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Jewish Family Service

 

Jewish Family Service, a department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, is dedicated to strengthening the quality of life for individuals and families throughout their life. Jewish Family Service offers a wide range of professional counseling and support services, without regard to religion, race, ethnicity, or disability.

 

Jewish Family Service (JFS) is one of over 145 members of the Association of Jewish Family and Children's agencies representing Jewish human service organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

  • Volunteer Program

    From seniors to high school students, we have a volunteer opportunity that is right for you. Join us!

JFS Caring Visitors Program

 

Visitors are volunteers who provide satisfying, life-enhancing companionship to isolated seniors or to people in need of conversation and company. Do you know someone in our community who needs a Visitor? Do you want to become a Visitor and enjoy a particularly meaningful kind of volunteer work? Contact Debi Lewis, JFS Clinical Chaplaincy Dept., dlewis@sbjf.org or call (805) 957-1116.

 

Other Programs & Services

Jewish Family Service offers a variety of programs, services and resources to the community.

Schmooze Room

A free community café for seniors with intergenerational participation, including a chef-prepared lunch and special programs. Open to all! Come join the fun!

Recreational/Educational Classes

Jewish Family Service offers the community a variety of ongoing activities and classes. Most activities are free of charge, thanks to donors, or for a low fee to cover costs.

PJ Library

Free monthly children’s books or CDs to enrich and nurture Jewish family relationships. Sign up today!

Grants & Scholarships

The Jewish Federation awards grant and scholarship requests for various camp, Israel and Jewish learning experiences through Jewish Family Service.

Mediation & Legal Services

Through Jewish Family Service, Santa Barbara attorney and mediation expert Edward Lowenschuss volunteers his services in Family Conflict Mediation and Living Wills/Advanced Healthcare Directives.


Lila & Joseph Scher Library

With an emphasis on Jewish tradition and culture, the library presents a broad cross-section of works on Jewish art, music, humor, cooking, and holidays, as well as covering basic Judaism, Torah and Talmud, Yiddish, and Hebrew. Some 1,200 volumes of fiction and non-fiction are available for both in-library research and circulation.