Strengthening individual, family, and communal life in keeping with Jewish values and traditions.
Hamilton Jewish Family Services is a multi-service non-profit agency located in Dundas that supports individuals, children, and families.
Guided by the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), our services and programs are low-barrier, inclusive, and responsive to the social, physical, and mental wellness of all people.
Our History
Jewish Social Services was started in 1929 and is the oldest Jewish agency in Hamilton-Wentworth. It was formed to help the Jewish Community face problems of the depression.
Throughout the years the focus of our agency has grown to meet the ever-increasing needs of the community. In 1950 when Hungarian refugees came to Hamilton the agency expanded into resettlement.
In 1975 when the former USSR started to allow increased emigration, Jewish Social Services began to work with Canada Manpower to resettle immigrants in Hamilton. Since that time, over 300 families have been successfully resettled.
This service to newcomers from all countries and walks of life has expanded to deal with the unique problems of immigrant families such as language, aging parents, financial hardships, job searching, education and integration into the Hamilton Jewish Community.
In 1990 as poverty increased, the focus became helping the poor through the food bank, financial counseling and emergency casework.