News & Impact

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

On October 29, 2023, local synagogue members and men’s clubs teed off at Crystal Springs Golf Course for the 2023 Peninsula Jewish Community Golf Classic (PCJGC), raising over $23,000 to support JFCS’ Food Bank and nutrition programs on the Peninsula. The Peninsula Jewish Community Golf Classic has been held for the past 13 years. In 2021, the PJCGC Committee saw a chance to leverage the tournament’s success into a fundraising opportunity. Since then, the committee and its collaborators have generously supported Jewish Family and Children’s Services programs.  When asked why the tournament selected JFCS as its beneficiary, committee cofounder David… Read More

By Robyn Bloom, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at JFCS As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I have recently been asked for advice from folks who are worried about spending time with family members with different perspectives on current events, politics and—most recently—the war in Israel. With all the conflict in the world, peace in the home, Shalom Bayit, should be the goal—which can make it tempting to shy away from difficult topics. But there are ways to communicate that can bring us closer together and deepen our understanding of one another. When done carefully, with a willingness to listen… Read More

By Dr. Anita Friedman, JFCS Executive Director and co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education As we all can see, hate is surging at unprecedented levels throughout our society. Antisemitism is at an all-time high in California, and every week the JFCS Holocaust Center receives calls from local schools seeking guidance on how to handle hateful incidents. Now more than ever, education is critically and urgently needed to combat this frightening trend. The Case for Fighting Antisemitism and Hate Through Education Holocaust education was legally required in the California state education code as of 1985. Only now,… Read More

“Evil can only prevail if good people sit idly by.” —Governor Gavin Newsom A new week has begun, but the horrors continue to unfold. Hamas’ genocidal actions have reminded us what true evil looks like. Approximately 1,400 Israelis have been murdered and almost 200 Israelis were kidnapped and are being held in captivity, as loved ones beg for their return. We are sadly witnessing mass suffering and loss of innocent lives throughout the region. We will not sit idly by. Join Us in Action JFCS is working closely with our sister agencies in Israel to provide direct humanitarian assistance including… Read More

As we watch this nightmare unfold in Israel—many of us heartbroken, or worrying about friends and loved ones—it is easy to feel helpless. But now is a time of action, and JFCS is working closely with our partner agencies in Israel to provide direct assistance including emergency food, shelter, and psychological first aid. More aid is urgently needed, and there are several ways that you can help: Donate to JFCS’s Israel Emergency Fund Double your gift through company-matching donations. Share our posts on social media Create a Facebook Fundraiser for JFCS If you or someone you care about could… Read More