News & Impact

A Q&A with Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet Following October 7, 2023, antisemitic incidents in K – 12 schools surged by 135%, creating unprecedented challenges for Jewish families. Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet, LCSW, Education Specialist at the JFCS Holocaust Center, brings over 40 years of experience as a clinical social worker to help parents navigate these difficult conversations with their teens. Q: What trends and concerns have you observed in your work with parents since  October 7, 2023? A: Since October 7, parents have been reaching out to us as their teens face intensified antisemitism both in school and online. My workshop “Raising Jewish … Read More

We recently welcomed Holocaust survivors from JFCS’ Cafe by the Bay program to an event called “Our Own Shetl,” designed to immerse them in the world of the once-thriving Jewish communities of Eastern Europe known as shtetls. Through lovingly crafted visuals, live music, and traditional food, we recreated the rich cultural atmosphere of these historic villages. The result was an engaging, interactive experience that brought history to life for those who lived it. A team of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly in a private art studio to construct our very own shtetl. They repurposed large cardboard boxes into building blocks for… Read More

From June 23 – 26, 2024, dedicated teachers from across California gathered in Los Angeles for the second annual Summer Institute of the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education. This groundbreaking event, organized by the JFCS Holocaust Center in partnership with The USC Shoah Foundation, brought together educators from 51 California school districts. Through expert-led workshops, moving testimonies, and rich primary sources, the institute equipped teachers with effective tools to build critical thinking skills and address antisemitism and hate in their own classrooms and communities. In a post-institute survey, 98% of teachers reported the curriculum and instructional strategies… Read More

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

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

Tad Taube and his wife, Dianne, have been longtime supporters of JFCS and models of philanthropy for the entire community. Because of their generous contributions over the years, thousands of individuals and families have found help in times of personal crises or challenges. Now, with the establishment of JFCS’ Taube Family Emergency Assistance Fund, the Taubes are ensuring that our community will have a safety net for years to come. The fund, which the Taubes wish to inspire others to give to as well, will provide essential help through food, financial aid, mental health counseling, and personalized case management services.… Read More