Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts

Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts We're a local social service agency partnering with people to achieve fulfilling lives. Give online www.jfswm.org/donate.

At the age of eight, Adan fled the violence of the Somali civil war with his family. They lived in the forest for a year, foraging for food and clean water, and survived the next 13 years in Kenyan refugee camps until they were finally approved for resettlement. "Jewish Family Service met my family and I at the airport, found us housing in Springfield, and helped me secure a job….I was not hoping

to be anything special. I just wanted a better life – that was my dream.” A gift of only $30 per month will mean the difference between despair and hope to hundreds of refugees like Adan who are building new lives, right here in Western Massachusetts. Join with JFS and make a stand for community and compassion, today and for years to come.

Building Resilience is back. October 14-November 18thWednesdays 11am-11:45am on ZoomRegistration is now open. Go to:htt...
08/10/2026

Building Resilience is back.
October 14-November 18th
Wednesdays 11am-11:45am on Zoom

Registration is now open. Go to:
https://tinyurl.com/BRFWFALL2026

Our popular six-week virtual self-care series, led by Reina Goldberg, is designed for caregivers and anyone experiencing heightened stress in their lives. Learn simple techniques to build core resilience, balance the nervous system & deepen a healthy connection to your body.

The free program takes place on Zoom, is open to all, and no experience is required. To ensure accessibility, all exercises can be done seated or standing and every session is recorded so participants can watch or rewatch at their convenience.

We’re pleased to share this reflection from our CEO, Rabbi James Greene, on Tishah Be’av, the Jewish National Day of Gri...
07/30/2026

We’re pleased to share this reflection from our CEO, Rabbi James Greene, on Tishah Be’av, the Jewish National Day of Grief. From the ancient destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem (and the long exile that followed) to the realities of displacement today, Rabbi Greene reminds us that our Jewish values, rooted in both the Torah and our lived history, call on us to continue the legacy of welcoming the stranger and to turn toward those seeking a safe place to call home. We invite you to read the essay at A Faith That Does Justice: https://faith-justice.org/voice-and-perspective/practicing-the-turn-tishah-beav-jewish-national-day-of-grief/

Nos alegra ver a nuestros socios en RAD siendo reconocidos por su excelente trabajo. Han suministrado bicicletas para mu...
07/28/2026

Nos alegra ver a nuestros socios en RAD siendo reconocidos por su excelente trabajo. Han suministrado bicicletas para muchos de nuestros clientes.

Lee el artículo aquí:
https://www.masslive.com/elpueblolatino/2026/07/radspringfield-celebra-una-decada-de-bicicletas-economicas-y-reparaciones-gratuitas-en-el-centro-de-la-ciudad.html

We are happy to see our partners at RAD getting recognized for their great work. They have supplied bikes for many of our clients. This article is in Spanish but there is an option to translate at the link. https://www.masslive.com/elpueblolatino/2026/07/radspringfield-celebra-una-decada-de-bicicletas-economicas-y-reparaciones-gratuitas-en-el-centro-de-la-ciudad.html

We're proud to help spread the word for our partners at the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.This year's Lynn ...
07/26/2026

We're proud to help spread the word for our partners at the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.

This year's Lynn M. and William Foggle Great Issues Lecture Series features former Congressman, Air Force veteran, and New York Times bestselling author Adam Kinzinger, who will reflect on his time in public service and share a hopeful vision for our country's future.

Tuesday, September 22
7:30–8:30 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Springfield Symphony Hall

We'll be there, and we're honored to be one of the community beneficiaries of this year's donations. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to support the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, Jewish Family Service, Rachel's Table, and USO New England.
We hope to see you there!

Registration is required: https://jewishwesternmass.ticketspice.com/defending-democracy-and-defeating-toxic-tribalism

You may have read that USCIS extended employment authorization for Haitians with TPS through at least July 24, 2026, but...
07/24/2026

You may have read that USCIS extended employment authorization for Haitians with TPS through at least July 24, 2026, but that did not happen today because the court has not yet issued its ruling. Employment authorization is still valid until the court rules. Experts expect that to happen on Monday, July 27th, but that has not officially been determined. We will update as soon as we know more.
People with TPS can reach out to us, but please understand that options are unfortunately quite limited. More information can be found on our homepage: https://jfswm.org/

and in the article quoting our CEO, James Greene, posted today and at this link: https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/07/haitians-with-temporary-protected-status-employers-wait-in-limbo-in-mass.html?gift=8652bea2-f1ae-4b13-b245-1e9699d3767c

The explanation in the graphic posted here is from https://www.myimmigrantpathway.org/

Here is a link to the government’s official website, but it has not been updated as of this posting: https://www.uscis.gov/save/current-user-agencies/news-alerts/update-on-termination-of-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-release-july-10-2026?mc_cid=6f5f98355e&mc_eid=adca81fac3

We welcome donations to help cover urgent filing fees so TPS holders (including some of our staff members) can apply for status changes through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. When donating, please write “TPS Legal Fund” in the memo section. Click here to donate: http://tiny.cc/JFSTPSFUND

Our community space is open and it's for everyone! Located in Forest Park at the X, our flexible meeting and event space...
07/23/2026

Our community space is open and it's for everyone!

Located in Forest Park at the X, our flexible meeting and event space is available for community gatherings, celebrations, meetings, workshops, and more.

It's already becoming a neighborhood hub, recently hosting an indoor mural painting event after rain forced us indoors, FIFA World Cup watch parties, and graduation celebrations.

Whether you're planning a one-time event or recurring meeting, we'd love to welcome you. Rental fee waivers are available for Ethnic-Based Community Organizations (ECBOs).

Check out the flyer for reservation details, rental information, and fee waiver eligibility. We can't wait to see how you'll use the space!

For details, go to: https://jfswm.org/reserve-our-community-space/

Wow! We are humbled by the number of people who turned out to help paint our mural on Saturday despite the on and off ra...
07/21/2026

Wow! We are humbled by the number of people who turned out to help paint our mural on Saturday despite the on and off rain. Moving it indoors worked out better than we ever could have expected and your enthusiasm made for quite the party. I was delighted to see many of you painting to the beat of the great music playing.

Thanks to the super fun, friendly, and soooo organized crew from Common Wealth Murals. You can read more about them here: https://www.commonwealthmurals.org

We look forward to seeing you again when the mural goes up on our wall soon. Watch this space for details.

We are happy to share some photos from Friday’s Summer Fun Event & Bike Giveaway. Our Refugee Community Services, Health...
07/18/2026

We are happy to share some photos from Friday’s Summer Fun Event & Bike Giveaway.

Our Refugee Community Services, Health Promotion, and Youth teams came together to make it all happen. Together, we built and gave away 110 bikes (each one paired with a helmet) along with soccer balls, water bottles, and resources to help families stay safe and healthy this summer.

Families also had the opportunity to connect with staff at our neighborhood mapping table, where we gave them a virtual tours of local parks and other interesting locations, talked about safe routes around dangerous intersections, and introduced them to community resources including food pantries. We also provided information about benefits like WIC and SNAP to help families access supplemental nutritional benefits.

We are so grateful to everyone who donated bikes and funds. Your generosity helped make this day possible and brought so much joy to our staff and the families we serve.

Rain or shine. We just saw the forecast, but no worries! You won't get wet because if it rains, we will paint the mural ...
07/17/2026

Rain or shine. We just saw the forecast, but no worries! You won't get wet because if it rains, we will paint the mural INDOORS in our new community space. (The mural is on panels that will be mounted on the side of the building instead of directly on the brick.)

Join us Saturday, July 18th from 2–4 PM at our office (15 Lenox Street, Springfield – at the X) for a community painting party led by the talented team from Common Wealth Murals (the same artists who created the mural across from our building).

This mural is already a true group project as the design was inspired by ideas from our ESOL classes and youth program participants. Now, we’d love to add your brushstrokes to this community collaboration.

No experience needed and nothing to bring; just come ready to have a relaxed, creative afternoon. Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting a little paint on (we’ll have smocks and all materials ready for you).

We’ll be painting outside in the parking lot (on the Walgreens side), weather permitting. If it rains, we’ll move the fun into our new community room.

You can learn more about Commonwealth Murals and see some of their artwork on buildings throughout our region here: https://www.commonwealthmurals.org

Address

15 Lenox Street
Springfield, MA
01108

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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