Thirty-six years ago, Collat Jewish Family Services (CJFS) was founded to meet the human service needs of the Birmingham Jewish community. Over time, our mission has expanded, and today we proudly serve individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. What remains constant, however, is the set of Jewish values that ground our work and shape the compassionate, inclusive care we provide.
This new series—The ‘J’ in CJFS—explores the Jewish values that guide our work and illustrates how those values are reflected in the services we provide. This article addressing the importance of, Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), marks the first installment in the series.
Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World)
CJFS takes significant steps to alleviate human suffering by offering comprehensive support services tailored to individuals’ needs. This value is reflected in our client-centered approach to all of our services, from care management to counseling to financial assistance. Our goals are to enhance quality of life, provide emotional support, and support independence. We are committed to helping clients navigate the challenges of life at every stage—improving the world one person at a time. We also know how changing one life can create a ripple effect throughout the community.
When “David” lost his wife of 48 years, his life came to a screeching halt. She was the planner, the connector, and she was his everything. “David” turned to CJFS for counseling because he felt paralyzed by his grief. Through counseling, he not only learned to move through his grief, but to create a vision and a plan for building this next phase of his life.
With his therapist, he found the safety and space to express his sadness and anger, to learn about the process of grief, and to understand that everyone’s journey is unique. Once he felt more grounded, he recognized that he needed to take an active role in nurturing his family relationships and friendships. He identified ways he felt comfortable engaging socially and pushed himself to try new things. He found that volunteering not only helped others, but it helped him to connect and gave him purpose. “David’s” counseling journey impacted his life, and in turn the lives of his family, friends, and the community.
The core Jewish values of CJFS are active principles that guide our operations and services. Our programs and services enable aging-in-place, support mental health and wellness, and build community connections. Our impact is bolstered by our excellent professional staff, our comprehensive, client-centered approach, and our focus on relationships built on compassion and respect. This alignment between values and action is what enables CJFS to fulfill its vision of being a supportive resource for individuals facing life’s challenges.
We look forward to sharing more about the values that shape our work in upcoming installments of The “J” in CJFS.
