Category Archives: Straight from the Heart

“In every generation, one must see oneself as if they personally had gone out from Egypt.” This timeless instruction from our Passover Haggadah reminds us that the Exodus narrative is not simply historical, but deeply personal. It calls us to experience liberation not as a distant memory, but as a living reality that unfolds within [...]

In Jewish tradition, we are taught that every human being is created B’tzelem Elohim–in God’s image. This fundamental teaching reminds us that human dignity and worth are inherent in every person, regardless of ability. The Torah further commands us to create an accessible world, instructing, “You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind,” a [...]

In Jewish tradition, we are taught that every human being is created B’tzelem Elohim–in God’s image. This fundamental teaching reminds us that human dignity and worth are inherent in every person, regardless of ability. The Torah further commands us to create an accessible world, instructing, “You shall not put a stumbling block before the blind,” a [...]

As we are beginning 2025, and it’s just days after commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service, we are reminded of a profound partnership that exemplified the universal power of working toward justice and healing. Dr. King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the most influential Jewish theologians of the 20th century, [...]

“Who is wise? He who learns from every person…Who is strong? He who controls his passions…Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot…Who is honored? He who honors others.” Ben Zoma, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) 4:1. These words, written more than 18 centuries ago in one of our foundational Jewish texts, [...]

This year of remarkable change at Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) has strengthened our appreciation for what truly matters: Our community. As new associate executive directors, we have witnessed firsthand the myriad ways this community comes together in good times and bad, to support one another and to draw strength from one another. We [...]