small tower lot right next to the library (marked with an arrow), but it can hold maybe 15 cars maximum. Visitors can also park along Main Street in front of Science Hall (N on their map).
Please RSVP to Brittany Book brittany.book@ccwny.org
INTRODUCING JFS EMBRACES
Here at Jewish Family Services, we pride ourselves on exemplifying the four core Jewish values of cultural responsiveness, trust, person-centered care and partnership.
As a new initiative in the Insider, we'd like our staff to highlight each other's embodiment of these values by nominating one another to be recognized for such values in upcoming editions of the Insider. This week’s nominee is Refugee Services Case Worker, Rashid Bakri who was nominated by Kerri Wilson.
If you'd like to nominate a colleague to be highlighted for their dedication to one or more of our core values, please click here.
JFS STAFF PREPARE RAMADAN BOXES
This year, JFS staff packaged and distributed Ramadan boxes for several individuals and families throughout the WNY community! The idea, sparked by Niagara Falls Intensive Case Worker Rafa Gasamalla, was executed thanks to JFS' community partnerships and the hard work of staff.
"One of my favorite parts of working at JFS is seeing how immersed everyone gets into community engagement," said Emily Wirth, JFS' Niagara Falls Community Engagement Coordinator.
NOMINATE
SUBMIT YOUR PET PHOTOS!
May is National Pet Month and in anticipation, we want to see all of your pets! Submit as many photos as you'd like of you and your furry friends to be featured in the May Monthly Insider. If you're having technical difficulties uploading through the form, please email your submission(s) to Madison Ruffo.
Show us your pets!
VOICEMAIL DIRECTORY UPDATES
We are currently updating the voicemail directory and need your help. Instead of your name in the voicemail directory sounding like C3P0, we want the people who access the directory to hear your name clearly. Please follow the steps below so that callers can hear your full name (rather than the spelling of letters), when using the employee directory of the main phone number voicemail This is for employees with a landline phone only.
Calling from your work landline phone:
Dial *1
Dial 0 for mailbox options
Press 3 to record your name
*Help -replays mailbox options
#-Exit
As soon as you record your their name, it's added to the directory. Questions? Reach out to Patty Hoyt.
UPCOMING EAP TRAINING
Federal Student Loans: What is new?
Thursday April 14th 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Join Parachute Credit Counseling as they discuss the changes to Federal Student Loans. This event is open to all and will be recorded.
Click here to learn more and register for: Federal Student Loans: What is new?
Visit the C+FS EAP website and call EAP at 716-681-4300 for information about the benefits of our programs.
SIGN UP FOR JFS COMMITTEES
To sign up for committees, contact the following people:
Employee Engagement: Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org) or Kara Kane (kkane@jfswny.org)
Health & Wellness: Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org) or AJ Martha (amartha@jfswny.org)
JEDI, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Sierra Johnston (sjohnston@jfswny.org) or Danielle Bernas (dbernas@jfswny.org)
Safety: Todd Warfield (twarfield@jfswny.org)
JJOBS JOBS OBS
Every two weeks, JFS staff receives an email titled, "Job Referral Opportunities." To ensure that you receive credit for the referral, make sure that the
CURRENT OPENINGS CURRENT OPENINGS CURRENT OPENINGS
Case Worker - Resettlement (Niagara Falls)
Case Worker - Refugee Services
Health Home Care Coordinator - Adult (Niagara Falls)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW or LCSW-R)
Transportation Specialist / Driver - Part time
e OPEN OPEN OPEN