United Jewish Communities
Encyclopedia
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), is an American Jewish umbrella organization
Umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations...
representing 157 Jewish Federation
Jewish Federation
A Jewish Federation is a confederation of various Jewish social agencies, volunteer programs, educational bodies, and related organizations, found within most cities in North America that host a viable Jewish community...
s and the Network of Independent Communities, 400 smaller Jewish communities across North America. The JFNA was formed from the 1999 merger of the United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
, the Council of Jewish Federations, and United Israel Appeal, Inc.
United Israel Appeal, Inc.
United Israel Appeal, Inc. , is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jewish Federations of North America formerly known as United Jewish Communities UJC...
The organization was known as the United Jewish Communities (UJC) until 2009, when it chose to adopt a new name and logo to "create a stronger continental brand and market positioning for the Federation system".
The Jewish Federations of North America represents and serves one of the world's largest and most effective networks of social service providers and programs, enacting the federations’ pledge to "live generously," by securing support for life-saving and life-enhancing humanitarian assistance programs in the United States, Israel and 60 other countries. It is the second largest philanthropic network in North America (second to United Way of America).
Through a multi-dimensional approach to outreach and programming, The Jewish Federations of North America strengthens the connection and contributes to greater understanding between Israel and the American Jewish community. On September 30, 2009, Jerry Silverman began a five-year term as president/CEO upon the expiration of the term of Howard Rieger. Silverman previously held the CEO position at the Foundation for Jewish Camp
Foundation for Jewish Camp
The Foundation for Jewish Camp , formerly known as the Foundation for Jewish Camping, is a 501 nonprofit serving North America...
. The organization's top volunteer leader is Kathy Manning, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America. Manning is the first woman to hold this position.
While the Federation movement advocates for Israel to the U.S. federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and is a major player in advocating before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the executive branch
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
, for the domestic policy priorities of the American Jewish
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
community, it remains a nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
/bipartisan
Bipartisanship
Bipartisanship is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system such as the United States, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. The adjective bipartisan can refer to any bill, act, resolution, or other political act in which both of the...
organization unaligned with any particular political party in the United States or abroad. Jewish Federation advocacy in Washington, D.C. is conducted by its Washington office, led since 2005 by William Daroff
William Daroff
William Daroff is the Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office of The Jewish Federations of North America formerly known as United Jewish Communities.-Childhood:...
.
The Jewish Federations of North America promotes effective philanthropy, hands-on volunteerism, shared commitment, and collective action
Collective action
Collective action is the pursuit of a goal or set of goals by more than one person. It is a term which has formulations and theories in many areas of the social sciences.-In sociology:...
.
Timeline
- 1999 - United Jewish Communities is formed by the merger of the Council of Jewish Federations, United Israel Appeal, and United Jewish Appeal.
- 2000 - Taglit-Birthright IsraelBirthright IsraelTaglit-Birthright Israel is a Jewish Israeli registered charity that sponsors free 10-day heritage trips to Israel. Birthright Israel's goals are to diminish the division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and...
brings its first group of young Jewish adults to Israel. The program offers Jews ages 18–26 a free ten-day tour of the Jewish stateJewish stateA homeland for the Jewish people was an idea that rose to the fore in the 19th century in the wake of growing anti-Semitism and Jewish assimilation. Jewish emancipation in Europe paved the way for two ideological solutions to the Jewish Question: cultural assimilation, as envisaged by Moses...
. Founded by Charles BronfmanCharles BronfmanCharles Rosner Bronfman, is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. With an estimated net worth of $US 2.0 billion , Bronfman was ranked by Forbes as the 15th wealthiest Canadian and 595th in the world....
and Michael SteinhardtMichael SteinhardtMichael H. Steinhardt is an American investor and philanthropist active in Jewish causes. He was one of the first prominent hedge fund managers, and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He founded Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Co., a hedge fund, in 1967...
, it is a partnership between the Israeli government, private philanthropists and Jewish communities around the world, including the Jewish Agency, Keren HayesodKeren HayesodKeren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal is the central fundraising organization for Israel, with operations in 45 countries. The work of Keren Hayesod is carried out in accordance with the Keren Hayesod Law, 5716-1956, passed by the Knesset in January 1956...
, and UJC. - 2001
- Ethiopian National Project (ENP) launched. It is a partnership between UJC, the Jewish Agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution CommitteeAmerican Jewish Joint Distribution CommitteeThe American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a worldwide Jewish relief organization headquartered in New York. It was established in 1914 and is active in more than 70 countries....
(JDC), the government of Israel and the Ethiopian-Israeli community, aimed at facilitating the successful absorption of Ethiopian immigrantsBeta IsraelBeta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
in all spheres of Israeli society. - Stephen Hoffman becomes President replacing Stephen Solender.
- Ethiopian National Project (ENP) launched. It is a partnership between UJC, the Jewish Agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
- 2002 - UJC and the Federations of North America launch the Israel Emergency Campaign in response to Palestinian political violencePalestinian political violencePalestinian political violence refers to acts of violence undertaken to further the Palestinian cause. These political objectives include self-determination in and sovereignty over Palestine, the liberation of Palestine and establishment of a Palestinian state, either in place of both Israel and...
. They raise hundreds of millions of dollars for critically needed security, medical equipment, and financial assistance and trauma relief for terror victims. - 2003
- For the second time, the UJC General Assembly is held in Jerusalem.
- Masa IsraelMASA Israel JourneyMasa Israel Journey is an umbrella organization of long-term gap year, study abroad, and post-graduate programs in Israel for Jewish young adults. Programs range from 5–12 months and Jewish participants ages 18–30 can receive grants from the organization to subsidize the cost of programs...
is launched to connect young Jewish adults to 5-12 month immersive, life-changing experiences in Israel. Masa Israel helps to build a firm commitment to Jewish life and a life-long relationship with Israel. Partnering in this groundbreaking project are the Government of Israel, the Jewish Agency for IsraelJewish Agency for IsraelThe Jewish Agency for Israel , also known as the Sochnut or JAFI, served as the organization in charge of immigration and absorption of Jews from the Diaspora into the state of Israel.-History:...
, UJC / The Jewish Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod.
- 2004
- UJC and the Federations of North America undertake Operation Promise, an ambitious effort to raise millions of dollars to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel, help mainstream the Ethiopian-Israeli community, feed poor, elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union and strengthen Jewish identity among young Jews there.
- Howard Rieger becomes President replacing Stephen Hoffman.
- 2006
- In response to the war in Lebanon, UJC and the Federations of North America launch a second Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC), which provides trauma counseling, enrichment programs, and economic assistance to Israeli children and adults affected by the war. IEC continues to help vulnerable Israelis, including those on the front lines against Kassam rockets launched from Gaza.
- UJC helps found Sheatufim: The Israel Center for Civil Society, which works to strengthen the social vitality of Israel by developing and advancing a civil society that is pluralistic, proactive, influential, professional and collaborative. Other founding partners are Zionism 2000, the Sacta-Rashi Foundation and the Gandyr Foundation.
- 2007 - With more than 1,500 rockets from Hamas-controlled Gaza striking the SderotSderotSderot is a western Negev city in the Southern District of Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 20,700. The city has been an ongoing target of Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip...
region in 2007, UJC increases Israel Emergency Campaign funding to enhance social services and other aid, largely via JDC and the Jewish Agency. IEC efforts are also transforming the community capacity of northern cities and towns impacted by the Second Lebanon War to better respond to emergencies. - 2008
- IEC assistance to the Sderot region grows in response to an intensified barrage of rockets from Gaza. UJC launches "Voices from Sderot", a blog (http://www.ujc.org/sderotblog) to share the perspectives of Israelis living on the Gaza perimeter.
- UJC holds its General Assembly in Jerusalem.
- President Howard Rieger announces retirement.
- 2009
- UJC changes name to The Jewish Federations of North America, which it prefers not to shorten to JFNA.
- New President and CEO Jerry Silverman takes office.
- The annual General Assembly (GA), held this year in Washington, attracts both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, though President Obama sends Chief of Staff Rahm EmanuelRahm EmanuelRahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
in his place so Obama can attend a ceremony for the victims and survivors of the massacre in Ft. Hood, Texas. At GA, a panel of judges, after online voting that attracts 570,000 votes, names Ari TemanAri TemanAri Teman is an award-winning comedian, co-founder of NextGen:Charity and NextGen:Health conferences, founder of international volunteer organization JCorps, an author, designer, programmer, actor and TV personality. He has received numerous awards for his comedy, charity, and design work...
of JCorpsJCorpsJCorps is an international social volunteer network of thousands of Jewish young adults, aged 18–28. It is currently active in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Denver, Boulder, Montreal, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Kiev, Russia, London and Toronto...
as Jewish Community Hero of the Year for 2009.
External links
- The Jewish Federations of North America
- Jewish Federation of San Diego County http://www.jewishinsandiego.org
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto http://www.jewishtoronto.net/
- UJA-Federation of New York http://www.ujafedny.org
- Israel at 60 History of the UJC http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?ID=162303
- UJC/Jewish Federations of North America Announces the Selection of Jerry Silverman as President/CEO http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=202796
- UJC Becoming "The Jewish Federations of North America" http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=207876
- Jewish Agency for Israel