As we welcome the month of Tammuz, we enter a season of reflection – one that holds both sorrow and the promise of renewal. Jewish tradition teaches that the weeks between now and Tisha B’Av invite us to face the world’s pain honestly, while also calling us to become agents of healing. Even in moments of difficulty, purpose and connection can still emerge.
In uncertain times like these, that message feels especially urgent. Healing begins with compassion, with human connection, and with showing up for one another.
This is at the very heart of JFCS.
Each day, we walk alongside individuals facing serious challenges – personal loss, mental health struggles, and financial instability. Because of our community’s kindness and generosity, we are able to provide not just support, but dignity, care, and the reassurance that no one is alone.
One of the most beautiful expressions of this is our Project Thrive program for Holocaust Survivors.
While Project Thrive helps meet essential financial needs, its true impact goes far beyond that. Our participants – individuals who carry extraordinary histories – often tell us that what moves them most is knowing that someone they may never meet is thinking of them, caring for them, and holding them in their heart. That quiet connection is transformative.
This spirit comes to life through one extraordinary supporter, Yael. Through her generosity, local Survivors receive ongoing support for basic needs, along with moments of joy – dinners out, theater visits, thoughtful gifts – that bring comfort and dignity. More than that, Yael builds real relationships. She takes the time to learn about each person’s story, their family, their interests and hobbies. She calls them Tante and Feder – Aunt and Uncle – and ensures that each one feels seen.
In welcoming each new participant, she writes:
Know that I mourn for the loved ones that were stolen from you.
Know that I rejoice in your strength.
Know that I am grateful for the chance to be part of your life.
Know that I pray for you and for all who are dear to you, every day.
This is the essence of Tammuz – transformation that unfolds slowly through compassion, community, and the simple, powerful act of caring for one another.
Yael embodies this spirit through her daily work with our Survivors. These words from Pirkei Avot, which guide her philosophy, capture what we’re all called to do:
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief,
Do justly. Now.
Love mercy. Now.
Walk humbly. Now.
You are not obligated to complete the work,
But neither are you free to abandon it.
We are so grateful to each one of you for being part of this sacred work – for bringing light into vulnerable spaces and for reminding others, again and again, that they are not alone.
To find out more or to become part of Project Thrive, please contact one of us at (856) 424-1333.
