Philanthropy & Volunteerism

OpEd: Is Rep. Sara Jacobs a Friend or Foe of Israel?

Jacobs voted Saturday, April 20, in favor of funding for a $95 billion package incorporating aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, but her explanation why she cast that vote prompted a backlash from supporters of Israel. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Antisemitism, Donald H. Harrison, International, Israel, Middle East, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Our Shtetl San Diego County: Pearl Takes Over as JCF’s President and CEO

Jeremy Pearl: “Since the October 7th attacks on Israel, our donors have directed $10,606,324 to 99 organizations supporting needs from crisis management to mental health support.” (SDJW staff)

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Antisemitism, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Seacrest Foundation’s Women’s Auxiliary to Stage ‘Together Wherever’ Gala

Seacrest Foundation’s Women’s Auxiliary has announced the 46th Annual Together Wherever In Spirit Gala & Online Auction, a stay-at-home but stay connected event. For this year’s gala, our Jewish community will come together in spirit as one connected family as we send love to the residents of Seacrest
Village. [Press Release]

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Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County

JFS Collecting Food for Hungry Prior to Passover

“As many members of the Jewish community make Passover preparations by emptying their cupboards of chametz – leavened products, we invite the entire community to donate these items and more as part of a critical food drive. Hunger is a major challenge facing many San Diegans. As many as 33% of our neighbors do not have enough food to last this month,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. [Press Release]

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Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County, Travel and Food

Recipient Announced for 2024 Peter Chortek Leadership Award

Peter Chortek Leadership Award recipients receive a $9,000 stipend, $540 to establish a Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, and a professional video made about their project. This year the awards committee, comprised of two generations of the Chortek family and other community leaders, selected Hayden Crocker as the 2024 PCLA recipient. [Press Release, Jewish Community Foundation]

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Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

A Word From Your Federation: Empowered Jewish Women: Leading the Way with Compassion and Collective Impact

As we near the end of Women’s History Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable contributions of Jewish women to our community. For nearly 90 years, Jewish Federation of San Diego has been a beacon of hope, a force for good, and a pillar of support for the Jewish community – both locally and across the globe. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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Heidi Gantwerk, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Oct. 7th Survivor Lauds JNF-USA’s Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center

Shortly after evacuating to another city in Israel with other survivors and looking for ways to work through her grief, Twilly began an emotional healing journey at Jewish National Fund-USA’s Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center, a treatment facility in Kibbutz Grofit that uses equine therapy and other methods to treat children and adults with special needs and who have experienced trauma. [Press Release]

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Israel, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, San Diego County, The World We Share, USA

JNF-USA Helping to Rebuild San Diego’s Sister City in Israel, Sha’ar Hanegev

Approximately 30,000 evacuees from San Diego’s sister city of Sha’ar Hanegev and the neighboring municipality of Eshkol, both within a close distance of Israel’s border with Gaza, are returning to their homes, where they will find that volunteers from Jewish National Fund-USA have rebuilt, refurbished, and repainted some of the structures that were damaged or destroyed during the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre.  New facilities are also being planned. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sol Lizerbram, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

JNF-USA Volunteers Help to Rebuild Southern Israel

I see our more than 2,000 volunteers from the U.S. going to Israel, clamoring to get dirty – filthy even – to help build back the southern communities and lend a hand any way they can. People in Israel who were divided over policies before the war are now sitting around the same table, figuring out how to build back their country — together. [Russell F. Robinson, JNF-USA]

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Israel, Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Adopt-A-Family Foundation Aiding Traumatized Israeli Victims of Oct. 7

Since October 7th, Adopt a Family Foundation has been in close contact with our adopted families all over Israel. Most of the families from the South are still displaced. They too – for more than 150 days – have been praying for the return of the hostages and are still mourning the loss of so many of their friends in their Kibbutzim. So many Israelis from the North are also displaced from their homes and live in such uncertainty of what is next. [Carine Chitayat]

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Israel, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Lunch and Yiddish Songs Entertain 57 Holocaust Survivors at Congregation Beth El

“We were honored to be able to put together a program of primarily Yiddish music so that we could reach this special audience with songs in the language most of them grew up with.” [Steve Mishek]

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Holocaust, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Scooter Braun Pledges $200k to Help Palestinians and Israelis in Honor of His Late Holocaust Survivor Grandmother

Published by OK Magazine (CA) Scooter Braun just wants to help others amid the Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023. “Ahead of the campaign launch for Care Together next week, Scooter Braun pledged $200,000 for both Palestine and Israel in memory of his late grandmother who was a Holocaust Survivor,” a representative for the

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Holocaust, Israel, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, USA