Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay

Mission

Rooted in Jewish values and historical experiences, and inspired by the strengths of the diverse communities we serve, JFCS East Bay promotes the well-being of individuals and families by providing essential mental health and social services through every stage of life.

History & Legacy

JFCS East Bay was founded in 1877 as the Daughters of Israel Relief Society, with a focus on helping vulnerable women, children, and community members. Early on in our history, we developed expertise in resettling refugees in the East Bay: Jews coming from Eastern Europe in the late nineteenth century, earthquake survivors coming across the bay from San Francisco in 1906, Jews escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s, Holocaust survivors after the war, and Jews fleeing anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

In the mid-1990s, the agency—by this time named Jewish Family Services of the Greater East Bay—became independent from the Jewish Federation of the East Bay and began expanding our services. We developed extensive programs for young children and their parents, precipitating another name change to Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the East Bay. We also expanded programs for older adults and their families and created specific programs for Holocaust survivors. As the wave of Russian Jewish emigration subsided, we began to apply our refugee resettlement expertise to others fleeing religious and ethnic persecution in Afghanistan, Iran, Bosnia, and elsewhere.

In 2015, we changed our name once again to fully embrace the depth and breadth of our diverse services supporting our multicultural community. As Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, we are proud to serve and support Alameda and Contra Costa county residents of all ages, races, and religions.