The Jewish Federations of North America seeks to answer the critical needs of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world. With our historic partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and ORT, we provide basic human services and create connections that help sustain and offer hope to the most vulnerable of our people and build our global Jewish community. I&O also initiates, monitors and provides assessment of social service and educational programs and helps ensure Federation funds are used effectively. Through our Israel Office, we work with the Government of Israel on issues of public policy and diplomacy; create and maintain key connections with the Israeli and international media, members of the business community, the volunteer sector, opinion makers, and the general public; and promote the interests and concerns of the Federation movement to the Israeli people.

Emergency Relief

In December 2008, Israel launched Operation Cast Lead to defend the Israeli communities along the Gaza Strip after years of missile attacks by Hamas. With dramatically increased civilian needs in the region, the Federation movement worked with JDC, JAFI, the Israel Trauma Coalition and the Ethiopian National Project to deliver critical services to the most vulnerable, including support for care-givers and programs to reinforce local ability to act under fire. Federations also rallied to support Israel; several emergency missions, including a delegation of national leadership, traveled to Southern Israel to show their support and report from the scene.

The Jewish Federations of North America partnered with Federations to launch the Israel Solidarity Drive in response to the conflict, to raise money to help these nearly 1 million Israelis suffering from emotional, psychological and economic hardship. The funding, to support and enhance local programs of our overseas partners funded by the Annual Campaign, and have raised close to $8 million to-date.

To support the effort The Jewish Federations of North America created a Web site, daily e-mail dispatches, comprehensive reports, marketing materials, advocacy packets for communities hosting rallies and more. Several Israel Emergency Campaign programs ended in 2009 as well. These initiatives, which included supporting businesses and municipalities, in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, have revitalized communities across northern Israel.

Supplemental Campaign to Help Ethiopian-Israeli Children

In July 2009, The Jewish Federations of North America approved a voluntary appeal to Federations to help keep Ethiopian-Israeli students in education programs that face deep budget cuts. Federations helped the Ethiopian National Project -- a partner of Jewish Federations, JDC and the Jewish Agency -- by raising $1 million to maintain scholastic assistance and Youth Outreach Centers. Without this support, ENP would have shut down 15 of 22 Outreach Centers, affecting 2,500 Ethiopian youths ages 13-18. This assistance also allowed 650 high school students to remain in Scholastic Assistance, ENP’s academic enrichment program, in 26 Israeli communities.

The Jewish Federations of North America helped spearhead this effort with Federations and key constituency groups, such as National Women’s Philanthropy and National Young Leadership Cabinet. Support from The Jewish Federations of North America included fundraising consultation to Federations, needs assessment and liaison to ENP, fiscal oversight, marketing and communications materials, updates to Federations and a dedicated Web site.

VIP Services

The intimate emotional experience of a visit to the field remains one of our most powerful opportunities to generate awareness of and support for needs in Israel and around the world. To that end, The Jewish Federations of North America works closely with Federations to plan and implement customized travel programs for major givers, which reflect local community priorities and agendas. In 2009, close to 1,200 visitors from 52 communities went to Israel.

Negev Work Group

The Israel and Overseas group remains focused on building and enhancing partner coalitions. One such case is the Negev Work Group, which convenes communities committed to developing Israel’s desert region. In 2009, the Work Group gathered in Miami with representatives from the Jewish Agency, JDC and senior Israeli government officials and policy makers, then met again at the Washington GA. The group has successfully lobbied the Government of Israel to subsidize Federation travel to the region; worked with the Jewish Agency and OTZMA to pilot an exciting new volunteer experience; established a Web presence, and more.

The Israel and Overseas team works with Federations and our overseas partners to help Jews in need or in peril all over the world, expand Jewish horizons and build and reinforce a sense of worldwide Jewish community. As a global people, our strength and compassion have enabled us to make miracles and change the world. We have more yet to do, but by working together we will certainly accomplish much more.

–Shep Remis
Chair, Israel and Overseas