Sun Sep 15 10:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Richmond’s Jewish Family Services Celebrates 175 Years of Serving the Community

Richmond, VA – Jewish Family Services (JFS) is celebrating 175 years of serving the Richmond community, a testament to its enduring legacy and commitment to helping those in need. Founded in 1849 by a group of women known as the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society (LHBS), JFS has evolved alongside the city, adapting to changing societal needs while remaining true to its core principles of “tikkun olam” (healing the world), “tzedakah” (charitable giving), and “gemilut chasidim” (acts of loving kindness).

The founding mothers, many of whom were recent immigrants from Germany, faced challenges like government restrictions and poverty. They provided vital support to the community, caring for soldiers during the Civil War, assisting widows and orphans, and tending to those suffering from diseases like tuberculosis and the Spanish flu.

JFS continued to innovate and adapt, welcoming European immigrants, providing adoption services, and opening the Rap Center, a youth outreach program that later became the Daily Planet Health Services. Today, JFS serves over 1,300 families and individuals annually with a wide range of services including counseling, caregiving support, and resettlement programs like its current effort to aid Ukrainian refugees.

“Those women really were amazing,” says Wendy Kreuter, JFS Executive Director. “They were daughters, mothers and wives with no medical or social work training who, through their dedication to the principles of tikkun olam… created something truly extraordinary.”

JFS is marking this milestone with a variety of events including the release of an updated history book, “Like a Giant Oak,” and a video about the book. They will also be hosting author and TV and radio host Andy Cohen at a special event.

“One of JFS’s biggest strengths has been its ability to stay relevant to the changing needs of society over time,” says Kreuter. “That’s what you have to do over 175 years. You can’t stay static.”

The legacy of JFS is a testament to the enduring power of compassion and community. As the organization looks towards the future, its commitment to helping Richmond families and individuals thrive remains as strong as ever.

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