Page 10 - Jewish News _August 2021_

10A August 2021 FEDERATION NEWS

Where your dollars go

JFCS of the Suncoast’s Jewish Healing program

Staff Report
This series highlights mission-based programs and projects that are supported by provided to some survivors. ‹ Religious Services: Normally,
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Funding for these initiatives is de- ‹ Holocaust Survivor Wellness: Rabbi Katz and volunteers conduct
rived from the Annual Campaign. The series helps to explain where your generous 2020 saw the completion of a spe- monthly Shabbat services and holi-
dollars are spent and features certain initiatives that enrich the lives of Jews living cial federal grant JFCS received day celebrations (High Holy Days,
in Sarasota-Manatee, local projects with area partners, and overseas programs that through The Jewish Federations Hanukkah, Passover) at several se-
support the social and humanitarian needs of Jews in Israel and around the world. of North America to enhance the nior living facilities. However, due
Your generous support is found in our tenet of Tikkun Olam – repairing the wellness of our survivors. The to Covid restrictions, Rabbi Katz
A The Case Manager was also able to Survivor Wellness to organize Days and Hanukkah services via
grant enabled a Coordinator of
world!
conducted Passover, High Holy
critical piece of the mission
of The Jewish Federation of
Zoom for these residents.
a range of presentations about
secure additional funds from other
Sarasota-Manatee is “to pro-
Jewish clients in need.
matched with a trained volunteer
vide for Jewish people in need.” JFCS organizations, helping a total of 53 healthy aging and well-being, in- ‹ Friendly Visitors: Clients are
tegrate with JFCS Senior Services
of the Suncoast is our local, hands-on ‹ Holocaust Survivor Assistance: programming, provide arts outings who usually visits a few times a
partner which does that work on our In conjunction with Gulf Coast to the symphony and stage perfor- month. Nine clients were served by
behalf. The Federation provides a grant JFCS in Clearwater, a full-time mances (with all tickets donated seven volunteers. The year started
each year to JFCS’ Jewish Healing pro- Case Manager helps assist the 154 by the venues), and social events. off with in-person visits, but phone
gram to help the local Jewish commu- survivors who live in our area, When Covid-19 precluded in-per- calls had to be substituted in the
nity. primarily in North Port. Although son gatherings to take place, pro- pandemic’s wake.
In 2020, the Federation granted Covid-19 prevented in-person ser- gramming continued on Zoom. ‹ Prison Ministry: A volunteer
$165,817 to the Jewish Healing pro- vices for much of 2020, relation- The Wellness Coordinator served with long-term experience in pris-
gram (JHP), which utilized these funds ships were strengthened by phone, as an important lifeline to many on ministry has, for several years,
in the following key areas: email and Zoom. The pandemic survivors during the pandemic. met weekly with 12 to 14 Jewish
‹ Jewish Financial Assistance prompted several survivors to seek inmates at the state prison at the
(JFA): The grant pays for a Case benefits from the Claims Confer- Desoto Correctional Institution in
Manager to assist Jewish members ence (the international body that Arcadia. Unfortunately, the pan-
of the community who confront has overseen compensation for demic stopped those meetings.
temporary emergency situations survivors since the end of WWII) The volunteer was able to maintain
due to loss of employment, ill- which had not been previously communication through the mail.
ness, family issue, etc., that threat- pursued. Registration for such as- Occasionally, Rabbi Katz will
en deprivation and homelessness. sistance requires extensive docu- meet with a member of the Jewish
Vetted, qualifying requests (which mentation navigated by the Case community who has been incarcer-
include financial documentation) Manager. Survivors were also ated locally or who finds himself
are submitted to the Federation served by JFCS’ Senior Outreach ‹ Chaplaincy: In addition to serving or herself dealing with legal issues.
for assistance. In 2020, $16,578 in Services department, which, in as JHP Director and supervising ‹ Jewish Programming: Unfortu-
additional monies were provided conjunction with JHP, provided its staff, Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz nately, Covid-19 forced the elim-
by the Federation for specific re- Shabbat and holiday meals. Jew- provides our local community ination of much of the planned
quests for emergency assistance.
ish Financial Assistance was also
programming for 2020. Still, Rab-
with chaplaincy services on a full-
Make It ral care was, in large respect, no and well-received Jewish spiritual-
bi Katz organized an innovative
time basis. Although such pasto-
ity workshop that included sound
longer possible with the advent of
Covid-19, Rabbi Katz continued to
immersion and guided meditation
in early 2020. He also continued
address the needs of Jewish com-
munity members through phone
his role as the liaison for Sarasota’s
calls, texts, email and Zoom. Rab-
bi Katz counseled many individu-
this capacity, he facilitated a sold-
als over the phone and also made Sister City of Tel Mond, Israel. In
out Taste of Sephardic Cooking
numerous referrals. He made 312 held at the Sarasota Arts Center.
contacts with community mem- One programmatic mainstay re-
bers in need and conducted seven mained despite the pandemic: the
funerals. weekly Jewish current events dis-
‹ Bikkur Cholim, Visiting the cussion group called “Talk Story”
Sick: Although restricted by the facilitated by Rabbi Katz. Now in
pandemic, Rabbi Katz gained spe- its third year, this popular group
cial visiting privileges at Sarasota currently meets on Zoom.
Memorial Hospital that allowed Finally, it is also worth noting
him to visit Jewish patients under that the counseling needs of the Jew-
certain circumstances. ish community were also supported by
‹ Senior Outreach Services (SOS): your Federation during the pandemic.
The Federation granted an additional
A portion of the grant provided to
A Monthly Mitzvah!
A Monthly Mit z vah! JFCS by the Federation is to sup- $13,440 to JFCS for specific Covid-19
related counseling needs in a very try-
plement senior outreach services.
Jewish seniors are served through ing year.
geriatric care management and Thank you to the staff and volun-
programming. Approximately 250 teers at JFCS of the Suncoast. On be-
Monthly mitzvahs make all the difference. When needs arise, people contact SOS each year half of a grateful community, thank you
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee responds and does looking for assistance for seniors, for being our partners on the ground,
so quickly. Thanks to our generous contributors who make especially their out-of-town chil- doing God’s work.
dren.
For more information on the Jewish
AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DONATIONS, we’re able to promptly ‹ Bereavement Support Groups: Healing program at JFCS of the Sun-
provide financial support to those in need. Offering the opportunity to share coast, contact Rabbi Jonathan Katz at

WANT TO HELP? Visit JFEDSRQ.ORG/donate and select in a group setting, Rabbi Katz jkatz@jfcs-cares.org or 941.366.2224
x166.
conducted four Bereavement Sup-
“Make my Donation Monthly Recurring.” port Groups in 2020, beginning in For more information on how
person and moving to Zoom af- you can help your Federation assist
ter March. Nineteen participants our local Jewish community, contact
941.371.4546 found solace, understanding and Barbara Mazer, Chief Development
Strategist, at bmazer@jfedsrq.org or
support. These groups continue to
receive very positive evaluations. 941.706.0035.