Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven's Efforts

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven and The Towers at Tower Lane's work is made possible in part due to emergency grants from the Covid 19 Response/Maimonides Fund.

“JFS has always been the eyes and ears of our community,” says Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven’s (JFSGNH) CEO Amy Rashba. “We’re uniquely positioned to provide a full range of critical social services. Now, at this moment of unprecedented need, our community is turning to JFS for assistance. Although our physical offices are closed, our staff is working tirelessly to make sure we are here, today, to help those who need it most.”

RABBI HERB BROCKMAN The obligation of feeding the hungry is woven into our Torah and Jewish tradition; it is a mitzvah and primary obligation. Our current situation intensifies our responsibilities. As a JFS board member, a rabbi and community member, I ask myself, “What happens to our more than 288 clients who depend upon our JFS food pantry? And what happens to those, who through no fault of their own, will lose their jobs as a result of the present crisis? We are facing a community tragedy.”

The answer is coming together to pool our Jewish human resources. JFS is spearheading collaborative efforts with our synagogues, Jewish Federation and interfaith community. Rabbis are reaching into their discretionary funds while congregants are fulfilling tzedakah through donations and gift cards. As far as distributing the pantry food, this has not been resolved yet. But I’m hopeful that, with Pesach on the horizon, JFS will find a way to provide, at least symbolically, kosher-for-Passover food for those who need it most. Celebrating our historic redemption can give us all hope and courage for the present.

ELIZABETH DAVENPORT (CASE MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY SERVICES) Our clients are dealing with a number of anxieties, including limited access to food, fear of getting sick and being worried about their loved ones. I’m taking multiple calls a day regarding case management to connect individuals to food resources and delivery. I am also continuing my mental health appointments via telehealth and running a group at

The Towers via conference call. All JFS social workers are doing our best to facilitate the most needed connection for clients.

SANDY HAGAN (FOOD PANTRY AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH DIRECTOR) The food pantry is working with JFS social workers to access the need for non-perishable emergency food. We are coordinating with local synagogues to establish a list of volunteers who can hopefully deliver bags as the needs of our community increase in the coming weeks.

HANNAH LEITERMAN (MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL DIRECTOR) As a trauma specialist, I’m aware how this traumatic period stirs up anxiety. In lieu of counseling clients in our office, we are resorting to phone and telehealth appointments. I appreciate how our community is getting the word out!

RACHEL SCOLNIC DOBIN (SOS COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR) SOS clients who recently obtained jobs, were in the process of doing so and were laid off, or had their hours significantly reduced are dealing with a multitude of issues connected to unemployment. We have many new emergencies for those facing 100% loss of income and don’t know where to turn. JFS provides case management, directing those individuals to web resources and community agencies. Our Holocaust survivors, who are elderly and vulnerable, are now isolated. We are regularly calling them and their family members to help set up vital social services.

ANDREA JOSEPH (AGING ADULT SERVICES COORDINATOR) JFS has been inundated with requests from older adults. They are lonely and scared. I’m informing them of their options for food delivery and emergency food drop offs. I would like to encourage people to make phone calls to older neighbors, family members or friends to enable them stay connected to their community, offer to pick up groceries or pharmacy items, and deliver items by their door.