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Team Funded by Statewide “Stop the Hate” Program Supports Those Impacted by Antisemitism
By Miriam Raftery
November 28,2024 (San Diego) – The inaugural cohort of San Diego’s Jewish Community Emergency Response Team (JCERT) is now prepared to respond in the aftermath of a sharp rise in local antisemitic incidents. Team members aim to help strengthen individual recovery and community resilience.
Nineteen Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) team members graduated from the JCERT training program in late October, after completing more than 35 hours of specialized coursework developed by the organization’s Center for Jewish Care on Jewish cultural competency, antisemitism, listening and communication skills, trauma and trauma-informed care.. Future program cohorts will be members of the larger community, including from partner organizations.
Located throughout the county – from Escondido to the border and Alpine to the coast – this first group of responders represents eight spoken languages and several religions. Each is now ready to immediately respond after a hate incident or crime – whether individual or large-scale – against the San Diego Jewish community. Certified in psychological first aid, suicide awareness and prevention, CPR/AED/first aid and food handling, the team is designated to assist victims with compassionate triage, psychological support, and connection with short-, medium-, and/or long-term resources to aid in recovery.
“We are grateful to our community partners and the JCERT graduating class for their passion and expertise,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “By providing an immediate compassionate response and connections to resources in the wake of an antisemitic incident or crime, JCERT will help our community heal from trauma.”
Drawing on JFS and the community’s experience in responding to the aftermath of the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting in 2019, JFS’s Center for Jewish Care is using part of its funding from a two-year $325,000 California Department of Social Services’ “Stop the Hate” grant to develop JCERT.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), anti-Semitic incidents in San Diego County rose 200% last year, spiking after the Hamas attack on Israel and the Israeli military response in Gaza. ADL San Diego recorded 108 incidents of antisemitic assault, vandalism and harassment in 2023, soaring far above the previous record of 36 set the year prior. This reflects a nationwide trend of incidents targeting Jews, ranging from dissemination of anti-Semitic flyers to vandalism and violent attacks.
The state of California recorded 1,218 acts of antisemitism, the highest across the United States. Nationwide, the U.S. had at least 8,873 anti-Semitic actions documented by the ADL.
“Antisemitism is nothing short of a national emergency, a five-alarm fire that is still raging across the country and in our local communities and campuses,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO.
To learn more, get help or get involved with Jewish Family Services CERT team, visit www.jfssd.org/jcert.
Founded in 1918, Jewish Family Service (JFS) is one of San Diego’s most impactful nonprofit agencies – providing resources and support to over 105,000 people every year. Through integrated services, the organization empowers people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds to overcome challenges, set goals, and build more stable, secure, and connected lives. JFS is committed to helping individuals and families move forward, while developing innovative strategies to break cycles of poverty and strengthen our San Diego community.
To get help, volunteer, or support JFS, visit jfssd.org or call 858-637-3000.
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