WEST HARTFORD – Jewish Children’s Service Organization (JCSO), held its annual meeting and installation of officers on Thursday, May 28, at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford.

An all-volunteer organization, JCSO provides financial assistance to Jewish families in need from throughout the Greater Hartford area.

The organization also provides grants in support of local Jewish schools and camps. Outgoing President Deborah Mehlman kicked off the meeting by awarding block grants to the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford, Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford, Hebrew High School of New England, JT Connect, Camp Gan Israel, and Camp Shalom. Saul Pasternack, outgoing financial secretary, was honored for his many years of service.

At the meeting, Installing Officer Joanne Pasternack installed the following officers: Marcia Mizrahi, president; Linda Stein, first vice president; Sheila Frankel, second vice president; Fran Lowenstein, board secretary; Judy Kronick, recording secretary; Bonnie Wolfe, corresponding secretary; Sharon Budkofsky, treasurer; Faith Helene, financial secretary; Sheryl Kopel, financial secretary and Saul Pasternack, auditor.

In her acceptance speech, Marcia Mizrahi, newly installed president, emphasized that one of the hallmarks of JCSO is the confidentiality it affords to the families in crisis to whom the organization provides funding. She also noted several important programs that continue to be part of the JCSO agenda – including the backpacks filled with school supplies and the Chanukah gifts that it gives out to children from families in need.

The evening guest speakers, Naomi Cohen and Tal Inban, the Greater Hartford community’s Israeli Young Emissaries, shared their experiences growing up in the Jewish state.

For more information on JCSO, visit www.jcsohartford.org.

CAP: JCSO newly installed board: (l – r) Sheryl Kopel, Faith Helene, Sheila Frankel, Marcia Mizarhi (back), Judy Kronick, Linda Stein, Fran Lowenstein, Bonnie Wolfe, Sharon Budkofsky, Deborah Mehlman. Not pictured: Joanne and Saul Pasternack.