United Jewish Communities

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United Jewish Communities (UJC) is an American Jewish umbrella organization representing 155 Jewish Federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across North America. The UJC was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal (UJA), Council of Jewish Federations (CJF), and United Israel Appeal, Inc. (UIA)

UJC 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, UJC strengthens the connection and contributes to greater understanding between Israel and the American Jewish community. UJC's President/CEO is Howard Rieger.

While the UJC/federation system advocates for Israel to the U.S. federal government and is a major player in advocating before the United States Congress and the executive branch, for the domestic policy priorities of the American Jewish community, it remains a nonpartisan/bipartisan organization unaligned with any particular political party in the United States or abroad. UJC's advocacy in Washington, D.C. is led by UJC-Washington. [1]

United Jewish Communities promotes effective philanthropy, hands-on volunteerism, shared commitment, and collective action.

[edit] Timeline

• 1999 - United Jewish Communities are formed by the merger of the Council of Jewish Federations, United Israel Appeal, and United Jewish Appeal
• 2000 - Taglit-Birthright Israel 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 state. Founded by Charles Bronfman and Michael Steinhardt, it is a partnership between the Israeli government, private philanthropists and Jewish communities around the world, including the Jewish Agency, Keren Hayesod, and UJC.
• 2001 - Ethiopian National Project (ENP) launched. It is a partnership between UJC, the Jewish Agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the government of Israel and the Ethiopian-Israeli community aimed at facilitating the successful absorption of Ethiopian immigrants in all spheres of Israeli society.

Stephen Hoffman becomes President replacing Stephen Solender

• 2002 - UJC and the Federations of North America launch the Israel Emergency Campaign in response to Palestinian political violence. They raise hundreds of millions of dollars for critically-needed security, medical equipment, and financial assitanice and trauma relief for terror victims.
• 2003 - For the second time, the UJC General Assembly is held in Jerusalem.

MASA is launched to encourage Jewish youth to spend a semester or a year in Israel and help them build a life-long relationship with Israel and a firm commitment to Jewish life. Partnering in this groundbreaking project are the Government of Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel, UJC / The Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod around the world.

• 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, 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 Sderot 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' blog ([2]) to share the perspectives of Israelis living on the Gaza perimeter.

UJC holds its General Assembly in Jerusalem. President Howard Rieger announces retirement

[edit] External links

• United Jewish Communities
• An Introduction to the Jewish Federation System
• 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.ujc.org/page.aspx?ID=162303

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