News & Impact

June is Pride Month, and we would like to highlight a recent opinion piece in the Bay Area Reporter by community leader Joyce Newstat and state Senator , both of whom are members of the LGBTQ+ community and close friends of JFCS and the JFCS Holocaust Center. They serve on the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education alongside JFCS Executive Director, Dr. Anita Friedman. In their article, Newstat and Wiener shed light on the historical significance of the pink triangle, a symbol of Pride and a stark reminder of LGBTQ+ persecution during the Holocaust. This symbolism aligns strongly… Read More

When several members of the Shupin Social Club were curious about climate change and the floods we were having this past winter, the Shupin Community was inspired to host an event to learn about the weather. A bit of creative Googling yielded a surprising gift: a neurodivergent weatherman in Texas. Meteorologist Jordan Darensbourg is a living example that neurodivergent kids can grow up to be whatever they want to be. Jordan has Asperger’s, which is a rare form of autism, and he uses this diagnosis to inspire others to go after whatever it is they set their mind to. “I’m… Read More

Fighting for justice is a core value behind the work we do at JFCS. Guided by our Jewish values, JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth advocates with government and communities to create a better world for children and families here in California and beyond. Some of the successful initiatives JFCS has supported include establishing suicide prevention offices across the state, strengthening parity in insurance coverage for mental health services, and establishing 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Hotline for anyone in a mental health crisis. Currently, JFCS is supporting SB 287, Senator Nancy Skinner’s crucial bill to hold social media… Read More

Tucked safely in Margie Baer’s bicycle bags are fresh fruit and vegetables, proteins, and staples—essential foods that save vulnerable Marin seniors from hunger. For more than four years, Margie, a retired doctor, has delivered groceries from JFCS’ Food Bank to the doorsteps of local seniors. “It’s meaningful to bring food to elderly members of our community. Many of them don’t have family nearby to help,” says Margie. She smiles when recalling an older gentleman who would greet her each week with a new joke, giving the gift of laughter in appreciation for the food. Next time you see a cyclist… Read More

Giving back to the community is a core family value for Vera Stein, a longtime JFCS volunteer and friend. Beginning with her father’s work as a volunteer with JFCS’ Utility Workshop, a pioneering job-creation program for refugees and immigrants, and continuing with Vera and her daughter, Deborah Hoffman—both active committee members and past members of the JFCS Board of Directors—three generations of this compassionate and community-minded family have helped to support JFCS’ mission. Vera and her family had direct experience with JFCS services when her widowed mother, Greta Livingson z’l, needed help at home. “The staff at JFCS’ Seniors At… Read More

Every Tuesday at 1pm, you’ll find Tzippi poised at her computer, ready to help Holocaust survivors participate in Café by the Bay. The Café meets regularly in San Francisco and Marin and on the Peninsula to enjoy art, music, speakers, discussions, and celebrations. Tzippi is one of 30 volunteers who help with everything from planning gatherings to providing technical support for survivors who join virtually. Each volunteer is paired with a “friend”—a survivor with whom they form a close relationship. Tzippi’s commitment to the group shines in the relationship she’s built with Rebecca, the 96-year-old “friend” she’s been working with… Read More