About Us

Our Mission

Jewish Family Service is dedicated to strengthening individuals, families, and our community through compassionate mental health care, supportive social services, and meaningful human connection. We empower people of all ages to navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and achieve greater well-being in a welcoming and caring environment.

Jewish Family Service is a non-profit organization (TAX ID# 20-5928151).

Our History

For more than 75 years, Jewish Family Service has evolved to meet the changing needs of our community while remaining guided by a simple mission: helping individuals and families build stronger, healthier lives.

1948:
A Foundation of Service

  • Jewish Family Service begins as a volunteer-led organization supported by the National Council of Jewish Women and Temple Emanuel.
  • Volunteers assist Holocaust survivors and refugees as they settle in Passaic County, helping them find housing, employment, and community support.

1950s–1980s: 

Growing Community Support

  • As new waves of Jewish immigrants and refugees arrive, including families from the former Soviet Union, JFS expands its services.
  • The organization evolves from volunteer assistance to professional social work and mental health services.
  • JFS operates in partnership with the YM/YWHA (Jewish Community Center) in Clifton, providing counseling, resettlement, and family support services.

1990s: 

A New Era of Leadership 
and Growth

  • Esther East is appointed Director of Clinical Services and begins expanding JFS’s reach through grants, community partnerships, and innovative programming.
  • Under her leadership, JFS broadens its mental health and social service offerings while strengthening its role as a community safety net.

1996: 

The Launch of 
Project S.A.R.A.H.

  • JFS secures state funding to establish Project S.A.R.A.H. (Stop Abusive Relationships At Home).
  • The program becomes New Jersey’s leading provider of domestic violence and sexual abuse services for the Orthodox Jewish community.
  • Collaborative partnerships formed through Project S.A.R.A.H. later help establish additional family-focused programs, including support for children exposed to domestic violence.

Late 1990s-2000s: 

Expanding Community Support

  • JFS helps transform the grassroots Yad Basya initiative into Somaich Achim, a comprehensive case management program serving families facing homelessness, mental health crises, and other significant challenges.
  • The agency continues to expand services while maintaining its commitment to supporting the full spectrum of family needs.

2011: 

A New Chapter of Independence

  • With support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Clifton-Passaic, JFS becomes an independent agency once again and opens its own facility in Clifton.
  • The move marks a new chapter of growth and autonomy.

2016: 

A Permanent Home

  • JFS relocates to its current headquarters at 110 Main Avenue in Passaic.
  • The new space allows the agency to bring a full spectrum of services together under one roof.

2020: 

Responding to a 
Global Pandemic

  • JFS rapidly adapts services during COVID-19, launching virtual counseling, support groups, and community programs to meet urgent needs.

2021: 

New Leadership

  • Alexander “Ozer” Herzog joins JFS as Executive Director, bringing extensive leadership experience in mental health and social services.
  • Under his leadership, JFS continues to expand programs and strengthen its impact throughout the community.

Today: 

Serving Every Stage of Life

  • JFS provides comprehensive mental health services for children, adults, couples, families, and seniors.
  • Signature programs include PSS (Project Sarah Services) – formerly Project S.A.R.A.H., Somaich Achim, Sequoia Wellness Center, support groups, educational workshops, food assistance initiatives, and community resources.
  • Thousands of individuals and families continue to rely on JFS for care, connection, support, and hope.

For more information, please call 973-777-7638 x140 or fill out the form below.

  • Strictly Confidential

Alexander “Ozer” Herzog, LCSW