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The San Diego Jewish community encompasses organizations serving a variety of needs and working to improve the quality of life for Jews in San Diego. The organizations and schools listed below save lives, promote Jewish continuity, educate Jews about our faith and keep our community strong.
Support Turkish Jewish Community
The Jewish community of Istanbul of almost 20,000 is facing increased anti-Semitism. While Turkish police and officials continue to provide security to Jewish institutions, more Jewish parents are transferring their children to the Ulus Jewish School in Istanbul for additional protection. Turkish Jewish leaders report a need for scholarship funding to support these families.
In addition to providing much-needed support, grants provide an important message of solidarity to the Turkish Jewish community at this challenging time. To recommend a grant to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for scholarships, you may do so by e-mail or with an online credit card donation. If you'd like to recommend a grant using Donor Central, please log in at left. No overhead will be taken.
In addition, the Jewish Federation of San Diego's annual campaign supports the Jewish community of Turkey as well as Jews in San Diego, Israel and around the world.
Gulf Oil Spill Crisis
If you would like to recommend a grant from a donor advised fund or family foundation to any of the organizations providing relief in the Gulf Coast, please feel free to do so by by e-mail or with an online credit card donation. If you'd like to recommend a grant using Donor Central, please log in at left.
Conservation and cleanup organizations working in the region:
Jewish Funds for Justice
Building on the organization's Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery efforts, JFSJ is working with the most vulnerable residents of the Gulf Coast to help them rebuild their lives. Assistance is being provided on a nonsectarian basis in the name of the Jewish community. The JFSJ Gulf Coast Recovery Fund will be used to support grass roots organizations in the region that are assisting those who are out of work, retraining people for new jobs and working on recovering the coastline.
Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Greater New Orleans Foundation has established the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund to immediately provide emergency grants to organizations and residents of the region. The fund will also help address the long-term economic, environmental, cultural effects of the disaster.
National Audubon Society
A new national Volunteer Response Center is gearing up to channel the energies of a growing force of volunteers seeking to help birds, wildlife and habitat to weather the assault of the Gulf oil spill. The center will serve as the hub for our recovery effort throughout the Gulf. Under the direction of Sean Saville, National Field Director for Audubon, volunteers are already on the ground, helping to transport birds and playing other vital roles.
National Wildlife Federation
NWF are collaborating with BP and other industry representatives, local and national nonprofits, our state affiliate network, and state and federal government agencies to help coordinate a meaningful volunteer response to the catastrophe. They are spear-heading on-the-ground volunteer efforts, raising awareness about the impact, and rallying lawmakers to act.
The Nature Conservancy
While disaster response is still in its early stages, The Nature Conservancy has offered the federal government the full use of our resources and expertise in whatever capacity is needed. As always, we are letting science guide our work. In the coming days and weeks, we will closely monitor the effects of incoming oil on oyster reef and wetlands restoration projects in affected Gulf States and let that data inform our strategies here in the gulf coast.
National Wildlife Refuge Association
As of Monday, June 7th, the Fish and Wildlife Service is continuing to deploy personnel and resources to the Gulf of Mexico. Oceana http://na.oceana.org/ It is time for the U.S. to recognize that the risks of offshore drilling far outweigh any benefits. Despite the oil industry’s statements, events like this will happen again unless we act to prevent them. Oceana is calling for an immediate ban on all new drilling in U.S. waters.
Greenpeace Fund
Greenpeace, along with Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth, Energy Action Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org, Center for Biological Diversity and Hip Hop Caucus, articulated the outrage Americans everywhere are feeling by making a citizen’s arrest of BP CEO Tony Haward. Today we mark the 46th day of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, at this point the worst in American history. Millions of gallons of oil and toxic dispersants have entered the delicate ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, BP CEO Tony Hayward recently complained that he wants his "life back." He has since recognized the selfishness behind his statement, but what have we, the concerned citizens, realized since this incident?
Update on Earthquake Support
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, thank you for quickly acting to provide immediate and long-term relief. You joined hundreds of other Foundation families who collectively recommended nearly $200,000 in grants.
Here is an update from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) about how the funds are being used. To date, JDC has raised more than $6 million from donors around the country.
- About one-third of the funds have already been allocated for medical relief and supplies; food and water; temporary schools; equipment such as mattresses and tents; shelter operations; and post-trauma psycho-social support.
- Pending allocations include longer term physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, training courses in anti-seismic construction principles, and continuation of the temporary schools.
- JDC staff, working with local NGOs, continues to actively assess the situation on the ground and provide direct support.
Congress recently passed a law to allow individuals to deduct their contributions designated for Haiti relief on their 2009 tax returns, rather than having to wait until they file their 2010 returns. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.
Ten Important Facts the IRS Wants You to Know
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Critical Giving Opportunities: Homeless Needs In San Diego
During the winter months San Diego's homeless are in their time of greatest need. With few open beds and over 10,000 homeless individuals living in San Diego most go without a warm and dry place to sleep. Due to the recession, many more families and young children have found themselves on the streets instead of in a warm bed. Below please find a few giving opportunities to improve the lives of these families. Please feel free to recommend a grant to any of these organizations via return e-mail or through the online Donor Central system.
Interfaith Community Services
ICS serves thousands of homeless and needy individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds in the North County each year including veterans, seniors, women who have been abused and the mentally ill. The organization provides a full array of services including daily hot meals, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling and case management and employment information and referral. This year, they are seeing more recently returned military and formerly middle class families now in need
Veteran's Village of San Diego
The Veteran's Village operates a temporary housing shelter in the Sports Arena area, serving more than 2,000 veterans in addition to year-round case management services. The seasonal shelter program is the entry point for many homeless veterans to a continuum of supportive services that create credible and long-lasting recovery from homelessness.
Alpha Project
Alpha Project was selected to operate the City's only emergency shelter for single adults. The shelter operates from mid-November to mid-March and provides shelter and services to over 1,000 different men and women.
Although the primary focus of the Winter Shelter Program is to shelter participants from the elements during the coldest and wettest period of the year, the program also offers a comprehensive blend of services to assist participants to establish their own self-sufficiency.
| Jewish Community Organizations: |
| United Jewish Federation of San Diego County (UJF) Annual Campaign: |
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The basis for a strong, dynamic community, the UJF Annual Campaign supports many vital local programs, as well as important projects for Jews in Israel and 60 countries around the world. Through its network of beneficiary agencies, UJF helps the young, the elderly, the poor, the sick, the immigrant, and those who are persecuted or oppressed, all in the name of the San Diego Jewish community. The Annual Campaign supports all of the organizations featured as well as programs in Israel and around the world.
www.jewishinsandiego.com |
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| Agency for Jewish Education (AJE): |
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Dedicated to the continuity of Jewish life, the AJE is the central resource for Jewish education in San Diego. Providing a wide range of high-quality educational opportunities for all members of the community, the AJE strives to strengthen and advance Jewish education in all stages of learning. The AJE encourages and enables members to embrace their own Jewish identity and explore the world of Judaism. Affiliated with the AJE are more than 40 schools enrolling over 5,687 students and employing more than 500 educators. In addition, the High School of Jewish Studies allows teenagers to explore Judaism while interacting with other Jewish teens. Pathways to Judaism encourages Jewish intermarried couples to study their Jewish heritage and connect to the Jewish community in a meaningful way.
www.ajesd.org |
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| American Jewish Committee (AJC): |
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The mission of the San Diego Chapter of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) is to safeguard the welfare and security of Jews in San Diego County, in Israel, and throughout the world and to strengthen the basic principles of pluralism in the United States, and globally. Locally, the American Jewish Committee strives to build the bonds of civil society by promoting tolerance, mutual respect, and understanding among the diverse ethnic, racial and religious groups in San Diego County.
AJC also pursues its international agenda through diplomatic relations, ongoing consultation with U.S. policy makers, expert research and analysis, and imaginative exchange programs. AJC is also dedicated to the advancement of American foreign policy goals, halting the spread of terror and promoting international human rights.
www.ajc.org |
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| Anti-Defamation League (ADL): |
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The ADL monitors extremist organizations and serves as San Diego's primary and effective resource for combating anti-Semitism. Regularly called with reports of flyers and materials distributed by white supremacists, the ADL manages a tracking program that enables it to share this information with law enforcement agencies and the Justice Department. Through a variety of educational programs for students, teachers and the community-at-large, the ADL also promotes tolerance and celebrates diversity.
www.adl.org |
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| Camp Mountain Chai: |
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Camp Mountain Chai expands and enriches Jewish identity by establishing an atmosphere of knowledge and love for Jewish culture, traditions and religion. Through sports, arts, outdoor adventure and aquatics, child and teen campers build life-long friendships, independence and self worth.
http://www.campmountainchai.com/
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| Hillel of San Diego: |
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Hillel provides creative, diverse and welcoming programming to foster Jewish Renaissance on the campuses of SDSU, UCSD, and other college campuses in the region. Examples of Hillel programs include weekly Shabbat services and dinners attracting hundreds of students at each campus, social events that provide opportunities for young Jews to meet, and educational and cultural occasions that promote the joy and vibrancy of Jewish life.
www.hillelsd.org |
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| Jewish Family Service (JFS): |
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JFS offers high-quality, confidential human care services to the neediest segments of the Jewish population in San Diego. Through JFS programs, the isolated elderly receive hot meals, transportation and participate in programs and events, children from single parent families are matched with big pals; women in domestic violence situations are supported; terminally ill individuals and their families receive counseling and chaplaincy services; and individuals and families in crisis are provided with food, counseling and financial assistance.
www.jfssd.org |
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| Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS (JCC): |
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A center of Jewish activity in San Diego, the JCC’s program offerings range from early childhood education to senior services, theater and aquatics, all housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. The JCC is also the home of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, which has become the local resource and collaborator for presentations of artistic programs with Jewish content. The JCC partners with many private, public, nonprofit and educational organizations to coordinate and enhance existing services.
www.lfjcc.org |
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| Friendship Circle: |
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The Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to the families of children with special needs. In addition to helping those in need, the Friendship Circle empowers and enriches its network of volunteers, the majority of whom are teenagers, by enabling them to reap the vast rewards of giving of themselves. Through its range of services and projects including the teen Volunteer Club, the Holiday Program and the Friends at Home Program, the Friendship Circle is able to touch the lives of many people each year.
www.friendshipcirclesd.com |
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| Seacrest Village Retirement Communities: |
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The Seacrest Communities carry out the Jewish tradition of caring for the elderly at two unique campuses, in Encinitas and Rancho Bernardo. Committed to outstanding care and progressive service delivery, the Homes offer independent living, assisted living, nursing care, and a complete rehabilitation department. All these options provide residents with the comfort of knowing that while their needs may change, their home does not always have to. Charitable care is often available for those who would not otherwise be able to live in one of the communities.
www.seacrestvillage.com |
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| Jewish Day Schools: |
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Throughout our history, the funding of Jewish schools has always been a key communal responsibility. Found in the Sh’ma prayer and many other sources, Veshinuntum Levanecha, And you shall teach your children, is a fundamental tenet of Judaism and the greatest tool we have for ensuring Jewish survival.
Study after study has shown that children who attend Jewish day schools participate in Jewish activities and make Jewish life choices at higher levels than those who do not attend day schools. The 1999 task force report on Jewish day schools, conducted by the United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Educational Service of North America, cites that such education is strongly associated with synagogue participation, religious practices, and patterns of charitable giving. Other studies have shown that a strong interest in Israel and the proportion of young adults contributing to Jewish organizations is three times higher among Jewish day school graduates than non-graduates. Moreover, the rate of intermarriage among Jewish day school graduates is one-fourth the national norm of all Jewish young people with approximately 79% of day school attendees married to Jews. The results are clear: Jewish day school education assures Jewish identification and continuity.
San Diego is fortunate to house many excellent Jewish day schools offering unique opportunities and activities for our young people.
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| Chabad Hebrew Academy: |
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Chabad is an Orthodox day school, guided by the Chasidic philosophy, serving students of all Judaic denominations from preschool to grade ten.
www.chasd.org |
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| San Diego Jewish Academy: |
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The Academy is a fully accredited pluralistic, community day school, serving students approximately 700 of all Judaic denominations from kindergarten to grade twelve. More than $750,000 will be allocated to fund the financial needs of over 25% of its student body; students who would not be able to benefit from a day school education without this support.
www.sdja.com |
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| Soille Hebrew Day School: |
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Soille is affiliated with the Orthodox movement of Judaism, serving students from a variety of denominations in preschool through eighth grade.
www.hebrewday.org |
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| Torah High School of San Diego: |
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Torah High School is an Orthodox school, serving students from grades nine to twelve with separate campuses for girls and boys.
www.torahsandiego.com |
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| Southern California Yeshiva High School: |
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Southern California Yeshiva High School is an Orthodox school, serving boys from grades nine to twelve.
www.scyhigh.org |
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