News & Impact

There has been a recent and dramatic rise in antisemitism; from the shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, to the stabbing on Hanukkah in New York. Attacks on Jews have increased globally, and locally as well. The JFCS Holocaust Center reports a 175% increase in antisemitic acts in schools and community spaces of the past year. As leaders of the Jewish community in the Bay Area, JFCS works diligently to combat hate and antisemitism. We find that education is one of the strongest tools in this ongoing fight. The Holocaust Center continues to play a role in preventing these… Read More

Jon Levinson is a pillar of our community. After attending U.C. Berkeley and serving in the Army, Jon met his future wife, Diane, while working for her cousin. The two were engaged a week after first meeting and have been happily married for 55 years. The couple settled in San Carlos and raised two sons and a daughter. Jon is a devoted member of his synagogue, Beth Jacob, where he has been a member for over 50 years. It is through his synagogue that Jon was initially introduced to JFCS. A friend suggested he get involved with our organization because… Read More

Known as America’s quietest health risk, social isolation and loneliness affects people indiscriminately. From tweens to seniors and from stay-at-home parents to CEOs, many suffer in silence from the physical and mental health issues related to isolation and loneliness. Through the efforts of JFCS’ Center for Children and Youth (CCY) and Seniors At Home (SAH), JFCS is combating isolation by providing critical services and resources for those afflicted. In a time when there are so many ways to stay connected (email, text, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.), why are so many of our youth feeling isolated and lonely? The percent… Read More

Vera and Harold z’l Stein sat for this interview in 2019. May his memory be for a blessing. Vera Stein’s desire to give back was born from her personal experience fleeing Nazi Germany as a young child in 1939. When Vera was just five years old, her father, Eric Livingston, was taken to Dachau following Kristallnacht. The family had already obtained visas to leave the country, so they were fortunate enough to get Eric out of Dachau and flee to the United States. They traveled by boat to New York, an experience Vera recalls being a miserable, seasick-filled journey, where… Read More

JFCS Board member Oded Hermoni has a very impressive background in the tech industry. However, in addition to his professional expertise as a start-up founder, board member, adviser, and venture capitalist, Oded is uniquely positioned to act as a bridge builder between the American Jewish community and the many thousands of Israelis who live and work in Silicon Valley, as he is now part of both groups. Jerusalem-born Oded began his career as a journalist covering the country’s flourishing technology sector. He soon took an active role in the technology sector himself by founding two start-up companies, one of which… Read More

A parent’s most important job is keeping their child safe. Imaging being unable to do that. Ellen and her 12-year old daughter Sari, were referred to JFCS by a homeless shelter following a violent attack on their lives by Ellen’s husband of five years. When they married, he promised to protect and care for Ellen and her child, but in a chilling turn, he developed a drug addiction and became their worst nightmare. While much of the abuse was directed toward Ellen, Sari also became the victim of her stepfather’s abuse when she tried to protect her mother. Ellen fled… Read More