Jewish United Fund / Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Review

Thank God such organization exist! What more to say?!

A great nonprofit organization doing a great job promoting the state of Israel and helping those within the Chicago community.

JUF is an umbrella for other Jewish agencies, one of which is a poorly run Jewish Child Family Services. A problem with JFCS recently was brought to the attention of Louis Luzovsky at JUF. During the briefing, Louis interrupted, stating if the problem wasn't summed up in 60 seconds he was hanging up.

Louis is the religious operator ( rabbi) of the shul in Skokie on Golf Rd. which of all places my child and I visited last year on the high holidays. Is this Irony or fate to speak with him now? Last year I walked 2 miles to get there, sweaty from an hours walk to his shul from our new neighborhood..I admit also I got lost a bit. I needed water. Noone ..and there were many at his home, invited me past the entrance, noone offered even water, and i glanced at a party in progress, food and drink on the table behind them.

I left, brought back my daughter for services, and lied to her about them being welcoming. I hoped they would. But not one member of the Luzovsky family personally greeted us at shul either. Wonder why?

We looked nice, dressed fruhm, we took care of our appearance and manners.

The Luzovsky family was indifferent to us. Being new, and recent travelers, it was sad this was the orthodoxJewish welcome ...I called during the week. They never took interest. No invite for Shabbos or meal in a Sukkah. I can't tell you the feeling ..but as a JUF contact, sixty seconds and he's hanging up?

The issue I tried to bring up to Luzovsky was that Howard Citron dropped the ball at JCFS when asked to assist with a problem with the disability navigator Emily Tegenkamp and Tamara Besser insisting on charging $130 to help retrieve benefits taken incorrectly by the state. He never accomplished a dialogue or positive results.

Here's another experience: At JCFS the receptionist at Skokie office stated caller reached the wrong place, this wasn't Jewish family services she said.

Howard Citron, that CEO, again..was told. Howard was also reminded about the family with diminished disability benefits, mother now with infectious disease. "I dropped the ball? " said he. Conversation then lead into him asking if he is being threatened. What a devious if not clever way to wriggle out of incompetence.

The egos that run Chicagoland are frightening and I don't believe anyone will bother to address it, much less publish this. They will be angry anyone complains.