For decades, Alice took pride in preparing gourmet meals for her husband, Joe. When Alice’s memory declined and she forgot most evenings to cook, Joe didn’t have the heart to raise the issue. Their weight and health began to suffer. Worried, Alice and Joe’s daughters looked for he...

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...

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...

The mental health effects of the war in Ukraine are acute for children and adults—anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. In response, JFCS partnered with IsraAID, the Office of Ukraine’s First Lady, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Health to launch a national mental health and...

Valentina and her daughter fled Ukraine in the spring. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Valentina broke her leg. In need of medical care and a place to live, she called JFCS. JFCS helped Valentina navigate health insurance and find temporary lodging with local volunteers. It took a while to ...

Inspired by her grandparents’ experience as Holocaust survivors, Tania Albukerk, a longtime JFCS volunteer, and her husband, Larry, became donors to JFCS’ comprehensive, loving services for local Holocaust survivors. “We want to help survivors have the best possible years,” says Tania, who ...

David, age 83, is living on a very modest income in San Francisco—the city he has called home for over 60 years. He spends 70% of his income on rent, leaving little for other essentials like heating and food. “JFCS makes it possible for me to continue living in San Francisco,” David says. With...

As a caring member of our Bay Area community, you likely know that many of our neighbors face challenges—from hunger and loneliness to emergencies, like job loss, wildfires, or sudden illness. There are many ways you can help strengthen our community and ensure that no one struggles alone! Through...

At this moment we bear the weight of history. Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the members of his Governor’s Council for Holocaust and Genocide Education, which includes top experts, legislators, and leaders of our State. The Council is co-chaired by JFCS’ Executive Director, Dr. Ani...

By the time Diana was referred to JFCS by her synagogue, she and her children were homeless. They fled home after the children were physically abused by their father, and they had nowhere safe to go. JFCS’ Dream Program provides tailored support to families like Diana’s because of the gener...

My grandparents and parents were always involved in San Francisco’s Jewish community,” says Jeff Hyman, who was elected to the Board of Directors of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) in July. “Through their example, I was raised to give back and be of service.̶...

JFCS’ Gary Shupin Independent Living Community is growing! With the addition of Ady’s Place and Gerson’s Place, our vibrant “urban kibbutz” in San Francisco’s Laurel Heights will now include multiple beautiful residences for neurodivergent adults. We are grateful ...

This fall, outstanding Bay Area students are pursuing their higher education goals with the help of scholarships through JFCS’ Financial Aid Center. These life-changing scholarships are possible because of the generosity of donors who value education. The 2022 recipients of the Vivienne S. Camp Sc...

See our Ukraine response resources > Heartfelt Gratitude from a Ukrainian Family The San Jose Mercury News featured the story of a Ukrainian couple, Mariia and Anatolii, that JFCS has been privileged to help—thanks to your generosity. Their daughter, Oksana, shared these words of gratitude for...

On May 12, two Holocaust survivors—Sonia Apfelbaum, 81, and David Diamond, 92—stood on the bimah at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo in front of family and friends. Their dreams of becoming a Bat and Bar Mitzvah had been lifelong in the making, and three years in the making for JFCS and a s...

“Make your ear like a funnel and acquire for yourself a perceptive heart … “ —Babylonian Talmud, Exodus This wisdom accompanied graduates of JFCS’ New Leaders Fellowship—a year-long Jewish community leadership program—on a uniquely curated trip to Israel this summer le...

“Many Israelis in the Bay Area are newly arrived, working in tech, economically stable, and raising young children. But what happens to those who are aging, facing hardship, or coping with illness? They can be left aside, with no family nearby to help.” —Oded Hermoni, JFCS Board of Directors a...

See our Ukraine response resources > For 19 weeks, we all have followed the news of the war in Ukraine. Throughout this time of great pain, our community has come together by contributing humanitarian aid, advocating for refugees, and volunteering time, talent, and resources. Thank you for being...