Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts

02/06/2026

“This is part of our Jewish identity and ethos, to serve our full community with Jewish values and welcoming the stranger. So this is all connected.”- Reuben Rotman, president and CEO of the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies.

Please read the full article for a closer look at the real situation behind the headlines: https://www.jta.org/2026/01/30/united-states/jewish-seniors-rally-behind-their-caregivers-as-350000-haitians-are-set-to-lose-legal-status

In Massachusetts, foreign-born workers make up 40% of health aides and in Florida, the state featured in this article, that increases to up to 48% of health aides and 64 % of home health aides.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes temporarily paused the termination, scheduled for Tuesday, of Temporary Protected Status* for Haitians by the Trump Administration to allow for legal challenges against the order to be heard. This allows these vital health care workers to continue to live and work in the United States, but without guarantees for how long.

*Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian relief program which allows some individuals and families from countries experiencing extremely dangerous living conditions to remain and work in the United States until it is safe for them to return.

02/04/2026

We are seeing a sharp rise in food insecurity among all our clients; hit especially hard are those still awaiting their green cards as a new Federal policy makes them ineligible for SNAP benefits.

Although the need for food assistance is far greater than our available resources and capacity could ever meet, with the help of partners like the United Way of Pioneer Valley and Rachel's Table we have been able to provide some staples to those facing the most critical shortages.

The United Way’s SNAP Rapid Relief grant helped us purchase a variety of culturally appropriate foods for families with empty cupboards and a generous crew of volunteers from Rachel’s Table helped us to organize and distribute to households with no other options for support. We are so grateful to these organizations for helping us help others.

02/03/2026

We are grateful to West Springfield Public Schools for inviting our New American staff to come speak to teachers and staff to explain the refugee experience from timeline of the resettlement process to challenges faced as families adjust to American culture (and often a new language). Our staff shared challenges faced by newly-arriving students, described our youth programs, and offered proven strategies for helping youth feel safe and welcome as they adapt to their new lives in Western Massachusetts.

02/02/2026

We currently have a few openings in our Virtual Caregiver Support Groups. These small, supportive groups meet weekly to offer a safe space for those caring for loved ones with dementia to connect, share experiences, explore meaningful topics, and discover helpful resources.

There is no cost to join. Participation requires an initial intake session and is limited to ten members per group.

For more information, please contact Cathy Chandler at cathy.chandler@jfswm.org.

01/27/2026

01/22/2026

We wanted to call attention to this Facebook Live today at 3pm hosted by National Immigration Forum focused on the unsettling situation facing refugee resettlement due to the impact of Trump administration policies on “people who sought and were granted safety in America, after careful vetting.”

With the chaotic stream of confusing information out there, here's a great opportunity to get some clarity on what is happening.

TODAY (1/22) at 3:00 PM ET: Join us live for an important conversation about resettled refugees and Operation PARRIS.

Thousands of refugees who went through years of vetting and built new lives in America are now facing re-examination, detention, and uncertainty. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and community members who followed every rule and were welcomed here legally.

We'll hear from Max Finberg (Chobani), Matthew Soerens (World Relief), and our own Jennie Murray about what's happening and what it means for families and communities across the country.

Watch live on our page at 3:00 PM ET. See you there.

01/07/2026

Looking to make a meaningful impact in 2026? JFS is hiring. We are looking for the right people for each of these roles. For details, go to:

https://lnkd.in/emCHtwcd