S.F. Federation Reports Emergency Network Formed to Provide Aid to Needy Jews

Formation of a multi-organization Jewish network to handle emergency housing, food, counseling and job needs of San Francisco Jews needing help because of the current economic downturn has been announced by the Jewish Community Federation.

Coordinated by the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), participants in the Jewish Emergency Assistance Network (JEAN) include the Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Board of Rabbis of Northern California, the United Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Home for the Aged, Mount Zion Hospital, Jewish Vocational Service, Hillel units, Menorah Park and the Bureau of Jewish Education, according to William Lowenberg, Federation president.

Lowenberg said the agencies “have been responding to the needs of the Jewish community as they have arisen during the recession. No Jew has been turned away, no Jew who has sought help has gone hungry, but this effort will now be intensified and the coordination of the agencies will assure there is no duplication of efforts and that our community pulls together to meet these needs.”

Lowenberg commented that since last January I, “there has been a 40 percent increase in the caseload” of JFCS, an increase of 30 percent in the number of applicants at Jewish Vocational Service, and that “the number of calls to the Board of Rabbis’ 24-hour telephone line has increased by about 40 percent.”

He said the Board of Rabbis had created a special Kol Dichfin fund to be used to set up a Jewish food pantry to provide food for the needy. He said any San Francisco Jew needing housing, food, counseling or job help can call the JFCS Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and that evening and weekend help is available through the Board of Rabbis’ 24-hour telephone.