About
the Israel CenterEmail
Us
The Israel Center of the Jewish
Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin
and Sonoma Counties provides a cultural bridge, connecting the Bay Area Jewish community with Israel. This is achieved through a wide variety of enriching cultural, educational and social programs, as detailed below.
A History of the Israel Center — The
Israel Center was founded in 1996 by Shlomi Ravid. The center
started with a focus primarily on campus outreach and Israel
travel. Tzavta was developed in 1997, with initial events
including a reading evening with Yehuda Amichai and a concert
with Noa. In that year, our Scholar-in-Residence series was
also launched. In the following year, culture became a new
focus area and the whole notion of Living Bridge was developed.
In 1998, the Israel Center also led the “Israel at 50” ceremonies,
and since then we have taken the lead on the growing “Israel
in the Gardens” celebration of Israel's Yom Atzma'ut (Independence
Day). Those celebrations have grown so large that this year
it has evolved into “Israel in the Ballpark” and will be held
at SBC (Pac Bell) Park! During the past year, the challenge
of Israel education has become an exciting new focus area,
as we look at ways to bring enhanced Israel curriculum to
our local schools, and to bring the educators themselves to
Israel! Today, the Israel Center has six different department
focus areas.
Click
here for Israel Center's Mission & Goals
Click here for Israel Center Staff
Campus - Expand your knowledge of Israeli culture and politics, sharpen your advocacy skills and connect with Jewish students from Northern California campuses at Shabbaton Israel - Student Leadership Retreat and trip to Israel. Become active on your campus. Enjoy Israeli Music, speakers and cultural events on and off your campus. More
info...
Culture - Embrace Israel’s rich culture
and celebrate its ethnic diversity with a variety of events ranging from
Middle Eastern to Israeli pop concerts. Learn about Israeli society through our
Scholars-in-Residence lecture series. Enjoy performing arts and community celebrations.
More info...
Tzavta Community - Capture the feel
of Israel through a community of Israeli and American young
adults. Participate in our monthly Cafe Ve’Ivrit, attend our
film series, Israel in Motion, join us at Tarbut B'Tzavta
performing arts events, give back to the community through
Truma B'Tzavta, and celebrate Shabbat with an Israeli
flair at our Shishi B'Tzavta parties! . More
info... -
Education - The Israel
Education Initiative provides opportunities for the educational
community to broaden the knowledge, deepen the engagement and
instill a strong bond with Israel – all essential to creating
an enduring Jewish Identity and a strong sense of Jewish peoplehood.
The Initiative offers professional development, seminars in
Israel, Living Bridge connections, cultural activities, curricular
material, speakers, exhibits and much more. More
info...
Living Bridge - Connect with people in
Israel on an intimate peer-to-peer level through Living Bridge programs. Talk
to us about initiating and developing a tailor-made program with your group’s
counterparts in Israel. Create long-lasting and meaningful relationships with
the people of Israel.
Israel Travel and Programs - Choose from a myriad of Israel Programs to explore, study, volunteer or work in Israel. More
info...
Jewish Summer Camps and Israel Programs - Choose from over 50 camps from all over the U.S., Israel and around the world. . More
info...
Israel in the Gardens - Come celebrate Israel's 58th anniversary at the largest Jewish community family festival in Northern California! More
info...
Resources — Access cultural,
educational and Hasbarah materials about Israel. Include Israeli speakers at your
community’s events. Participate in advocacy training and solidarity events. Explore
Israel travel opportunities. Find programs that will let you explore, study, volunteer
or work in Israel. More info... The
Israel Center is proud to receive the support of
Jewish Community Federation
of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (JCF) Annual Campaign,
Jewish Community Endowment Fund (JCEF), and the following supporting Foundations
of the JCEF: Helen Diller Family Supporting Foundation, Alexander M. and June
L. Maisin Foundation, and the Stanley S. Langendorf Jewish Fund. The Israel Center
is also supported by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, Koret Foundation, and
Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies. The Israel Center
121 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105
415.512.6203
israelcenter@sfjcf.org
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