With Passover just around the corner, we are reminded of the tremendous value of perseverance against all odds. I am proud to be a part of a community that is deeply committed to making a positive impact and improving the lives of those in need.
At the heart of Passover lies the spirit of resilience, and at Goodman JFS, we strive to empower individuals with essential skills, tools, and opportunities to restore their mental and emotional well-being. Whether our clients are facing a difficult period or a traumatic life event, our mission is to guide them through their struggles and help them cultivate the resilience necessary to overcome any obstacle.
As we come together at our seder tables, let us embrace the transformative power of kindness and generosity, and may these values inspire us to make a positive difference in the world.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyful and meaningful Passover.
Sincerely,
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Randy Colman
President & CEO
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In GOOD Health with
Dr. Allison Golden, Director of Behavioral Health
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It is with great excitement that we announce the upcoming grand opening of the Jeff Masarek Behavioral Health Center on April 18 in Tamarac. This new center, named in memory of Mike Masarek’s brother Jeff, represents the passion of the Masarek family to strengthen mental health well-being for members of our Broward community.
We are deeply invested in delivering compassionate care and empowering our clients to achieve optimal mental and emotional health. Our board, leadership, and behavioral health staff are dedicated to making the Jeff Masarek Behavioral Health Center a welcoming, safe, and healing space for clients of all ages and backgrounds.
With the principles of trauma-informed design guiding our approach, we have created a suite of office spaces that are optimized for therapeutic engagement. We also have expanded our training and certification programs to equip our staff with the latest evidence-based therapeutic models, to provide high-quality individual, group, couples, and family therapy services to a broader range of clients.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Masarek family for their generous support. As we embark on this new chapter, I am honored to lead our team in this vital endeavor, and we look forward to serving our community with the utmost dedication and care.
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Holidays, Highlights and Happenings… |
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Feed the Need
Food insecurity is at an all-time high in Broward County. Increasing inflation has left more than 21,000 Jewish residents without access to sufficient food to meet their basic needs. The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard continues to respond by providing clients with nutritious kosher food, fresh produce, canned goods and frozen items. The Cupboard has committed to providing 500 prepared seder meals to seniors, including Holocaust survivors and Passover essentials to hundreds more. It’s not too late to help us FEED THE NEED.
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Supermarket Sweep
Broward residents shopped ‘til they dropped recently to help combat food insecurity in South Florida. The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard recently hosted nearly 100 Broward County residents during its ‘Supermarket Sweep’ event. Eighteen teams from Hollywood, Plantation, Ft. Lauderdale and Parkland zipped through a Coral Springs supermarket during a high-energy scavenger hunt to collect 900 pounds of Passover essentials for those in need. Additionally, 76 packages of socks and 31 packages of undergarments were collected for Goodman JFS’ clothing pantry, the RAK PAK. 100% of the proceeds collected from the event’s registration fee were used to purchase the items.
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Packing with a Purpose
Goodman JFS volunteers recently participated in Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El’s Mitzvah Day. RAK PAK volunteers helped pack more than 500 bags with toiletries for Showering Love, a non-profit organization that restores dignity, hope and health to people experiencing homelessness by providing mobile showers and other supportive services. Meanwhile, volunteers from The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard packed more than 500 traditional Purim packages (mishloach manot) filled with hamantaschen, groggers, sweet and salty snacks and drinks for distribution to clients for the festive holiday.
Attendees also met with Holocaust survivors Agnes Whitehouse and Jacques Bendersky. They shared their stories, connected with families and together shared in the mitzvah of tikkun olam (efforts to repair the world).
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Tri-County Jewish Family Services Mental Health Collaboration
Randy Colman and board member Mike Masarek recently joined representatives from Alpert JFS (Palm Beach County) and Jewish Community Services (Miami-Dade County) on a trip to Tallahassee, where they requested essential funding to support low-income, underprivileged individuals, seniors, and Holocaust survivors in need of mental healthcare.
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State Rep. Christine Huchnofsky |
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Honor Your Mother by Helping Another
As we come together at our seder tables, let us embrace the transformative power of kindness and generosity, and may these values inspire us to make a positive difference in the world. Speaking of making a positive difference, on Sunday and Monday, May 14-15, we are launching our first ever online fundraising campaign to ensure our most vulnerable in the community have the resources they need. You can personally play a role by signing up for a personal fundraising page. No amount is too small and by raising funds on your page from friends, family, neighbors, you will help us secure more resources for others in need.
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As recently featured in Lifestyle Magazine, Board Members Barbara Goldberg and Marcy Hoffman are both dedicated to the vision of Goodman JFS—to build a community where no one is in need, alone or without hope. |
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Welcome Sandra Ala, LMHC, Chief Operating Officer |
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We are delighted to welcome Sandy to Goodman JFS, as our chief operating officer. Sandy brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked at Jewish Community Services of South Florida.
With over two decades of experience in the mental health field, Sandy has provided direct services to clients, managed case management programs, and supervised various programs, including the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, Children’s Targeted Case Management, Domestic Abuse Case Management, and Older Adult Case Management.
Sandy has a deep understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity and working with culturally diverse populations. Her extensive experience in managing and supervising the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program was instrumental in expanding the program into a multimillion-dollar initiative.
Welcome, Sandy!
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Silver CARE Wellness Fair
Join us for lunch, music, movement and the opportunity to interact with different vendors and seniors in Broward County.
Sunday, April 23 | 12-3 p.m.
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This service is supported by a grant from The JFNA Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma.
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Virtual Bereavement Support Group
A group for individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Facilitated by Joshua Hernandez, Ph.D, LMFT
Mondays | 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | FREE
Call 954-909-0888 for more information.
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Mitzvah Sundays
Volunteers gather two Sundays per month from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. to organize, pack and deliver food to clients.
April 2 & 23, May 7 & 21, June 4 & 18
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Make a Difference. Make a Gift Today.
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Goodman JFS is dedicated to empowering individuals
and providing exceptional social service.
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Goodman JFS of Broward (GJFS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization, providing programs and services to those in need in Broward County since 1963. A copy of the official registration SC-00196 and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling 800-435-7352 within the State or visiting www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.
Goodman JFS is funded by The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany; Jewish Federation of Broward County; United Way of Broward County; Leslie L. Alexander Foundation Inc.; BankUnited; BBX Capital; Jodi & Doug Berman; Sam Berman Charitable Foundation; B’nai Aviv; Brauser Maimonides Academy; Center on Holocaust Survivor Care |The Jewish Federations of North America; Chabad of Parkland; Carol Clarkson; Clarkson Foundation; Community Foundation of Broward; Consolidated Credit; David Posnack JCC; Debt.com; Downtown Jewish Center Chabad; Ellman Family Foundation; Farm Share; Feeding South Florida; Marty Foyer; Gateway Community Outreach; Dorit & Ben J. Genet; Stanley & Pearl Goodman Charitable Foundation; Grove Kosher Market; Steve Gurland; Macy & Marty Hoffman; Holman Community; HOPE Outreach Center; Stephen & Michele Jackman; Debbie & Douglas Jacobs; Jewish Family Home Care; The Jewish Federations of North America; Lisa & David Kasten; Kavod-Shef Foundation; KHK Solutions; Harry Kramer Memorial Fund; Kol Tikvah; Los Olas Chabad Jewish Center; Olga & Marc Lowell; Betsy & Mike Masaryk; City of Miramar; The Jim Moran Foundation; Neighbors Helping Neighbors; Ronit & Gil Neuman; Wendi Norris; O'Connell & Goldberg Public Relations; Parkland Cares; Posnack Day School; Premier Produce; Prince Distributors; Publix Super Markets Charities; Esta & Dr. Sheldon Ross; Alan Rubin; Carrie & David Schulman; Sharon & Aaron Schwartz; Dennis Schuman Charitable Foundation; Society of St. Andrew; State of Florida; Sunshine Cathedral; Temple Beth Am; Temple Beth El; Temple Beth Emet; Temple Beth Israel; Temple Dor Dorm; Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El; Temple Shalom; Temple Sinai; Temple Solel; Toyota of North Miami; United Jewish Community of Broward County; Lori & Seth Wise; Mindy & Randolph Wolpbert; and Young Israel of Hollywood.
As of 12/2022
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