Jewish American Heritage Month at UCSF

Place:Virtual & In-person
Time:All day, everyday!
Date:May 31, 2026

This May, the Office of Opportunity and Outreach is proud to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) at UCSF.

As a minority group, Jews represent approximately 2% of the adult population in the United States and 0.2% of the population worldwide. Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, but not all Jews identify as religious. The Jewish people share common culture and heritage. In the US, Jews have contributed to the advancement of a wide variety of fields including medicine, human rights, science, and art.

Celebration of JAHM at UCSF aligns with our missions for inclusion and belonging. In our celebration of JAHM at UCSF, we strive to create an inclusive environment and invite both Jews and non-Jews to learn more about the contributions of Jewish Americans to science and medicine, and to learn about cultural and historical events that contribute to the experience of Jewish Americans.

Learn more about the unique history of Mt. Zion hospital at UCSF, originally established as a non-profit hospital by the San Francisco Jewish community in 1887. Today, it continues its mission of service as the UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion.

UCSF welcomes all participants to our events. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event because of a disability, please contact the point person named in the events calendar as soon as possible.

Guest Speakers: UCSF endeavors to create greater understanding and supports the exchange of diverse ideas. Views and opinions of guest speakers on campus are their own and may not reflect the perspective of the University.

JAHM Events

UCSF Events

UCSF promotes the exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives, acknowledging that the views and opinions of our guest speakers on campus are their own and may not reflect the perspective of the University. We embrace free speech in the pursuit of greater understanding, consistent with our obligations as a public university under the First Amendment.

Lag B’Omer - Social and Bonfire

Monday, May 4 | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Mission Bay Spark Social

Join for dinner and a bonfire social on Lag B’Omer to connect with the community, enjoy company, and learn about opportunities for gratitude and joy in the Jewish Calendar.

NORC Jewish Student Focus Groups

May 6, 7, & 12 | Virtual

As part of a UC-Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative partnership, NORC at the University of Chicago is hosting confidential 60-minute virtual focus groups for Jewish UCSF students. Participants will be given a $20 Amazon gift card for completion.

Dough to Go: Challah Braiding Workshop

Tuesday, May 12, | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Learn the tradition of challah braiding in this interactive, take-home-to-bake workshop. Participants will be guided through the braiding process while exploring the cultural significance of challah. No prior experience needed—just come ready to create and connect.

Shavuot: Trivia & Treats

Friday, May 22 | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | Oberndorf Auditorium Mission Bay Campus

Join us for an afternoon of learning in honor of Shavuot, a holiday centered on study and reflection. Engage with the spirit and tradition of learning in the community while enjoying cheesecake and other sweet treats.

Community Shabbat

Friday, May 29 | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Mission Bay Campus

Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest and celebration, which many consider the centerpiece of Jewish life and ritual for thousands of years. It starts on Friday before sunset and ends with nightfall on Saturday. Although many Jewish families celebrate in various ways, candle lighting, prayers, and eating challah, or braided bread, are traditionally included. Come celebrate Shabbat at UCSF, all are welcome!

Non-UCSF Events

JCC JAHM Programming

Sunday, May 1 - 31 | Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCSF)

Throughout the month of May, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco will offer an abundance of engaging programs. Check out their JAHM events page for further program opportunities.

Explore

Test Your Knowledge

Q: What is the current year in the Hebrew calendar, and when is the Jewish New Year?

A: The current year is 5786. The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) occurs in the fall and will be September 11 - 13 this year. Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah do not occur on the same dates in the Gregorian calendar each year, but they do occur on the same dates in the Hebrew calendar each year. Jewish holidays begin at sundown and continue through the following day.

Q: What number is associated with life and luck in Judaism?

A: The number 18 is associated with life and luck. In Hebrew, the word for life is "chai" (pronounced like high but with "kh" at the beginning). Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has an equivalent numerical value. The Hebrew letters "chet" and "yud" that make up the word "chai" which add up to the number 18.

Q: When was JAHM established?

A: JAHM was established by a bipartisan effort in 2006.

Q: How many Jewish people live in the Bay Area?

A: There are approximately 350,000 Jewish People in the Bay Area, or ~5% of the local population. There is a vibrant Jewish community in San Francisco that is represented in all facets of life in the Bay Area community.

Book Recommendations

The UCSF Library has made the following titles available:

Jewish Literacy, 2010, Joseph Telushkin
Living a Jewish Life, 2009, Anita Diamant
When Bad things Happen to Good People, 2007, Harold S. Kushner
Tuesdays with Morrie, 2002, Mitch Albom
Night, 2012, Elie Wiesel
Man's Search for Meaning, 2006, Viktor E. Frankl
Thinking, Fast and Slow, 2011, Daniel Kahneman

Additional suggested reads:

A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People: From the Time of the Patriarchs to the Present by Eli Barnavi, 1994
Living a Jewish Life, Revised and Updated: Jewish Traditions, Customs, and Values for Today's Families by Anita Diamant, 2023
The Sabbath by Abraham by Joshua Heschel, 2005
Survival In Auschwitz by Primo Levi, 1996

Educational Resources

Webinars and videos

Beyond Left or Right: Whose Fault is Antisemitism? Unpacked
My courtroom battle with a Holocaust denier, TEDxSkoll
Jews in Medicine, Genesis Prize Foundation

Podcasts

Films, movies and documentaries

PBS’s The Jewish Americans explores the history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans to the United States.
PBS’s The Story of the Jews chronicles the 3,000-year history of the Jewish people, from ancient times to the present day.
The U.S. and the Holocaust explores the United States' response to the Holocaust, including rescue efforts and the experiences of American Jews.
Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy highlights the significant influence of Jewish composers, lyricists, and performers on the development of Broadway musicals.
Denial is based on the true story of Deborah Lipstadt's legal battle against Holocaust denier David Irving.
On the Basis of Sex depicts the early career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her fight for gender equality.
An American Tail is an animated film following the journey of a young mouse named Fievel and his family as they immigrate to the United States to escape persecution in EuropeF.
Schindler's List tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
Viral: Antisemitism in Four Mutations examines the resurgence of antisemitism around the world through four distinct case studies.
Everything is Illuminated is a film adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's novel, following a young Jewish-American man's journey to Ukraine in search of the woman who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust.