Volunteer & Program Spotlight: Why Mondays Matter

Visit the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry on a Monday morning, and you’ll hear “dobroye utro” as often as “good morning.” Mondays are dedicated to serving Russian-speaking Holocaust survivors, giving these clients the opportunity to shop, connect, and enjoy conversation in their native language.

The dedicated pantry visit day was intentionally designed with Holocaust survivors in mind. JFS Chief Operating Officer Miriam Brander recognized that waiting in long lines and navigating crowded visit times could be triggering for survivors from the former Soviet Union. By reserving Mondays for this group and providing support in Russian, JFS created a shopping experience where clients can move through the pantry at a comfortable pace while spending time with peers who share their language and lived experiences.

Bringing that vision to life each week are Val and Raisa, a husband-and-wife volunteer team who emigrated from Latvia in 1991. During each pantry visit, they greet clients in Russian, translate labels, and help families choose the foods and household essentials that best meet their needs.

For the couple, this work is deeply personal. Both of their parents were Holocaust survivors, and when they arrived in the United States, they were welcomed and supported by local Jewish organizations. Volunteering at JFS is their way of paying that kindness forward. Inspired by Val’s mother Anna, who helped more than 50 people become U.S. citizens, they hope to pass that same spirit of service onto their two children and two grandchildren.

As they say, “What goes around, comes around.”

We are always looking for more volunteers to provide support to clients in Russian. If you are interested, please email our volunteer coordinator, Laura Miacola, to learn more.