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CANDLELIGHTING

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THE JEWISH VIEW

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HOLIDAYS

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JUDAISM 101

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{weblog_name} - Unemployment Without Stigma
Comments (1)

Over 20 years ago, on a cold Christmas eve, I covered an incredible volunteer effort in some pretty bleak areas of Baltimore. A Jewish woman named Linda Greenberg was spending a great deal of her own money, renting trucks and distributing gifts such as gloves, hats, scarves and socks to the homeless. We traveled to spaces next to railroad tracks, highways, back alleys and shelters. We saw the neighborhoods of the forgotten. It was the human condition in terrible, terrible need. Helping lead the effort was a young lady who had been homeless, but worked her way out of it. This was in the mid-1980s. I asked the lady if she knew of any Jews living on the streets. She said she knew of at least four homeless Jewish men. The very next week, we met again. This time… read more

Phil, I wanted to thank you for writing this article, yet there’s something that you are missing.  I recently attempted to get help from the Associated and found it to be nearly impossible to deal with.  Up until recently I had alway donated money to just about any Jewish organization that asked for help.  This year has been completely different.  I have been out of work for months due to illness.  It got to the point that I ran out of food and my electricity was about to be turned off.  I finally had no choice but to do the unimaginable.  I went to Jewish Family Services for emergency financial assistance. 

The questions this agency asked me and the proof they demanded, made me feel as if I was a criminal.  I was humiliated to the point in which I considered suicide.  If it wasn’t for the kindness of a neighbor, who suggested I go to his local church group for help, I would not be here today.  His church group offered the support I needed in a respectful and dignified manor. 

Looking back, the way in which Jewish Family Services left me feeling, it made me feel ashamed that I was a Jew.