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

After surviving overt homophobia during the pre-Stonewall days and the devastation wrought by the AIDS crisis, countless older gay men and lesbians—many of whom were on the frontlines of the civil rights battles for the past 40 or 50 years—are creeping back into the closet. Gen Silent, the award-winning documentary to be screened at Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) in San Francisco on Thurs., Oct. 6, 6:00 pm, explains why. The hour-long film focuses on six LGBT seniors who face the challenges of aging and health issues while contending with a health-care system that seems oblivious to the needs… Read More

For more than 160 years, JFCS has been committed to making sure that those in our community who are hungry, or are at risk of hunger, have enough to eat. In addition to our Food Bank, which provides sustenance throughout the year to many of our clients in need in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, JFCS helps to nourish hundreds of individuals annually through a range of programs: Our Kosher Meals on Wheels program in San Francisco delivers hot, nutritious meals to frail, homebound seniors with a kosher tradition. We are proud of our… Read More