Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties

How do you raise a proud, civic-minded next generation? Read our July newsletter to see how the JFCS Holocaust Center is answering that question.

Today, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States in 1865. As a people whose story is rooted in the journey from slavery to freedom, we hold the values of liberation, dignity, and justice close to our hearts. Juneteenth invites us to reflect on our shared history and our ongoing responsibility to advance racial equity and justice. May we continue to listen to and celebrate the voices and experiences of Jews of Color and Black Americans and work together toward a more just and inclusive future. As we prepare to welcome Shabbat, a sacred pause that invites reflection on our values and responsibilities, we are reminded that the pursuit of justice remains an ongoing obligation.

If you are a Jewish Bay Area resident in your 20s or 30s, the JFCS Young Adult Leadership Association (YALA) gives you the opportunity to learn about issues affecting your community and the chance to work alongside your peers to make a meaningful impact. Hear directly from JFCS experts in aging care, disability services, healthcare, and public policy, while gaining hands-on experience through meaningful volunteer work with the populations JFCS serves. Applications for the Palo Alto Spring 2026 cohort are open now. Apply by May 31—program begins June 10. https://ow.ly/pSfy50YOGpk

Seniors At Home has been nominated by readers as a finalist in SFGATE's “Best of Bay Area 2026” awards. We’re honored to be included among so many incredible organizations serving the Bay Area. If you’d like to support Seniors At Home, daily voting is open through May 5: • Visit: www.sfgate.com/best/vote • Go to 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵→ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 • Vote for 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 We would greatly appreciate your vote. Recognition from the community like this helps expand access to care, so more older adults can remain safe, supported, and comfortable at home.

Join the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and JFCS Holocaust Center, in partnership with Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco, for a special screening of the award-winning film 𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘴. Decades after the Holocaust, filmmaker Yoav Potash uncovers the haunting hidden history of a small Polish town where Jewish and Christian neighbors once lived side by side. After the film, stay for a conversation with associate producer Aaron Tartakovsky, whose family history connects to the story, and Rabbi Ryan Bauer, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Senior Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El, reflecting on memory, truth, and the courage to confront difficult histories. 📍JCCSF 📅 Tuesday, April 14 | 6:30 – 9:00pm 🔗 Free registration required: https://lnkd.in/ggNC79fE

"San Francisco has always been incredibly welcoming to immigrants. We are a city that thrives—that has been successful—because of the energies, innovation, and the diversity that has brought everyone here. And so it's imbued in our culture. It's imbued in our policies. It's imbued in our government."—San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu Thanks to SF City Attorney David Chiu for joining JFCS’ Director of Legal Services, Brett Snider and Monica Spitzer, Fellow Alumnae and Immigration Attorney, in conversation about what it truly means to “welcome the stranger”—and how legal services, advocacy, and community support work together to protect immigrants across the Bay Area. The evening was a special gathering for the JFCS New Leaders Fellowship Alumni, featuring thoughtful insights from legal experts, delicious food from Iggy’s Place (a local Jewish-Ukrainian restaurant), engaging questions from the audience, and a powerful firsthand account from a JFCS client and Ukrainian refugee. Learn more about the JFCS New Leaders Fellowship: https://lnkd.in/gCDJZKqC

Thank you to the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce are for nominating Seniors At Home in the “Best of the San Mateo Area 2026” awards. We’re honored to be recognized alongside so many incredible organizations serving our community. If you’d like to support Seniors At Home, voting is open through April 26: • Visit: https://lnkd.in/ehs_Pajt • Go to 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 & 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 → 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 • Select 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗼 We'd be very grateful for your vote. Recognition like this from the community helps more older adults receive the care they need to live safely and comfortably at home.

As we gather this week to tell the story of Passover, we’re reminded that the journey to freedom was never taken alone. The Torah tells us that a diverse group—the 𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷 𝘳𝘢𝘷, or “mixed multitude”—left Egypt alongside the Israelites, drawn by a shared hope for something better. From the very beginning, this has been a story of belonging, collective purpose, and building a more just and compassionate community. That same spirit lives on in our community today. Together, we can all ensure no one faces hardship alone. Chag Sameach!

At Ady’s Place—JFCS' independent living residence for neurodivergent young women— Betty set out to build her confidence. A year later, her growth is undeniable. Through support, practice, and determination, she’s found her voice, strengthened her relationships, and no longer shies away from connection. Read about Betty's inspiring journey on the JFCS blog. https://lnkd.in/ggHGFzdi March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. At JFCS, we’re proud to support adults with developmental disabilities through the many programs that make up our Shupin Community—an innovative model of support that integrates housing, social connection, independent living skills, and more.

It was a pleasure to host Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Mayor Lurie’s Manager of State and Federal Affairs Eileen Mariano, and community leader Manny Yekutiel as guest speakers at last week’s JFCS New Leaders Fellowship meeting. The conversation centered on advocacy, personal stories of civic leadership, and how each of them felt called to public service. It was an illuminating and highly entertaining evening. The JFCS New Leaders Fellowship is an immersive program that equips professionals with the skills, inspiration, and connections to become the next generation of board leaders. Applications for our next cohort open this spring!