News

Last year, many K-12 schools faced unprecedented challenges in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the ensuing war. As a result of rising antisemitism, many families pulled their children out of public school systems, feeling like they didn’t belong. In an op-ed for theChronicle, JCRC’s Tye Gregory lays out a roadmap for teachers, administrators, and other school officials to ensure that every child feels safe and supported in the classroom.

Michael Blecker, a Vietnam war vet, founded Swords to Plowshares to advocate for veterans trying to re-enter civilian life and seek VA benefits. 50 years later, after making a name for himself as one of the most respected veterans advocates in America, he is stepping down as Executive Director.

This summer, iCivics brought together 60 K–12 educators for the first Educator Convening held in Sacramento to bring equity to civic learning across the state of California by connecting courts with educators. iCivics hopes to make this an annual event for educators to re-energize, build community, and leave with a deeper understanding of the amazing resources available for their classrooms.

As Bay Area JCCs continue to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, they are now in a position to reimagine themselves. By prioritizing innovation, data, and above all listening to their community, JCCs are constantly adapting in order to meet people where they are.

Urban Adamah, one of just a handful of Jewish urban farms in the United States, is celebrating 13 years in Berkeley. The “Urban Adamitzvah” celebration will feature live music, dancing, hands-on farm activities and treats made with organic produce grown on the land.

Jewish Story Partners has unveiled its latest list of grantees, with $500,000 to be distributed to 21 in-the-works feature documentary projects. The latest grants by the organization means JSP has now awarded 101 films a total of $3 million since its founding in 2021.

On Tuesday, June 18, JCCSF will host its first Juneteenth event, hosted by three prominent Black Jewish leaders: Ilana Kaufman, CEO of the Berkeley-based Jews of Color Initiative; Anthony Mordechai Tzvi Russell, a Yiddish vocalist and composer; and award-winning writer and chef Michael Twitty.

Earlier this year, Koret partnered with Rosov Consulting and EarlyJ to research the Jewish early childhood education landscape in the Bay Area. Our findings led EarlyJ to expand a pilot program providing funding for Bay Area Jewish preschools to offer increased financial aid, attract and retain teachers, and increase security following the October 7 attacks. One school, the Gan Preschool in San Rafael, used funding to support three new Israeli families.

A team of marine archaeologists from the University of California, San Diego and the University of Haifa (UH)—a collaboration supported by the Koret Foundation—have been at work excavating a submerged prehistoric site that currently lies below the Mediterranean Sea off the Carmel Coast of Israel.

Chag Pesach sameach! Across the Bay Area, local congregations and community organizations will host Passover Seders and holiday gatherings. Read more to find a celebration near you.

Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, recently spoke at the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies at UC Berkeley to discuss American Judaism and the transition point that American Jews currently find themselves in.

After the devastating attacks on Oct. 7, IsraAID used their humanitarian, technical, and mental health expertise to launch a large-scale response at home. In an op-ed for EJP, IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer reflects on the unique challenges in Israel, and what it takes to rebuild resilience.