Serving the Jewish elderly on the Lower East Side

Our Story

image1Project Ezra is a nonprofit organization that works with the frail Jewish elderly to live with dignity, companionship and community on NYC’s Lower East Side. Founded in 1972, we provide hundreds of elders with a variety of services and activities to reduce their social isolation and to enhance their lives. 

We were founded to bring light and joy into seniors’ lives by following the principle of tikkun olam and the Psalm: “Do not forsake us in our old age; as our strength seeps away, do not abandon us.”

Today, over four decades after our founding, the need for our work is more acute than ever. Project Ezra currently serves over 300 elderly who are economically, physically or psychologically marginalized and as longevity increases, so do the needs of the elderly population we serve. 

 

Meet Our Board

Justine Fisher – Alan J. Gerson – Harriet Kohn – Geraldine E. Murphy – Rina K. Pianko – Sheila Rubin – Chana Silberstein – Sharon Silver – Joan Sokotch – Jaclyn Steinbach – Ron Wegsman

“Project Ezra helps hundreds of frail and lonely elders on NYC’s Lower East Side to live with dignity, companionship and community”

A Dear Community on the Lower East Side

Our Elders

All of our elders are aged over 65—most are in their 80s and 90s but some are over 100! Most of them have lived on the Lower East Side for decades, often their entire lives. Others found refuge here after surviving the Holocaust or immigrating from the former Soviet Union. 

Each elder is different and naturally their physical mobility, psychological well-being and financial needs vary. In addition to programs and concrete services, we provide seniors with regular visits and telephone reassurance, checking in on them and reducing their social isolation. Although we function, in part, as a traditional social service agency, we strive to be much more—by embracing the spirit of family and community.

Some of our important work

Our Programs

Social Work
Russian-Speaking Population
Jewish Peoplehood
Housekeeping
Daily Groups
ARSP Volunteers

COVID POLICY

Our seniors range in age from 65 to 102, so as you can imagine, they have lived through many momentous events. Watching our elders persevere through the COVID-19 pandemic has been inspirational. 
We are proud to say that not a single Project Ezra member contracted the virus within our facility and that we helped the majority of our members get vaccinated. We increased the amount of direct relief that we provided and distributed masks at every opportunity, while also keeping in touch with our members throughout the quarantine. 
Our priority is to keep our seniors safe. Moving forward, only members who are fully vaccinated will be able to participate in our groups and trips in order to ensure the safety of all members and employees.
Our members are a source of inspiration to us and we hope that we can continue to be a source of inspiration for them as well as we continue on with the great programming Project Ezra has to offer.

Contact Us or Visit

ezramap (1)