Adult children must negotiate an emotional minefield when offering help to aging parents. Seniors often resent being questioned about their declining physical or mental health. Are you suggesting they are old? Feeble? Incompetent? Learn how to approach mom and dad about difficult subjects and explore the resources available to keep them safe, healthy and happy.

Noted expert Judith Lieber, LMHC, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at JCS, will offer guidance and the tools for broaching some of the most sensitive and practical subjects, such as:

•       Surrendering their driver’s license

•       Intervening in parents’ finances

•       When help is needed with housekeeping and personal grooming

•       When it is time to consider alternative residential options and how to take care of yourself in the process

Tuesday, May 15^th at 7 p.m.   Temple Judea, 550 Granada Blvd., Coral Gables

Attendance is free but seating is limited, so we ask that you RSVP to: Marli Lutz

JCS Community Liaison, at 786.282.4707 or mlutz@jcsfl.org.

We are pleased to announce that our food drive with Manischewitz and rock CAN roll resulted in a grand total of 8,949 items donated! The numbers have been submitted and within the next few weeks the KFB will be receiving a matching shipment from Manischewitz, which will bring the total collected from this initiative to 17,898 units of food.

Our sincere thanks to all the people who donated food at the following locations:  

Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center: 78 items

Publix, Brickell: 419 items

Alper JCC: 1,597 items

Bank of America, Aventura: 48 items

Ocean Pavillion: 396 items

The Leto Law Firm: 38 items

Memorial Hospital Rehab Fitness West: 21  items

US 1 Fitness: 431 items

Eden Funeral services: 144 items

Kosher Kingdom: 497 items

Bet Shira Tikkun Olam Committee: 202 items

Temple Judea: 137 items

JCS Central Office: 290 items

National Council of Jewish Women, Ft. Lauderdale: 59 items

Higer, Lichter, Givner Law: 360 items

Montessori School, Beth Shmuel: 148 items

Winn Dixie, Aventura: 23 items

Salon 46, Hollywood: 74 items

Memorial Hospital East: 41 items

Michael Ann Russell JCC: 456 items

JCS Aventura Office: 172 items

Publix, Loehmans Plaza: 124 items

National Council of Jewish Women, Pinetree: 259 items

Young Israel: 116 items

Miami Country Day School Jewish Students Association: 773 items

Beth Moshe: 224 items

En Vogue Hair Salon: 296 items

Temple Beth Shalom: 422 items

Chabad of Kendall: 312 items

Temple Bet Shira: 499 items

Your mother taught you the importance of being kind to others, generous to those less fortunate and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

In honor of Mother’s Day, why not put her words into action by touring Jewish Community Services? See the wonderful work JCS is doing on your behalf, to help those in need in our community. Meet those whose lives are positively impacted due to our programs and services.

Friday, May 11th
9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Our tour of JCS’ Miami Beach programs begins at 9 a.m. at:

• JCS’ Pinetree Office, 300 41st Street, Suite 216 (click here for directions).
  Street metered parking is available and a bus will take everyone to:
• The Miami Beach Senior Center, 610 Espanola Way
• JCS’ Program at the South Shore Community Center, 833 6th Street

The bus will return to the Pinetree Office.

We encourage you to bring friends (even your mother) as well as non-perishable kosher food items for donation to the JCS Kosher Food Bank.

For more information, please contact Stacy Waxman at 305.403.6540 or swaxman@jcsfl.org. We hope to see you there!

Click Here to Register

Judith Liber addresses the attendees

JCS held two presentations without charge called “Role Reversal: Helping Parents as Their Needs Change Over Time” on May 10th and 15th. Noted expert Judith Lieber, LMHC, JCS Vice President of Behavioral Health Services, discussed the best ways to talk to parents about ‘sticky’ subjects, such as: When is it time to stop driving? When is it time to get help with housekeeping, cooking or personal grooming? When is it time to intervene in parents handling their own finances? When is it time to consider a move to an Independent or Assisted Living Facility?

The people in attendance at both events learned how to navigate the emotional minefield of offering help to aging parents, who often resent interference from their children.  Many were interested in learning more about the services for seniors that JCS has to offer. Kudos to Marli Lutz, JCS Community Liaison, for planning and executing these successful events that raised the profile of JCS in the community.

Eve Mart, JCS Director of Grants Development, holds the check surrounded by Publix executives (seated) Chuck White and Richard Rhoads, Regional Directors, (standing) Denis Zegar, Food For All CEO, Bill Fauerbach, VP Retail Operations, and Gary Correll, Director of Merchandising

Publix Super Markets presented a check for $20,000 to JCS as part of its Food For All program, which raised $1,795,607 in six weeks to benefit local and regional non-profit agencies throughout South Florida. The seasonal fundraiser appeared in stores from November 13th through December 24th, 2011 and customers contributed by selecting a $1, $3 or $5 donation coupon at the register while paying for their groceries. Over 70 local charitable organizations received checks during a recent luncheon. We thank Publix for its beneficence.

JCS President/CEO Fred Stock, Comm. Alex Lewy, KFB Coordinator Bonnie Schwartzbaum and Rep. Joseph Gibbons

Florida House of Representatives Democratic Leader pro tempore Joseph Gibbons and Hallandale Beach City Commissioner Alex Lewy recently toured the JCS Kosher Food Bank.

Two’s Company pairs older adults receiving care management services through JCS – most of whom are Holocaust survivors – with screened and trained volunteers who stay in touch via regular phone calls and provide companionship, socialization and escort assistance.

Among the highlights of the event was the screening of a short film about the beginning of Israel, young Hillel students playing Jewish songs on the violin, Israeli dancers and the remarkable musician Silvio who performed with Israel Gettleman. A caricature artist, Wendy Reingold, also delighted guests at the luncheon, which was served by our wonderful volunteers.

As Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Davis said, “We hold these events about five times a year to coincide with one of the Jewish holidays, and they are truly a labor of love. We couldn’t be more grateful for the generous donors – both volunteers and lay leaders – who make this all possible.”

Justin and Ken Golden

Justin Golden and his father Ken Golden recently delivered 680 food items to the JCS Kosher Food Bank in conjunction with the rock CAN roll food collection project sponsored by Manischewitz. Justin is one of the Founders of the Jewish Student’s Association of Miami Country Day School and spearheaded this project at that school. We can’t thank Justin enough for serving as such a great role model to his fellow students.