I was raised Catholic, but I've learned over my years here so much about Judaism and what it means to care about human beings. Other organizations are corporate-minded, and focus on the bottom line. Certainly JFS is concerned with the bottom line. But what makes it different is that it's richly steeped in the heritage of a community.

This organization was founded by people who know their faith. They know what they stand for. They know what their heritage is and that's never shaken. That's rooted. That's clear and seems to me to lead this agency, which is different than any other organization. It is reflected by the board in terms of what is best for the clients. It means, 'If they're hungry, we'll feed them one way or the other. And if we don't give them food, we'll teach them how to feed themselves. Because that is what is best for the clients.' That always comes through.

A person I supervised said, 'You've been here three times. Why do you stay?' I said, 'Well, I get to do what I like with my work here. And I find that I get to serve in my life here.'

And then I had to think about the question in terms of the organization. And I thought, "It's rooted differently."