Shorts: Bay Area

Local synagogues promote Israel Bonds

Seventeen rabbis in Northern California will be talking up the value of Israel Bonds during the High Holy Days.

Rabbis and lay leaders at participating synagogues will ask their congregants to buy Israel Bonds to strengthen the country's economy. These Northern California synagogues are among nearly 600 congregations in the United States and Canada that will hold High Holy Days appeals this year.

The bonds are sold in varying amounts, beginning at $100.

State of Israel Bonds is an international organization offering securities issued by the Israel government.

For more information, call Bob Leve at (800) 229-4324.




S.F. hosts Hebrew Free Loan gathering

Officials from Hebrew Free Loan Societies worldwide will meet in San Francisco from Sunday, Sept. 25, to Tuesday, Sept. 27, for an international conference on combating Jewish poverty.

Representatives from a number of North American cities will be joined for the first time by Argentine members of the International Association of Hebrew Free Loans.

In addition to discussing the ongoing financial disaster in Argentina, the representatives will address how they can assist Jews and others devastated by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.




JFCS receives grant to aid local survivors

Jewish Family & Children's Services in San Francisco was one of eight social service agencies to receive a grant recently from the Humanitarian Aid Foundation for its work with Holocaust survivors.

JFCS received $25,000 to support case-management services, and an additional matching grant from an anonymous foundation. The grants were made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps.




Habitat for Humanity launches S.F. project

Habitat for Humanity has come to the Bay Area. Best known for its association with former President Jimmy Carter, the nonprofit low-cost housing charity broke ground last month on a new S.F. project at De Long Terrace in the Outer Mission.

Working closely on the project with Habitat for Humanity is San Francisco's Interfaith Council, which will build one of the 12 homes at the De Long Terrace site. S.F.'s Congregation Emanu-El is a member of the Interfaith Council.

For further information, call Denise Burpee at Habitat for Humanity's S.F. chapter: (415) 406-1555 ext. 111.