Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley (JFS-LV) began as the Family Study Committee of the Jewish Federation of Allentown in 1972, co-chaired by Morris Perkin and Mrs. Irwin Salitsky. (This coincided with the retirement of George Feldman, director of the Jewish Community Center, who had hitherto provided financial help, clothing and other support to community members in need.) That year, a caseworker and a dedicated group of volunteers set up an office in the Jewish Community Center. In 1974, the committee recommended that a Jewish Family Service be established under the direction of a professional social worker, and Bert Goldberg, ACSW, became the agency's first head.

The following decades saw continuing growth, as more staff joined the agency, services for seniors were extended to Bethlehem and Allentown, and a variety of programs took root.

In 1984 JFS became incorporated as an independent agency and changed its name from Jewish Family Service of the Jewish Federation of Allentown to Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley (JFS-LV). This was the decade in which JFS-LV began its Russian Resettlement Program.

Another milestone came when JFS-LV moved from rented quarters into our own building at 2004 Allen Street, purchased in 2000. Our spacious new home provided ample room for the first and so far the only Kosher Food Pantry in our area.

Exciting developments continue to occur at JFS-LV. Recently, for example, we became licensed to offer adoption services in Pennsylvania.

Keep abreast of JFS-LV news by visiting our website's News/Events Calendar page.