Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans hit a milestone this year: its 75th anniversary. To mark this occasion, JFS hosted a brunch gala on June 25 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, “Decades of Service for the Decades Ahead: 75 Years of Jewish Family Service.”

JFS started after the Jewish Children’s Home closed in 1948. The organization was originally founded to help World War II refugees resettle in the U.S. Today, the agency offers a variety of services, regardless of religion, such as affordable counseling, holistic case management, free youth suicide prevention education, older adult services and more.

“Our 75th anniversary celebration was a very special event for our community. It offered us an opportunity to reflect on the past and make a commitment to the future,” said Executive Director Roselle M. Ungar, CFRE.

In addition to Ungar’s opening remarks, Nancy Bissinger Timm did the Hamotzi, and Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish councilpersons Jennifer Van Vracken and Joe Giarusso read proclamations from their respective parishes declaring June 25 as Jewish Family Service Day. Closing remarks were from board President Debbie Pesses.

Ungar also noted how the work of JFS, as well as its staff, board and volunteers were what made the agency make it to 75.

“It was a beautiful event that truly strengthens our commitment to our mission and the Jewish community,” she added.

Fun Fact: For the group’s 75th anniversary, it created posters for each decade and displayed them throughout the ballroom. Each poster listed major world events of that decade and other facts. For the “future decade” there was a speculative poster for 2028 in which JFS board president was U.S. president, JFS executive director was prime minister of Israel, the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl, a new Tesla cost $504, and the Gulf of Mexico experienced a hurricane-free decade.