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Give for Good. Change a Life.

2025-04-18T14:03:30-04:00April 18th, 2025|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , |

Supporting WJCS transforms lives. Below are stories shared by four WJCS clients. Please watch the videos below and hear how, with the help of WJCS, they were able to build resilience, gain hope, and create better lives. MENTAL HEALTH treatment can save a person’s life. Help make that happen. Fund 12 therapy sessions for $2,500 and be the reason someone finds hope again. LGBTQ+ YOUTH need a safe, affirming community…now more than ever. Fund 6 support groups that foster connection and build strength for $1,000. YOUNG ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS deserve to ...

WJCS 2025 Gala: A Huge Success!

2025-04-09T16:36:17-04:00April 9th, 2025|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) held a hugely successful Gala at Brae Burn Country Club on Tuesday, April 8th with more than 350 community and business leaders, government officials, and Westchester residents, all passionate advocates for helping those in need in Westchester. Scarsdale residents Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster were honored at the celebratory event hosted by one of the largest human service non-profit organization in the county.  The evening was filled with inspiring words and personal, transformative stories of WJCS clients who shared their struggles before coming to the agency and how the organization transformed their lives. ...

WJCS Hosts Passover Luncheon for Holocaust Survivors in Westchester

2025-04-09T16:21:40-04:00April 9th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) hosted a Passover Luncheon for members of its Holocaust Survivors program at Beth El Synagogue Center In New Rochelle on Wednesday April 3rd. In partnership with UJA-Federation of New York and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, WJCS created a pre-holiday celebration filled with music, delicious food, and many smiling faces. Holocaust survivors attended with family members and caregivers, all of whom delighted in the opportunity to be together. "WJCS is committed to ensuring that Holocaust survivors in Westchester feel supported, both in practical ways as well as socially and emotionally," said ...

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Shira Stein

2025-04-01T14:58:18-04:00April 1st, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , |

April is National Volunteer Month. WJCS is so fortunate to have over 250 dedicated volunteers who assist and support our organization in a wide variety of programs.  Shira Stein has been a volunteer in the WJCS Marketing Department since June 2024.  “I am in the middle of a career change. To break up the monotony of applying for jobs and to be part of something bigger, I sought a volunteer opportunity,” says Shira. “A friend of a friend connected me to the WJCS Marketing and Communications Department where I’ve been able to use my experience in researching, crafting, and ...

WJCS is Named Best-in-Class Employer

2025-04-02T12:45:47-04:00April 2nd, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , |

(From left: Seth Diamond, WJCS Chief Executive Officer; Milagros Rivera, WJCS Director of Human Resources; Scott Bojer, Area Vice President at Gallagher; Stephan Spilkowitz, WJCS Director of Engagement and Culture) Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is delighted to share that our agency has been named Best-in-Class Employer by Gallagher. Scott Bojer, Area Vice President at Gallagher, visited WJCS Headquarters in North White Plains and presented the award to WJCS CEO Seth Diamond and WJCS Human Resources Director Milagros Rivera. “This Best-in-Class designation is a reflection of our agency’s unwavering commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, ...

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

2025-02-19T16:13:51-05:00February 19th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

This February, WJCS youth programs throughout Westchester are observing Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness about teen dating violence and promoting healthy relationships, with a particular emphasis on consent this year. Consent is fundamentally an ongoing mutual agreement between partners regarding their experiences. While often associated with physical or sexual activity, it pertains to the decision-making process behind actions, not just the actions themselves. The WJCS Young People Achieve (YPA) program is educating White Plains High School students about the importance of consent and boundaries with peers and partners. Self-care ...

Winter Happenings at WJCS!

2025-02-06T11:17:55-05:00January 28th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , |

           Thank you to our generous donors who contributed to the WJCS 2024 Have a Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive, children and parents in WJCS Early Childhood Programs as well as in our mental health clinics were delighted to receive toys, games, and gift cards that brightened their holiday season. Clients in our WJCS Outpatient Services for People with Developmental Disabilities Program created beautiful artwork in gratitude for the gifts they received from the Drive (see above, right)! We're deeply grateful to the many legislators and legislative staff who attended our New York State Delegation Breakfast on January 24th. ...

Providing Connection For Older Adults

2025-01-30T14:42:49-05:00January 25th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Almost 40% of people living in Westchester who are age 65 and older live alone. In recognizing that many seniors face physical, emotional, and practical challenges, the Jewish Community Center Mid-Westchester (JCCMW) and Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) are proud to announce the continuation of their Isolation to Connection program, a free program that is open to all.  Knowing what senior services are available and accessing then can be confusing. The Isolation to Connection program, which is funded through a grant from UJA-Federation of NY, assists isolated older adults in Westchester by providing a caring professional who offers support ...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Belonging 2025

2025-01-29T16:23:52-05:00January 24th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

WJCS hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Belonging on Tuesday, January 21 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was a commemoration filled with passion, music, service, and words of inspiration. As WJCS CEO Seth Diamond said, "the theme of belonging is one that resonates deeply. It speaks to our shared humanity and the intentional effort required to create spaces where every person feels valued, seen, and included. Dr. King reminded us, 'We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.' At WJCS, ...

Annual WJCS 2024 Staff Awards

2025-01-15T16:04:26-05:00January 16th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , |

WJCS celebrated outstanding achievements by employees over the past year at our annual holiday celebration on January 10th. Congratulations to our well-deserving 2024 Staff Award Winners! Batkin Developmental Disabilities Professional of the Year Award Kendra Fray, Residence Manager Kendra has been a vital member of WJCS Community Programs since 2014, bringing exceptional leadership and compassion to her role as Residence Manager. Known for her hands-on approach, Kendra ensures individuals’ needs are prioritized—whether coordinating medical appointments, supporting families through transitions, or decorating new spaces to ease adjustments. Her leadership was especially evident during the successful transition of residents from ...

WJCS Announces Appointment of New Chief Medical Officer

2025-01-13T16:18:19-05:00January 13th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , |

We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Seth Resnick as the new Chief Medical Officer of Westchester Jewish Community Services. Dr. Resnick brings an extraordinary depth of experience and leadership in the fields of psychiatry, behavioral health, and integrated care, making him an exceptional addition to our team. Dr. Resnick’s impressive career includes serving as the founding Chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Department at AdvantageCare Physicians, where he oversaw the implementation and expansion of behavioral health programs across 37 medical offices in New York City and Long Island. His innovative approaches to collaborative care practice models have transformed access to ...

A Year of Challenge, Support, and Resilience

2024-12-16T10:42:03-05:00December 16th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

This year has been one in which the Jewish community has faced unprecedented challenges. The skyrocketing rise in antisemitism and antisemitic incidents has alarmed people, young and old. Youth in day schools and synagogue programs with whom WJCS partners are shaken by reports of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and rhetoric. Parents are worried about their children and how to explain and protect them from hate speech and hate in general. Holocaust survivors, who never imagined they would once again see antisemitism spreading across the world, are filled with fear and concern about their children and grandchildren’s futures. WJCS is here ...

Community Counts: Coming Together to Celebrate Holidays

2024-12-11T14:00:13-05:00December 12th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Loneliness was declared a public health epidemic in 2023 by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. A 2024 American Psychiatric Association poll found that 30% of adults reported having experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week during the past year. Ten percent said they feel lonely every day. The array of programs and services we offer at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-profit agencies in Westchester, range from mental health, trauma, and disabilities to senior care, early childhood development, educational enrichment, LGBTQ+, caregiver support, Jewish educational, spiritual, and cultural enrichment, and much more. What ...

WJCS April 8th Gala Will Honor Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster

2025-01-30T16:17:49-05:00January 30th, 2025|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

On Tuesday, April 8th, we will be celebrating our WJCS 2025 Gala at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY.  We are thrilled to announce that we will be honoring Joel S. Beckman and Gillian Rittmaster, two remarkable individuals who have contributed so much to the impact of WJCS and to the Westchester community at large. Joel S. Beckman co-founded Greenbriar Equity Group, a private investment firm, in 1999 and retired in 2017. Prior to that, he was a Managing Director and Partner at Goldman Sachs. He has been a dedicated member of the WJCS Board and active in ...

WJCS 2024 Annual Have a Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive Luncheon

2024-11-12T12:50:34-05:00November 12th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

From left: Nina Ross, Michele Brettschneider, Linda Plattus, and Sarah Kayle Scarsdale resident and Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Board member Linda Plattus hosted her Annual Luncheon, along with Board members Michele Brettschneider, Sarah Kayle, Nina Ross, and Suzanne Yearley, for the WJCS Have a Heart for the Holidays Gift Drive on November 6. Luncheon guest brought toys, games, and gift cards that will be distributed to WJCS clients who live in under-resourced communities. For many of these families in need, these toys will be the only gift they are able to give their children this season. “It is ...

Together, We Transform Lives

2024-12-16T15:15:37-05:00December 13th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , |

Every day Westchester residents of all backgrounds who face mental health, trauma, disability, parenting, aging, and other challenges are provided life-saving services and programs at Westchester Jewish Community Services. It is our privilege and passion to help nearly 20,000 people each year. But we can’t do it without you! Our Year End Appeal is happening now! Every new and increased gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000 with a Matching Gift from the Mensch Family in memory of Reggi Mensch. Your generosity transforms the lives of those we serve. With your help, we offer dozens of ...

Time to Take a Breath

2024-11-04T12:54:45-05:00November 26th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

By Brenda Haas, LMSW, Ed.M., Director of WJCS Guiding Parents Through Services Program and Partners in Schools Consultant at Leffell School    The fall season is in full swing. Kids’ schedules are packed, parents are trying to balance work and family, and the holidays are almost here. Having a full life is a blessing, but it can also be stressful to manage it all.     Stop. Pause for 60 seconds. And breathe.  Calming our bodies and minds through simple breathing techniques is a proven ways to reduce anxiety and modulate mood. Consciously switching our attention from everything whirling around in ...

Halina Rosenkranz to be Inducted into Westchester’s Senior Hall of Fame

2024-10-23T14:47:51-04:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , |

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that Halina Rosenkranz, Group Facilitator and Case Manager for the WJCS Holocaust Survivor Program, will be inducted into Westchester County’s Senior Hall of Fame. Halina has been a passionately dedicated and caring advocate and supporter of some of the most vulnerable people in Westchester County: aging Holocaust survivors. Her compassion for survivors, who have lived through unimaginable loss and devastation, has made her an invaluable source of comfort and emotional and practical support to them as well as to their children, the Second Generation, who bear the scars of their parents’ ...

WJCS Hosts Sukkot Holiday Luncheon for Holocaust Survivors

2024-10-23T13:48:59-04:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Holocaust survivors and their relatives and caregivers celebrated the joyous holiday of Sukkot together at a festive luncheon on Tuesday October 22nd at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. “Having just gone through the high holidays and that extended period of teshuva (repentance) and introspection that comes with it, we now celebrate,” said Allison Danzig, Coordinator of WJCS Holocaust Support Services, as she welcomed more than 70 guests to the event. “This is a time for showing appreciation to others and for all the good around us. It is a time of Thanksgiving and harvest, and a time to begin ...

Voting On the Spectrum: Empowering Neurodiverse Voices in the Electoral Process

2024-10-08T15:22:57-04:00October 8th, 2024|Categories: Disabilities, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , |

By: Nicholas R. Primavera, MS, MBA, Program Coordinator of WJCS Shelanu & Supper Club Voting in any election can be scary and anxiety provoking. Voting is a fundamental right and a vital aspect of public participation, but for individuals on the autism spectrum, the process can present unique challenges. From understanding complex ballot language to navigating crowded polling places, these obstacles can sometimes discourage participation. However, with proper resources, support, and understanding, voting can become an accessible and empowering experience for everyone. In this article, I will explain some of the challenges I have observed, along with some of the ...

October 7th: One Year Later

2024-10-07T11:18:22-04:00October 7th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: |

Today marks one year since the devastating attack by Hamas in Israel, a day that inflicted profound and lasting wounds. The trauma of that event is compounded by ongoing violence in the region, most recently with rockets from Iran. Even more heartbreaking is the cruel reality that, after 365 long days, Hamas continues to hold dozens of hostages, denying them their freedom.  The pain of that day has only been deepened by the disturbing rise in antisemitism, leaving many in the Jewish community feeling vulnerable and isolated. It is shocking to realize that in a place where safety and ...

Free October 9th Community Forum on Assisting Youth, Young Adults, and Families Impacted by Psychosis

2024-10-02T15:06:01-04:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , |

Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, Westchester Jewish Community Services, Greater Mental Health of New York, and NAMI offer a community forum focused on assisting youth, young adults, and families impacted by psychosis. As much as 8% of the population will be impacted by psychosis at some point in their lives and about 4% of the population will meet criteria for a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. These statistics suggest that more than 80,0000 Westchester County residents will be impacted by psychosis at some point in their lives. Psychosis is often confusing and disorienting for those impacted by it, ...

Westchester Jewish Community Services and Family Service Society of Yonkers Announce Strategic Affiliation

2024-09-20T13:40:17-04:00September 26th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-sectarian, not-for-profit human services agencies in Westchester County, and Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), a human services agency with a 140-year history of serving the Westchester community, are proud to announce they have entered into a strategic affiliation, to take effect October 1st. This partnership will enhance the reach and depth of services provided to the residents of Westchester County. Through this affiliation, WJCS and FSSY will deliver a comprehensive and coordinated range of human services that will better support youth, the elderly, and families in Yonkers and the ...

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