To register to receive a Thanksgiving food package, visit bit.ly/JFSgiving.

If you or someone you know could benefit from these home repair and modification services, contact Maryann Kettyle at Jewish Family Service at 757-459-4640 or mkettyle@jfshamptonroads.org to learn more or to apply for assistance.

Moving through life, everyone inevitably experiences the loss of people who have been integral along their journey — family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and members of the community. While those losses might be difficult, the memories that are carried can be a source of comfort, connection, and joy.

Jewish Family Service invites seniors to join Dr. Louise B. Lubin for Decades of Memories: Honoring the Loss of Our Peers and Friends. This special program, made possible through The Beth Sholom Village Foundation Grant, will offer an opportunity to talk about loss, share memories, and explore ways to remain connected and engaged.

A licensed clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of experience, Dr. Lubin will discuss the importance of acknowledging loss while finding healthy and meaningful ways to move forward. Participants will also have an opportunity to write down a favorite positive memory of someone they have lost—a simple way to honor a relationship and celebrate the impact that person had on their lives.

The program will touch briefly on Jewish perspectives on mourning and remembrance, while welcoming seniors of all backgrounds and faiths.
Most importantly, it will be a chance to come together, reflect and remember that even as lives change, connections to one another continue to matter.

To learn more, contact Julie Kievit at 757-321-2318 or jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org.

Dr. Louise B. Lubin

Join Jewish Family Service for its Senior Speaker Series featuring Dr. Louise B. Lubin, Ph.D., presenting Decades of Memories: Honoring the Loss of Our Peers and Friends.

Dr. Lubin, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of experience, will share compassionate guidance on coping with the loss of friends and peers, finding renewed purpose and connection, and supporting emotional well-being through the aging process. She will also offer reflections on Jewish perspectives on mourning that are welcoming to people of all backgrounds.

For more information, contact Julie Kievit at 757-321- 2318 or jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org.

Jewish Family Service invites caregivers and individuals living with dementia to join its monthly Dementia Café. Held on the second Monday of every month, the Dementia Café provides a welcoming, supportive environment where participants can connect, socialize, and enjoy activities together.

The program is guided by Marcia Brodie, a certified Independent Positive Approach to Care™ Trainer, whose expertise helps caregivers better understand Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and mild cognitive impairment while focusing on strengths, communication, and creating positive experiences for everyone involved.

To register or for more information, contact Julie Kievit at 757-321-2318 or jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org.

Jewish Family Service of Tidewater is partnering with JScreen to bring important genetic testing and education to Tidewater’s Jewish community. The event is an opportunity to learn more about genetic testing, understand inherited health risks, and take a proactive step toward protecting one’s health and the health of future generations.

JScreen is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing genetic diseases and hereditary cancers through genetic testing and education. JScreen began through Emory University’s Department of Human Genetics, with a focus on making genetic screening more accessible to the Jewish community. While its services are now available to people of all backgrounds, JScreen provides important screening for genetic conditions that are more common among people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.

Because of shared ancestry, people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a higher likelihood of carrying certain genetic mutations than the general population. For example, one in three to one in four Ashkenazi Jews carries a gene mutation associated with serious recessive conditions such as Tay-Sachs or Canavan disease. Most carriers have no symptoms, which means testing is often the only way to know. Genetic testing is also important when it comes to hereditary cancer. Ashkenazi Jewish populations have a higher prevalence of certain BRCA gene mutations, which are associated with an increased risk for hereditary breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this is an especially meaningful time to learn more about hereditary cancer risks and the role genetic testing can play in early awareness and proactive health management.

The event will focus on two primary types of testing. Hereditary Cancer Testing screens for BRCA1, BRCA2, and more than 60 other genes associated with inherited cancer risks. Reproductive Carrier Screening tests for Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, and more than 260 other conditions that could potentially be passed on to children.

Registration for the event is required. Those who preregister for JScreen testing kits are encouraged to arrive early, beginning at 4 pm to pick up the kit and work with JScreen representatives to complete the steps for processing samples. Preregistering for a testing kit ensures a kit will be available and gives participants priority for having their sample processed that evening.

The program will include an educational presentation and panel discussion about genetic testing, inherited health risks, and the importance of screening at different stages of life.

Those who decide they want to pursue testing after attending the program may register for a JScreen testing kit that evening. Kits will be available for participants who register on-site, either before or after the main program; however, same-evening processing cannot be guaranteed for those registering at the event. JScreen representatives will be available throughout the evening to answer questions and assist with the testing process.

Testing is simple and can be completed at the event or at home. Those who prefer to complete the test at home can mail their sample using the provided prepaid mailer.

The event is not only for people who are planning to start a family. Genetic testing can be valuable for many reasons throughout life. People can learn about their hereditary cancer risk, understand whether they carry a genetic condition, or simply have more information about genetic health. Knowing risks can help with informed conversations with healthcare providers and proactive decisions about one’s health and family’s future.

The cost for the testing kit at this community event is $18. Laboratory processing will be billed through the participant’s insurance, depending on individual coverage. For those whose insurance does not cover the testing or who choose to self-pay, the total out-of-pocket cost will be no more than $249. Participants will receive information about their anticipated cost before moving forward with testing. JFS will also have limited financial assistance available for those who want to pursue genetic testing but may be unable to afford the expense. JFS is committed to helping ensure that cost does not prevent members of the community from accessing important healthcare screenings.

The registration link will be available in the next issue of Jewish News, on the JFS website, and on the JFS Facebook page.

A thriving Jewish community is one that cares for its members at every stage of life. By bringing JScreen to Tidewater, JFS is helping make important genetic health information and testing more accessible. This partnership reflects JFS’s commitment to education, prevention, and empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

For more information about this event, financial assistance for testing, or other JFS programs and services, contact Julie Kievit, Jewish Community Relations manager at Jewish Family Service, at jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org or 757-321-2318.

 For decades, Jewish Family Service of Tidewater and Beth Sholom Village shared a commitment to serving older adults through a continuum of care. The two agencies helped build successful hospice and palliative care services, while each also operated home health programs. As the healthcare landscape changed, JFS ended its home health program, and the hospice program was sold. Beth Sholom later closed its home health program and sold “the Home,” but its commitment to supporting Jewish seniors continued.

 Today, that shared legacy is taking new shape. JFS continues to offer a broad range of services, while Beth Sholom advances its mission through the Beth Sholom Village Foundation, which invited local organizations to apply for funding to support seniors. Jewish Family Service, along with several other organizations, received grant funding to help meet the growing and changing needs of older adults.

With support from the grant, United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and JFS will work together to develop programs that engage Jewish seniors across multiple areas, including fitness, education, social connection, and cultural experiences. The agencies also hope to strengthen collaboration with other organizations serving older adults throughout the region. 

 “There is so much we can do by working together,” says Kelly Burroughs, chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service. “Increasing social and educational activities, cultural experiences, and accessibility for older adults is one of the agency’s primary initiatives this year. Doing this in partnership with our sister organizations means that we can make an even larger impact.” 

 Betty Ann Levin, executive vice president/CEO of United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, agrees, noting that “the Sandler Family Campus is an ideal location for engagement across program areas, including health and wellness classes in conjunction with JFit, intergenerational engagement with PJ Library and Strelitz, and through our Center for Active Living at the Simon Family JCC.”

 The vision extends beyond campus-based programs. Through the BSV Foundation grant, JFS will expand its social service continuum for older Jewish adults by offering case management and coordination for critical support such as transportation, financial assistance, burial assistance, home safety modifications, shopping help, and light housekeeping. The need is already clear. “Within the first two weeks of the grant,” says Burroughs, “JFS received three requests for assistance with burial arrangements, two financial assistance requests for eviction prevention, and one request for repair of an air conditioning unit.” These services can make the difference between crisis and stability, helping older adults remain in their homes, age in place, and stay connected to community. One donor recipient, who was struggling to pay their mortgage due to some temporary challenges, recently shared their appreciation:

“It is difficult to put into words the immense relief and peace of mind your support has given me. Your kindness has made a profound difference in my life.”

Jewish Family Service, along with fellow grant recipients are building services that honor the generations who helped shape this community—and ensuring that older adults and people with disabilities continue to be cared for with dignity, compassion, and connection.

 More than a meeting, the occasion was a celebration of JFS’s decades-long commitment to caring for individuals and families across Hampton Roads through the enduring Jewish values of chesed (loving kindness), tzedakah (justice through giving), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

 One of the meeting’s highlights was the installation of Steve Brown as the new president of the JFS board of directors. Brown will serve a two-year term, helping guide the organization as it continues to meet the changing needs of the community with compassion and dignity. The organization also recognized Stephanie Peck, outgoing board president, for her dedication and leadership. Peck served as president from April 2024 through June 2026, and her commitment helped strengthen JFS’s mission of serving others with respect, responsibility, and heart.

 Kelly Burroughs, JFS CEO, presented the Distinguished Community Service Award to Lawrence Steingold in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to Jewish Family Service. Steingold has served as a board member, board president, and treasurer. His leadership reflects the Jewish principle of avodah, sacred work done in service of others. Steingold’s long-standing commitment has helped JFS grow, adapt, and continue providing care to people who need it most.

 The Distinguished Community Partner Award was presented to St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church for its generosity and dedication to clients in the Public Adult Guardianship program. Each Christmas, members of the church ensure that every client receives a thoughtful gift, reminding them that they are remembered and cared for during the holiday season. This partnership is an example of neighbors coming together across faith traditions to uphold the shared values of dignity, compassion, and care for the vulnerable.

 Rabbi Pinchas Zimmer shared an inspiring D’var Torah, offering words that connected the day’s celebration to the deeper responsibility of community: to see one another, to care for one another, and to pass that responsibility from one generation to the next. 

 Guests enjoyed a delicious Mediterranean lunch catered by Charlie’s Mediterranean.

 Over the past year, JFS has continued to make a difference throughout Hampton Roads. In 2025, JFS provided 362 medical transports for seniors, delivered 7,458 meals to homebound individuals, assisted 346 Jewish individuals with food and financial support, delivered 984 holiday gifts to seniors, and provided court-appointed guardianship services to 1,333 adults. Behind each number is a person, a family, and a moment when help arrived with dignity. Together, these services reflect not only a year of impact, but a legacy built over decades of showing up for the community in times of need, transition, celebration, and uncertainty.

 One of the most meaningful parts of the afternoon was seeing so many generations of the JFS family together in one place. Former leaders, current board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and long-term supporters gathered to honor the organization’s past while looking toward its future. Their presence reflected the Jewish value of l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, reminding everyone that the work of JFS is both an inheritance and a promise: to preserve what has been built, to strengthen what is needed today, and to ensure that compassionate care continues for generations to come.

 The Biennial Meeting was a celebration of leadership, service, and community, as well as a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helps Jewish Family Service continue making a difference every day. For decades, JFS has stood as a trusted source of support, compassion, and practical assistance. Guided by Jewish values and sustained by the dedication of its community, JFS will continue to provide care, dignity, and hope for individuals and families now and for generations to come.

Julie Kievit is Jewish Community Services manager at Jewish Family Service.

For more information about Jewish Family Service of Tidewater or to support its mission, visit JFSHamptonroads.org. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Julie Kievit, Jewish Community Relations manager, at jkievit@jfshamptonroads.org.