Spotlight on Ruby Cymrot-Wu! A Bay Area LGBT Jewish Leader!

Ruby Cymrot-Wu is a queer Jewish leader, educator and organizer. She is a San Francisco native, a life-long member of Reform Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, graduate of Brandeis Hillel Day School, Lick-Wilmerding High School, Smith College and a current student at San Francisco State University. Recently she joined the incredible staff at Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI). In the past few years, Cymrot-Wu has worked closely with Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Progressive Jewish Alliance, and Kol Tzedek, rallying Jews statewide to fight for equality for LGBTQ folks. As an educator and trainer with Temple Sinai of Oakland Religious School and COLAGE she has developed youth empowerment curricula to provide Anti-Bias educational programming.

SF native Ruby Cymrot-Wu recently joined the incredible team at the Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative (TEEI).

TEEI is a unique collaborative partnership including  Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), the San Francisco LGBT Community Center  (The Center), the Transgender Law Center (TLC) and San Francisco Transgender Empowerment, Advocacy, and Mentorship (SF TEAM).  Each partner organization brings to TEEI a wealth of community expertise designed to help transgender individuals find stable jobs that provide a living wage, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. TEEI has been successful in placing a number of Trans and gender nonconforming indiviudals in the Jewish community.

“The work TEEI is doing in our community is quite extraordinary” said Cymrot-Wu. “I am honored to be part of a unique coalition that works to ensure people of all gender identities have access to the things we all need – jobs that provide opportunities for innovation and self-expression, jobs that pay our bills, and jobs that provide comprehensive health benefits so we may live healthy, full lives.”

Scholarships for Synagogue schools now available!

The Jewish Community Federation is providing funds for need-based financial assistance to enable families to keep their children enrolled in 27 congregational schools in the Federation’s service area. Families with children in grades K-12 can qualify to receive tuition assistance for the 2009-2010 school year. Funds for the scholarship program came from the Federation’s JCF Catalyst Initiative, and were made available as part of the Federation’s ongoing partnership with local synagogues. Partly inspired by the generosity of the Jim Joseph Foundation in providing need-based scholarship money for Jewish day schools, high schools, and overnight camps, the Catalyst funding is designed to fill a gap helping families with children in religious schools, also affected by economic hardship.

The Catalyst Initiative is an innovative initiative fueled by a $7 million allocation from the Federation’s Endowment Fund. Funds are used to provide immediate assistance to families and individuals affected by today’s economic crisis, to help build long-term sustainability in our institutions, to reach out to the next generation of Jews in a call to service, and to serve as an inspiration to other Foundations and philanthropists.

Call a participating synagogue today to see if you qualify.

San Francisco Congregation Beth Israel-Judea Congregation Beth Sholom Congregation B’nai Emunah Congregation Emanu-El Congregation Sha’ar Zahav Congregation Sherith Israel Or Shalom Jewish Community	North Bay B’nai Israel Jewish Center Congregation Beth Ami Congregation Kol Shofar Congregation Ner Shalom Congregation Rodef Sholom Congregation Shir Shalom Congregation Shomrei Torah Gan HaLev Jewish Congregation of the San Geronimo Valley
	The Peninsula Coastside Jewish Community Congregation Beth Am Congregation Beth Jacob Congregation Etz Chayim Congregation Kol Emeth Keddem Congregation Peninsula Sinai Congregation Peninsula Temple Beth El Peninsula Temple Sholom

Living Legacies at Work

Rachelle Hirstio:
December 18, 1914 - May 21, 2008

Rachelle Hirstio came to the United States from Sweden after World War II and taught French in in the Sequoia Union High School District. In the summers, she traveled back to Europe, taking students from around the United States with her. She was a quiet hero who lived through some extraordinary times. Rachelle went about her business, saving her paychecks and investing her money. After retirement she purchased a mobile home in Mountain View and continued her worldwide travels and mid-Peninsula cultural activities. When she passed away in May of 2008 at the age of 93, this modest schoolteacher left behind a not-so-modest estate, which she willed to the Jewish community. Her bequest joined the hundreds of others that help to make up the Jewish Community Endowment Fund today.

In Every Generation Unforeseen Challenges Arise

Last fall it became clear that the country was clearly heading into another extraordinary period ― the most severe economic downturn in decades. “Job losses are at their highest in twenty-five years,” reported Abby Snay, the Executive Director of Jewish Vocational Service. In response to the deteriorating economy, the Jewish Community Federation began a collaborative effort with agencies and Bay Area synagogues to assess the challenges ahead. Areas of urgent need were identified and the Federation prepared a rapid response menu of community priorities. When the Endowment Fund Committee met last December, they approved grants of $800,000 to support agencies and programs, focusing on the needs that were highlighted in the Federation’s list.

Responding to Emergency Needs

JCEF Allocations Chair Laura Lauder played a key role in fast-tracking the grant approval process. According to her, “Our first priority was to get funds to the agencies that deal directly with those in need as quickly as possible. Yet, at the same time, we must continue to fund and support all of our programs that enrich and strengthen the Jewish community here in the Bay Area, in Israel and around the world.”

Three emergency assistance grants were made, including

• $75,000 to Jewish Vocational Service to hire an additional full-time employment specialist, allowing them to meet the increased demand for services;
• $70,000 for Jewish Family and Children’s Services to help address supplementary requests for emergency financial assistance for individuals and families in crisis; and
• $50,000 to enable the Jewish Day School Scholarship Fund to help children stay in school.

Reacting to the news of the JVS grant, Ms, Snay said, “Unemployment is projected to grow throughout 2009. Because of this timely support, we are able to immediately address the dramatically growing need for employment help in our community.”

Rachelle Hirstio

Rachelle Hirstio lived through the 20th century’s most difficult periods. She entrusted the Jewish Community Endowment Fund to put her money to work for the betterment of her community in the 21st century. The gifts that Rachelle left included the balance of a Charitable Gift Annuity and a bequest. She also graciously made the Federation the beneficiary of two life insurance policies. These funds are a part of what makes it possible for the Jewish Community to meet this current emergency. Today’s donors are providing the resources that future generations will rely on to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

To direct your philanthropic priorities, please view a list of community needs at: www.sfjcf.org/go/needs

SF Chronicle Covers JCF’s Efforts to Help Keep Kids in School

Today, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the Federation’s efforts (in conjuncton with the Jim Joseph Foundation) to help parents facing financial difficulties keep their children enrolled in Jewish schools. Thanks to the Jewish Community Pre School and Day School Funds, 89 kids who were facing the prospect of being dis-enrolled from their schools have been given tuition aid, and can stay in school through the end of the current school year.

• “Federation helps with Jewish school tuition”
• Other news stories about Federation

San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Community receives $3.5 Million from Jim Joseph Foundation to keep kids in school

The Jim Joseph Foundation announced today that it has awarded $3.5 million to the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish community, as part of an $11 million grant to five Jewish Community Federations, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston and the North Shore.

This grant provides emergency scholarships to Jewish families facing economic hardship due to the recent financial downturn. The Jim Joseph grant will provide much-needed financial assistance for families in need, and will be used to enable these families to keep their children attending Jewish preschools, day schools, and Jewish residential summer camps throughout much of Northern California. These institutions have been particularly hard hit by the downturn in the economy.

The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties will administer the $3.5 million for the Federated communities in San Francisco, the East Bay and Silicon Valley. The Jim Joseph Foundation grant follows on the heels of the Federation’s own recent action that provided Jewish preschools and day schools with $225,000 in scholarship grants that made it possible for 89 families in the San Francisco Federation’s service area to keep their children enrolled.

According to Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the Jewish Community Federation, “This is outstanding news for the entire Bay Area Jewish community, especially in these times of economic hardship. We are honored to be given this responsibility. It is a testament to the Jim Joseph Foundation’s commitment to Jewish education, and to our organization’s ability to bring about positive change in the world. With this funding, our schools and their students are more secure. The Jim Joseph Foundation has certainly raised the bar for Jewish philanthropists.”

The Jim Joseph Foundation has a history of partnering with the SF-based Jewish Community Federation by funding innovative projects and programs designed to enhance Jewish education in the Bay Area, including PJ Library®, which provides Jewish themed books to young families, and BASIS, the Bay Area School Israel Synergy project in conjunction with the Bureau of Jewish Education.

Get up to $1800 for Jewish Summer Camp

Last summer, the Foundation for Jewish Camp and the Jim Joseph Foundation helped more than 70,000 campers share the experience of a lifetime at Jewish summer camp.

This year, let them help you get your camp on! They have incentive grants of up to $1800 for first-time campers entering grades 6-8.

The best part is that the $1800 JWest incentives can be combined with the Jewish Community Endowment Fund scholarships that provide financial assistance to children ages 3-15 going to day camp, and children ages 6-18 attending overnight camp. These scholarships have been available through the Bureau of Jewish Education for more than 30 years.

To learn more and apply online, visit: www.onehappycamper.org AND www.bjesf.org/financialaid.htm

For more information, contact:

JWest Campership Program
888.888.4819
jwest@jewishcamp.org

BJE: Financial Aid Campership Program
415.751.6983 x107
FinAid@bjesf.org

In a difficult economic situation? We’ll help!

The Bureau of Jewish Education’s scholarship program, administered on behalf of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, distributes over $1 million in financial aid each year for:

• College study (application due March 1, 2009)
• Jewish overnight camps in the United States, Canada, and Israel (application due March 15, 2009)
  (Psst… While you are at it, also check out camp scholarships from Foundation for Jewish Camp and the Jim Joseph Foundation.)
• Teen trips to Israel (application due April 1, 2009)
• Jewish Day Camps (application due April 1, 2009)
• Family specialty camp weekends (application due 3 weeks prior to session)
• and other special programs

What are you waiting for? Go to www.bjesf.org/financialaid.htm to apply online. Or contact 415.751.6983 x107 or [ finaid AT bjesf DOT org ]

Help for Hard Times

Ask Jewish Community Information and Referral (JCI&R) about community resources providing assistance in these hard times. As the need for emergency assistance increases dramatically, helping each other is the Jewish community’s highest priority.  If you or someone you know needs help, do not hesitate to call us at 877.777.JCIR/5247.

Here is a sample of the services available:

Jewish Family and Children’s Services Emergency Assistance Network offers counseling and case management, financial and credit counseling, and short-term financial loans or grants. Jewish Family and Children’s Services has branches in San Francisco, Marin, North Peninsula, Palo Alto,  Santa Rosa, the Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
www.jfcs.org
415.449.1200

Jewish Vocational Service Jewish Employment Network offers career and employment workshops including: Moms in career transition; Re-careering after age 50; On-line networking for jobs and careers; Recession proofing your career; Job search help and career coaching.
www.jvs.org
415.391.3600

Hebrew Free Loan is here to help with interest free loans for a variety of needs, including: adoption, business, debt consolidation, emergency, recently unemployed, special needs, lifecycle and student loans.
www.hflasf.org
415.546.9902

Shalom Bayit provides critical crisis support and tangible emergency aid, including food, safe housing, telephone service, financial and legal service to Jewish battered women.
www.shalom-bayit.org
866-Shalom7 (866.742.5667)

Help Link United Way Bay Area connects you to hundreds of community services including help for the elderly and emergency services.
www.211bayarea.org
211, or 800.273.6222

Jewish Community Free Clinic, based in Sonoma County, is a free volunteer-based medical clinic, offering free medical care to the uninsured.  The clinic offers treatment for minor health problems, education about health and nutrition,  medical information and referrals.
www.jewishfreeclinic.org
707.585.7780

For more information about emergency assistance and connecting to Jewish life, call JCI&R, 415.777.4545 or toll-free 877.777.JCIR/5247 or e-mail Info@JewishNfo.org.

JCI&R is a free and confidential service of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, Marin, the Peninsula and Sonoma counties. Please visit our websites www.JewishNfo.org and www.sfjcf.org.