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Building Bridges

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Sephardic. Ashkenazi. Russian-speaking. And every religious denomination. Gay and lesbian. We’re all part of the tapestry of the Jewish community. But sometimes we need a little help to understand one another.

UJA-Federation of New York works to bridge divides among diverse elements of the Jewish community in New York and in Israel. We also build relationships between the Jewish community and other communities for the benefit of society as a whole.

The Challenge of a Diverse Community

  • The New York Jewish community is a multicultural landscape, reflecting the rest of American life in the 21st century. Each group has unique cultural aspects that strengthen it as a community and bring vibrancy to the totality of Jewish life.
  • In the new global environment, we must find ways for the Jewish community to connect as a global community, recognizing that the boundaries that defined Jewish life in the past may no longer be meaningful or conducive to strengthening it.

UJA-Federation’s Response

We provide essential support to beneficiary agencies and grantees that help build bridges among Jewish communities in New York, in Israel, and around the world.

Last year, our collective impact helped provide:

In New York

  • Major support for the Salute to Israel Parade as a way of engaging diverse segments of the New York Jewish community.
  • 17 mini-grants to synagogues and Jewish community centers to support social-action programming in the New York Jewish community.

  • Support to more than 25 New York social, educational, and cultural events engaging Israeli Americans. Read more in our recent study of Israeli Jews in Greater New York (PDF).

In Israel

  • Social-action programming in 33 synagogues across denominations in Israel.
  • Pre- and post-Israeli army leadership programs comprising diverse groups of participants.
  • Support for the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute in Jerusalem, creating a conversation on the policy needs and priorities of the Jewish people.

Around the World

  • Support for relationships between 30 New York synagogues, community centers and day schools, and organizations in Israel.
  • New trilateral links, bringing together Jewish institutions in New York with sister agencies in Israel, Europe, and Latin America.
  • Support for Kol Dor, a global Jewish network committed to developing a global Jewish community.

Learn more our network’s building bridges programs or find help.

Your gift does so much for so many.