Dozens of organizations that serve the community will be on hand at Israel in the Gardens to spread the good word about what they do.

Some are flying in just for the occasion. Among first-timers: American Friends of Rambam (from New York City), the U.S. fundraising arm of the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.

Also making debut appearances are two Jewish fraternal organizations: Zeta Beta Tau, which bills itself as the “world’s first Jewish fraternity,” founded in 1898 to serve New York City university students; and Alpha Epsilon Pi, which got its start at New York University in 1912. Both have Bay Area chapters.

Another newcomer is VITAS Innovative Hospice Care. “Since its founding in 1978, VITAS and its staff have worked diligently to expand hospice access for all ethnic and diverse populations who can benefit from hospice and palliative medicine,” said Jeff Rosenberg,  Bay Area community liaison. VITAS began serving patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families in the East Bay in 2004 and the South Bay in 2007.

On a lighter note, there will be groups that serve happy, healthy children and adults, including URJ Camp Newman and Camp Tawonga, and the Bureau of Jewish Education. n