June 2025
By Melanie Weiner, LMFTProgram Director, New Parents Connect It’s not that fathers don’t need support—it’s that they’re less acculturated to actively seek it out, especially in group settings that center on emotional sharing and vulnerability. Our work began 17 years ago with New Moms Connect postpartum support groups, recognizing the challenges of new mothers in…
In the heart of West Hollywood, a quiet revolution in community care has unfolded over the past three decades—one rooted in a powerful partnership between the City of West Hollywood and Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA). At the center of that story is Marina Berkman, longtime program director at the West Hollywood Comprehensive Service Center…
May 2025
By Vivian Engle, MFT Senior Clinician, JFSLA When someone reaches out to JFS Hope, it’s often because they’ve been living with abuse—and they’re ready, in their own time and way, for something to change. Sometimes, they’ve left behind their home, their job, their identity—and they’re stepping into the unknown, carrying layers of trauma and fear. At…
Older adults facing depression, anxiety, and isolation are discovering new ways to heal at Jewish Family Service LA. Through a visionary pilot in partnership with Cedars-Sinai, JFSLA has introduced structured art and music therapy groups tailored to the needs of adults aged 55 and older. These services go far beyond recreational activities; they offer clinically…
“We didn’t want to be those people who just go to lunch. We needed to be useful. We needed to be out in the world.” — Arlene CowanSOVA Volunteer When Arlene and Frank Cowen retired from decades of public service—she as a teacher and teacher trainer, he as a court-appointed probate supervisor—they didn’t slow down….
April 2025
On a recent Saturday night after Havdalah in April, community members gathered at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Culver City for an extraordinary act of kindness. Volunteers arrived ready to pack hundreds of canvas bags filled with Kosher-for-Passover food, fresh eggs, and spring flowers—gifts of nourishment and remembrance that would be delivered to JFSLA-affiliated Holocaust survivors…
Reported by Westside Current LOS ANGELES — Jewish Family Service LA is proud to announce a two-year contract with FEMA to offer disaster case management services to survivors of the L.A. wildfires. Services include helping survivors find emergency shelter and access FEMA financial assistance for essential items and expenses not covered by insurance. JFSLA will begin…
By Joyce Williams, JFSLA Director of Volunteers & Training Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA) has been a cornerstone of support for individuals and families across Los Angeles for over 170 years. A key part of this impact is the family of JFSLA volunteers—compassionate, dedicated individuals who bring their time, energy, and unique talents to every…
Behind every fresh, healthy meal served to seniors through Jewish Family Service LA’s Senior Nutrition Program stands a dedicated volunteer. These individuals are essential in delivering not just food, but also companionship, dignity, and care to thousands of older adults across Los Angeles. From setting tables and plating meals to engaging in heartfelt conversations, volunteers…
We’re not currently accepting applications. If you’d like to be added to the interest list for our 2026–2027 cohort or to receive updates about Young Leader events, please reach out to us at CIN@jfsla.org.
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