Jewish Renaissance Foundation

12/31/2025

✨ Happy New Year from the Jewish Renaissance Foundation! ✨

As we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome a new year, we are filled with deep gratitude for those that stand beside us—our families, partners, volunteers, and supporters. JRF is honored to host programs and events that uplift, support, and strengthen our communities, and we look forward to continuing this important work together in the year ahead.

May the new year bring renewal, growth, and hope—for our plans, our community, and the families we serve. Thank you for being part of our journey. We can’t wait to keep building a stronger, healthier future together.

Please note: The JRF Offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1st, and will reopen the following day.

12/30/2025

12/26/2025

Happy Kwanzaa!
Today, we honor a celebration of family, community, and culture observed from December 26 through January 1, 2026.

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African American culture and traditions, rooted in African harvest festivals and culminating in a communal feast that reflects unity and shared purpose. It is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one—honoring African heritage, resilience, and legacy.

As we celebrate Kwanzaa, we reflect on the values that uplift community, strengthen connection, and honor our shared humanity. This is a time to embrace unity, celebrate culture, and gather with loved ones.

“The greatness of a community is measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
— Coretta Scott King

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays from the JRF!

Wishing everyone a healthy, joyful, and peaceful holiday season! May they be full of warmth, good memories, and time spent with the people who matter most.

Please note this holiday season the JRF will be closed on the following days in observance of the following holidays:

Thursday, December 25 - Christmas Day
Thursday, January 1 - New Year’s Day

We will reopen with regular hours the following day and look forward to serving our community!

From our JRF family to yours — Happy Holidays! ❤️✨

Edison

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays from the JRF!

Wishing everyone a healthy, joyful, and peaceful holiday season! May they be filled with warmth, good memories, and time spent with the people who matter most.

Please note this holiday season the JRF will be closed on the following days in observance of the following holidays:
🎄Thursday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day
🎊Thursday, Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day

We will reopen with regular hours the following day and look forward to serving our community!

From our JRF family to yours — Happy Holidays! ❤️✨

12/18/2025

A Walk Down Gingerbread Lane to Remember! 🎄✨

On Saturday, December 13th, the JRF's Bayside Family Success Center hosted our Walk Down Gingerbread Lane Bash —and it was pure holiday magic! With over 110 people in attendance, kids spent the day laughing, dancing, and celebrating with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoying sweet treats and gifts, reading stories with our friendly elves, and dancing non-stop to festive music.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible community partners who made this event unforgettable:

☕ Horizon for hosting a phenomenal hot chocolate station
🏛️ The City of Perth Amboy for providing such a beautiful space
🎶 Perth Amboy Police Department for bringing the holiday vibes with an amazing DJ

We’re also so grateful to our dedicated volunteers from Step Up, AmeriCorps, and Youth Alliance—your energy and generosity truly made the day spectacular.

Take a look through the photos to relive the joy, smiles, and holiday cheer!

12/14/2025

Happy Hanukkah from the JRF!

As we celebrate the Festival of Lights, we also honor our own beginnings. The JRF was founded as a Jewish organization rooted in the values of community, compassion, and justice—principles that continue to guide our mission today as we serve and uplift families across Middlesex County.

May the lights of Hanukkah bring warmth, hope, and joy to all who celebrate.

From our JRF family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Hanukkah! 🕎

12/11/2025

✨🎄 2025 Annual Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony 🎄✨

The Jewish Renaissance Foundation had an amazing time celebrating at the City of Perth Amboy’s Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony this past Saturday! Here are some highlights from a beautiful day filled with community, joy, and holiday spirit. ❄️✨

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff; the awesome students from our Step-Up and School-Based Youth Services Program; our dedicated volunteers and Bayside FSC and FAC families; our JRF Community Health Center Mobile Unit squad; and the City of Perth Amboy for making this event truly special.

If you spot yourself in the photos, drop a message of cheer! 🎅📸

12/10/2025

Today on International Human Rights Day, at the JRF we reaffirm a simple truth: human rights shape our daily lives in ways we often don’t see—and access to everyday essentials like healthcare, housing, food, education, and economic opportunity is a right, not a privilege.

This year, the United Nations’ theme is “Our Everyday Essentials.” The theme aims to reaffirm the values of human rights and re-engage people by showing how they shape our daily lives, even in ways we may not notice.

As a Community Action Agency and Federally Qualified Health Center, the Jewish Renaissance Foundation is committed to responding to the needs of our community with dignity, compassion, and action.

🔸Community Action Agencies help individuals and families overcome barriers to stability through job training, housing counseling, small business support, and partnerships that amplify local impact.

🔸Federally Qualified Health Centers ensure access to quality healthcare regardless of a person’s race, gender, or ability to pay—serving as a lifeline for underserved and marginalized communities.

At the JRF, we honor the principle that everyone deserves the “everyday essentials” to live healthy, empowered, and fulfilling lives—and every day, we put in the work to make that a reality.