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WJCS Hosted Its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon

2025-06-05T15:03:03-04:00June 5th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

On Wednesday June 4th, Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) hosted its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon. The event brought together dozens of Holocaust Survivors living in the Westchester community along with their family members and caregivers. Holocaust Survivors Day is dedicated to celebrating the strength and impact of Holocaust Survivors. “In bringing survivors of the Shoah together, we celebrate their strength, resilience, connection to community and Jewish peoplehood, and generational wisdom,” said Marcy Gringlas, Ph.D., President of the Seed the Dream Foundation, which sponsored the event. The joy of being and celebrating together was evident to all those who ...

Supporting Each Other Through Chronic Illness

2025-06-05T09:54:20-04:00June 4th, 2025|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , |

Life-threatening illness can take its toll, not only on an individual but also their family. That’s why, for years, WJCS has provided individual and family counseling and supportive connections when people and their loved ones face chronic or life-limiting illness. Jane Slevin, LMFT, facilitator of a WJCS support group which is composed of people with a variety of illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, cancer, neuropathy, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), explained “each month we discuss a wide range of topics, like coping mechanisms, symptoms, family dynamics, navigating the medical system. and life in general.” “When I joined the group ...

WJCS Co-Hosts Its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon and Concert

2025-05-29T15:48:47-04:00May 30th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , |

On Wednesday June 4th, Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) will host its 5th Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon. The event will bring together and honor dozens of Holocaust Survivors living in the Westchester community. “Seed the Dream Foundation is proud to support over 30 communities across the United States in recognizing Holocaust Survivor Day on June 4, 2025. As we mark this fifth annual Holocaust Survivor Day, we celebrate the resilience, courage, and legacy of Holocaust Survivors, and the lives they’ve built with strength and with grace,” said Dr. Marcy Gringlas, Ph.D., President of Seed the Dream Foundation, which ...

Jewish American Heritage Month

2025-05-28T13:42:47-04:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , |

It’s Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the many contributions Jews have made to the United States and explore their American experience. Here are some films and books that focus on the American Jewish experience. The Jewish Journey: America – This documentary includes interviews with scholars and Jewish-American writers, many of whom are immigrants themselves. They share the varied stories of migration through the last five centuries, with a rarely explored look at the actual journeys to get here. Shared Legacies – This film focuses on the often-forgotten story of the coalition and friendship between the Jewish ...

9 Ways to Boost Your Sense of Well-Being

2025-06-04T15:42:01-04:00May 22nd, 2025|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , |

This is the beginning of Memorial Day Weekend, what many of us think of as the beginning of the summer season. The warmer weather brings a bounty of reasons it’s easier to commit to improving our own well-being. Exercising outside—whether it involves walking, jogging, or playing tennis or golf—is infinitely more pleasurable when the sun is shining, grass is green, and flowers are blooming. Local farm fresh fruits and vegetables are available in local grocery stores and outdoor markets. Gardening is not only an activity that keeps you fit; many people find it calming and therapeutic.  Need more inspiration ...

WJCS Spring Happenings 2025

2025-05-13T14:46:57-04:00May 13th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: |

Spring Happenings Thank you for being such an important part of our WJCS community. With your support, we provide thousands of Westchester residents with services and programs that change their lives for the better. Here are just a few snapshots of recent activities at WJCS. WJCS Early Childhood Programs hosted fun, heartwarming, and creative activities in observance of The Week of the Young Child (El Dia de Los Ninos), an annual celebration launched in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Families throughout Westchester, including in New Rochelle, Sleepy Hollow, and Tarrytown, enjoyed interactive story ...

National Nurses Week is May 6-12

2025-05-08T12:20:18-04:00May 8th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , |

This is National Nurses Week, a recognition of the incredible nurses and nurse practitioners who serve across our agency. "At Westchester Jewish Community Services, our mission of providing compassionate, high-quality mental health and social services would not be possible without the dedication, expertise, and heart that our nurses bring to their work every day," said Seth Resnick, M.D. DFAPA, FASAM, Chief Medical Officer at WJCS. "Whether supporting clients in our mental health clinics and assisting in care coordination or providing community-based services in our residential programs, our nurses play a vital role in promoting well-being, safety, and dignity for ...

April is National Volunteer Month

2025-04-25T14:42:29-04:00April 25th, 2025|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , |

April is National Volunteer Month. All of us at WJCS are deeply indebted to our amazing crew of over 200 volunteers, who help our programs and participants grow and flourish. On behalf of all of our WJCS staff, thank you for the time and effort you dedicate to volunteering for our agency. Our volunteer corps plays an essential role in ensuring that our agency fulfills its mission to help people of all ages and backgrounds overcome emotional, social, educational, vocational, disability, and spiritual challenges. Our volunteers play an important role in helping our clients lead lives with strength, resilience, and ...

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 ...

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 ...

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