Q: What does the Federation do?

A: Federation builds and strengthens Jewish community; from your hometown to our homeland, from the homebound to the homeless, from elderly Jews in Russia to North American teens discovering their birthright in Israel. Whether the task is reducing Jewish poverty and hunger, rescuing and resettling new immigrants, or spurring Jewish renaissance worldwide, federation is committed to seizing this moment in Jewish history to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people.

Q: What does the Federation do compared to other Jewish organizations?

A: Federation is the one place that belongs to every Jew, the place where philanthropy, volunteerism and shared commitment come together to make a difference, to repair the world. As part of a continent-wide system, federation has the capacity to reach every Jew in need with a social-service network unparalleled in the world. These resources and the experience and reach of its two preeminent overseas partners – the Jewish Agency for Israel and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – enable federation to bring life-saving and life-sustaining caring to all Jews in need. And it brings North American Jews into direct, personal, meaningful partnerships with the people of Israel through many innovative programs. Among them: Partnership 2000 community-to-community programs; birthright israel, providing free first-time trips to Israel for Jewish youth; OTZMA volunteer opportunities in Israel for recent college graduates, and much more.

Q: What is the North American Jewish community's relationship to Israel?

A: A strong, secure Israel is the bedrock of the global Jewish community. Through our overseas partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, UJC and North America's federations have played – and continue to play -- a pivotal role in Israel's remarkable story of immigration, renewal and growth. While the UJC federation system advocates for Israel and its desire for peace, it remains a non-partisan organization un-aligned with any particular political party in the United States or abroad.

Q: When I donate, where does my money go?

A: A gift to the UJF Annual Campaign provides unrestricted funds to meet urgent, ongoing humanitarian and social service needs of the global Jewish people, to encourage and support Jewish education and Jewish community, and to strengthen the relationship between North American Jews and the Israeli people. Part of your gift remains right in our own community, helping to strengthen our Federation, a premier provider of programs to safeguard and enhance Jewish life at home. Part goes to meet overseas needs through our partners, JAFI and JDC. These dollars help build the Jewish homeland and rebuild strong Jewish communities in Israel and 59 countries around the world.