Tag Archives: Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

JFCS Presents October 20th Screening of “The Hunting Ground” on Prevalence of College Sexual Assault

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mp5Mzl1lThe JFCS Project SARAH Domestic Abuse Program Presents:

“The Hunting Ground” A Documentary Film Screening to Shine a Light on the Prevalence of College Sexual Assault

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Carmike Cinemas – Ritz 16, Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Voorhees

20 percent of women who enroll in college are sexually assaulted while there, but,  45% of schools report ZERO incidence of sexual assault.   It’s time to shed a light on college sexual assault and prepare our male and female students for the reality.

This must see screening of the The Hunting Ground documentary will help to erase stigma, enlighten our  young people, and address a new “Yes Means Yes” Affirmative Consent legislation, introduced by NJ State Senator Jim Beach, to help protect students at higher education institutions.

Tickets are available for a donation of $15 for adults / $10 for students, and includes popcorn and soda.  All proceeds support the JFCS Project SARAH Domestic Abuse Program.   Special address by Senator James Beach and an after-viewing Q & A session are scheduled. To watch a trailer, visit: www.thehuntinggroundfilm.com. This film is PG-13.

TO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW, CLICK HERE.

JFCS Food Sort Sponsored by WCRE – Sept. 27 – Volunteers Needed!

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High_Holiday_FoodSort_Volunteer FINAL 7 28 15

JFCS Offering Social Media Networking for Jobs Seminar-June 30-Register Today!

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Social Media Flyer

Our Children in Need – Mental Health in The South Jersey Community

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Depression, addiction, suicide, anxiety, trauma. These five words are some most of us would rather not discuss as a matter of course, especially when it pertains to young people. For a great many of us, they can be uncomfortable words to swallow. But what if, by raising awareness and offering support, we were able to change those five words to read hope, healing, promise, happiness, growth? What if by having difficult conversations and becoming informed we could help save or enrich the life of a young person dealing with mental illness or addiction issues.

JFCS is committed to offering counseling programs and outreach for young people all year long, but as the 10th anniversary of the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day arrives on Thursday, May 7, it is our collective duty and responsibility as a community to address the mental health needs of America’s youngest citizens. It is a day to focus on children and youth living with mental illness and to come together to advocate for a full array of effective services and supports for children affected by mental illness.

Whether they suffer from abuse or mental illness, the fact is that our children need us to learn, and open our eyes wide to the world. Because, for many of them, the path toward wellness is too cloudy to see. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “an estimated 15 million of our nation’s young people can currently be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Many more are at risk of developing a disorder due to risk factors in their biology or genetics; within their families, schools, and communities; and among their peers.  It is estimated that only about 7 percent of these youth who need services receive appropriate help from mental health professionals.”

In a recent study, the Center for Disease Control explains the numbers, “ Children’s mental disorders affect many children and families. Boys and girls of all ages, ethnic/racial backgrounds, and regions of the United States experience mental disorders. The same age group statistics show that 4.7% report illicit drug use disorder in the past year, 4.2% report alcohol use disorder in the past year, and 2.8% report cigarette dependence in the past month (2.8%).

Furthermore, many are suffering mental abuse at the hands of their partner, or is an abuser with a mental illness.  The Love Is Respect website reports nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year; One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence; One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

It’s important to be aware of the patterns, prevalence and detrimental factors of all mental illness or trauma affecting our young people, whether the cause of mental distress is hereditary, environmental, or self-inflicted.

JFCS, in addition to constantly raising awareness, offers many programs and services to help the youth of our area. We will be expanding the JFCS heroin addiction program, “Right in Our Backyard” to reach schools in Camden County this year. So far the program has reached over 400 students and parents at five area synagogues and organizations.  We will continue to offer and present our Building Health Relationships programs to teach teens about the signs and issues of toxic or abusive relationships – nearly 700 teens have found benefit from this program. On May 17, in partnership with Temple Emanuel, we will host a special expo on mental health, called Healing of the Soul, or R’fuat HaNefesh, with keynote speaker, Sean Astin.  The expo presentation “We Will Listen” will help to create a stigma free zone in our community, through education and dialogue. 

We can make the words hope, healing, promise, happiness, growth a reality. All we have to do is listen, share, and exercise compassion.  If you, or someone you know, is dealing with mental health issues, please contact us, or join one of the aforementioned programs.  We know the journey isn’t easy, and we won’t allow anyone to go it alone.

 

If You Have Lost a Child, JFCS Can Help…

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The loss of a child is one of the most devastating experiences a parent can endure. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, parents can feel alone and isolated in their grief, as friends and relatives are often unsure of what to say. However, it is crucial to talk to people who understand the loss. Samost JFCS will begin another new eight-week series of its Parental Bereavement Support Group, starting on April 14, which offers parents a forum to share and heal.

During the bereavement period, a wide array of emotions and symptoms can be experienced, such as denial, self-blame, sleeplessness, fatigue, anxiety and despair. These are all normal parts of the intense grieving process and the intensity of feelings change as a person moves through bereavement.

“Staffed by trained facilitator, Debra Goldsmith, MSW, the bereavement support group of five mothers bonded, shared, cried, laughed, hugged and remembered,” Susan Weiner says, recalling the first series of this JFCS Parental Bereavement Support Group, which she attended to help her cope with the loss of her son, Joel.  “Through this, we each took a step forward in learning to live with the intense sorrow of this lifelong loss of our children.  I now have four very dear and close friends with whom I can share anything. This support group has made a tremendous difference in my life and I don’t how I could have coped without it.”

The loss of a child forever affects a parent, and emotions of sadness, anger, and hopelessness are not uncommon.  Carole Leiberman, who also attended the group to help her through the loss of her daughter Jamie, recalls, “I remember clearly, feeling so different from everyone, even from my friends, whom I shared so much with. Though they were very caring, I still felt utterly alone.  Being a part of a group of people whose reality was my reality, was the opposite. It comforted me, enabled me to sympathize and offer my experience, and what methods of coping helped me. In doing so, it helped me to grieve and grow stronger in the process.”

Eve Bandler also the bereavement group series offered by JFCS, and is hopeful that the new series of groups will help yet another parent as it helped her.

“Losing my son Matthew was an absolute devastation.  Adding to the unbearable pain was the feeling of isolation, as I realized that even those who loved my son and me couldn’t begin to understand the complex grief you bear when you outlive your child,” Eve says. “At that time, the Jewish Community offered no parental bereavement support groups, so I spent more than a year attending groups filled with parents whose religious beliefs about the afterlife and rituals surrounding death were different than mine. This further catapulted me into the depths of a serious depression. It wasn’t until I walked into the JFCS Parental Bereavement Support Group, and met women like myself, that I knew that I would no longer be walking this painful, lifelong journey alone. I was now part of a community, as mourners should be.”

If you have lost a child of any age, due to any cause, please join the JFCS Parental Bereavement Group to find comfort, compassion and mutual understanding from others. Grieving does not end with shiva.  Sessions begin Tuesday, April 14th through June 2nd, and take place from 7-8:30 PM.  To register, please call 856-424-1333. This group is made possible by funding received through a grant by the Jewish Women’s Foundation, in loving memory of Matthew Bandler Minches, Jamie Lieberman, and Joel Weiner.

Tolerance is the Key… For Every Person

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“Tolerance is giving every other human being every right you claim for yourself.” –Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899)

In this world, there is a tendency for many to see things only one way – things are either black or white. There is only one way to perceive things, there is only one way to do things, there is only one right way. Unfortunately, that outlook presents difficulties, as life isn’t black and white. There is a rainbow of factors that make up the human race – all the varying colors combining in a very special way to make life so intensely vibrant – billions of people, all ages, thousands of languages, religions, races, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and more.
The key to a harmonious community – both local and global- is acceptance, tolerance, and education. This is something that we stand by at JFCS, as part of the Jewish Federation family of agencies. We see this as our Holocaust Survivors meet with and share their poignant life stories and lessons with younger generations, not only to combat future genocide, but also to help provide a consciousness of human rights for all. In the community, at schools and synagogues, we focus on instilling the need for inclusion – not exclusion- of those with special needs to encourage and embrace their participation in our community in every way they desire. We also witness JFCS cultivating an understanding and compassion to others, to help support those who are struggling through economic hardships, loss of loved ones, mental illness, and addiction.

There is no room for judgment and labels in this harmonious community we strive to make ours. There is only- and should only ever be – acceptance, love, and loyalty, regardless of how other lives may differ from our own.

We are again reminded of this vision of an inclusive world, as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride Month is upon us in this month of June. It again brings to light how important it is for all of us to appreciate and celebrate the differences of all the people around us.
This month our homeland, Israel, is showing its support as a Tel Aviv municipality morphed into a giant rainbow flag as a public reminder that it is Gay Pride Month.

The Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival will also take place during the month, along with a host of cultural events, lectures, exhibitions, festivals and other special attractions. From city to shore, here at home, the celebrations continue throughout the month. In the early part of June in Philadelphia, the 24th annual Pride Day LGBT Parade and Festival welcomed thousands, and featured live music, DJs, food, and a festive parade. The Cape May Stage showed its support for LGBT Pride month through a special Celebrating Pride play reading that celebrates the diversity of the American people and embraces sexuality in all its conceptions on June 23, in association with the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). We will continue to see more as the month winds to a close.

In Genesis God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. This value is paramount to humanity. It implores us to understand that from the very start, each of us has been created in the direct image of God – that each of us deserves the same dignity and respect that we would bestow upon God, herself.
While there is still a long way to go for universal acceptance of all beings, we can all start at home to do our part. We can welcome our neighbors with light and love and understanding – so there is less hate, criticism, conflict, and animosity in this community and in our world in general.
We hope that you will join us, not only in this month – but every month – in celebrating the diversity that exists. Each person has something to offer, something to teach, something to help us broaden our experience on this planet – we should take every opportunity as an invitation to engage in the lives of others.