Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, Inc.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford is to foster a vibrant, collaborative Jewish community by providing leadership and generating financial resources:

1) To strengthen Klal Yisrael (the community of all Jews) by providing and coordinating local services to those in need, welcoming newcomers to our community and providing outreach to unaffiliated community members, encouraging volunteerism, supporting the UJC's efforts in Israel and around the world, strengthening our relationships with our Israeli brothers and sisters, and by promoting Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).

2) To educate the Jewish and general community by sponsoring programs and activities with a Jewish focus, disseminating information on Jewish issues, explaining the importance of Tzedakah (justice, charity and righteousness), supporting local Jewish educational entities, funding educational activities and fostering positive Jewish attitudes throughout the community-at-large.

3) To encourage collaboration and partnerships by bringing together synagogues and other Jewish institutions to address local needs and through community-wide advocacy regarding Jewish issues and the State of Israel.

 

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The Federation Trusteeship

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford is the central address of the Jewish community in New Bedford and its surrounding communities.  It is a voluntary body created and maintained by volunteers who determine its philosophy, objectives and programs.  The Federation is a trusteeship which acts on behalf of its membership who, by definition, is anyone who is a contributor.  Day-to-day operations are overseen by the Executive Director, Amir Cohen. The Federation Campaign is one important way in which an individual may express his or her commitment to Jewish life.  It is the success of the campaign that makes possible the rescue of Jews in need, here at home and abroad, the building of our local community, and many other activities and programs in the New Bedford area.

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Your Federation at Work

• Supports Jews in need in Israel and around the world through allocations to the Jewish Agency for Israel and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
• Funds and coordinates, in collaboration with the Jewish Convalescent Home and Coastline Elderly Services, a kosher Meals-on-Wheels program for the homebound Jewish elderly.
• Supports children's Jewish education at the Bernard H. Ziskind School for Judaism.
• Provides grants to local Jewish teens for organized educational trips and programs in Israel.
• Funds and coordinates, in collaboration with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, The PJ Library, a free gift of books of Jewish content for young children.
• Participates in the national network of Federations through membership in the JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America).
• Raises funds and provides a weeklong supply of Passover food for needy local Jewish families.
• Participates in the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC) and supports social service projects in the Partnership2Gether region of Afula-Gilboa in Israel.
• Sponsors and coordinates community-wide programs of Jewish learning, Israel Independence Day celebrations, and other community-wide events. 
• Supports the Center for Jewish Culture at UMass Dartmouth and the Bristol Community College Holocaust Center.
• Plans, sponsors, and coordinates community-wide Holocaust programs, including the annual Yom HaShoah Observance and year-round teachers' workshops and speakers to local schools and community groups.
• Recruits donors and runs an annual blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross.
• Awards college scholarships annually to young men and women in the Greater New Bedford community to help them pursue their higher education goals.
• Acts as a liaison between the Jewish community and the general community of Greater New Bedford on issues of Israel advocacy and other issues of common interest and concern.

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