Teaming up to help the developmentally disabled

Published on February 2, 2011

Like most donors to the annual campaign, I never imagined that my family would be beneficiaries of federation agencies. When my second child, Daniel, was diagnosed with autism, I learned abruptly that today’s donors can become tomorrow’s beneficiaries. For my wife and me, Daniel has been one of our two great gifts from God, a source of joy and inspiration. The challenges posed, however, by having a child with autism and the communal reaction to this condition create serious challenges, including feelings of alienation and isolation.

UJC seeks donations for hurricane victims

Published on September 16, 2008

United Jewish Communities has set up donation drive for hurricane victims

As Jewish communities unite, disconnects persist

By Tom Tugend
Published on April 3, 2008

Howard Rieger, the top professional of organized American Jewry as president and chief executive officer of the national organization United Jewish Communities (UJC), figures that criticism comes with the territory.

"Any time you make changes, some people will admire you and some will not," he said in a phone interview. "If you can't keep that in perspective, you become immobilized and don't belong in this position."

Ethiopian advocates push for 8,500 more olim

By Ben Harris
Published on December 20, 2007

UJC reaches out to young innovators

By Jacob Berkman
Published on December 6, 2007

A self-described professional Jewish lesbian. A Web guru who calls himself the Orthodox Anarchist. A young, Oscar-winning producer.

The United Jewish Communities (UJC) looked to this group and their disenfranchised peers for help at its annual General Assembly (GA) in Nashville in November, giving them an entire plenary to talk about themselves, what they need from the North American federation system and why they have a hard time becoming a part of it.

Olmert downgrades aid from American Jews

By Brad A. Greenberg
Published on August 9, 2007

And as we've seen this week, God -- or human resourcefulness -- has blessed a quick reconstruction of northern Israel. But Olmert's comments seemed particularly ungrateful because he spoke not only to the American journalists, but also to some top officials of the United Jewish Communities (UJC).

Briefs: Mass Shoah grave discovered in Ukraine; Report: Israel wants to talk with Syria; German Jews decry aliyah push

Published on June 7, 2007

News briefs.

Post-war belt-tightening: Israel could cut Falash Mura dreams in half

By Uriel Heilman
Published on September 14, 2006

Israel's Finance Ministry is proposing substantial cuts to Ethiopian immigration next year.

Rebuilding New Orleans—With A Little Help From Each Other

By Gail Naron Chalew
Published on August 24, 2006

One year after "the storm," as New Orleanians refer to Hurricane Katrina, Jewish communal leaders describe the health of the community with certain expected terms -- loss, trauma, devastation and challenge.

Visit to Ethiopia Changes His Life

By Marc Ballon
Published on May 25, 2006

"John has given real leadership to the issue of Ethiopian Jewry," said Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, who earlier this year went to Ethiopia with Fishel and 100 American Jewish federation members. "He's always been the first one to speak up and stir the conscience of the federation movement."

Community Briefs

By Melissa Maroff
Published on March 30, 2006

Community Briefs

Post-Katrina, Jews Raised Funds Fast

By Larry Luxner
Published on January 26, 2006

Major Jewish organizations have raised more than $30 million to house, feed, educate and relocate thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Study of Federations Finds Job Sexism

By Rachel Pomerance
Published on March 11, 2004

While a new report says that sexism pervades the North American Jewish federation system, in Los Angeles, the facts paint a much more positive picture of gender equality.

Grappling With Competing Needs

By Rachel Pomerance
Published on November 20, 2003

While most participants at the North American Jewish federation system's annual conference were happy just to be in Israel this week, the network's decision makers were grappling with another matter -- funding for overseas partners.

World Briefs

Published on September 18, 2003

World Briefs

World Briefs

Published on February 20, 2003

World Briefs

Jewish Survey Missing Data

By Joe Berkofsky
Published on November 14, 2002

Stephen Hoffman said he only learned of the missing data Tuesday, one week before the information from the NJPS about Jewish identity and intermarriage was due to get released at the annual UJC gathering, which brings together much of the organized American Jewish world.

Your Letters

Published on September 5, 2002

We are writing in support of the opinion expressed by Steve Berman opposing the policy of United Jewish Communities (UJC) supporting settlers living beyond what will be the revised Green Line ("Withholding Our Funds From Territories," Aug. 30).

L.A. Jews Send Aid Beyond Green Line

By Gaby Wenig
Published on March 14, 2002

For the past three weeks, the theme of Rabbi Elazar Muskin's Shabbat sermons at Young Israel of Century City has been the same. Thundering from the podium, he chastises his congregation for not doing enough to support Israel, and he urges them to pray better and give more charity in response to the horrors of the terror attacks.

Like many communities in Los Angeles, Young Israel of Century City has taken upon itself the support of a large number of charities in Israel, specifically those that fall between the lines; causes that are neither affiliated with the large Jewish fundraising bodies such as The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, nor supported by the Israeli government, despite the urgency of the cause.

UJC Surveys Crisis in Argentina

By Florendia Arbiser
Published on February 21, 2002

Shapira, who also co-chairs a special UJC task force on Argentina, was one of a group of UJC leaders who traveled to Buenos Aires last week to evaluate the needs of the country's Jews during Argentina's continuing economic collapse.

UJC’s Challenge

By Stewart Ain
Published on November 15, 2001

The outgoing chairman of the United Jewish Communities (UJC), Charles Bronfman, has challenged the UJC leadership to "change the perception out there that rich, old guys who write big checks are the only ones who count."

"There are rich young men and women, who may or may not write big checks but who may have a wealth of ideas," he said. "They may even have a desire to become more involved with the Jewish community. Will we give them the opportunity to lead?" Bronfman, said in his departing speech to the North American Jewish federation system.

UJC Launches Campaign

By Michael J. Jordan
Published on June 21, 2001

The umbrella of North American federations is set to unveil a multipronged, $4-million solidarity campaign titled "Israel NOW -- and Forever."

Briefs

By Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Published on May 17, 2001

World Briefs.

Meet Me in St. Louis

By Robin Schwartz
Published on March 29, 2001

From the start, I liked the sound of it. Six hundred Jewish professionals my age, flying in from places such as Los Angeles, Cleveland, and my own town, Detroit, for a Jewish-themed weekend at the posh St. Louis Ritz-Carlton.

Mission Impossible?

By Gary Rosenblatt
Published on March 15, 2001

On a brisk night in early January, hundreds of American Jews from throughout the United States, still jet-lagged from their arrival in Israel that morning, are filing into a large airplane hangar at Hatzor, an isolated air force base near Ashkelon.

Reaching Consensus

By Julie Wiener
Published on April 13, 2000

Spawned from the merger of the United Jewish Appeal and the Council of Jewish Federations, the UJC says it is attempting to transform a system that had traditionally been top-down and somewhat mysterious in its decision-making to one that is more open.

Transforming the Jewish Community

By Julia Goldman
Published on November 25, 1999

The UJC, formed through the merger of the Council of Jewish Federations and the United Jewish Appeal, became legal Nov. 17, according to papers filed with New York State.

Young and Committed

By Shlomit Levy
Published on February 18, 1999

When leaders from 119 North American Jewish federations met here this week, they did not make any earth-shattering decisions or vote on anything binding.