Responding to rising vulnerability with culturally sensitive services

The new Greater Boston Jewish Community Study from Combined Jewish Philanthropies underscores the complexity of need in our community: Among roughly 138,000 local Jewish households, nearly three-quarters contend with financial, health, disability, mental health, or human service challenges—and nearly a quarter face three or more at once.

JF&CS plays a unique role in responding to this moment. Guided by Jewish values, we proudly serve anyone who comes to us for help, regardless of background, while also holding a distinct responsibility to care for the Jewish community. Our culturally sensitive services span mental health, basic needs, aging, disability services, and domestic abuse support.

To make it easier for people to seek help, JF&CS expanded outreach across the Jewish community, lowering barriers to care and ensuring community members know where to go when they need support.

The urgency of our work caring for the Jewish community grew significantly over the past year. We dramatically increased support for aging Holocaust survivors to address their rapidly intensifying care needs, and 645 survivors newly connected with JF&CS for basic needs assistance. We also responded to soaring demand for Family Table, our kosher food pantry: 986 households were enrolled during 2025, with nearly 700 households receiving groceries each month—a number that continues to grow.

To make it easier for people to seek help, JF&CS expanded outreach across the Jewish community—working with clergy, embedding social workers in synagogues, and piloting peer‑led support groups in Jewish settings across the region. These efforts strengthen communal capacity, lower barriers to care, and ensure that community members know where to turn when they need support.