“The one place during the week where I can just slow down for a minute and get to be myself.” ~Rachel, Age 15
Midrasha: My Weekly Jewish Refuge
“Camp is a great place. All the activities are really fun, and I really feel Jewish at camp. I can’t believe there are so many people like me!” ~Jeffrey, Age 8, Pleasanton
Take Me to Camp!
“Before we had a kid, we had very few children’s books about Jewish things. Now, we have a huge library!” ~The Goldberg Family, Livermore
From PJ Library to PJ Our Way
Together, we engage youth and families through Jewish life and learning by:
Educating the next generation – We invest in education through scholarships at Jewish day schools, programming at Berkeley Hillel, and year-round Jewish family activities at Camp Tawonga.
Reaching out to families – We connect 400 families with preschool through high school aged children connect to Jewish life in the East Bay. Our Sprout Grants help families take their first step into formal organized Jewish life. We sent free Jewish books every month to over 3,700 children in the East Bay age six-months to eleven-years-old.
Supporting youth programs – We provide financial aid so over 540 East Bay kids and teens can form lifetime memories and friendships at Jewish summer camp. We empower over 650 teens to grow as leaders and take pride in their Jewish identity through programs provided by BBYO, midrashot (Hebrew High School), and NCSY.
Cultivating thoughtful family philanthropy – We help funders choose the best vehicle for their family giving and involve their children in their gift planning, thus helping create a generation-to-generation tradition of giving.
STORIES OF ENGAGING YOUTH AND FAMILIES
- Supporting Camp Tawonga Scholarships: Camp Tawonga Camperships FundIn the Epstein family, going to Jewish summer camp offered the children much more than a fun summer. It provided a place to build a positive Jewish identity, memories to last a lifetime, [...]Read more
- Bay Area Jewish Philanthropy: Jewish Federation and Foundation Systems Move Toward a More Collaborative ModelKerry Philp 415.512.6218 KerryP@sfjcf.org San Francisco, CA – The Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay are coming together with the San Francisco-based Jewish [...]Read more
- Lag B’Omer is coming!Lag B’Omer will begin at sundown on May 22. Outside of Israel, Lag B’Omer may not be a well-known Jewish holiday. Some may know that there’s a bonfire involved, but what exactly are we [...]Read more
