5 Organizations That Support And Empower Jewish People
While Jewish communities have come a long way in recent history, anti-Semitism is still rampant, affecting many people around the world. Luckily, there are organizations that combat this issue, further the study of Jewish history and culture, and provide assistance and community to Jewish people. If you're interested in supporting these causes, check out the five organizations listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups Dedicated To Supporting The Jewish Community
| Organization | Mission |
|---|---|
| Association for Jewish Studies | Advance research and teaching in Jewish Studies at colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, and foster greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public |
| Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy | Explore antisemitism within a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework from an array of approaches and perspectives as well as global, national, and regional contexts |
| The Blue Card | Provide direct financial assistance to needy Holocaust survivors |
| Chabad.org | Utilize internet technology to unite Jews worldwide, empower them with knowledge of their tradition, and foster within them a deeper connection to Judaism's rituals and faith |
| Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale | Support Jewish life on campus, enable exploration of the arts, promote a living connection to the State of Israel, and model the virtues of life-long Jewish learning, living, and leading |
5 Denominations of Judaism
Over the years, many different movements of Judaism have arisen, often responding to shifts in culture either by adapting to new practices or standing firmly against them. Here are just a few of these groups:
- Orthodox: Adheres strictly to traditional practices and beliefs
- Conservative: Honors Jewish law, but affords for some adaptation to modern life
- Reform: A more liberal movement that modifies or abandons many traditional practices
- Humanistic: Nontheistic philosophy focused on Jewish culture and history
- Karaite: Recognizes only the written Torah, not Oral Law
Important Events In Jewish American History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1654 | First Jewish communal settlement in North America begins in New Amsterdam |
| 1730 | The first synagogue in America, Shearith Israel, is built in Manhattan |
| 1775 | Francis Salvador is elected to South Carolina Provincial Congress, becoming the first Jew to hold elective office in America |
| 1840 | Abraham Rice emigrates from Bavaria, becoming America's first ordained rabbi |
| 1871 | America's first Hebrew periodical is published in New York |
| 1903 | "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus is added to the base of the Statue of Liberty |
| 1916 | Louis Brandeis is appointed to the Supreme Court, becoming the first Jewish justice to serve on it |
| 1933 | The American Jewish Congress begins a boycott on German goods in protest to Nazi persecution of Jews |
| 1944 | Camp for Jewish war refugees opens in Oswego, NY |
| 1976 | The Jewish feminist magazine Lilith begins publication |
| 1992 | Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer become the first Jewish women to be elected to the U.S. Senate |
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism
In Depth
The United States contains an extensive Jewish population, making it imperative that those who belong to it have the resources they need to remain strong, healthy, and socially involved. Thankfully, there are many groups providing such reinforcement, implementing all kinds of valuable programs, services, and networks to help sustain and perpetuate the community and its culture. Focused on everything from promoting academic research to aiding Holocaust survivors, here are, in no particular order, five groups that productively represent and empower Jewish people.
For #1 we have the Association for Jewish Studies. A constituent group of the American Council of Learned Societies, AJS stands as the largest professional organization and academic society representing Jewish Studies research and pedagogy. With nearly 2,000 members, it devotes itself to advancing interdisciplinary scholarship at institutions of higher learning, as well as to promoting an understanding of the field among the public. AJS carries out this mission through sundry publications, grants and fellowships, professional development resources, and annual meetings, among other significant projects and programs.
The association's publications include bi-annual scholarly journals and magazines, which contain research, news, and commentary related to the area of study. Important public initiatives include Arts and Culture Community Grants, podcasts and webinars, and the Distinguished Lectureship Program, which gives scholars the chance to present their work at institutions across the country. Further connecting professionals is an annual conference, which brings together over 1,000 attendees to experience cultural programming, an exhibit of leading publishers, and nearly 200 enriching sessions. Support Jewish Studies scholarship by making a donation through AJS's site.
Further connecting professionals is an annual conference, which brings together over 1,000 attendees to experience cultural programming, an exhibit of leading publishers, and nearly 200 enriching sessions.
At #2 is the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. With a focus on education and justice, ISGAP operates by fostering interdisciplinary, scholarly research into the origins and workings of antisemitism around the globe. The organization seeks to bolster relationships among scholars, leaders, and communities at large, facilitating the development of projects, seminars, conferences, and academic programming that will spur discourse and elevate public awareness. It also maintains a focus on consultation and policy analysis in multiple contexts, and distributes research materials designed to inspire discussion about pertinent issues.
ISGAP runs many initiatives to nurture critical antisemitism studies and ensure that it becomes a vital part of college education. In partnership with Oxford, it offers a workshop-based Summer Institute that helps professors and other scholars create new curricula and syllabi for classes in the field. Complementing this are an international seminar series, online courses, and a program focused on topics related to homeland and diaspora. The organization also engages in a multi-faceted collaborative project that works to measure, analyze, and combat contemporary global trends in antisemitism. Make a contribution through ISGAP's site to help fund its operations.
For #3 we come to The Blue Card. Originated by the Jewish community in 1934 Germany, and reestablished in the US in 1939, today this organization supports Holocaust survivors through direct financial assistance, medical help, and other resources that address their basic needs. Serving almost 3,000 households in thirty-five states, it provides everything from rent subsidies to special holiday grants and health precautionary services, ensuring that all survivors can live the rest of their lives with the happiness, dignity, and independence they deserve.
Originated by the Jewish community in 1934 Germany, and reestablished in the US in 1939, today this organization supports Holocaust survivors through direct financial assistance, medical help, and other resources that address their basic needs.
Programs offered by The Blue Card encompass emergency cash assistance, in-home care services, emergency prevention, health and wellbeing, and educational outreach. These help in covering food purchases, essential clothing, housing costs, vacations, medical needs, and much more. The Fighting Cancer Together project, meanwhile, helps allay the conditions of survivors fighting the disease. To make sure its mission is carried on well into the future, the organization's Young Leadership Committee initiates programs that raise funds and build long-term social networks. Get involved by joining Team BlueCard, which allows you to raise money by taking part in sporting events.
Landing at #4 is Chabad.org. A division of the Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, this comprehensive website uses the power of the internet to enlighten, unite, and give Jewish people around the world a greater connection to their culture and traditions. Standing as a resource for those of all ages, nationalities, professions, and spiritual affiliations, it features a plethora of virtual tools that offer personal guidance, education, entertainment, community engagement, and more. The site reports that it includes over 100,000 pages of information, along with over 10,000 audio classes and videos.
Among Chabad.org's myriad offerings is its Ask the Rabbi service, through which rabbis and counselors respond to hundreds of visitor questions each day. Its surfeit of other faith-based tools include informational pages on subjects such as mitzvahs, kosher cooking, and holidays, as well as pages that assist in the study of important religious texts and teachings. There are also plenty of resources that offer insight into more daily concerns such as parenting, finance, and relationships, plus links that provide access to Jewish stories, art, and music that families can enjoy together. Send a gift to Chabad.org to help sustain its valuable services to the community.
There are also plenty of resources that offer insight into more daily concerns such as parenting, finance, and relationships, plus links that provide access to Jewish stories, art, and music that families can enjoy together.
Finally, arriving at #5 is the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale. Through religious services, community experiences, and programs that explore spirituality, arts, culture, and society, Slifka seeks to foster constructive alliances on campus and cultivate future leaders. Envisioned as a laboratory for the expression and contemplation of Jewishness, it offers a breadth of activities and resources including Rabbinic-led guidance, lectures, grants and fellowships, artist residencies, festivals, and travel opportunities. Equally essential to its mission is the Lindenbaum Kosher Kitchen, where students come together for enriching community dining.
In addition, the Center houses the multi-purpose Sylvia Slifka Chapel, which is used for everything from yoga classes to concerts and receptions. There's also the Allan and Leah Rabinowitz Gallery for artists, and the Beit Midrash, a place for study and daily prayer. At the nexus of all of this is Yale Hillel, which operates as the hub of student organizing and activity. Among the student groups are Young Israel House, which represents Orthodox life on campus, and Jewish and LGBTQ, which provides a safe forum for those whose identities encompass both communities. To ensure that Slifka continues to be able to enhance Jewish life at Yale, donate to its annual fund.
