Dear Community Members,

The staff and leadership of the Jewish Federation are deeply grateful for your support.

Following an incredible amount of soul searching, internet searching, emails, and telephone conversations, we have decided to postpone The Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival to August 19-23, 2020—same times, same location, same movies!

At this challenging time, for not only our community, but also for the world, our core leadership and staff felt that this was not an ideal time to bring a group together in a movie theater where the possibility, even though minute, of someone being infected with COVID-19 posed a risk.

Postponing the Festival also gives Federation and JFS the time to work together with other Jewish community organizations to help those who may be vulnerable and need assistance at this crucial juncture. In the coming days, there may be those who feel unable to leave their homes, and may need help with making sure they have food to eat, necessary medications, and other critical supplies. This is a time we can all step-up and offer an hour or two to help with this type of visit, or if there is a chance of contagion, perhaps just drop off food or supplies at someone’s door who is in need of this help. Let us know if you would like to volunteer.

If you have already picked up your pass, you can use it in August. If you have not yet picked up your pass, we will hold it here for you until then.

If requested, we will issue a refund. Please contact Ruby Vargeson at rvargeson@sbjf.org with your request.

Similarly, we want to make sure that everyone in the community feels comfortable about contacting us at the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Service, letting us know your needs. You are not alone. Your community is with you.

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at the movies in August.