(Courtesy of JFCS) Over 300 people gathered on Sunday, Nov. 17, for the annual Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Northern New Jersey (JFCS) celebration, which honored Susan Greenbaum and Tracy Zur. Both Greenbaum and Zur have dedicated their careers to serving the community and the love the community has for them was evident in the cheers, applause and tears that were seen throughout the evening.

The program was kicked off by Rachel Scheff and Shira Feuerstein, current JFCS board members and event chairs, who welcomed the guests. They were followed by Board President Sima Kern, who discussed the importance of all the comprehensive services that JFCS provides to the community. She then introduced Melissa Rosenberg, a Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) driver and the daughter of a KMOW recipient.

Rosenberg thanked JFCS for having such a positive impact on the community and particularly for her mother. She described the desperate situation her mother was in when she developed macular degeneration and what a “godsend” JFCS was to provide her with kosher meals on wheels and other helpful services. Between Rosenberg’s own experience delivering Kosher Meals on Wheels and her mother’s experience as a JFCS client, Rosenberg has a deep insight into how the agency helps people in need.

The presentations for the JFCS honorees highlighted the night’s program. Zur, who is a Bergen County commissioner, was elegant and graceful as she thanked everyone for their support and stressed the importance of working together to be the light and love that drives out the darkness that plagues many in the community. Greenbaum, JFCS’s CEO, capped off the program with a moving speech about her tenure at JFCS. She described her pride in the agency (her “third child”) and her confidence in its ability to continue being the mental health and social safety net the community relies on. Though Greenbaum is retiring in June, her legacy is intact; she will always be remembered as a driving force that uplifted JFCS to new heights of care and service.

Thanks to loyal donors and dedicated friends, JFCS can continue providing vital services to all who need them through its Four Pillars of Service: Mental Health Services, Older Adult Services, Food Insecurity Services and Basic Needs Assistance. JFCS is thankful to all the guests and the entire Northern New Jersey community for their generous support and looks forward to celebrating with them again next year.

To view the pictures, videos and ad journal from the event, visit jfcsnnj.org/celebration. To learn more about JFCS, donate, volunteer or request services, visit jfcsnnj.org or contact them at [email protected] or (201) 837-9090.