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Community

Oksana Yurovsky

Local agency

The year was 1850 and a young man named August Helbing was on a ship bound for California. After giving up his stateroom to a widow and her children, he realized that other newcomers would need help, too. So he helped form the Eureka Benevolent Society, which met ships at the docks and provided help to whoever sought it.

Today, 160 years later, “we consider ourselves still meeting the boats,” says Ellen McCaslin, director of development and marketing for the society’s descendant, Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Which may be the reason j. readers voted the San Francisco branch the best Jewish agency in the city. 

Seniors, immigrants and those who’ve fallen on hard times know they can find a shoulder to lean on at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay.  The center provides counseling, employment services, elderly assistance and much more. To Holly Taines White, director of grants and communications, the award means the center has succeeded in playing a “critical and central role … in the community.”

Friendship Circle in Palo Alto has been helping children with special needs and their families since 2003, but the organization also makes sure its volunteers’ lives are equally transformed. Cofounder Rabbi Ezzy Schusterman says the inspiration came from the need to welcome special needs kids and provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for teens. “Teens have that carefree ability,” says Schusterman, noting that the closeness in age helps kids and volunteers bond.

With the economy still unstable and many still unemployed or hurting from reduced hours, Jewish Family and Children’s Services in the North Bay is serving more people than it was just two years ago. The nonprofit has responded to increased demand by adding staff and expanding its food pantry. So far this year, the San Rafael center has distributed three times more food than it did in 2009. “Our mission is really to help the most vulnerable in society,” says Bonni Schiff, manager of the San Rafael JFCS office.

In second place were Jewish Vocational Service in San Francisco, Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay in Oakland and Jewish Family and Children’s Services in Palo Alto.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

(415) 449-1200

www.jfcs.org

East Bay

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay

Various locations

(510) 704-7475

www.jfcs-eastbay.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Friendship Circle

Palo Alto

(650) 858-6990

www.bayareafc.org

North Bay

Jewish Family

and Children’s Services

San Rafael

(415) 419-3632

www.jfcs.org

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Jewish Vocational Service

(415) 782-6226

www.jvs.org

East Bay

Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay

Oakland

(510) 839-2900

www.jfed.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Jewish Family

and Children’s Services

Palo Alto

(650) 688-3030

www.jfcs.org

JCC

JCCs really do live up to their name, with “community” at the core of what they offer and represent. Many who use their local Jewish community center know that the facility is a center for Jewish life and more, offering a multitude of benefits — spiritual, physical, intellectual and recreational.

For the fifth year in a row, the (Jewish) San Francisco treat has been the JCC on California Street. Boasting more than 1,000 programs, preschools, after-school offerings and a top-notch fitness center, the JCC of San Francisco continues to be a go-to place for city residents to gather, socialize, learn and engage. “We’re always in conversation with our [members],” says Nathaniel Bergson-Michelson, director of marketing, so new programs can reflect their interests.

JCC of the East Bay in Berkeley has been steadily expanding its inventory of classes, events and services. Programs for youth, families, older adults and the general community provide a “gateway into Jewish life,” according to executive director Sally Kauffman Flinchbaugh.

Tied for first place in the South Bay/Peninsula are the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto and the Peninsula JCC in Foster City. Where can you watch a huge pot of kosher gumbo prepared onstage while a band jams? This performance, part of the Peninsula JCC’s food-themed series last year, was just one of many eclectic events that take place year-round. In addition to its concerts and classes, the center is proud of its atmosphere. “People are always telling me it doesn’t feel like a community center, but a home,” says marketing communications manager Eileen Mitchell.

A year ago the Oshman Family JCC celebrated the realization of a longtime dream: a home. “We’ve kind of been the wandering Jews for 45 years,” says chief marketing officer Mimi Sells. With the new space have come many new programs. “There’s something that will resonate with everyone in the community,” Jewish or not, Sells says. This JCC also features a Jewish war veterans club, believed to be the oldest veterans group in the country.

Members of the Osher Marin JCC have only one complaint: too many tempting activities to choose from. Since last year, its Center for Jewish Life has “exploded” with activities, says its director, Joanne Greene, and people just can’t get enough. More than 5,000 have attended adult learning classes ranging from Jewish life to opera appreciation. The art gallery features work by local Jewish artists. Whether you’re just learning to walk or using a walker, there’s something for everyone.

Contra Costa JCC in Walnut Creek, Addison-Penzak JCC in Los Gatos and JCC, Sonoma County came in second.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

JCC of San Francisco

(415) 292-1200

www.jccsf.org

East Bay

JCC of the East Bay

Berkeley

(510) 848-0237

www.jcceastbay.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Oshman Family JCC

Palo Alto

(650) 223-8600

www.paloaltojcc.org

Peninsula JCC

Foster City

(650) 212-7522

www.pjcc.org

North Bay

Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

 

 2nd Place

East Bay

Contra Costa JCC

Walnut Creek

(925) 938-7800

www.ccjcc.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Addison-Penzak JCC

Los Gatos

(408) 358-3636

www.svjcc.org

South Bay/Peninsula

JCC, Sonoma County

Santa Rosa

(707) 528-4222

www.jccsoco.org

Place to volunteer

People who wish to give their time to a good cause have many options in the Jewish community. J. readers have voted for these organizations as some of the best places to volunteer in the Bay Area.

According to director of education Fraidy Aber, a cornerstone of San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum is its volunteers. Each year, over 150 people give their time and energy to help in almost every department. Volunteers are inspired by a “desire to be connected to the institution, to serve the public, and a love for art and Judaism,” Aber says. And who can resist the CJM’s handsome facade and sleek, modern interior?

Operations at Oakland Hebrew Day School are very much a family affair. While many private schools have a minimum volunteering requirement, “most of our parents well exceed it,” says director of admissions Melanie Marcus. The reason, she says, is the school’s approach to parental involvement. “We make it so that parents are engaged in their children’s education,” says Marcus, whether that means cooking for the kids, chaperoning field trips, helping with drama productions or bringing professional expertise. Everyone pitches in: mothers, dads, grandparents, even aunts and uncles.

Michelle Solomon is the yenta of volunteering at the Peninsula JCC in Foster City. As volunteer manager, she tries to find the perfect match for each person based on his or her strengths and interests. Around 175 volunteers each year are involved in the sports and recreation programs, children’s programs, the library and work with homebound seniors. “We’re lucky that we have a lot of volunteers who give their time and energy,” says Solomon, showing how much they “really love their community.”

Volunteers at the Osher Marin JCC channel their love of the performing arts into ushering, operating the concession stand and doing office work at the center’s Hoytt Theater and outdoor stage on Swig Field.

Second-place winners were Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco, Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City, Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills and Jewish Family and Children’s Services in San Rafael.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Contemporary Jewish Museum

(415) 655-7800

www.thecjm.org

East Bay

Oakland Hebrew Day School

Oakland

(510) 531-8600

www.ohds.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC

Foster City

(650) 212-7522

www.pjcc.org

North Bay

Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

(415) 345-9777

www.jchsofthebay.org

East Bay

Congregation Beth Jacob

Redwood City

(650) 366-8481

www.bethjacobrwc.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Congregation Beth Am

Los Altos Hills

(650) 493-4661

www.betham.org

North Bay

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

San Rafael

(415) 491-7960

www.jfcs.org

Adult education (community)

At the JCC of San Francisco, curious minds are nutured with a variety of exciting classes “for everything and everybody,” says Jackie Lewis, director of the recreation department. “We try to be recreational, but we try to teach people a skill, too.” Classes tend to be small, which allows friendships to form among students as well as with the instuctors. Classes such as dancing, ceramics and languages are intended to spice up people’s lives. “You don’t want to to just work and work out,” Lewis says.

For 40 years, the Berkeley-based Lehrhaus Judaica has been feeding the voracious appetites of local Judeophiles. The adult education center offers classes throughout the Bay Area on topics such as Yiddish language, ethics and introduction to Judaism. Many classes are offered year after year, but new courses are added regularly based on student interests. “Through education we’re building community,” says associate director Erika Staiti. Discussion and conversation are core values of Lehrhaus learning, with an informal instructor-student relationship.

Jonesing for Judaism? Peninsula residents voted the Jewish Study Network as the best adult education center to get your learn on. Since 2001, the center has offered “a whole gamut of education opportunities” for different skill levels and interests, says executive director Rabbi Joey Felsen. Most classes are text-based, focusing on the Talmud, Jewish history, ethics and more, and are taught by a young, diverse team. Guest lecturers and scholars are a regular feature. The center strives to create “a nonthreatening environment” for “people looking for substantive Jewish content,”  Felsen says.

Although just a year old, the Center forJewish Life at Osher Marin JCC has not been experiencing growing pains. Classes and lectures are popular among the area’s large aging-in-place population, whose members are “brilliant and interesting and want to stay engaged in learning,” says assistant director of programs Deborah Newbrun. Class topics include Jewish identity and diversity in the 21st century, and Jewish mysticism, history and thought. The JCC plans to expand its non–Jewish learning programs as well.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

JCC of San Francisco

(415) 292-1200

www.jccsf.org

East Bay

Lehrhaus Judaica

Berkeley

(510) 845-6420

www.lehrhaus.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Jewish Study Network

Palo Alto

(650) 493-5764

www.jsn.info

North Bay

Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

 

Men’s/women’s organization

It’s not always strictly business at the Jewish Community Federation’s Business Leadership Council. In addition to outreach programs and speakers’ series, Bay Area Jewish professionals can meet one another and attend networking events. Jeanne Miller, community campaign director, says seminars are “timely and extremely relevant.” Previous topics include Iraeli-Arab business collaboration and personal genomics. For those who occasionally like to network in their pajamas, BLC has its own group on LinkedIn and a Facebook page.

Dozens of Hadassah groups exist all over the world, but only one is located in Berkeley. Co-president Lauren Brandt says the chapter, founded in 1947, combines “keeping the legacy of the women who established [this] organization” and addressing issues that matter to local members. “And we like to have fun while we do that,” Brandt adds. On the menu are educational prorams, social activities, volunteering and fundraising events.

Karen Gould wanted to get together with women in her Redwood City community, but she yearned for something that would foster friendship and spiritual growth. Thus, the Congregation Beth Jacob Sisterhood was born. Four years later, around 50 women of all ages gather on a Sunday during Rosh Chodesh to “grow as women,” says Gould, through meditation, conversation, art, music, Torah and yoga. “Food is a very crucial part of our meeting,” adds Gould, whose mother occasionally comes to teach the group. The Sisterhood committee — affectionately called “hoodies” — organizes four annual events.

The Hadassah chapter in Petaluma might not have hundreds of members, but the more than 80 who do make up this North Bay branch include seasoned members who’ve been around since the chapter’s beginning in 1946. “We’re a friendly, hometown group,” says former president Lily Krulevitch. Men can join as associate members, and the chapter meets regularly for luncheons featuring various speakers.

In second place were the B’nai B’rith chapter in San Francisco, Beth Jacob Congregation Men’s Club in Oakland, Hadassah of Palo Alto and the ORT America chapters in Marin County.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Business Leadership

Council

Jewish Community Federation

(415) 777-0411

www.sfjcf.org/groups/blc

East Bay

Hadassah

Berkeley

(415) 771-5900

www.berkeleyhadassah.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Congregation Beth Jacob Sisterhood

Redwood City

(650) 366-8481

www.bethjacobrwc.org

North Bay

Hadassah

Petaluma

(707) 792-4494

www.hadassah.org

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

B’nai B’rith –

Golden Pacific Region

(888) 274-8418

www.bnaibrith.org

East Bay

Beth Jacob Congregation Men’s Club

Oakland

(510) 482-1147

www.bethjacoboakland.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Hadassah

Palo Alto

(408) 727-2707

www.sequoia-hadassah.org

North Bay

ORT America

Various locations

(415) 460-6854

[email protected]

Fundraising event

Although the state of the art economy meant the Jewish Community High School of the Bay’s annual spring celebration was held indoors this year, the festivities could not be constrained. Almost 200 people attended the “standing shmoozer heavy on hors d’oeuvres and cocktails” on May 16, says development director Julie Vlcek-Burke. Students, parents and JCHS alumni enjoyed an evening of food and performances by jazz musician Wil Blades and the San Francisco school’s music students — and opened their wallets for a good cause. The $115,000 raised is going toward student scholarships. “It was the best night yet,” says Vlcek-Burke.

Oakland Hebrew Day School has reached a new chai. The K-8 school celebrated its 18th anniversary at its annual fundraiser in April. Party tents were situated so they overlooked the campus and the Bay Area. “It was spectacular,” says Melanie Marcus, director of admissions. “The views were breathtaking.” The event brought together 200 parents, alumni, directors and founders to reminisce about the school’s early years and raise money for student scholarships. Half of the school’s families currently receive financial aid. “We’re trying to make Jewish education available for all families,” Marcus says.

 “Home” was the theme for the annual fundraiser at the Oshman Family JCC, and here’s why: For the first time, the event was held in the Palo Alto center’s own space. “There was a sense of pride,” recalls community events director Amy Grossmann. The proceeds are funding scholarships for the JCC’s preschool and camp, as well as sponsoring athletes to attend the Maccabi Games. The event also honored philanthropist Richard Goldman with its Rambam Award.

For its annual fundraiser, Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon went wild. Wild West, that is. This year, more than 200 guests dressed in their cowboy best and enjoyed an evening that included a sit-down dinner, Yiddish-flavored cowboy songs and dancing. Attendees bid in live and silent auctions for goodies such as wine-tasting trips, getaways to Costa Rica and Squaw Valley, a hike-and-Torah-study outing and a year’s supply of Peet’s coffee.

“In addition to being a fundraiser, it was definitely a community feel-good kind of event,” says board member Steven Sockolov. “It was a very warm, haimish event.”

In second place were fundraising events put on by Jewish Vocational Service in San Francisco, Jewish Community Federation of the East Bay, Peninsula JCC in Foster City and B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma.

1st Place

San Francisco

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

(415) 345-9777

www.jchsofthebay.org

East Bay

Oakland Hebrew Day School

Oakland

(510) 531-8600

www.ohds.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Oshman Family JCC

Palo Alto

(650) 223-8600

www.paloaltojcc.org

North Bay

Congregation Kol Shofar

Tiburon

(415) 388-1818

www.kolshofar.org

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Jewish Vocational Service

(415) 391-3600

www.jvs.org

East Bay

Jewish Community Federation of the East Bay

Oakland

(510) 839-2900

www.jfed.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC

Foster City

(650) 212-7522

www.pjcc.org

North Bay

B’nai Israel Jewish Center

Petaluma

(707) 762-0340

www.bnaiisrael.net