Albany Park, pushkes, and praising his husband’s life have all influenced board member Mitch Kaufman to give generously to JCFS Chicago. 

Mitch says he learned to give through osmosis. While growing up in Albany Park, he saw pushkes placed throughout Jewish homes and businesses. Those tzedakah boxes – a little container kept in the home, often in the kitchen – left a big impression on him. They were used to collect money that was designated for charities during a time when families in his Jewish neighborhood were struggling financially after World War II.  

“I think families tried to relocate people and help them out or help them get started in business. People who were not very wealthy were philanthropic. Everyone in the community tried to help in some way,” Mitch explained. 

While in high school, he met his future husband, Dan Wolf, who would go on to become the owner of The Bagel restaurant. Dan’s life experiences also inspired their benevolence. He was born in a Nazi concentration camp called Theresienstadt. After the war, HIAS (formerly known as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a national social service agency whose refugee resettlement program in Chicago is now part of JCFS) helped bring his family to the United States from Germany. They were resettled in East Chicago, Indiana, a small steel town near Gary. 

“I saw the house,” Mitch said. “We once drove there years ago. It was a coach house. It was all set up for them. It wasn’t anything fancy, but all the furniture was in it, beds, and silverware, just so they could start living. His grandfather and father both got jobs at Goldblatt’s, a now shuttered department store chain.” 

It was a tight-knit Jewish community at the time, and everyone looked out for one other--a Jewish philosophy that Mitch and Dan embodied in their lives. The impact of HIAS on Dan’s life is what influenced them to donate to JCFS over the years. It’s also what prompted Mitch to make a legacy gift in honor and memory of his dear late husband, who was the 2020 recipient of the JCFS What’s Possible Award. 

The Kaufman Wolf Center for Trauma & Resilience grew out of the Highland Park shooting that occurred in July, 2022, shortly after Dan passed away.  It is designed to support the ability of individuals, organizations, and communities to strengthen resilience, recover, adapt, and grow in the face of adversity, big or small. 

Ultimately, the Center aims to prevent those impacted by trauma from developing more significant mental health issues, while creating clinical capacity so those who do can access mental health care. The comprehensive “stepped-care” model includes emergency response, community resilience education and support, and direct care. It builds on the deep experience of our agency to deliver trauma-informed care.  

“When Dan died, I wanted to be able to honor him at least as long as I’m still alive, so that was really the impetus,” Mitch explained. “Frankly, my greatest hope is that at some point the center can be closed, and its assets, if there are any left, diverted to something else, but I think at this point there is so much healing that’s needed in our community.” 

For nearly ten years, Mitch has served on the JCFS Chicago Board of Directors. “It’s been a learning experience for me. I think I’ve gotten a lot more than I’ve given. The cohort that I’ve met – my fellow directors, officers – everyone is all in and embodies the mission.”  

Mitch is proud that the agency’s programs have evolved to meet the needs of the community. He said he has been uplifted and educated. His outlook has been broadened by spending time working alongside JCFS leaders, and he encourages others in the community to do the same.   

“I think if you have the time or the resources to get involved, you’ll find it one of the most rewarding experiences of your life,” he said. 

^{Pictured above is Dan Wolf}