Jewish Family Service of New Mexico

Jewish Family Service of New Mexico is expanding the highly successful Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program to Santa Fe! Similar to the situation in Albuquerque, the growing Jewish population of Santa Fe includes a high proportion of people who are not affiliated with congregations. When these people are hospitalized or ill, it is sometimes difficult for them to access pastoral care and spiritual support. Through the generosity of individual donors and the support of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico the part time Santa Fe Chaplaincy program was launched on August 15th

Yafa Chase, the new Santa Fe Chaplain, worked for JFS previously during the period 2002-2005 as Director of Community Development. A trained Chaplain, Yafa is currently studying to become a rabbi. In addition, Yafa has extensive experience in community organizing and development. She started a nonprofit organization in Washington DC called Everybody Wins!—a children’s literacy and mentorship program. She has been involved in immigration resettlement programs, the Peace Corps, and international emergency relief programs and more!

Yafa will be working very part time during this initial stage of the Santa Fe Community Chaplaincy Program, just ten hours a week, with the expectation of growth as demand and funding grow over time. The program will be supervised by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz, the Director of the Jewish Family Service Chaplaincy Program. Yafa can be reached at 505-250-1821.