News & Impact

San Francisco Chronicle by Willie Brown When it comes to San Francisco icons, the Brown twins – Vivian and Marian – with their signature matching outfits, dazzling blond hair and even more dazzling smiles, have been as much a part of the city as Coit Tower or the Golden Gate Bridge. And they likely have been photographed as often as well. Read More from the San Francisco Chronicle… Read More

J Weekly by Dan Pine Contemplating the severe budget cuts fraying California’s social safety net, Anita Friedman thinks the Golden State is starting to resemble Greece. And not because both have great beaches. “[California] has had multiple years of deficits,” said the executive director of S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services, “and that means we’re now down to making major structural cuts, eliminating critical services.” Read More from J Weekly  … Read More

San Francisco Chronicle by Erin Allday Gloria Lyon sat in a quiet office, preparing herself for a speech she was about to give to 50 high school sophomores, when someone asked if she wanted a chair to sit in during her presentation. Lyon, 82, didn’t spare her answer a thought. “It’s better if I stand,” she said crisply. “I want to stand as long as I can. I’ll sit for their questions if I need to.” She didn’t need to. Read More from the San Francisco Chronicle… Read More

J Weekly by Dan Pine Lawrence Goldberg fought hard for the politics and principles he believed in. One of those principles was civility, which explains why he had friends of all persuasions. An attorney, politcal operative and tireless Jewish community activist, Goldberg died of cancer on Jan. 29 in his Tiburon home. He was 80. Read More from J Weekly… Read More

J Weekly by Patricia Corrigan Yolanda Anyon, determined to be an agent for change, wanted to be a social worker. Ben Botts hoped to become a public service lawyer, so he could help people in practical ways. Both had educational dreams that carried steep tuition prices, and both turned to a loan and grant program offered through the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Read More from J Weekly… Read More

Jewish Telegraphic Agency by Penny Schwartz In August, in the heat of the summer, a Boston-area mother of three began to worry about how she would pay for Chanukah gifts. Across the country in San Francisco, a 33-year-old Russian-born mother of six said that thinking about this Chanukah made her cry. Both women—Lauren of Boston and Lilya of San Francisco (they asked that their last names not be used)—are struggling in a down economy to provide for their families. Still, they are hopeful that with support of Jewish organizations, they will find meaningful ways to celebrate the eight-day Festival of… Read More