The Center for Jewish Care is partnering with a core group of Jewish organizations to combat antisemitism locally by building on a century’s worth of expertise and experience in serving the Jewish community and providing culturally sensitive support following the 2019 attack on Chabad of Poway.
FBI San Diego Presents 2019 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to Jewish Family Service >>
We’re Here For You
If you are injured or fear for your safety or the safety of others, call 911 immediately.
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or call the San Diego Access and Crisis Line (ACL) at (888) 724‑7240. Live chat is also available Monday-Friday, 4:00-10:00pm at It’s Up to Us San Diego.
If you are in need of emotional support as the result of an antisemitic incident or crime, please call JCERT at the Center for Jewish Care at (858) 637‑3359.
As a recipient of the Stop the Hate grant, funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Center for Jewish Care bolsters support for our Jewish community and leads the new Jewish Community Emergency Response Team (JCERT) housed within the greater network of San Diego Jewish Community organizations working to combat antisemitism.
This network plays a significant role in maximizing the strength of each partner and increasing community coordination to support and build the resilience of our Jewish community. JCERT is comprised of a trained group of professionals ready to deploy culturally sensitive services, support, and resources in the aftermath of hate incidents or crimes against San Diego’s Jewish community.
JCERT is comprised of professionals and community volunteers who have been highly trained to care for their neighbors in crisis and for themselves in ways that support resilience and grounding for the entire community. JCERT team members engage in culturally competent and compassionate interactions, provide psychological first aid, and connect community members with immediate resources like food, shelter, and transportation. In addition, JCERT supports intermediate and long-term objectives by referring to professional case managers, spiritual leaders, and other resources as needed. This critical contribution to the JCRRN also empowers members to step up to help their families, friends, and congregations in the event of immediate need while waiting for help to arrive.
Learn how the 2024 San Diego Jewish Community study, A Blueprint for Our Future, is informing our work here.
The Jewish Community Emergency Response Team (JCERT) provides caring services for the Jewish-identifying and Jewish-adjacent community who have experienced antisemitism. We understand that people experience things differently, and our only criterion to access our services is that you feel that the hate incident/hate crime happened because of your links to Judaism, however you experience that. Further, we understand that households and neighborhoods are often made up of many faiths, languages, and expressions, and offer our services to anyone who is affected by antisemitism, whether they themselves identify as Jewish or not.
Services JCERT provides:
Our team:
If this sounds like a service which may be helpful to you or someone you know, please email j[email protected] or call the JCERT office number at (858) 637-3359. Someone will be in touch within one business day.
JCERT is not meant to serve as a First Responder. If the Affected Person is in danger of harming themselves or others, call 911 immediately. If they are contemplating suicide and/or have a plan, call 911 or 988 for additional support.
American Jewish Committee: Guidance on Reporting Antisemitism to Federal Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Social Media
Anti-Defamation League (ADL):
California Civil Rights Department: California vs. Hate campaign
California Department of Social Services: Stop the Hate Program
Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism (April 2024): PDF Report
Hillel International: Confronting Antisemitism on Campus
Jewish Federation of San Diego: Combating Antisemitism
San Diego County District Attorney: Hate Crimes Unit
San Diego Police Department: Hate Crimes Unit
San Diego Sheriff’s Department: Hate Crimes Unit
U.S. National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism (May 2023): Website | PDF Report
Contact JCERT at (858) 637-3359 or [email protected] for more information on our services or to discuss partnerships.
