Philanthropy & Volunteerism

Germany, Claims Conference Budget Nearly $1B for Holocaust Survivors

More than 100,000 survivors, with an average age of 88, receive this assistance through the Claims Conference, funded by Germany, and provided by Jewish social service agencies in the United States and around the world and the National Health Service in Israel. [Press Release]

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Holocaust, International, Israel, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Press Release, USA

Actress Julianna Margulies Stars at JFS Inaugural Joan Jacobs Signature Brunch

The eight-day program they launched in 2022 with her encouragement involved college students sharing true Holocaust stories with pupils in middle school and high school.  Culminating the program for each cohort is transportation and a tour of the Holocaust Museum. [Cailin Acosta]

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Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, International, Jewish History, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Jewish Community Aids Families Affected by Federal Furlough

To qualify, applicants must be federal employees (including contractors) in the San Diego Jewish community who are directly affected by the federal furlough. The loan amount is up to $2,500. The guarantor is waived for this specific program only. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food, USA

Some Projects Jewish Federation Supports in Sha’ar HaNegev, Israel

Thanks to contributions to our Israel Emergency Fund, hope and resilience continue to take root in Sha’ar HaNegev and across Israel. I want to share how your generosity has been put to work as Israel rebuilds, recovers, and looks toward a stronger future. [Heidi Gantwerk]

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California, Heidi Gantwerk, Israel, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Tifereth Israel Congregants Gather Ahead of Funeral to Mourn Volunteer Extraordinaire Phil Lorang

Formal funeral services will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at El Camino Memorial Park. More than 100 people gathered informally Sunday in the social hall of Tifereth Israel Synagogue to share their memories for more than an hour. Here’s a partial summary of what was said about Phil in a session moderated by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, who described him as “a role model of kindness and chesed.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Israel, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Charles Revson

Charles Revson (October 11, 1906 – August 24, 1975) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was best known as a pioneering figure in the American cosmetics industry as the person who created the first pigment-based nail polish and founded and managed Revlon through five decades. [Wikipedia]

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Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Science, Medicine, & Education, Today's Jewish Birthday, Wikipedia

Federation Conducts Training Program for Students to Fight Antisemitism

This program is for Jewish high school students to join a research-backed initiative that empowers them to combat antisemitism by sharing their Jewish identity and what it means to them personally. Students are provided the conversational and social tools necessary to navigate rising antisemitism and build strong relationships between Jewish and non-Jewish students. [Cailin Acosta]

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Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Holocaust, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Gladys Sturman, Jewish Activist & Western States Jewish History Publisher

She served on the boards of the Bureau of Jewish Education, the San Fernando Valley Alliance, Kadima Hebrew Academy, the University of Judaism, the West Valley JCC, and the Catholic-Jewish Women’s Conference. She was also the publisher of the Western States Jewish History Journal. [Rabbi David Vorspan]

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California, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Aha Moment for Rosh Hashanah 2025

This moment has been our shofar blast, sounding before Rosh Hashanah itself. For many American Jews, raised in the comfort of the “goldene medina,” antisemitism felt like a relic—something for history books or distant shores. But October 7 shattered that illusion. [Rabbi Dr. Michael Leo Samuel]

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Antisemitism, Israel, Jewish History, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, Opinion, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The Meaning of the Shofar Blasts

When we hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, it reminds us that G-d created the world, and He is our King. Additionally, when we hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, it reminds us to reflect on our past mistakes and return to G-d. [Cailin Acosta]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Cailin Acosta, Jewish Religion, Obituaries & memorials, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Travel and Food

JFS CEO Sees Both Fragility and Strength in Our Community

In our community, we see both fragility and strength, vulnerability and resilience, need and generosity. At Jewish Family Service, we hold these truths each day—walking alongside individuals and families as they navigate life’s hardships, while also planting seeds of hope, renewal, and possibility. [Dana Toppel]

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Lifestyles, Philanthropy & Volunteerism, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors