New young adults program examines religious, Cultural boundaries

December 11, 2006

(San Francisco, CA) – Young adults can now explore how Judaism interrelates with different races, religions and ethnicities through a new program called Intersections. Designed to develop future community leaders, this program educates young adults in an engaging way on how Judaism “intersects”with different religions and cultures.

Developed and co-chaired by Jaimie Simon and Silvia Cheskes, Intersections is organized by the Young Adults Division (YAD) of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Both YAD members, Simon and Cheskes wanted to find new ways to learn and be engaged after several years of participating in YAD’s Club Fed, a young leadership program run by the Federation.

“We wanted to push the envelope and do something different that would intrigue people who have been involved in YAD as well as those who have not. We hope with Intersections people will broaden their minds, explore new topics and become aware of the relationship between Jews and other people and ideas that they had never thought about,” they say regarding their intentions for the program.

The first session of Intersections is scheduled for Wednesday, December 13 and includes screening the film Awake Zion (http://www.awakezion.net/). The film explores the unexpected intersection between Judaism and Rastafarianism. Monica Haim, the film’s producer, will be joining the group for a discussion and Q&A after the film. A reception will immediately follow with drinks, light refreshments and reggae music.

Details:
Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $10.00
Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida St. (between 17th and Mariposa), San Francisco.
RSVP: YAD, 415.512.6280, yad@sfjcf.org; registration at www.sfjcf.org/groups/yad/.

Upcoming Intersections events are scheduled for February and April. Visit www.sfjcf.org/groups/yad/ for more information.

The Young Adults Division of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, offers young Jewish singles, couples and new Bay Area residents (ages 21 to 40-something) a broad range of social, educational, volunteer, philanthropic and leadership development opportunities.

The Jewish Community Federation is the central organization for fundraising, planning, outreach and leadership development for Jewish communities in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Marin and Sonoma counties. In fiscal year 2006, the Federation’s annual campaign allocated $18.3 million to some 60 agencies providing social services, educational and cultural programs in the Bay Area, in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere in the world. In fiscal year 2006, the Federation’s Endowment Fund, with assets exceeding $1.8 billion, provided more than $203 million for a variety of grants, seed projects and emergency needs. For more information, call 415.777.0411 or visit www.sfjcf.org.