Jewish Community News

News: December 2003

$1 Million Boost Levy Family Campus Campaign

Mindy Berkowitz of JFS is excited to move into the Levy Campus

Progress on the Levy Family Campus has accelerated dramatically in recent weeks with a $1 million gift from Eli Reinhard, and the commitment of Jewish Family Service of Silicon Valley to move into the new building.

Reinhard's gift brings the fundraising total to $12 million, just $10 million shy of the $22 million goal. For the total contribution that Reinhard has provided to the campus, the new building will be named to honor him. More

JCC employee celebrates 35 years at center

Fagie Rosen says her kids grew up stapling and folding at the JCC offices.

By Cecily Ruttenberg

An elderly woman who is part of the senior's program at the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center will never forget Fagie Rosen's kindness and generosity. After traveling on a barge down the Mississippi, on one of Fagie's famous trips, this woman fell and dislocated her elbow.

"She went with me to the hospital and she stayed," said the woman who asked that her name not be used in the paper. "I love her dearly, she's always concerned for us." More

Terrorism expert Steven Emerson to speak at Federation's annual dinner

Steven Emerson

Steven Emerson, an expert on terrorism and national security, will headline the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose's annual dinner on Saturday, Jan. 10. The event will begin with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and is open to families that have made a minimum $1,800 gift to the 2004 Annual Campaign. Marci Fox-Greene and Wayne Greene are co-chairs of the event.

Among his many credentials, Mr. Emerson serves as NBC's terrorism analyst. Since Sept. 11, 2001, he has appeared on NBC and all the other major network television stations and in over 500 newspaper articles. He has authored or co-authored five books, including his latest release American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us (Simon and Schuster, 2002). More

The Costco experience: an unofficial survivor's guide

Larry Gerston wears many hats. During the recent California recall election, people throughout the Bay Area tuned in to hear his political analysis on KCBS Radio, and see him on Channel 11.
For the past 35 years, students at San Jose State have taken his political science courses and read his six academic books on various political topics. He has also served as a long-time columnist for the Jewish Community News and currently sits on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose.
Most recently however, Gerston tried his hand at something quite different — he published a book about Costco! More

Jewish humorist to speak at Connections 2004

Susan Jackson

By Michelle de Blank

The Women's Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose is pleased to announce the annual Connections dinner and 21st annual Women of Distinction ceremony honoring women from Jewish organizations throughout the South Bay. The event will take place on Thursday, March 11, 2004, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.

This year's featured speaker is the very funny and accomplished Susan Jackson of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. More

Dillers give $35 million for cancer research building

A gift of $35 million — the largest contribution from individual donors in UCSF history — has been made by the Helen Diller Family to support construction of a new cancer research building at UCSF Mission Bay. The facility will be named the Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building in recognition of the family's pivotal role in making the research center possible. The grant was made specifically from the Helen Diller Family Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. More