The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), through its thousands of members, has addressed critical issues facing women and children for over 100 years. Since 1900 our section of NCJW, NCJW San Francisco (NCJWSF), has provided the force and dedication behind progressive stands on human rights, advocacy for civil liberties and projects to improve life for all women and children. For example, we initiated a consumer’s league and a peace commission. We were the first organization to urge the governor of California to appoint a director of education for the state. We supported legislation to create health centers for women and children; to improve immigration laws; assure the reproductive rights of women, safeguard children who work; and protect women and children who are being abused or trafficked.
Through our programs, members have helped to educate children, immigrants, veterans and people with disabilities. We’ve incubated businesses and launched programs, including the Montefiore Senior Center and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. We started the Big Sister movement in the Bay Area. We were key delegates on a task force that created the San Francisco Jewish Community Center. And we supported programs of other organizations with funding and volunteers, such as Jewish Family and Children’s Services Parents Place program. We established the San Bruno Settlement House and served the Angel Island immigrant facility to aid newcomers to San Francisco to integrate into American society and avoid exploitation and trafficking. We co-founded the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking and the Jewish Coalition to End Human Trafficking to fight modern- day slavery.
Our acts of loving kindness have extended to the many who are vulnerable, including inmates of state prisons, and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
CURRENT PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Our current priorities address contemporary phenomena associated with social injustices are as described below:
Promoting Civic Engagement through
- Legislative Advocacy
- Voter Engagement
- Federal Bench Appointments
- Diversity and Racial Justice
Empowering Women, Children and Families by
- Advancing Women Equality and Leadership
- Caring for children and families
- Fighting violence against women
- Protecting immigrants
Fighting Human Trafficking and Violence through two powerful collaborative efforts:
- San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (SFCAHT)
- Jewish Coalition to End Human Trafficking (JCEHT)
Advancing Social Justice in Israel through
- Strengthening civil society
- Expanding equality in Israeli society
- Promoting Israel’s progress in social justice
You can learn more about our current programs here.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Our scholarship program created to empower women and girls has grown over the recent past to include:
- The Tanette Goldberg Memorial Scholarship for Social Justice
- The Rose Mazursky Memorial Scholarship to Single Parents in Need
- The Nancy Surkin Memorial Scholarship for Survivors of Human Trafficking
- The Lillian Foreman Memorial Scholarship for Youth at Risk of Violence and Exploitation
- The Sara Keyak Scholarship Fund to Graduate Students