JVS luncheon to celebrate S.F. stories of success
Jewish Vocational Service, the S.F.-based nonprofit that helps people from all walks of life build skills and find jobs, will host its 23rd annual Strictly Business Awards luncheon next week.
At the event, JVS will honor San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department, which over the past five years has given work experience to 90 students who were in danger of dropping out of high school.
In addition, four people who have written their own success stories — with help from JVS — will receive Employee of the Year Awards: Rosanna Horton, Elisabeth Echui Nguessan, Ariel Santamaria and Cheyanne Torres.
One of them had to flee her home country to protect her family from military persecution, and another was involved in gangs and selling drugs, but all have inspiring stories about overcoming difficulties and turning their lives around with job and career assistance from JVS.
The fundraiser/luncheon will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, 780 Mission St. Seats start at $75 for nonprofits and $150 for individuals. For more information, visit www.jvs.org or call (415) 782-6311.
Applications open for Diller Teen fellowship
Applications are open through May 15 for the San Francisco Diller Teen Fellows, a 15-month leadership program for Bay Area youth entering their junior year of high school.
Teens in the program attend weekend retreats, educational workshops and perform service projects. They also travel to Israel for a three-week summer trip. The Diller Teen Fellows program operates in 22 communities in North America, South America and Israel.
The program is run under the auspices of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation. Between 40 and 60 teens generally apply for 20 spots, and the application process includes a written component, an optional video, letters of recommendation and an interview.
To apply or get more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/sf-diller-teen-fellows or call (415) 512-6292.
PJ Library reaching out to Russian speakers
PJ Library, the nonprofit that sends free books on Jewish themes to children every month, has started an outreach program for the Russian-speaking community in Silicon Valley, holding special events for Russian-speaking families to welcome them into Jewish life.
“We’re giving people a chance to learn about their Jewish roots in a very low-impact way,” said Arielle Hendel, director of community engagement for the PJ Library program in Silicon Valley.
Since launching in December, the program has hosted a Purim carnival, a family Passover seder and a Tu B’Shevat celebration. The events are conducted in Russian, and Hendel said many grandparents come with their grandchildren.
PJ Library decided to expand its Russian programming this year from the New York area, where there are three programs, to Miami, Montreal and Silicon Valley.
Hendel said the Silicon Valley PJ Library program now has more than 1,100 subscribers from all backgrounds. Russian-speaking families enrolled in PJ Library received the same English-language books as other children, but they are invited to special Russian-language events, Hendel said. — drew himmelstein
S.J. Earthquakes schedule Jewish heritage game
The San Jose Earthquakes and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley have announced that tickets are on sale for the Earthquakes’ Jewish heritage game against FC Dallas. The Major League Soccer match will be at San Jose’s Avaya Stadium, the new home of the Earthquakes, at 4 p.m. June 7. The event is co-sponsored by the Addison-Penzak JCC.
Each Jewish heritage ticket purchase includes a souvenir T-shirt, and part of the proceeds will support scholarships for kids attending Jewish summer camps.
Tickets are $45 for sideline seats and $35 for the end zone. To purchase, visit www.tinyurl.com/jvalley-earthquakes and click on “Register” (use the code “jvalley”). For more information, contact the federation’s Becka Ross at [email protected] or (408) 357-7502.
Limmud Bay Area kicks off registration for learning confab
Registration opens Friday, May 1 for the fourth annual Limmud Bay Area, which will take place June 26-28 at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park.
It’s the second year the grassroots Jewish learning confab is being held on the Sonoma campus, after two initial years at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove. Not only does Sonoma feel more central, “It feels like you’re there to learn,” says Elina Kaplan, this year’s co-chair with Liki Abrams. “It’s a university setting, more conducive to the type of learning we want to foster.”
Limmud is a grassroots-led Jewish learning phenomenon that got its start 37 years ago in England and now takes place in more than 70 locations worldwide. Attendees can choose from a variety of sessions in any given hour, on topics ranging from Talmud to psychology, film, Bible, food and geopolitics.
For the first time, Limmud will take place over Shabbat and include formal Shabbat programming (last year there was an optional pre-Limmud Shabbat program). Saturday morning’s offerings will include a range of worship services, as well as learning sessions for participants who prefer not to attend services.
“Shabbat brings with it a slew of issues,” says Kaplan, “from people who don’t want to go to services to others who don’t want to sit in a room where people are taking notes on Shabbat.” Dealing with that diversity is part of the experiment this year’s Limmud team has undertaken, she says.
Also new this year, Kaplan says, are four world-class Jewish study programs taking part: Kolot and Pardes, both from Israel, and the Bay Area’s Kevah and Sefaria. In addition to leading sessions throughout the weekend, teachers from these groups will conduct a plenary on cutting-edge adult Jewish education.
Organizers are urging people to plan early, because attendance will be capped at 350 due to the added Shabbat component. Last year, some 420 participants attended.
Many pricing packages are available along with a limited number of needs-based subsidies. Most include lodging, and all packages include four kosher meals made with locally sourced food. Prices range from $290 to $475 for adults, and $170 to $295 for children and teens.
For details, visit www.limmudbayarea.org or contact [email protected]. — j. staff