Page 2 - The Jewish Voice - January '21

Page 2, The Jewish Voice

Study Reveals Impact from page 1 • Adults with developmental disabilities received virtual
daily vocational programming, day training for those living in
Beach. The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County group homes, coordination of FaceTime calls with long-distance
serves Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Highland Beach. family members, and approximately 50 percent of clients in the
“The reality is families are worried about paying their rent, Jewish Association for Residential Care Community Works
isolated seniors haven’t seen anyone including family members program have now returned to their place of employment.
in months, and parents are struggling to help their children Partners empowering this work include Alpert JFS in
with school work while scrambling to get their jobs done. It is West Palm Beach; Rales JFS in Boca, including its expanded
through the care and generosity of thousands of donors and the partnership with Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College
work of our partner agencies that we are providing financial of Medicine; Jewish Association for Residential Care (JARC);
support, basic necessities, and a sense of security and connection Levin Jewish Residential and Family Service; The Adolf and
when people need it most,” shared Michael Hoffman, President Rose Levis Jewish Community Center in South Palm Beach
and CEO, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. “As one Juliana Kohl Gendelman, Christopher Goldberg, and Rosie County and its Helene and Roy Schwedelsohn Special Needs
of the largest, and fastest growing Jewish communities in the Goldberg were among the volunteers from Jewish Volunteer Department; Schwedelsohn Sunday Scene program; and The
country, this data is enabling us to swiftly adapt and respond Center of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Ferd Marlene Forkas Camp Kavod program collaborated with We
to so many who need our help.” & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service, and The Kind Rock The Spectrum in Boca Raton.
Matthew C. Levin, President and CEO of the Jewish Kitchen of Palm Beach who picked up more than 450 festive OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO JEWISH LIFE
Federation of South Palm Beach County, added, “As we Hanukkah meals to deliver to homebound seniors, Holocaust More than ever, people are forced to make incredibly
respond to new, pressing needs, we also continue to sustain our survivors, and other community members in need. difficult choices about participating in their Jewish community
Holocaust survivors, other seniors and those with special needs as they focus limited time and money on providing basics for
who rely on us for ongoing assistance as they face additional Partners leading these efforts include Ruth and Norman their families.
challenges. We do this with our community partners, through Rales Jewish Family Services, Alpert Jewish Family Service, • 3 in 4 respondents say they have benefited from
our Federation’s Annual Campaign, Emergency Campaign Adele Loeb and Les Nackman Meals on Wheels Program at participating in virtual Jewish programs offered by Federations,
and matching donations through the Human Services Relief Rales Jewish Family Services in Boca Raton, Kramer Senior synagogues, and other Jewish institutions.
Matching Fund of the Jewish Federation of North America. Services via MorseLife in West Palm Beach, Jacobson Family • 2 in 3 respondents who have been regularly participating
The data and insights from this COVID-19 Study help us plan Food Pantry in South Palm Beach County, and the Jacobson in online Jewish life during the pandemic say that Judaism has
and target our aid where it is most needed. Always ready to Jewish Community Foundation, in partnership with Hands helped them cope.
respond to crisis, whether storm, violence or virus, Federation on Tzedakah, which raised $75,000 for the Pantry through • An estimated 65 percent of respondents said they
was built for times like these.” challenge grants participated in online religious services as well as a virtual
Key findings of the study are centered around three EMOTIONAL TRAUMA Passover seder.
priorities: Growing fear, anxiety, trauma, and social isolation are What’s Being Done
FINANCIAL DISTRESS causing emotional distress and worsening hardships for people • 1 in 3 children received a scholarship to participate in
Economic turmoil has put many in the Jewish community in vulnerable situations, including single parents, young Mandel JCC distance learning programs in Boynton Beach
into sudden financial hardship. families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Respondents and Palm Beach Gardens due to the pandemic.
• Nearly 1 in 3 local Jewish adults are in a worse financial cited isolation, disruption, and emotional difficulties as “the • Dramatic increase in virtual community programming
situation than before the crisis. biggest personal impact” of the crisis. with more than 220 films provided free of charge, plus author
• The 2018 study found that 1 in 5 local Jewish adults • Nearly 50 percent of those age 75 and older reported series, book club, lectures, and a summer music series.
were living on the economic edge — before the pandemic loneliness with negative emotional effects of social isolation. • Virtual weekly Shabbat and high holiday services and
exacerbated their needs. • Approximately one-third of adults reported emotional programing throughout the county including Facebook Lives,
• 2 in 3 are worried about affording basic living expenses. or mental stress to the extent they found it is impacting their Zooms and more, serving as a critical link to maintain Jewish
• There has been a significant increase in requests for daily lives. connections in the absence of in-person activities.
emergency financial assistance. • Upwards of 80 percent of employed respondents in the • Nearly 3,000 holiday meals and necessities were delivered
• 1 in 5 local Jewish adults has lost their jobs during the Palm Beaches said they experienced more work stress, with 48 by hundreds of volunteers to food-insecure families, and 100+
pandemic. The income gap widened between affluent and percent worried about losing their jobs. In South Palm Beach individuals in treatment centers received kosher meals and
financially insecure segments of the community. County, 65 percent said they experienced more work stress, Passover seder kits.
• Younger respondents are suffering more stress and anxiety with 27 percent worried about losing their jobs. • Thousands of people participate in Jewish virtual
about their future finances compared to older respondents. • Parents experienced increased stress as they try to balance programming each week throughout the county.
What’s Being Done: virtual learning and full-time jobs. Partners empowering this work include The Judy Levis
• More than $500k has been distributed in financial assistance What’s Being Done Markoff Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival, The Phyllis and
to hundreds of households directly affected by COVID-19. • Virtual counseling: More than 1,500 people have Harvey Sandler Center and its “Sandler at Home” virtual
• Combatting food insecurity by increasing Meals-on- participated in emotional support, mental health, and counseling programs, Mandel JCC, The Jewish Recovery Center in
Wheels deliveries to food-insecure seniors and Holocaust groups with Federation partners through telehealth services. collaboration with Rales JFS Cares, and PJ Library.
survivors, and providing families in need with grocery store • More than 11,000 monthly check-in calls and visits have Both Federations have been working with Jewish and
gift cards and access to food pantries. been conducted to care for the lonely and isolated. secular organizations, philanthropists, community partners,
• New Jewish Community Career Services launched in • Hundreds of children, including those with special needs, programmatic innovators, and policymakers to utilize the
West Palm Beach to help the unemployed and underemployed. are participating in Jewish programs at JCCs, Jewish day schools, study results and other feedback in adapting service to most
Online employment workshops and support groups increased and other centers to stay connected with one another and their effectively meet the rapidly evolving needs of the local
in South Palm Beach County. Jewish values, while also allowing parents to focus on their jobs. Jewish population.

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