JFS Perspectives

Jewish Family Service hopes that everyone had a happy New Year and meaningful High Holy Days!

Over the past couple weeks, we helped isolated members of our community celebrate the High Holy Days. The shofar sounded, apples were dipped into honey, and heartfelt prayers were recited at more than 30 long-term care facilities, assisted living centers, retirement communities, mental health centers, and correctional institutions in metro Denver and Boulder.

Our volunteer para-chaplains and Rabbi Eliot Baskin, Jewish community chaplain, led High Holy Day services for residents of these facilities. These services help bring the holidays to life for hundreds Jews who otherwise may not be able to celebrate. And thanks to the hard work of several of our para-chaplains, Jay Miller, Allan Markman, and Leland Huttner, we now have beautifully designed, liturgically updated service booklets for the senior population and their families to use.



Other volunteers from the community assisted the para-chaplains at these services and many of them brought their children, which added cheer to the senior residents. Thank you to everyone who participated and brought meaning to the holidays for many in our community who wouldn't otherwise celebrate.

As a reminder, our offices will be closed Monday, October 1 and Tuesday, October 2 for Sukkot.

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Did you know that volunteer para-chaplains lead holiday services in more than 25 nursing homes, retirement communities, and assisted living centers in the Denver area for Shabbat, High Holy Days, Hanukkah, and Passover? These services help bring the holidays to life for hundreds of isolated members of the Jewish community who otherwise may not be able to celebrate.

This year, our volunteer para-chaplains and staff are revising the service booklets for each holiday celebration. Jay Miller and Allan Markman started with the Passover Hagaddahs last spring, which turned out great and all the seniors loved using them. Jay Miller, Allan Markman, and Leland Huttner recently finished new High Holy Day service booklets. Now Andy Thangasamy and Paula Breese are working on Shabbat service booklets. Here they are diligently studying various prayer books, taking the best pieces of each to build the perfect service for our senior clients!



We are currently seeking volunteers to assist for High Holy Day services starting September 14. Contact Beth Lippa at 720.248.4599 for details.

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department