San Francisco Jewish Community Center

San Francisco's Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA) was formed in 1877, and the city's Young Women's Hebrew Association (YWHA) was formed in 1914. They combined in 1924. In 1933, the YM-YWHA became the city's Jewish Community Center (JCC). In 1960, San Francisco's JCC joined the United Jewish Community Centers (UJCC) of San Francisco, Marin County, and the Peninsula. The city's JCC has helped immigrants adjust, assimilate, and Americanize. In addition, it has provided resources for individuals and families to express themselves culturally and physically, and it has changed its activities, directions, and locations to help meet the needs of the community. The JCC has also sponsored many activities for those people who are serving in the military during wartime and many holiday observances.

From the description of San Francisco Jewish Community Center records, 1877-1979 (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 701970429

Biographical Information

San Francisco’s Young Men’s Hebrew Association (YMHA) was formed in 1877, and the city’s Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YWHA) was formed in 1914. They combined in 1924. In 1933, the YM-YWHA became the city’s Jewish Community Center (JCC). In 1960, San Francisco’s JCC joined the United Jewish Community Centers (UJCC) of San Francisco, Marin County, and the Peninsula. The city’s JCC has helped immigrants adjust, assimilate, and Americanize. In addition, it has provided resources for individuals and families to express themselves culturally and physically, and it has changed its activities, directions, and locations to help meet the needs of the community. The JCC has also sponsored many activities for those people who are serving in the military during wartime and many holiday observances.

• 1877: YMHA reorganizes after a "bleak" period of dwindling membership.
• 1901: YMHA purchases a building on Page Street and offers social and athletic activities but no "cultural programs."
• 1906: Page Street YMHA is converted to a relief station for people left homeless by the earthquake.
• 1911: Page Street building is sold after "years of financial difficulties and no professional leadership."
• 1913: YMHA reorganizes and holds programs in two rented rooms.
• 1917: YMHA purchases three-story building at 121 Haight Street. A small, but full-time, staff is hired and the organization is able to provide educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs.
• 1921: YMHA absorbs the Young Women's Hebrew Association and is renamed YM-YWHA.
• 1923: The Federation of Jewish Charities conducts a survey of the Jewish community concluding that a larger, more comprehensive facility is needed.
• 1924: Louis Blumenthal is hired as Executive Director to implement the study. Five months later Emma Loewy is hired as Assistant Director.(Later, Blumenthal and Loewy marry.)
• 1930: A Building Fund Campaign, with a goal of raising $650,000, is launched under the leadership of Harold L. Zellerbach. Six hundred volunteer solicitors raise the funds from over 4,500 individual "subscriptions."
• 1932: Ground is broken for a building at 3200 California Street. A year later the building is dedicated and "a comprehensive program for all segments of the community [is] launched: clubs, physical education, lectures and classes, art and music, activities of Jewish interest and celebration of Jewish holidays. Social welfare services [are] provided, with special programs for the unemployed and for new immigrants."
• 1934: Close to half a million people use the SFJCC; over 25 clubs and 35 communal organizations meet at the building.
• 1948: Marin Jewish Community Center is formed.
• 1949: Peninsula Jewish Community Center is formed.
• 1958: The three Bay Area JCCs, aided by the Jewish Welfare Federation, begin a two-year needs assessment survey.
• 1960: United Jewish Community Centers (UJCC) is formed to "provide a central coordinating operation, while preserving self-planning in program development for each of the separate Centers." Irwin Gold is hired to replace Louis Blumenthal after the latter's death the previous year.
• 1962: UJCC and the San Francisco Section, National Council of Jewish Women, launch the Montefiore Senior Citizens Centers, held at the California Street site and at the Richmond YMCA. South Peninsula extension in Palo Alto is established.
• 1963: The Peninsula Centers moves into its new building in Belmont.
• 1964: UJCC, taking over from the National Jewish Welfare Board, contracts with the Bay Area USO to provide activities for Jewish servicemen. Center Associates, an organization of women, is formed to provide scholarships for Camp Tawonga and other UJCC children's programs.
• 1965: UJCC opens the Brotherhood Way Center.
• 1966: Planning begins for a new JCC in Marin. UJCC serves 1800 children at five day camps.

From the guide to the San Francisco Jewish Community Center records, 1877-1979, (The Bancroft Library.)