Every Passover, family and friends gather to discuss the Jewish Exodus from Egypt long ago. We celebrate our freedom from the rule of an oppressive leader. It is also a time to remember not everyone in our community enjoys freedom and some are still enslaved in vulnerable situations, from homelessness to domestic violence. This year,…
Ignoring a Person in Need
Exiting our upscale neighborhood grocery store, I notice a spirited group of young women selling Girl Scout cookies by the front door. They are surrounded by people and engaging in conversation. Directly across the street, a homeless man stands alone, his head down, holding a sign: “Please help. My wife and I are VERY hungry.”…
Connections, Culture in Job Searching for Refugees
Job searching is more than what you know, it’s who you know. And many refugees in the Puget Sound Region don’t know anyone. Masar Altaie was one of those refugees when she arrived from Iraq in 2010, with the help of Jewish Family Service. She came with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Once she…
Overcoming the Isolation of Domestic Violence
The isolation of domestic violence is a factor during an abusive relationship, and even sometimes after it ends. We asked Cynthia Gamel, an Advocate with Project DVORA, to help us understand isolation as a tactic of control. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS AN ABUSER MAY ISOLATE THEIR PARTNER? There are different tactics, but it all…
The Learning Community: Above and Beyond
JFS staffers serve their clients day in and day out, and they are also constantly adding to their own professional development and education. Here are some stand-out recent accomplishments from across the agency. RISC Employment Specialist Mohammed Al Juboori was recently selected as a Refugee Advisory Council (RAC) member by Washington State’s Office of Refugee…
Caring for Someone With Mental Illness
Learn more about upcoming support groups or events with JFS. Caring for an ill family member can take a toll. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s (NAMI) Depression Survey, 50 percent of caregivers who responded had been diagnosed with depression themselves. I remember a mom and dad in one of my classes who…
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