Recent grants: 2007-08

Tehiyah Day School,
Oakland Hebrew Day School, and
Contra Costa Jewish Day School
Joint Scholarship Support

$129,185

From the PCE and the Federation

The three Jewish day schools in the East Bay collectively provide scholarships to 38% of students for a combined financial assistance budget of $1,215,482. Federation-Foundation grants will make a Jewish education financially accessible to significant numbers of families who would otherwise be unable to afford it, extending outreach, and helping to ensure that future generations remain connected to Judaism and to Jewish life.

Midrasha (Berkeley, Oakland, Contra Costa, Tri-Valley):
Communal Sponsorship / Operating Support

$57,500

From the PCE and the Federation

The Midrasha campuses function and advertise themselves as a partnership between local synagogues, student families, and the Jewish Community Federation. This grant will help maintain that partnership by closing the gap in income between what the other partners can supply and what is needed to run the programs.

Center for Jewish Living and Learning (Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay)
Bringing Our Teens to Torah: Midrasha Teen Engagement and Curriculum Enhancement

$25,000

From the PCE and the Federation

Bringing Our Teens to Torah: Midrasha Teen Engagement and Curriculum Enhancement funding will enable the CJLL to dramatically enhance our community's ability reach out to our 8th through 12th grade students to recruit them to enroll in -- and keeping them enrolled in -- Midrasha/ Jewish Community High School campus, retreat, and excursion programs. This has 2 specific foci: (1) The development of an interactive Midrasha website for marketing and outreach, registration, faculty communication, and curricular support, and (2), the continuing enhancement of Midrasha classroom curriculum.

Camp Kadima Jewish Community Day Camp
15th Season of Kadima Summer Day Camp

$16,000

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

This grant will enable the Camp Kadima to move forward with its 15th Season, continuing as a key gateway for families entering the Jewish community and enhancing the vitality of the Tri-Valley/Tri-Cities community. Camp Kadima is a stellar example of collaboration among agencies and outreach to the unaffiliated.

Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay - Contra Costa Regional Office
Tri-Valley / Tri-Cities Midrasha Transition

$10,000

From the PCE and the Federation

Last year's funding of the Fremont Midrasha Transition Grant provided for the initial transition of the program to a new model that better meets the needs of the community. The 2006-07 program had a 32 student enrollment. Efforts over the past year and a half, coordinated by the Regional Office, the Center for Jewish Living and Learning, and the Fremont Midrasha Board have resulted in a major restructuring including enhanced programming, relocation, rescheduling, increased staff hours, and strong marketing. Registration for the new program, now located in Pleasanton, is underway and is expected to draw 40 to 60 students.

Midrasha (Berkeley, Oakland, Contra Costa, Tri-Valley)
Student Financial Aid for Midrasha Programs

$9,000

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

A successful collaborative and inclusive communal program, Midrasha faces substantial annual requests for financial aid for our wide variety of educational offerings. This grant for student financial aid is to maintain the Midrasha policy of never turning away any student for any program because of an inability to pay for it.

Bureau of Jewish Education (San Francisco)
Shofar Fellowship

$7,500

From the PCE and the Federation

The Shofar Fellowship, launched in January 2007, is a 12-month intensive professional development program for educators who work with teens in Jewish educational settings throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This grant will support East Bay Shofar Fellows with professional development in the areas of Judaism, Adolescent Development, Programming and Practice, and Organizational Life.

Contra Costa Jewish Community Center
Ethical Start: preschool family educator for Contra Costa and East Bay JCCs

$7,500

From the PCE and the Federation

A two-year grant to provide an Ethical Start Jewish educator to serve the two East Bay Jewish Community Centers. The Ethical Start curriculum, which integrates Jewish values with parenting and education, will be taught to preschool parents and staff by a dynamic, engaging teacher. This program will strengthen families, increase the adult education opportunities for preschool families at the Centers, develop life-long affiliation with the Jewish community, and help to strengthen relationships to secure on-going membership after the period of service is completed.

Jewish Community Endowment Fund (Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco)
Day School Scholarships for East Bay Students

$5,000

From the PCE and the Federation

To make scholarship dollars available for East Bay families seeking to send their children to Jewish day schools outside the East Bay, through the Community Jewish Day School Scholarship Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund in San Francisco. This grant will make assistance available to more East Bay families, but it will also put East Bay students attending day schools in the Marin-San Francisco-Peninsula area (including JCHS) on a more equal footing with families from that area who may receive scholarship money from the San Francisco Jewish Community Endowment Fund.

Center for Jewish Living and Learning (Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay)
Midrasha Retreat Scholarships

$5,000

From the PCE and the Federation

Grant funding will enable the CJLL to provide financial aid so that students can attend the Midrasha retreat program regardless of financial capacity.

Shalom Bayit
Love Shouldn't Hurt: youth-led dating violence prevention education initiative

$2,500

From the PCE and the Federation

Love Shouldn't Hurt is a youth-led dating violence prevention education initiative that integrates life-skills education on healthy relationships into Jewish educational settings. LSH helps Jewish youth develop goals, values and skills for future healthy relationship formation. In 2008 Love Shouldn't Hurt is seeking to expand healthy relationships education to target parents of teens, Jewish educators, and college students.

Judah L. Magnes Museum
School, Teacher, and Family Educator

$5,000

From the PCE and the Federation

With support from the Jewish Community Federation and Foundation of the Greater East Bay, the Judah L. Magnes Museum will continue and expand its school, teacher and family programming. The Museum's school, teacher and family programming strives to inspire young learners to learn about their family histories, reinterpret these stories through the arts, and share these creative reflections with an intergenerational audience.

Congregation Beth Emek (on behalf of Shir Ami, Beth Torah, and Beth Sholom)
2008 Tri-Valley / Tri-Cities Shabbaton

$5,000

From the PCE and the Federation

This weekend-based Jewish retreat, or "Shabbaton," is a biennial community retreat shared by Tri-Valley/Tri-City Jewish families from no less than four different synagogues, currently expected to be Congregation Beth Emek, Congregation Shir Ami, Temple Beth Torah and Temple Beth Sholom. The goal is to reach out to other small congregations with significant interfaith membership, both in the Tri-Valley/Tri-City area (e.g., Beth Chaim Congregation of Danville and the Tri-Valley Cultural Jews) and in the Greater East Bay (e.g., Congregation B'nai Torah in Antioch) to build bridges across denominations and employ our collective synergy to successfully engage interfaith families.

Beth Jacob Congregation
Shabbat University: Monthly rotating mini-classes

$3,500

From the PCE and the Federation

Shabbat University is an interactive, cross-generational, cross-denominational program designed to meet people educationally where they are in their Jewish experience, introduce them to new ideas and other Jews through monthly innovative rotating mini-classes. This program is an extension of Beth Jacob's popular lecture series, with the goal of providing a sense of continuity with a Jewish community both for Beth Jacob members and for unaffiliated individuals and families.

B'nai Brith Youth Organization, Central Region West
Healthy Jewish Women: a mother-daughter overnight of health and wellness with a Jewish spin

$5,000

From individual funders

BBYO's Teen Connection program for sixth to eighth graders will offer "Healthy Jewish Women," a mother-daughter overnight of health and wellness with a Jewish spin. This grant will enable the program to reach upwards of 100 mothers and teen girls in the East Bay, to bridge the post-Bat-Mitzvah gap in Jewish involvement.

Congregation Beth Israel
Shabbat Shalem: Monthly Shabbat learning program for members and non-affiliated preschool families

$1,000

From the PCE and the Federation

The Shabbat Shalem program will take place on one Shabbat each month. This year's theme is tefillah, or prayer. In addition to services in the main sanctuary, toddlers and parents are invited for a special family service led by Rabbi Cohen or the congregational interns. At the conclusion of services in the main sanctuary, the entire community is invited to join in a shabbat lunch prepared by community members. After lunch, Rabbi Cohen will lead a text study on the topic of prayer.

Temple Beth Hillel
Israel Music Specialist

$1,000

From an individual Foundation funder

This grant will support a music specialist to teach Israeli songs and dances to religious school students, their families, and interested congregants. The goal is to build a stronger connection to Israel for children and adults through positive experiences and images of Israel.

Bureau of Jewish Education (San Francisco)
Shabbat Weekend for Children With Disabilities and Their Families

$10,000

From the PCE and the Federation

The purpose of this grant is to subsidize the cost for twelve to fifteen East Bay families to attend the Shabbat Weekend for Children With Disabilities and Their Families on May 23-25, 2008. This program will enable approximately 30 families to experience the joys of Jewish family camp in an inclusive, accepting and nurturing environment. In most cases, this weekend is the families' primary and ongoing connection with the Jewish community.

Contra Costa Jewish Day School
Special Needs: Services for families in financial distress, special needs resource library

$1,000

From an individual Foundation funder

CCJDS will expand services to students with manageable learning differences, defray the costs of special needs services for families in financial distress, and develop a special needs resource library in anticipation of our occupying our first school building, which will have a learning resource room. This program is a continuation of a very successful special needs support program initiated two years ago with support from the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay.

Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay
Holocaust Survivor Services: Care Management: social and cultural programming, financial assistance and support services

$25,566

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

JFCS/East Bay seeks to expand care management services for the increasingly frail population of Holocaust survivors served in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, enabling people to live at home with improved access to health care, caregiver support and community contact. These services augment JFCS' existing program of restitution assistance, financial assistance, and Café Europa socialization activities.

Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay
Project Ezra

$21,556

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

Project Ezra was founded in 1994 as a joint project of JFCS/East Bay and the East Bay Council of Rabbis, responding to an urgent community need for a compassionate and professional response to Jews needing emergency financial assistance. This funding will allow JFCS to continue current services and expand Project Ezra offerings to include the ongoing case management and in-depth support that these vulnerable members of our community truly need.

Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay
Gateways: Chaverim—a social and educational group for Jewish adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities

$10,000

From the PCE and the Federation

For the past four years, Jewish Family & Children's Services of the East Bay's Project Gateways has helped Jews with disabilities and their families make connections and gain access to social, cultural, educational, and spiritual aspects of East Bay Jewish life. A key component of Project Gateways has been Chaverim, a social and educational group for Jewish adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities.

Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living
Jewish Community Connection: 7 passenger mini-van

$6,000

From the Federation and individual funders

Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living (RCJL) will add a seven-passenger mini-van to its transportation services. It will become a Jewish County Connection vehicle. The van will be utilized to transport RCJL residents to Jewish community activities, and to provide kosher meals to the two JCCs in the East Bay for the senior nutrition program. The van would be used to provide high access to Jewish community activities in the Bay Area on a six day a week basis through the use of current staff as drivers. This project will build relationships between RCJL and other Jewish institutions.

Jewish Music Festival
23rd Jewish Music Festival

$5,000

From the PCE and the Federation

The 23rd Jewish Music Festival will take place March 22-30, 2008. Festival highlights include: Israel at 60-Chen Zimbalista and Friends; Frank London's A Night in the Old Marketplace-West Coast Premiere; Benzion Miller, a world-renowned Hasidic cantor; and Golem, New York's leading Yiddish rock band.

Israel Center (Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay)
Mimouna (Jewish Moroccan) celebration in Tri-Valley area

$3,320

From the PCE and the Federation

Incorporating Sephardic music, entertainers, food, decorations and activities, this Mimouna celebration is traditionally held following the last Passover Seder. For the community, this Sunday, May 4, 2008 event will be an outreach activity focusing on the Contra Costa/Tri-Valley region. It will engage those who want to participate in a traditional Jewish-Moroccan celebration of community, friendship and hospitality, and at the same time celebrate Israel as a diverse nation with a rich cultural heritage. This outreach will focus on young families, Israelis and young adults.

Israel Center (Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay)
Israel at 60! Lenny at 90! Leonard Bernstein Concert

$3,500

From the PCE and the Federation

The Israel at 60! Lenny at 90! Federation at 90! concert will take place on September 14, 2008, closing the year-long celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary. The sponsorship of a major cultural event at the historic Paramount Theatre with established American as well as Israeli musicians and the association of Leonard Bernstein with the State of Israel will strengthen East Bay ties with Israel and reinforce the role of the Federation in Jewish communal life.

Chabad of the Tri-Valley
Jewish Living and Identity: Lag B'Omer Celebration

$3,650

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

Considering the high levels of assimilation and lack of affiliation among Jews in this region, the key method Chabad has employed - and continues to employ - has been extensive outreach and community building. To this end, Chabad will plan an Israeli Lag B'omer Family Festival as a community outreach event.

Jewish Vocational Services (JVS)
Kohn Summer Internship Program

$17,185

From the PCE, the Federation, and the Kahn College Internship Fund of the Foundation

The Kohn Summer Internship Program builds bonds between Jewish college students who serve as interns and participating agencies that provide a continuing source of strength and vitality to the Bay Area Jewish community. The program's primary goal is to inspire the next generation of responsible Jewish community leadership and to lay the groundwork for a life-long relationship with the Jewish community through volunteer or professional involvement. In 2008, JVS will place up to 35 interns — with slots reserved specifically to meet the strong demands of East Bay residents to serve in leading Jewish communal organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Berkeley Hillel
510: Graduate Student Programming

$10,000

From the PCE and the Federation

Berkeley Hillel has developed a program for East Bay Jewish twenty-somethings, called 510: Graduate Student and Young Professional program. This project within Berkeley Hillel is based on past success with undergraduates and a programming model for twenty-somethings that has been extremely successful at Hillel in Seattle. Programming includes a diverse range of cultural, educational, community service, religious/spiritual and social opportunities.

Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
BREW and Cine-Mingle: Film and music cultural arts programming for young adults

$4,000

From the PCE and the Federation

The JCC East Bay is expanding its cultural programming in the areas of film and music. Its monthly music series, the BREW, showcases emerging and established local artists, and is targeted toward a young adult demographic. JCCEB will also offer CineMingle—the JCC's monthly film salon. A rare opportunity will be provided to view films that are not currently, and will likely never be released commercially. Each screening will include a directed discussion to provide an opportunity for audience members to interactively explore the issues raised by the film, and to create a space of vibrant dialogue.

Blue Star PR
UC Berkeley Media Campaign: Positive images of human rights and democracy in Israel

$4,500

From individual Foundation funders

This grant will support a three-month long graphic media campaign for the promotion of positive images of Israel in the East Bay. This campaign will be primarily directed at college students and educated adults. BlueStarPR will use a three pronged approach targeting individuals at transit stations, in business establishments and those traveling in automobiles. Budget allowing, small billboards, bus stops, and postcard racks in business establishments will be used. This approach will allow for wide penetration among the desired demographic groups. BlueStarPR has an extensive array of designs touching upon numerous positive aspects of Israel.

Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
Website enhancement and database capacity management

$25,000

From the Federation

The JCC East Bay is undertaking two crucial technology projects to increase its capacity—updating and transforming its website to be more attractive and easy to use. It will have the capability to attract and accept donations and memberships, and process ticket reservations and payments. The JCCEB is also building its data management capacity in order to increase its ability to maintain communication with current membership as well as to do effective outreach to the Jewish population in its service area.

Temple Beth Hillel
Research to identify and outreach unaffiliated North Bay families

$3,500

From the PCE and the Federation

Funds will support costs of an outreach project to identify unaffiliated Jews and Jewish households living in Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Pinole, Hercules, Crocket and unincorporated Contra Costa County. Voter registration rolls will be reviewed to identify Jewish sounding names. Jewish names identified will be de-duped against the membership rosters of synagogues in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, and Berkeley. Remaining households will receive three direct mailings - inviting them to special events. All demographic data acquired will be shared with the Jewish Federation and Foundation of the Greater East Bay.

Temple Sinai
What is Welcoming: developing a diversity model for expanded outreach to synagogue members and the unaffiliated

$4,800

From the PCE, the Federation, and individual funders

Through this project Temple Sinai will develop a model for assessing success in addressing diversity, and will begin to make Temple Sinai a more genuinely inclusive community. This model will then be able to be shared with other congregations, bringing this critical work in diversity to the heart of the Jewish community. The goal is to develop a framework for understanding how synagogues succeed or fail in creating and communicating a sense of welcome to those in the community who traditionally find themselves on the outside, including interfaith families, mixed-race and non-Caucasian families, LGBT families, families from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and families who have members with physical or learning disabilities.