October 7: Marking One Year

October 7: One Year Later 

For almost a year, the war in Israel and Gaza, and now expanding further, has rippled outwards, deeply affecting our communities in the diaspora. The complexity of the ongoing conflict has fractured relationships, brought unprecedented challenges, and made our work of fostering connection even more demanding. It’s been a year of pain, complexity, and profound consequence for Jewish people everywhere. 

Here in San Francisco, we are also navigating a rising wave of anti-Israel sentiment, some of which has challenged the very legitimacy of the State of Israel. Antisemitism has surged, creating a sense of vulnerability that has not been felt in generations. Our community faces protests, disruptions, and hate that has brought an intense sense of unease. The statistics speak volumes — despite Jews comprising only 2% of the U.S. population, 67% of reported hate crimes this year targeted our community. 

The war in Gaza has also, of course, created a terrible humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians. Our Jewish tradition tells us that we are all created in God’s image, so it is with heavy hearts and anguish that we witness the destruction and suffering that is happening there. Tens of thousands of dead, millions of people displaced, and most of the buildings and infrastructure in ruins.  We also continue to hope for the safe return of the hostages taken on October 7, whose fate has added immeasurable pain and fear to an already devastating conflict. We see and are truly distressed by the suffering across the region.

October 7, the ensuing war and the alarming rise of antisemitism have made this the most difficult, distressing and consequential year in recent Jewish history, and the JCCSF has worked hard to meet the moment and to be of service.   

First and foremost, we strive to be a haven for the community to gather, to learn, and to heal. In a year marked by uncertainty and division, we focused on fostering connection and a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through our doors.  

We hosted top notch experts such as Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin and Yossi Klein Halevi to help us better understand what is happening in Israel and the region. We brought bestselling authors and community leaders like Sheryl Sandberg, Noah Feldman and Rabbi Sharon Brous to speak to packed audiences. And we have hosted important gathering events such as a Community Shabbat attended by more than 400 people, joyful holiday celebrations in our building and around the city, and meaningful Holocaust and Yom HaZikaron memorial services. We remain committed to fostering connection and creating a safe welcoming environment.  

And we will continue to do what we do each and every day. To bring people together across their lifespans, in safety and in a supportive fashion, to celebrate and explore Jewish life and culture, and to build bridges between and across communities.

Paul Geduldig, CEO