Jewish Vocational Service (JVS)
Provides career coaching (a one-on-one fee-based program) and skills-training programs that equip jobseekers with in-demand qualifications.
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Social Services
Career Coaching
In a changing job market, Jewish agencies offer counseling, help in resume; writing, informational seminars, and retraining and rehabilitation, enabling job seekers to update their skills.
San Francisco
South Bay
Immigration and Acculturation Services, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Provides integrated support for immigrants and newcomers through Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) classes, employment/career services and legal services.
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Counseling & Support
The agencies and organizations below offer specialized services. In addition, see the Family Service Agencies listing at the beginning of this chapter for a complete listing of JFCS services and branches. Also see Health & Medical listings in this chapter. The Bereavement section in Chapter 3, Lifecycles, deals specifically with mourning and loss.
East Bay
Bay Area
Northern California
Peninsula
San Francisco
South Bay
Shalom Bayit: Ending Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes
Bay Area Jewish resource center on gender-based violence. Counseling for abusive/controlling relationships (Russian, Hebrew, English); training and consultation on domestic violence/sexual harassment; education on healthy relationships, boundaries, consent and abuse prevention.
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AriYael Jewish Healing Center
Provides spiritual and emotional support for those experiencing illness, loss and all life transitions. Offers support groups, workshops and retreats upon request from an organization, synagogue or other groups. Individual services available.
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Northern California Board of Rabbis
The Board of Rabbis builds meaningful connections among rabbinic colleagues across Northern California. As rabbis strengthen each other, they strengthen the community. Unaffiliated community members may contact the board for assistance with religious needs.
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JFCS Jewish Chaplaincy Services
Jewish chaplains and trained volunteers serving Stanford Medicine provide spiritual comfort and compassionate care tailored to individual beliefs and needs. Goal is to ensure the patient and family are not alone.
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JFCS Dream Program
Comprehensive services for families recovering from domestic abuse, including in-depth assessment of medical, emotional, vocational, financial, educational and legal needs. Helps women develop skills and obtain resources to move through crisis into self-sufficiency.
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JFCS Counseling Services
Professional clinicians help individuals, couples and families meet life's challenges. Expertise in depression, grief and loss, anxiety, stress, loneliness, significant life transitions, separation and divorce, job loss and illness. Provides in-person and teletherapy services.
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JFS Silicon Valley Support/Counseling
Mental health support for adults, older adults and families, designed to meet the emotional needs of our diverse community. Licensed therapist provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive counseling tailored to support individuals across the lifespan.
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Disability Services
JFCS Disability Services
Comprehensive services and support for individuals with developmental disabilities, including advocacy, case management, counseling and support, residential independent living, skills training, a community of peers and a social club for neurodivergent adults.
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Hatikvah House
Jewish group home for adults with developmental disabilities. Offers independent-living training and provides social, recreational and support programs for area families.
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JFCS’ Shupin Community
Urban independent-living community with comprehensive, personalized support, enabling neurodivergent adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to live full lives and age with dignity.
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Émigré Services
Jewish community agencies offer help to new immigrants in a number of areas: housing, job training and placements, loans and cash assistance, day care, social services, language classes and citizenship preparation. Other services are provided through synagogues and JCCs.
East Bay
South Bay
Refugee Services – JFCS East Bay
Provides holistic, culturally responsive support for refugees and newcomers who have experienced persecution, trauma and displacement.
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Immigration and Acculturation Services, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Provides integrated support for immigrants and newcomers through Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) classes, employment/career services and legal services.
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Family Services
Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay
Community-based direct-service social and human services organization supports Alameda and Contra Costa County residents of all ages, races, and religions, with a vision of a community where everyone can flourish with dignity.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Services for children, families and older adults: home care, grief counseling, mental health support, parent coaching, youth programs, disability services, financial aid, emergency assistance, immigration and legal services, food banks and support for Holocaust survivors.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Services for children, families and older adults: home care, grief counseling, mental health support, parent coaching, youth programs, disability services, financial aid, emergency assistance, immigration and legal services, food banks and support for Holocaust survivors.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Services for children, families and older adults: home care, grief counseling, mental health support, parent coaching, youth programs, disability services, financial aid, emergency assistance, immigration and legal services, food banks, and support for Holocaust survivors.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Services for children, families and older adults: home care, grief counseling, mental health support, parent coaching, youth programs, disability services, financial aid, emergency assistance, immigration and legal services, food banks and support for Holocaust survivors.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Services for children, families and older adults: home care, grief counseling, mental health support, parent coaching, youth programs, disability services, financial aid, emergency assistance, immigration and legal services, food banks and support for Holocaust survivors.
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Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Comprehensive social services and programs for Silicon Valley residents of all ages, religions and races, including individuals and families, older adults and caregivers, immigrants and Holocaust survivors.
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Grants & Financial Aid
A number of Jewish community agencies provide financial assistance to individuals, through funding they receive from the Northern California Jewish federations as well as other fundraising efforts. For specific loan, grant and scholarship information, please contact the agencies below.
Bay Area
San Francisco
South Bay
Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (College Scholarships)
The Federation awards 70 college scholarships annually, totaling nearly $400.000, for graduating high school seniors through graduate students. Scholarships are based on merit and financial need, primarily serving Jewish students who are permanent Bay Area residents.
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JFCS Financial Aid Center
No-interest loans and grants support small businesses, undergraduate and graduate studies, vocational training, Israel study and Jewish summer camp. Emergency aid covers housing, food and other essentials on a short-term basis.
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Hebrew Free Loan
Interest-free loans help the Jewish community of Northern California to overcome financial challenges and pursue life dreams. Loans include student, business, debt consolidation, fertility, health care, emergency, first-time homebuyer and more.
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Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (Federation-directed grants)
The Federation mobilizes resources to support organizations that strengthen Jewish identity, combat antisemitism, care for people in need, and promote justice and inclusion — locally, in Israel and around the world.
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Jewish Silicon Valley
Provides funding through scholarships and grants to children and teens, which may include overnight camps, teen leadership programs and trips to Israel. Procedures ensure fairness and confidentiality.
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Health & Medical
Familial Dysautonomia Prevention and Education Program
Familial dysautonomia is a progressive and fatal genetic disease found almost exclusively among Ashkenazi Jews. Carrier testing is available at Kaiser health centers and private laboratories.
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Jewish Community Free Clinic
Free, volunteer-based medical clinic sponsored by the Jewish community provides care for anyone in need, regardless of ethnicity, race or religion. Bilingual medical, nursing and referral services available.
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UCSF Prenatal Diagnostic Center
Open to all women, whether pregnant or not. Provides information on carrier screening for multiple disorders affecting Ashkenazi Jews. Centers located in San Francisco, Greenbrae, Monterey and San Mateo.
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UCSF-Stanford Lysosomal Storage Disease Center
Provides comprehensive consultation, clinical and laboratory evaluations, diagnosis, treatment and genetic counseling to individuals with lysosomal storage disorders and their families.
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Valerie A. Goss, MFT
Supports individuals and couples in navigating the labyrinth of human relationships and life’s transitions, whether related to marriage concerns, parenting, work/life balance or stress management.
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LGBTQ Support
Keshet Bay Area
Envisions a world where all LGBTQ+ Jews and their families can live with full equality, justice and dignity.
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A Wider Bridge
Pro-Israel organization that mobilizes the LGBTQ+ community to combat antisemitism and create opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S., along with friends and allies, to engage with Israel and connect with its LGBTQ+ community.
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Congregation Sha’ar Zahav
Progressive, diverse and participatory Jewish community established in 1977 honors and maintains its LGBTQ+ culture and history while welcoming all.
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JFCS’ LGBTQ Services
Counseling services for individuals, couples and families; special outreach to older adults; support for people with HIV; and workshops, seminars and adoption services.
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Material Donations
Chabad of the East Bay
Accepts cars, boats, motor vehicles (working and non-working in most cases) and estate items. Proceeds support social, educational, community and children's programs.
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Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay
Accepts donations of furniture and household items such as toiletries, cleaning supplies, and newly purchased household goods (no clothing, please) for direct service to refugees, immigrants and low-income families across the East Bay.
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Book Bank USA, Inc.
Accepts and distributes books, computers, games and educational materials to schools, libraries and youth centers in Israel. Provides high-tech materials to colleges and businesses.
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Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
For 175 years, supporting the community with essential care and services. Donations extend that support when needed most. Options include online, IRA, DAF, stock, food, car or employer match: jfcs.org/give.
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Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley Vehicle Donation Program
Accepts working and non-working cars, boats and motor homes to support services for older adults, families, Holocaust survivors and refugees. Donations may be tax deductible.
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Volunteer Placement
Most Jewish organizations welcome help from volunteers. Those listed below offer a variety of placements. For specific placements, contact individual agencies and organizations.
San Francisco
JFCS Volunteer Program
Volunteers of all ages serve thousands each year. Opportunities across the Bay Area include friendly visits with seniors, Canine Corps, supporting neurodivergent young adults, immigrant assistance, food bank sorting and deliveries, holiday outreach and more.
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