Our History

Syracuse Jewish Family Service (SJFS) is a not for profit human service agency that is dedicated to helping individuals and families in the Jewish and general communities of Central New York maximize their self-determination, realize their potential and live with dignity. Since its incorporation in 1939, SJFS has been guided by the Jewish values of family, community, diversity, respect, and autonomy. The agency promotes these values by identifying community needs, establishing priorities and implementing programs that seek to preserve and strengthen individual and family well-being.

1839—New Jewish arrivals hold Minyan services in the back room of Berheimer and Block’s notion store on Canal Street. This is the beginning of an organized Jewish community in Syracuse.

1830’s to 1850’s—A growing number of immigrant Jews, mostly from Germany and coming by way of New York City, settle in Syracuse and become involved in a variety of businesses and occupations. Several Jewish charitable societies and benevolent associations are organized to provide assistance to newcomers and the needy.

1870’s to 1890’s—The second wave of Jewish immigration brings newcomers from Russia and Poland to the Syracuse area. As a result of growing social welfare needs, United Jewish Charities is formed in 1891. This organization, which combined the activities of a number of smaller Jewish benevolent associations, is the forerunner of the present Jewish Family Service. This agency focused service efforts on immigrant resettlements and the provision of material assistance.

1936—United Jewish Charities changes name to Jewish Social Service Bureau. During the depression era, services continued to focus on immigrant resettlement and material assistance. The agency is heavily involved in resettling European Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. After WWII, the agency works to resettle Holocaust survivors and other displaced Jews settling in Syracuse.

1939—The agency files certificate of incorporation on February 4, 1939 and changes its name to Jewish Family Service Bureau. Jewish Family Service Bureau separates staff from that of the Syracuse Jewish Federation and hires its first full-time Director. The agency begins changing focus away from provision of financial assistance and toward counseling for individual and family problem solving.

1950’s to 1970’s—Efforts of the agency continue to shift towards providing for the counseling needs of individuals and families as well as developing services for older persons. Kosher Meals-On-Wheels begins service in 1959. Russian resettlement program begins in the late 1970’s.

1980’s to 2009—Agency name changes to Syracuse Jewish Family Service, Inc. in 1986. Agency increases focus on expanding services to the elderly, as well as meeting the needs of special populations across the life cycle.

2009-Present—Agency comes under the umbrella of the continuum of care campus of Menorah Park. From 2011, agency establishes a focus on issues of later life: services to and care of individuals, families, current and future professionals, and the community at large around today’s complex journey of aging (“Aging: developmental process beginning at birth”). Agency adds geriatric care management, pilots and develops evidence-based geriatric depression program, develops brain health programming and resources, expands psychoeducational and therapeutic services, and enriches education and training opportunities and consultation opportunities for public and professionals. Develops services in exceptional needs, e.g., award-winning Tachlis of Inclusion and Jewish enrichment at Kosher group home. Increasing emphasis on integration into Menorah Park campus and community-based services within Jewish community as well as to general community. Reestablishes service to and partnerships with schools, JCC, congregations, etc. Organizes and spearheads Jewish community crisis response and prevention regarding social and humanitarian needs.

2017: Agency celebrates 125 years by launching its newest program, M-Power U: A Learning Community for Early Memory Loss, assisted by funding from the national Brookdale Foundation and the Community Grant Program of the Jewish Federation of CNY. Internship program expanded to more accredited programs/schools and greater numbers annually.

2018: Agency adds the Arts & Minds Community to the Brain Power Community in M-Power U: A Learning Community for Early Memory Loss. pilots creative and self-expressive classes on various issues of later life in Menorah Park’s new Center for Healthy Living, such as Views on Aging: Through the Movie Lens; Old People in Training: A Wisdom Circle to Find Your Grit and Grace Beyond Midlife; Poetry as a Pathway to Spirituality; Zen and the Art of Caregiving; Brain Health, and more.

2019: Agency expands Solutions Care Management and Building a Dementia Friendly Jewish Community initiative; adds Activity Companions, providing high-level enrichment, and “Zen and the Art of Aging” classes. first “Planning to Flourish” workshop at the new LeMoyne College Care Institute. Pilots Opening Minds through Art (OMA) and Music & Memory under a 3-year AJAS/Legacy Fund grant to the Jewish Home; holds OMA art workshop at LeMoyne’s Active Seniors Fair; presents new Mind Aerobics program to groups on campus, and for community partners PACE CNY, the Dunbar and Westcott Senior Centers, and other nursing homes. Agency holds the first Arts & Minds Symposium: “A Reason to Get up in the Morning: Creative Self Expression and Wellbeing in Later Life.” staff presents workshop on our innovative, holistic approach to care at the American Society on Aging conference, “Aging in America”; staff delivers in-service to the regional NY Mental Health Counselors Association on the 8-domain wellbeing model underlying our approach.

2020: Agency responds to the coronavirus pandemic by increasing activities in the Jewish Health & Rehabilitation, and facilitating virtual communications with families; adapts telehealth counseling and care management, and offers, whenever possible, remote learning groups and creative activities for community-living clients; adds M-Power U: Parkinson’s for those with memory loss; pilots The Magen Center at Menorah Park shelter for victims of elder abuse; wins 2-year major grant for Project SECURE to test the innovative Caregiver Partner who supports family caregivers; adds Stay Connected phone-based service to reduce social isolation due to pandemic. actively participates in the Human Services Leadership Council, Elder Justice Committee, Onondaga County Elder Identity Theft Coalition, and the CNY Care Collaborative, the local partner of DSRIP, the main mechanism of NYS’ Medicaid Redesign Team. 

2021: Agency continues its pandemic response on campus and in the community; wins several grants to renovate and equip the new BeWell Together facility for virtual services, programs, training, and meetings; remains strong as the human services arm of the Jewish community, dedicated to holistic, preventive, wellness-oriented integration of social and human services offered without regard to race or creed to all residents of Central New York.