Jewish Family Services - Edmonton

12/29/2025

A gentle holiday check-in 🤍

As the year winds down, take a moment to pause and ask yourself how you’re really feeling. The holidays can bring joy and connection, but they can also be heavy, overwhelming, or lonely for many people. If you’re not feeling your best, please know that this is common and completely valid.

One question to sit with today: What is giving you energy this holiday season?
It might be something small, a person, a routine, a quiet moment, or simply getting through the day.

And if you’re finding that things feel harder than expected, you don’t have to carry it alone. Support is available, and our counselling resources are here if you need a safe, supportive space to talk. Taking care of yourself is part of the season too.

12/24/2025

This holiday season, we celebrate the light that connects traditions around the world and reminds us of hope, warmth, and renewal.

May this time bring you moments of peace, rest, and good health, and may you feel surrounded by love from family and chosen family alike, holding space for all the ways people gather, belong, and care for one another.

12/22/2025

On this final day of Hanukkah, we are reflecting with love, gratitude, and optimism. As the festival of lights comes to a close, it also aligns with the winter solstice, a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, light endures and returns.

Today, we are holding space. For those celebrating, for those quietly reflecting, and for those who may be healing or hurting during the holidays: you are seen and you are not alone.

The spirit of this season is rooted in care, connection, and looking out for one another. If you or someone you love needs support, please know that resources are available and help is here when you are ready.

May this holiday carry forward warmth, compassion, and hope, for brighter days ahead and a community that continues to care for each other.

12/17/2025

To members of our Jewish community who have been impacted by the horrific events in Australia this weekend: you are not alone.

We are offering no-cost, culturally informed counselling for Jewish community members through our Edmonton Healing Centre therapy services. You do not need to cope in isolation, and meaningful help that truly understands is just a phone call or email away.

If you would like to get started, please reach out to:
Sarah Karesa, Counselling Program Manager
sarahk@jfse.org
(780) 454-1194

Support is here when you’re ready.

12/09/2025

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔.

Let us support you as you navigate your grief following the holidays.

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟏: 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟
🌙
📅Thursdays, starting Jan 8, 6:30-8:30 PM
🏡TBD

🌞
📅Fridays, starting Jan 9, 1:00-3:00 PM
🏡JFSE

𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟐: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞
🌙
📅starting Jan 13, 18:30-20:30
🏡JFSE

-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-
Reach out to 📞 𝟕𝟖𝟎.𝟒𝟓𝟒.𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟒 or 📫 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭@𝐣𝐟𝐬𝐞.𝐨𝐫𝐠 to register.

12/08/2025

𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆.

Studies show many people still feel deep grief 6–12 months after losing a pet. And the ways we cope — isolation, leaning on others, memorials, faith, or even bonding with other animals — are all valid.

If you’re still hurting, our Pet Loss Support Group is a place where every emotion and every coping style is welcome.

📅Every second Thursday (𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙣)
⏰6-7:30 PM, Online
💳$15/session

-𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏-
📧: sarahk@jfse.org
📞: 780-454-1194 ext. 240

11/06/2025

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Please register here https://x.gd/upNt3
or via RSVP to info@jfse.org, or call 780-454-1194

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 7 pm – 8:30 pm.
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Beth Shalom Synagogue 11916 Jasper Ave, Edmonton AB T5K 0N9
Doors open at 6:30 pm for socialization, refreshments provided.

𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨, JFSE president, will present bylaw amendments, and 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐲, Executive Director, will report last year’s accomplishments.

• Hear key updates from our Board and Staff;
• Take part in a Q&A with Hello Seniors Home Supports private providers;
• Celebrate outstanding contributions with the presentation of our Excellence Award;

We look forward to seeing you there!

10/27/2025

JFSE supports upcoming Women and Girls' Challah Bake at Beth Israel on November 4th.
Sign up here https://tr.ee/XaD87C

10/27/2025

Understanding Our Shared Jewish History
From Oct 26, 2025 to Jun 21, 2026

Cost: $10/ session; $72/ 8 sessions

Sign up here https://tr.ee/gMQncH

10/27/2025

Healing Hearts: Pet Loss Support Group

🐹🐢🐰🦎🐶🐍🐱🐸🦔🦗🦜

Healing Hearts is a biweekly, drop-in support group for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal companion. Whether your loss is recent or from years past, you’re welcome in this space of understanding, connection, and healing.

Each session offers a gentle focus on a unique aspect of pet loss — from navigating guilt and letting go, to honoring memories and adjusting to life after loss. Through open conversation, optional sharing, meaningful activities, and mindfulness-based practices, we create a supportive environment to process grief at your own pace.

No commitment required — attend as you are, when you’re able. This group is open to adults of all backgrounds and experiences with pet loss.

🐹🐢🐰🦎🐶🐍🐱🐸🦔🦗🦜

Date: Every second Thursday starting November 6, 2025
Time: 6-7:30 PM
Location: Online
Cost: $15/session
To Register: Email sarahk@jfse.org or call 780-454-1194 ext. 240.

**Completion of a short registration form is required for new participants in the group.**

10/20/2025

We’re finalists in the Field Law Community Fund Program and need your vote to win! Support our idea by November 21!

This grant would support a full year of monthly 1:1 counselling for 10 racialized youth who are experience mental health challenges in part due to racialized hate and cannot afford individual counselling support at this point.

Through the Edmonton Healing Centre, operated by Jewish Family Services Edmonton, it costs $1000 to provide monthly free 1 hour counselling from licensed t...

10/03/2025

🙌 Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for helping hands to assist with:
• Cooking and meal prep prior to the event
• Support during the event itself
If you’d like to volunteer, please reach out to Rhonda at 780-445-8500
If cost is a concern, please don’t hesitate to contact JFSE at 780-454-1194
We look forward to celebrating together in the sukkah! 🌿🍋