Jewish Family Service of Rockland County, Inc.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Candle Lighting Ceremony

Jewish Family Service is a non-sectarian family service agency. We are available to serve all members of our community, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation or religion. Our uniqueness stems from the fact that we bring Jewish values to all of our programs. Jewish values are by their very nature the basis of social relationships for a large portion of the world's population.

A candle lighting service to commemorate
the JFS Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration

For those of us working for and at the Agency, we are so involved that we do not stop to think about why we do what we do. It just comes naturally. Therefore, in December 2000, at the time during the celebration of JFS' Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, it was an appropriate time for Executive Director, Sylvia Kaufman, to express and show the relationship and/or basis for the JFS programs from the Torah, the Talmud, the Oral law, Halacha, Jewish custom and religious practice.

Each of the candles that we are kindling at this ceremony represents one of our many services.

They are:

Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy. Proverbs 12:25 "Care, in the heart of a person drageth it down; but a kind word maketh it glad." An interesting homiletic explanation is found in the Talmud (Yoma 75A) where a Rabbi put a spin on the verb yesichennah (drageth it), i.e. 'Should there be care in the heart of a person, let him speak of it to others'; he should not keep it to Himself, but unburden his heart to a sympathetic listener.
Chemical Dependence Services. Our avoidance of chemical dependence derives from Numbers 6:1-21 where the bible sets forth the laws of abstaining from 'wine and strong drink' by making it a religious restriction. Other laws, Leviticus 10:9-11, place restrictions on people serving as judges or witnesses or positions of leadership if one is intoxicated or dependent on alcohol. There are numerous citations in the bible, prophets and Jewish texts about the controlled use of wine and strong drink. Chemical dependence falls under the same restrictions and controls.
Geriatric Assessment and Eldercare information. There is a constant thread throughout our history about care of the elderly, respect for the elderly, providing for their needs, etc. Assessment of Sarah's childless situation and the evolving story is an early indication of this value. Much can be derived from the way our ancestors cared for their parents. Joseph, in Egypt, provided for his father Jacob, in the land of Goshen. In Samuel II 19:33-36 King David offers care for Barzilli who was 80 years old at the time. He commands his son Solomon to look after the elder Barzilli.
Information and referral -- Birth Baskets. Our first encounter with the value of being involved with the birth of an unrelated child comes from the story of the Jewish midwives in Egypt. Exodus 1:15 "And the King of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew Midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah. . ." Rashi comments on the name Shiphrah. "Her name was Jochebed; she bore this additional name Shiphrah, (from the root l'shapir, to make well) because she used to put the babe, after its birth, into good physical condition by the care she bestowed upon it."
Adoption Services -- Home Studies and Counseling. The Talmud Megilah 13 teaches us that anyone who raises an orphan in their home receives credit as if he/she had given birth to them. A guiding principle in adoption services is to prepare, teach and guide prospective adopting parents.
Mediation Services -- Divorce and Family. The importance of mediation is so strong that the Bible tells us it is even permissible to write and erase G-d's name in the interest of family harmony. This is set forth in the Torah Numbers 5:11-31, where provision for mediation by the cohen is explained, when there is jealousy between husband and wife. Our oral law is involved in detailed minutia about Shalom Bais, peace in the home and family, even to the value of lighting Sabbath candles.
Group Work Services. One of our more popular programs is our bereavement group. The need to help comfort the bereaved is self evident. Among many reasons for our involvement is the thought expressed by Ben Sira, "Do not delay from crying, and with the mourners shall you grieve." Our social laws call constantly for group responsibility and cooperation.
Jewish Mentors for Jewish Youth. The Talmud Sanhedrin 99b quotes Rish Lakish, "Anyone who teaches his friend's child (Torah), receives credit as if he created him (gave birth to him)." Torah is used in the sense of education both secular and religious, social behavior and responsibility.
Jewish Community Kosher Food Pantry. The laws concerning communal responsibility for feeding and sheltering the poor and the needy are expounded by the great philosopher Maimonidies. Even more basic are the laws concerning providing for the needy amongst you as expounded in Deuteronomy 15:7-11. This section includes ". . . nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother; but thou shalt surely provde him sufficient for his needs . . ."
Send-A-Friend and Telephone Reassurance Program. There are 613 commandments in the Jewish religion. Since the development of the telephone it has jokingly been suggested that there is now a 614th commandment. It is "Call your mother!" This is definitely a Jewish value and is the inspiration for this program.
Hebrew Free Loan. The obligation to lend money, interest free, is very specific and concise. Exodus 22:24-26, "If you lend money to any of My people, even to the poor among you, you shall not be to him as creditor; neither shall you charge him interest."
Resettlement. The lesson we learn from the biblical account of Abraham welcoming strangers to his home, Genesis 28:1-9, has been the basis of our commandment of Hachnasat Orchim, welcoming strangers. It is a basic and unending obligation for Jews wherever they may be and in whatever circumstances they may be.
Jewish Family Life Education. In the Shema Yisroel - Hear O Israel . . . we recite daily the following words: "And there shall be these words, which I command you to-day upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way , and when you lie down, and when you wake up." A more direct command to conduct Life Education programs with Jewish values would be hard to find.

Zalman Mlotek and Robert Paul Abelson
entertain attendees with
"100 years of Jewish Theater Music"