A Guide to Family Jewish Service Centers Across the United States
Jewish family service centers are pillars of support, care, and dignity for people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the United States, along with critical community resources like mental health counseling, food pantry services, and financial stability programs for families, older adults, refugees, and caregivers. From promoting independence in seniors to advocating for youth, facilitating diverse sexual orientation and gender identity needs, and maintaining Jewish values through education and cultural activities — these centers are the epitome of what serving the entire community means.
This guide illustrates how Jewish family services touch lives and support community through customized care management, inter generational programming, and essential social services.
Jewish Service Centers: Connecting the Community
Through their diverse offerings, Jewish service centers preserve and advance a sense of community. These include-
Social Services – assistance for at-risk populations, such as Holocaust survivors, the unemployed, or families at risk of hunger.
Cultural Enrichment – Art exhibits, concerts , and lectures will connect members from different backgrounds to Jewish heritage and contemporary creativity.
Educational Programs – preschool, after-school programs, adult learning, and even teen leadership training.
Fitness and Wellness – These centers offer group fitness classes and senior health programs.
Celebration of Holidays and Spiritual Festivities – Honor Jewish calendar holidays or traditions by dressing up, cooking meals, and bringing communities together.
These centers express shared Jewish values, such as chesed (kindness) and kehilla (community), that foster resilience and belonging across diverse groups.
Notable Jewish Community Centers Across the U.S.
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (New York, NY)
Website: https://www.mmjccm.org/
The Marlene Meyerson JCC is a hub of hospitality and innovation for busy New Yorkers. This “vertical village” center features services such as fitness facilities, early learning programs, and lively cultural celebrations. There are services for children, senior citizens, and everyone in between — quite something to behold, and just one example of how a Jewish service center can unite the community.
JCC Greater Boston (Boston, MA)
Website: https://www.bostonjcc.org/
JCC Greater Boston is the cultural heart of the Jewish community in the metro Boston area. With offerings that span 98 neighborhoods, this center fosters Jewish life with everything from arts festivals and family play spaces to cradle-to-grave child care and summer camps.
KleinLife (Philadelphia, PA)
Website: https://kleinlife.org/
KleinLife’s many social service programs focus on older adults but serve multiple generations, and they also strengthen recreational services with the process. This center ensures that everyone, regardless of age, feels needed and wanted in the city of Philadelphia.
Skirball Cultural Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Website: https://www.skirball.org/
Beyond a typical community center, the Skirball Cultural Center mixes Jewish heritage, arts, and civic engagement. It has so much programming for all ages — concerts, lectures, family-friendly exhibits — that it’s one of the treasures of Los Angeles.
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Website: https://jccpgh.org/
JCC Pittsburgh has been a second home to the Pittsburgh Jewish community and, in difficult times, has served as a source of healing like no other. Their services, from fitness to inclusion programs, reflect resilience and generosity.
Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) of San Francisco
Website: https://www.jfcs.org/
Founded in 1850, JFCS has grown into a network of more than 40 programs supporting mental health, aging, and immigrants. Its commitment to enhancing people’s lives through initiatives such as home care services or emergency food deliveries is inspiring.
Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS San Diego)
Website: https://www.jfssd.org/
JFS San Diego focuses on uplifting its community through innovative approaches to social service. Known for its work with refugees and asylum seekers, it is a shining example of how Jewish values translate into broader humanitarian action.
Jewish Service Centers Made an Impact
These centers often serve as second homes, creating lifelong friendships. Cultural Preservation
By offering Jewish arts, festivals, and educational programs, Jewish service centers keep the traditions alive while responding to the needs of the modern world. More Robust Social Safety Nets
Whether through counseling support, senior nutrition services, or employment assistance, those centers protect community well-being, often filling in for those with nowhere else to turn.
Discover a New Community
For many Jewish Americans, though, the support offered by such centers is about much more than practical services—it’s about identity, values, and engagement. Whether you are in New York, Los Angeles, or a more modest community, Jewish service centers offer an open door to tradition, enrichment, and belonging. Visit your local Jewish family or community center today and take the first step toward discovering all your local JCC has to offer.