News & Impact

Some people dream of making it in law, medicine, or maybe Hollywood. Not Kenny Hockert. He dreams of making it big in the three K’s: kugel, kreplach, and kasha. A trained chef who spent many years working in New York restaurants, Kenny decided he wanted to fill a niche in the food truck business after moving to the Bay Area a few years ago. His specialty is Eastern European and Jewish “soul food’ reminiscent of his late grandmother Dora Rosenblatt’s family meals. “I have so many memories of spending time eating this food,” says Kenny, “and it has become a… Read More

Gabrielle had so much going for her: a strong mind, a caring heart, and a warm demeanor. But no amount of intelligence or sweetness could save her from the abuse that she suffered from the time she was a child. Sexually assaulted by her father and emotionally and physically maltreated by both of her parents, she ran away at 16 to pursue an education. But as she sought to improve her life, she met men who promised her love and security, but instead beat her brutally and sapped her of her spirit. At 17, Gabrielle became pregnant by one of… Read More

Danny Gabriner knows that growing a business is a lot like baking the perfect loaf of bread. You need to be willing to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and keep a watchful eye as your product takes shape. When Danny, a former computer geek, decided several years ago that he wanted to shift gears and start Sour Flour, a bread business, he rolled up his sleeves and then turned to JFCS’ Small Business Loan Program for assistance. “I was always interested in food and San Francisco’s culture,” says Danny “and I wanted to create the best naturally fermented,… Read More

Parisa Sayani, a young Jewish-Iranian woman, came to this country almost three years ago with hope and determination … and little else. Denied access to adequate education in her homeland, she set her sights on the Academy of Art University’s School of Architecture in San Francisco. Having few resources, she juggled several jobs while carrying a full class load. Still, no matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t cover tuition, school supplies, and living expenses. Never losing hope, Parisa sought assistance through JFCS’ Educational Loans and Grants Program. It was a life-turning chapter in her educational journey. The agency… Read More

Helga was in her late 70s when she began walking down to Route 101 at all hours, waiting for the bus en route from Sonoma County to San Francisco. Once in the city, she wandered the streets lugging a valise stuffed with cash. Helga had sustained a brain injury in her 40s, but at that time had a husband, sister, and brother-in-law to look after her. After they had all died or become infirm themselves, she only had Loretta, her niece, and Loretta’s husband to see to her needs. The couple lived an hour away, and Loretta feared that something… Read More

After 14 years, Barry and Lisa were as in love with each other as in the early days of their courtship. “When I saw and heard Lisa for the first time—at a museum exhibit—I knew she was the one for me,” says Barry. “She was warm, beautiful, and open-hearted. I’d been waiting for someone like her for my entire life. She was my beacon of light.” So when Lisa, 50, was diagnosed with uterine cancer this past October, the blow for Barry was as unbearable as the pain for Lisa. Scrambling for services to help them, Barry reached out to… Read More