Editor’s note: This event has already taken place.

Jewish Family Services of NENY (JFS) and the Jewish Federation of NENY (the Federation) will once again partner to celebrate International Holocaust Survivors Day on Thursday, June 4. A catered kosher luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Federation’s Golub Center, 184 Washington Avenue Ext., Albany.

Organizers said that the day highlights the resilience of survivors and celebrates Jewish peoplehood, bringing survivors and their families together with community members from across the region to celebrate strength, memory, and continuity of the Jewish community.

Professional photographs of local survivors and their families will be taken and given to those attending. Organizers have said that they hope the photos will be meaningful mementos of the program.

“Holocaust survivors embody the resilience of our people and supporting and honoring them is paramount to Federation’s mission,” said Rob Kovach, the Jewish Federation president and its CEO. Jane Ginsburg, JFS’s president and chief executive officer, added, “we have limited years left to honor survivors. The time is now to contribute to this effort and ensure JFS can continue to provide the in-depth care and emergency funds needed to help keep them out of crises and living safely.”

JFS provides robust care management and related programming for nearly 50 survivors, navigating health care and benefits.

Together, the two organizations raise over $10,000 to support an emergency needs fund so that survivors can continue to live independently and with dignity. The emergency needs fund is supported by a 1-to-1 match through KAVOD SHEF, which endeavors to provide Kavod HaBriyot - honor and dignity to every person served. Locally over $20,000 is annually directly provided to help with survivors’ needs.

Registration for the event and information about this effort, may be obtained on the JFS website, jfsneny.org or by calling 518-482-8856, ext. 2.