1849
Rabbi Maximillian Michelbacher inspires female congregants to form the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Association.

1860s
Ladies of the LHBA tend to wounded soldiers in the Civil War and care for widows and orphans of the war.

1900s
Led by President Zipporah Cohen, the Ladies make in-home visits to assist families struggling with desertion, delinquent youth, elder infirmities, and tuberculosis.

1930s and 40s
LHBA responds to the Great Depression with support for growing numbers of the sick and unemployed. The LHBA also works to find sponsors for Jews who are able to escape Nazi Germany.

1960s
With a new name and a revised charter, LHBA becomes Jewish Family Services. It expands Family Counseling and begins to develop elder care services in response to an aging Jewish population.

1970s
JFS opens the Rap Center in the Fan District to serve troubled youth. This later becomes the Daily Planet.

1990s
JFS helps to resettle a new wave of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

2007
Today's JFS provides the highest quality and comprehensive services to children, teens, adults, couples, and the elderly.

We offer a range of Older Adult Services including Friendly Visitors, Telephone Reassurance, Home Care (including both Skilled and Personal Care) and Care Management (including IFS, Bill Paying, and Guardianship).

JFS continues to provide programs begun decades ago such as Adoption and Counseling, while adding new programs such as WeeCare, which provides in-home services for newborns, children, and their families.