Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA)

Rockville, Md. 

For 125 years, Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA) has served individuals and families in Montgomery County, Maryland and Fairfax County, Virginia. People of all faiths and ages are welcome to receive services that are rooted in Jewish values. Annually, tens of thousands of lives are touched by JSSA’s wide variety of services.

JSSA was awarded $5,000 in 2018 to support its outreach to 432 Holocaust survivors who live in Maryland and Virginia. Assisted by this grant, JSSA will provide isolated survivors with culturally competent, structured and easily accessed small socialization groups to foster sustainable relationships with other survivors who live in the area and who speak the same language.

Marina is a 96-year old Holocaust Survivor who was evacuated from Leningrad during World War II. Due to declining health, she does not leave her apartment and only sees her home care aid and the doctor who provides house calls. JSSA hosted a small socialization event in Marina’s building, which she attended. Marina was able to hear music from her childhood and socialize with her neighbors. As a result, she has been encouraged to leave her apartment more and meet with others who understand the experiences she endured.

To learn more about Jewish Social Services Agency visit: www.jssa.org.