The Children’s Village: Family Is What We Celebrate Together

Each year, as the High Holidays approach, our JAFCO team begins getting the Children’s Village ready. They help the children choose new clothes, prepare the services and meals, and think through all the details that can make the celebration feel welcoming and special.

They also know that holidays can bring up a lot. For children who have experienced separation, loss, or disruption, this time of year can hold sadness alongside excitement. The traditions may feel familiar and comforting, or they may bring memories and questions. Our team keeps all of that in mind as they lovingly prepare the children and create space for each of them to take part in their own way. This year, the JAFCO community came together once again for beautiful High Holiday services at the Children’s Village. Adoptive families, current and former staff, board members, and alumni joined the children who live at the Village. People greeted one another, shared meals, attended services, and sang together. The Village was full of familiar faces and new memories, with different generations of the JAFCO family celebrating side by side.

That is what makes this annual tradition so meaningful. The day holds room for many feelings, but it also gives the children a chance to experience the joy of being together and to see how many people are glad to celebrate with them. Year after year, we come together not just to mark the holidays, but to show the children that they belong and that they have a family and community that support them. JAFCO was founded for exactly this purpose, to help children in foster care remain connected to their culture and faith. At the Village, this commitment is part of daily life, and it comes into focus during moments like this: a holiday shared with people who care, traditions celebrated, and a community gathered around the children.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s celebrations so special. We are grateful to our team for the love and thought they put into every detail, and to the community whose support makes these moments possible.