Proud to be Fighting Hate: The Story of the Pink Triangle
- LGBTQ+
- News and Impact
- Holocaust Center
As he does each year, state Senator Scott Wiener joined public officials and hundreds of volunteers on Saturday, June 8 for the 2024 Pink Triangle Ceremony, celebrating the annual installation of San Francisco’s singular Pink Triangle.
The Pink Triangle was founded 29 years ago by Patrick Carney as a guerilla arts project. Covering an acre on Twin Peaks, viewable for miles around, it has become synonymous with Pride Month in San Francisco. The symbol, once used by the Nazis to identify and shame homosexuals in concentration camps, is now embraced by the LGBTQ community as a symbol of pride.… Read More
Posted by Admin on June 17, 2024
Meet Our Leaders: Ron Zeff
- Meet Our Leaders
“My parents taught my sisters and me the importance of building a strong Jewish community and helping those in need,” says Ron Zeff, who was elected to Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Board of Directors last June. “They were devoted to the local Denver community and to Israel.”
Ron grew up in the real estate business in Colorado, learning firsthand from his father, a respected developer and community leader. He moved to the Bay Area for college and, after earning his MBA, entered the local real estate field, where he quickly acquired a reputation for pioneering deals. Building on his… Read More
Posted by Admin on June 14, 2024
Allies at the Ready: How Quick Thinking Helped Build a Family Through Adoption
- LGBTQ+
- Adoption
- Programs and Services
- News and Impact
- Stories & Testimonials
by Michelle Nobriga, JD, MBA, Director of JFCS’ Adoption Connection
For many aspiring same-sex parents, the path to building a family through open adoption was once littered with discriminatory, out-of-state legal barriers. Couples were often forced to make the heartbreaking decision of which partner would adopt as a single parent first, with the other initially labeled as their “roommate” on paperwork. The emotional turmoil was agonizing but accepted as the only option at the time.
However, for some lucky couples in San Francisco, hope emerged when the city briefly issued same-sex marriage licenses in 2004. This move would eventually be… Read More
Posted by Admin on June 7, 2024
JFCS Financial Aid Helps Oakland Eco-Entrepreneurs Make Sustainable Shopping More Accessible
- Stories & Testimonials
- Financial Assistance
When Matt Zimbalist and his partner started Re-Up Refills, they set out to make sustainable, zero-waste living more accessible in their Bay Area community. But bringing that dream to fruition takes more than just passion—it requires financial support. That’s where JFCS’ Financial Aid Center stepped in, with a loan that helped Re-Up Refills take its impact to the next level.
The seeds of Re-Up Refills were first planted at Urban Adamah, a Jewish farm and educational center in Berkeley, where Matt and his partner, Carly, met and connected over their shared values around environmental stewardship. After years of patronizing… Read More
Posted by Admin on May 2, 2024
Keeping Family Traditions Alive for JFCS’ Shupin Community
- Donor Stories
- Stories & Testimonials
- People with Disabilities
Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Shupin Social Club participants recently gathered for their annual Passover Seder, continuing a treasured tradition made possible by longtime JFCS supporters Suzanne and Michael Berke.
“Our connection to the Shupin Community is very personal,” says Michael. “My niece Lana had special needs. She did not live long enough to enjoy being part of such a warm community. We love supporting services that would have meant so much to her.”
Passover is a favorite holiday in Michael’s family. His mother, Elaine Berke, of blessed memory, was an inspiring leader of the community and loved to bring… Read More
Posted by Admin on April 19, 2024
Jewish Baby Network Helps a New Mom Reconnect with Her Roots and Find Her Community
- Stories & Testimonials
Karina Rosinzonsky came with her parents to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union when she was ten years old. At the time, her parents reached out to the Legal Services department of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) for help obtaining green cards and resettlement, but that would only be the beginning of Karina and her family’s journey with JFCS and the surrounding Jewish community of the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Hidden Identity in the Former Soviet Union
Growing up, Karina’s parents never explained to her that they were Jewish, but she was aware that she and… Read More
Posted by Admin on February 22, 2024