Community News and Events

Jewish Federation Annual Meeting

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ACTION ALERT: Buy Israeli Products

The JCRC is calling on the community to buy Israeli foods at Trader Joes anytime you shop, especially this week.  A local activist group plans to go to various Trader Joes this Saturday and take Israeli products off the shelves, simply dumping them into carts.  This disruptive action is intended to promote a boycott of Israel’s products, and Trader Joes along with other markets have been targeted. More

Hot Topics: Conversion to Judaism

The Jewish Study Network presents another in its series of Hot Topics; this one with Rabbi Menachem Levine of Congregation Am Echad. June's topic is “Conversion to Judaism”. The class is on Sunday June 21, 7pm at the Jewish Study Network. More

Santa Clara County's top lawyer named to Justice Department post

President Barack Obama has tapped Santa Clara County's chief legal adviser for a position in the Justice Department's civil division. Ann Ravel worked her way up the ranks of the county counsel's office for more than three decades before taking the helm in 1998 as the first woman to serve as county counsel. She is credited as a proactive force for county taxpayers, coaxing financial relief from tobacco and lead-paint companies in addition to the more traditional work of defending a sprawling government agency. More

Measuring Poverty in America

By Rabbi Steve Gutow and Melissa Boteach

This Shabbat, Jews will read from the book of Numbers, the Torah portion in which G-d commands the Israelites to undertake a census. On a superficial level, the census in the desert is about tallying the numbers of the 12 tribes for military purposes. However, at the heart of the concept of this census is the need to count every person, to include and to value each soul, and consequently, to govern society according to an accurate assessment of how people are doing. How do we know that? The chapter could simply mention each tribe and its population, but it does not. Unlike any census here in America, the Torah names a person as it mentions the tribe. It adds humanity to the census. It tells us that this census is about people and if it is to be used to protect a society, to assign responsibility, to fairly and equitably share benefits among the whole, each person matters. More

Give Help: Opportunities to Help Those in Need

In times like these, JCRC reminds you to please help if you are able. Click here for some ideas of things you can do.

To help the Jewish community monetarily, please make your gift to the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign by clicking here.

The JCN celebrates 50 years in print!

Click here to read more.

New Photography Exhibit Opens at APJCC

Ofir Ben Tov brings us an artistic aerial photography exhibition showing landscapes of the Dead Sea.  One of the most fascinating ecological systems, these unique photographs shows the breathtaking essence and beautiful shapes of this continually changing setting. More

Check out Federation's new video!

Get Help: Services For Those in Need

You are not alone—these are tough economic times.  There are many resources available for assistance in our community, some of which you may not be familiar.  Click here to see a compendium of agencies and programs, which we will keep up-to-date as new opportunities arise.  For questions, call the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation at (408) 357-7504, or email diane@jvalley.org.

Federation's Jewish Professional Directory!

Find local doctors, attorneys, realtors, insurance brokers and more. These individuals are involved in the Jewish community! If you need the service, keep it in the family. Directory

Where your money goes

Few would disagree that elderly Jews – many of whom are Holocaust survivors – deserve to live out their lives in dignity. Yet, hundreds of thousands of elderly live in abject poverty. More

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