The Jewish value of caring for one another, and the belief that every person is created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of G-d, is central to the work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. This commitment is made possible through the year-round generosity of the community and is reflected in the Jewish Federation’s support for initiatives that uplift and empower people with disabilities, ensuring they are fully included and supported in Jewish life.
In 2025 alone, the Jewish Federation helped serve 43,900 people with disabilities locally and globally through its financial support of innovative programs and organizations.
This includes Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS), to which the Jewish Federation granted over $1 million in fiscal year 2026. JFCS has long been a cornerstone of the region’s Jewish social service network – providing counseling, care management, disability support, and family services across the lifespan.
“By supporting organizations like JFCS, the Jewish Federation ensures that thousands of individuals with disabilities are seen, valued, and empowered as full participants in Jewish life and the broader community,” said the Jewish Federation’s Director of Strategy & Impact Daria Barkai.
Courtney Owen, chief program officer at JFCS, explained that the partnership with the Jewish Federation has enabled JFCS to build programs that build genuine inclusion, such as reducing isolation, fostering authentic connection, and designing communal spaces that honor the dignity and inherent worth of every person.
“Awareness and inclusion are not abstract concepts for me,” Owen shared, adding that the JFCS philosophy is simple: “We strive to treat people the way we would want to be treated — with respect, dignity and genuine care.”
That philosophy translates into programs that emphasize skill-building, meaningful participation and the amplification of individual voices. Participants are not viewed as passive recipients of services, but as active creators and contributors to community life.
Trauma-informed care guides all of JFCS’s work, Owen added, with significant investment in staff training to ensure teams understand how to support neurodiverse populations with sensitivity and flexibility. These learning opportunities extend beyond JFCS through workshops and trainings offered to the broader community.
“Knowledge is power,” she said. “When we equip professionals and neighbors to better understand neurodiversity, we foster environments rooted in compassion, respect, and inclusion.”
Most importantly, Owen emphasised that inclusion is not about charity or accommodation alone.
“It’s about partnership and shared ownership,” she said. “When everyone is given an equal opportunity to contribute, the entire community is stronger because of it.”
JFCS offers a wide range of programs designed to support neurodiverse individuals and their families across the lifespan.
At the heart of this work is Side-by-Side, a biweekly event through their People Living With Disabilities program. This gathering for neurodiverse adults is held at the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center in Bala Cynwyd, which houses a commercial kitchen, large event space, and music and art therapy rooms. Through activities such as cooking, meditation, and art and music, participants build independence, connection and joy within a supportive community. In addition to group programming, JFCS offers individual counseling, case management and caregiver support, recognizing that meaningful inclusion extends to families as well.
Family members of JFCS participants, whose names have been withheld for privacy, shared heartfelt praise for the program, with one noting that JFCS staff “always find a way to include everyone,” and others describing the center as a “home away from home” for their loved ones.
One highlight of the past year was a community talent showcase organized by Or Ben Ari, director of programming at the Brodsky Center, in which participants’ creativity was celebrated through visual art, photography, singing, dancing, and other performances.
“It’s a beautiful shared space for connection,” Ben Ari said. “Clients and community members coming together to celebrate one another’s unique gifts. These are the moments that remind us why this work matters.”
Looking ahead, JFCS plans to expand services for teens and young adults, deepen professional education, and increase advocacy for underrepresented communities.
As Barkai explained, “Support for these initiatives recognizes that real inclusion requires both care and change to create lasting, meaningful impact.”
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Since 1901, the Jewish Federation has mobilized financial and volunteer resources to address the communities’ most critical priorities: Caring for Those in Need Locally, Supporting Israel and Global Jewry, and Securing a Vibrant Jewish Future. This includes organizations that fight food insecurity for the community-at-large and Holocaust Survivors.
To learn more about the Jewish Federation’s impact and our grantees, visit jewishphilly.org/impact.