(Click here to make a gift to the JFS Annual Campaign.)

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County—Your Family in the Community—stands at the forefront of providing services during this economic crisis.  Our client numbers and demand for our services continue to increase as the economy continues to be unstable.  We do not turn anyone away who seeks our help.  However, we face a shortfall in funding as corporate and foundation support has diminished. 

Over the past twelve months, JFS has seen a 50% increase in clients served per quarter.  In the most recent quarter, the number of clients served was 2.4 times the volume of the same quarter one year earlier.

During this season, as we sit down for the Seder, let us remember that we were slaves in Egypt and that slavery and oppression take many forms: hunger, poverty, depression, and fear about the future.  What makes our community unique is the understanding that during these difficult times, those of us who are able will step up and make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable. 

Click here to make a gift to the JFS Annual Campaign.

INTRODUCING THE JFS CHILDREN’S AFIKOMEN FUND

New this year is the JFS CHILDREN's AFIKOMEN Fund to encourage children and youth to give back to the community, along with a supplemental reading (on Home Page) that we hope will become part of your annual Seder tradition.

The JFS Children’s Afikomen Fund was created in 2008 by eight families who have for 25 years joined together at one of the hundreds of Seders shared by families and friends in our Ann Arbor community.

As in years past the “children,” many of whom are now young adults, found the Afikomen after a diligent search.  As conversation turned to negotiating an appropriate price for buying back the Afikomen, it became clear that the toys and silver dollars of years gone by would no longer do.  Various alternatives were thrown out by young and old, but the conversation ended happily and unanimously when one of the youngsters suggested that the Afikomen reward money should go to tzedakah.  Jewish Family Services was quickly chosen as the recipients, and the JFS Children’s Afikomen Fund was born.

In giving back to the community, these young people and their families have honored our centuries old Passover story by making a commitment to help those most in need.  JFS thanks them for initiating the Afikomen Fund and hopes other young people and their families will help to make the Afikomen Fund an ongoing resource for the community.

Funds distributed from the JFS Children’s Afikomen Fund are reserved for helping other children in need.  This is the first step in a new JFS initiative for children to encourage the spirit and joy of tzedakah at a young age.