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Lonny Darwin z’l – October 29, 1912 – January 11, 2013 Just as Lonny Darwin shaped the Bay Area Jewish community, many people, places, and passions shaped Lonny.  Our entire community has benefited from her work—whether it be youth who can learn about the Holocaust or the elderly who can enjoy a cultural performance. Lonny was a community leader, a true philanthropist, and a dear friend.  Living for more than 100 years gave her ample opportunity to learn important life lessons from people, passions, travels, and experiences.  Lonny was who she was because of these multiple influences, and none more… Read More

Thousands of people learn with JFCS each year through trainings for mental health professionals and teachers; parenting workshops; internships for teens, seminars for older adults on the issues of aging and caregiving, and more. Many of JFCS’ experienced staff are leaders in educating others in their fields of expertise and in conducting evidence-based research to advance their work. Community members, lay leaders, New Leaders Fellows, and staff participate in leadership training as well as seminars focused on Jewish values with Shalom Hartman Institute. Additionally, the JFCS Holocaust Center is the primary resource for Holocaust education in California… Read More

High school students have a rare and unique opportunity to study the Holocaust and other genocides through a number of exceptional programs offered by the JFCS Holocaust Center: For high school students looking for a way to develop a deep connection with a Holocaust survivor and a small cohort of their peers, Conversation Circle is an excellent option. For students hoping to understand the ties between racism and antisemitism and increase their awareness of the patterns of genocide by learning about the Holocaust and Cambodian Genocide, Manovill Seminar is an incredible learning experience.   Social Services for Jewish Nazi… Read More

Plucked from the ashes of Auschwitz and published in 2014 by the JFCS Holocaust Center, Rywka’s Diary: The Writings of a Jewish Girl from the Lodz Ghetto has been an international sensation, sold alongside The Diary of Anne Frank. The tattered school diary written in Polish by 14-year-old Rywka Lipszyc has captivated readers around the world and has been translated into 15 languages. It is now being published in its native Polish tongue. This month Rywka’s powerful words became available throughout Poland. The new and beautifully designed edition was published in partnership with Austeria Publishing House in collaboration with the… Read More

Like many children who had a parent who survived the Holocaust, Lydia Preisler Shorenstein felt an obligation to find a way to honor her father’s memories and experiences, as well as to educate others about the tragedy of the Holocaust so that history would not continue to repeat itself. For Lydia the call to action came when she and her late husband, Doug Shorenstein, visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. along with her family, including Lydia’s parents, Simon and Etelka. Simon Preisler was born in Fancsicovo, Czechoslovakia to an observant Jewish family. A survivor of Auschwitz,… Read More

We are pleased to announce that 7,000 students will participate in a powerful education program with JFCS Holocaust Center this fall. Thanks to generous donors, The Children of Willesden Lane Bay Area BIG READ will be offered to Northern California middle and high school teachers and their students. This unique program teaches youth about the Holocaust, the importance of standing up against bigotry and hatred, and the transformative nature of art. The curriculum culminates in an award winning theatrical production at Herbst Theatre by concert pianist and acclaimed storyteller Mona Golabek about how the power of music helped one young… Read More