6 Active American Jewish Organizations
In the face of anti-Semitism and other struggles, Jewish communities around the globe continue to stand up for their beliefs and support others who are vulnerable. The groups included here are all doing their part to help, providing education, social and economic assistance, and political advocacy to enrich and empower people across religious denominations. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 American Jewish Groups Supporting Communities
| Organization | Mission |
|---|---|
| Westchester Jewish Community Services | Strengthen communities by helping people of all ages and backgrounds overcome emotional, cognitive, physical, and social challenges |
| Scattered Among the Nations | Educate the Jewish and non-Jewish world about the beauty and diversity of our people, and assist geographically and politically isolated Jewish or Judaism-practicing communities to continue embracing the religion and culture |
| Center for Israel Education | Use primary sources to educate broadly about modern Israel |
| The Center for Jewish History | Illuminate history, culture, and heritage, providing a collaborative home for five partner organizations |
| Tarbuton & Startup18 | Support independent Jewish and Israeli community-builders creating new entry points for Jewish life in San Diego |
| IfNotNow | Expose Israel's occupation as a moral crisis to American Jews, end the weaponization of antisemitism in our political discourse, and create political space for leaders to stand up for the freedom and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians |
Inside the Center for Jewish History
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
Across the United States, there are incredible Jewish organizations that are looking to encourage understanding and happiness both within and outside of the religious community. If you are interested in some of the most impressive programs and projects that are working today, here are 6 active American Jewish organizations in no particular order.
Coming in at #1 is the Westchester Jewish Community Services, located in White Plains, New York. This organization is one of the largest human service agencies in Westchester, providing care to people of all ages and diverse backgrounds who are confronting significant challenges. They provide mental health, trauma, disabilities, youth, home care and geriatric assistance.
Their highly trained staff serves more than 20,000 adults, children and families each year through approximately 80 programs stretching all over the New York area. Westchester Jewish Community Services social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, managers, home health and personal care aides, education specialists, residence managers and direct care workers provide compassion, foster personal growth and help ensure the dignity of all individuals and families.
Westchester Jewish Community Services social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, managers, home health and personal care aides, education specialists, residence managers and direct care workers provide compassion, foster personal growth and help ensure the dignity of all individuals and families.
Up next at #2 is Scattered Among the Nations. This non-profit organization is dedicated to educating the Jewish and non-Jewish world about the beauty and diversity of the religious group. They assist geographically and politically isolated Jews or Judaism-practicing communities to continue embracing the religion and culture, while documenting these communities as they are today before they disappear through immigration or assimilation.
Scattered Among the Nations has worked with Jewish or Judaism-practicing communities across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. One of the primary ways that Scattered Among the Nations seeks to help these communities is by buying crafts they produce. Challah covers, prayer shawls, and yarmulkes are amongst the available crafts. Beyond that, this organization also helps by providing support during the holidays, raising building funds, sending religious texts, and facilitating emigration to Israel.
For #3 is the Center for Israel Education. This organization has four primary goals. Its first is to promote the ongoing concept that Israel is an integral and essential part of modern Jewish history. Its second is to provide students, educators, and life-long learners with materials and trustworthy sources to engage with others about the country today. Next is to train students and adults to become literate in the study of concepts of state-seeking, making, and keeping. Finally, the organization seeks to build digital resources through its robust website, and conduct in-person consultations, workshops, webinars and online learning opportunities.
This organization has four primary goals.
Center for Israel Education offers numerous different programs such as its Agency Professional and Lay-Leadership Development, which creates in-depth and relevant professional development experiences for employees and lay-leaders in regard to both relevant knowledge and strategies for dissemination to constituents. Another program it offers is the Jewish Summer Camp Initiative, which is a project that works with Jewish summer camps to provide education for staff and guidance on effective Israel programming.
Coming in at #4 is The Center for Jewish History in New York City. This organization's goal is to illuminate history, culture, and heritage. It provides a collaborative home for five partner organizations which hold archives that comprise the world's largest and most comprehensive archive of the modern Jewish experience outside of Israel.
The Center for Jewish History's collection spans five thousand years, with more than five miles of archival documents in dozens of languages and alphabet systems, more than 500,000 volumes, as well as thousands of artworks, textiles, ritual objects, recordings, films, and photographs. The Center for Jewish History is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and is a partner of the Google Cultural Institute.
The Center for Jewish History's collection spans five thousand years, with more than five miles of archival documents in dozens of languages and alphabet systems, more than 500,000 volumes, as well as thousands of artworks, textiles, ritual objects, recordings, films, and photographs.
Next at #5 is Tarbuton & Startup18, an organization that was founded in 2006 to support independent Jewish and Israeli community-builders creating new entry points for religious life in San Diego. Recently, Tarbuton has expanded its mission beyond Israeli culture and launched Startup18 programs to inspire and support Jewish builders of all kinds. It began by offering a Hackathon and seed funds to inspire new projects, and has begun offering fellowships to educate community members in addition to continuing its Lab workshops and network for project founders.
Tarbuton continues to offer a diverse list of programs that community members can get involved in. Some examples include Jewish Yoga and Meditation Fellowship for enthusiasts who are building a religious practice. Another program is its Teen Song Leader Fellowship and Internship offered in collaboration with Rick Recht's Song Leader Boot Camp to inspire the next generation of singers and musicians.
Finally at #6 is IfNotNow. This program is building a movement of Jews to encourage peace in the Middle East and transform the American Jewish community. It is committed to raising awareness about the Palestinian occupation, ending the weaponization of antisemitism in our political debate over Israel, and creating political space for leaders to stand up for the freedom and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians.
It is committed to raising awareness about the Palestinian occupation, ending the weaponization of antisemitism in our political debate over Israel, and creating political space for leaders to stand up for the freedom and dignity of all Israelis and Palestinians.
IfNotNow is intent on building a vibrant and inclusive movement within the American Jewish community, across generations and organizational affiliations. This movement is open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public and political leaders towards a hopeful vision for Israelis and Palestinians.
