- Meet Our Leaders
At a young age, Ilysa Goldblatt learned the importance of community. She has dedicated her life to helping others navigate life’s challenges and creating a thriving community inspired by Jewish values and traditions.
That commitment motivates Ilysa’s service on JFCS’ Board of Directors. “Not everyone has a strong support system. JFCS helps to fill that essential role,” she says.
JFCS Board Member, Ilysa Goldblatt with her husband, Jason Goldblatt
Growing up in central New Jersey, Ilysa was part of a large, active Jewish community. “I attended Jewish camp, Hebrew school, visited Israel. Our Jewish identity was very important for our family,” says Ilysa. After graduating from Tulane University, Ilysa moved to San Francisco, where she earned her Doctor of Psychology, began her career as a clinical psychologist, and built ties with the local community through Congregation Emanu-El and volunteering in the Jewish community.
When Ilysa and her husband, Jason, became parents, they attended a baby group at JFCS’ Parents Place, where they made friends with other new parents. Soon, the couple welcomed their second child. As the children grew up, the family joined volunteer activities at JFCS along with other families from the Brandeis School of San Francisco.
“Not everyone has a strong support system. JFCS helps to fill that essential role.”
—Ilysa Goldblatt
“We collected food for the High Holiday food drives, and we came to JFCS to assemble and deliver holiday bags for seniors,” recalls Ilysa. “All the children would have so much fun volunteering together. They learned that giving back is a joyful experience.”
Instilling the value of looking out for others is essential for Ilysa. When she was a teenager, her father was tragically killed in an accident. The support of their community made all the difference for the grieving family.
“Our community was immediately there for us—from the leaders of the temple to my teachers to my camp counselors,” she recalls. “The love, care, and support we received at that pivotal point shaped me into someone who wants to help others and always be involved in the Jewish community.”
Recognizing Ilysa’s talents and commitment to helping others, longtime JFCS volunteer leaders Kerri Lehmann and Deborah Kay invited Ilysa to join the JFCS Dream Team, the group they co-founded to assist mothers and children who had escaped from domestic violence or human trafficking. In 2014, Kerri, Debbie, Ilysa, and all the caring team members were honored with a JFCS Fammy Award in recognition of their extraordinary compassion and leadership.
Since being elected to JFCS’ Board of Directors in June 2023, Ilysa, whose clinical practice focuses on young adulthood, has enjoyed learning about the full array of services offered for people across the lifespan.
“After participating in the strategic planning process over the past year, I am more and more impressed by how much good work is being done in the community in so many ways,” says Ilysa.
With her special sensitivity to the needs of young adults and families and deep knowledge of mental health, Ilysa brings keen insights, knowledge, and wisdom to the Board of Directors. We are grateful for her partnership in building a vibrant community where no one must face difficult times alone.