I cannot remember a time when I didn’t know about JFS. Both of my grandmothers talked about their work with the organization, and I heard many stories about some of the people they helped to resettle in the Seattle area during the 1940’s and 50’s following World War II.
However, the story began much earlier. Towards the end of the 19th century, people in Seattle became very aware of the immigrant population arriving from Russia and Eastern Europe. Many of these people were Jews escaping from the pogroms and other upheavals in that region. They were often ragged, hungry, perhaps begging on the streets. Some of the local Jewish people ignored these folks. Some were, perhaps, embarrassed to be identified with them; but, a few decided to do something about the frightful situation of their new neighbors. They gathered together to form what we know today as Jewish Family Service of Seattle.
When I was a child, my grandmothers Minnie Bernhard and Jessie Danz had both spent many years on the Board of what was then called the Jewish Welfare Society. They were both heavily involved in the resettlement work of the agency. I especially remember the stories of meeting people at the docks with furniture loaded on top of their vehicles.
I learned from their example about the community and about the importance of actively participating to help those in need. I am sure many in our community learned about the importance of being present and helping members of the community from their own families. From what I witness at JFS today, our community is actively passing those values on to the next generations of children and grandchildren.
In the earliest days, the women raised charitable funds by sharing their cooking skills to create wonderful luncheons for the businessmen in the community. At 25 cents a ticket, it is hard to imagine trying to raise the nearly $1.3 million dollars JFS raised at the 2015 Community of Caring Luncheon.
But, as the saying goes…we’ve come a long way, baby! But, much has remained the same. JFS still turns to the community to help support those in need, and the members of this community, still respond with great caring and generosity.
By Carolee Danz
Carolee wrote “Shards of Light,” a history of JFS. She has been involved with JFS as a volunteer for nearly 30 years. She currently serves on the JFS Board of Directors.
