Q and A with Jane E. Rosenbaum
Jane E. Rosenbaum is the celebration chair of the 150th anniversary of Jewish Family Service, and she has been connected with the organization for many years and contributing in as many ways. Learn more about Jane E.’s involvement with JFS.
When did your relationship with JFS begin and what prompted it?
People often ask me why I have been involved with JFS for so long. My involvement goes back to probably 30 years ago when I first became aware of some of the things JFS was involved in within our community. And, the reason that I first got involved was because of the work they were doing in the Jewish community with people with disabilities. My daughter, Danielle, who is an adult now, has autism, and at that time, there were really no programs involving either children or adults with disabilities. JFS stepped up and started a program called the Jewish Disabilities Network (JDN), and we have continued to do programming in that area. (Note: The Jewish Disabilities Network is now known as Jewish Disabilities Advocates.)
JFS was involved with the entire Jewish community in a town hall to discuss the needs of people with disabilities. After that town hall, JFS took the lead in helping to provide services for people with disabilities of all ages. I was really thrilled to be a part of that process.
How did your role at JFS evolve?
When I first started on the Board at JFS, I was just a Board member, but it became clear to me that this was an organization that I wanted to be more involved in. And so, over the years, I have been the Board chair, chair of the Reel Hope event, and been on the Development Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee. I think I’ve been on every committee that was possible at JFS. Now, I have the privilege of taking on the responsibility for the 150th anniversary celebration.
Often when I sit on a Board, I think to myself that I’m really happy to be part of this, but that I’m not going to interact with any of the programs directly. That’s not true at Jewish Family Service. As I mentioned, my daughter Danielle has been part of the Jewish Disabilities Network, and my mother also received services through the Adult Services department when we needed some care for her.
What do you think makes JFS so special?
One of the most amazing things about JFS is its ability to pivot in times of crisis. I think a really good example of this is how much they responded to the Covid crisis—especially for people who were recently in a situation they had never been before where they needed help with food, rent assistance, and guidance. They didn’t know what to do. I was so proud to be part of an organization that was able to help meet the needs of this community, both for Jewish and non-Jewish people.
The other part of JFS that I find incredibly heartwarming and important is that a family can come here if they have a child with a disability and they have suffered some mental illness or stress because of it and find support. When JDN first began, we had a parents’ group that met—sort of a support group—so we could meet people where they were and try to provide a resource for all their needs. And, if we don’t have the ability to do that, we are able to show them the way to the place where they can find that help.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
My involvement, of course, has been as a volunteer and a Board member with JFS, but really what makes the organization run is the staff—all the way from the CEO, Linda Foster and Yana Vishnitsky for many years before her, to the volunteer coordinator and everybody in between. Without the staff, JFS wouldn’t exist the way it does. I would say the staff is what makes JFS the most incredible organization that I’ve ever been a part of.
Also, I want to wish JFS, its volunteers, Board, staff, and clients a mazel tov—congratulations—and I’m really looking forward to all the celebrations throughout the year!
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