Where the money goes

Where the money goes

Chattanooga (LOCAL)

  • Jewish Cultural Center houses the Federation’s offices and a three-star pre-school, Aleph Bet Children’s Center.
  • The Federation’s Social Services Department includes a licensed social worker, a nurse, Mitzvah Meals (delivered meals), and van service for those who need transportation to events or appointments.
  • The Shofar and Jewish community telephone directory are projects of the Federation’s communication department, which also maintains a website and a Facebook page.
  • Programs at the Federation’s Jewish Cultural Center include discussion groups about local, national and international topics. Exhibits, the Annual Jewish Film Series, performances,
  • Philanthropy Camp, and other special events are offered throughout the year. The Federation coordinates community-wide holiday celebrations, such as the community July 4th indoor picnic, the Community Chanukah Party, Yom HaShoah, and several Israel celebrations.
  • The Jewish Federation offers camp grants and Israel scholarships for children in our community to attend Jewish summer programs, and subsidizes adult missions to Israel. The high school activity program, Jew Crew, is also a program of the Jewish Federation.
  • Our largest allocation supports Machanooga, the joint congregational religious School.
  • Federation provides cultural opportunities for 21-45 year olds through Young Jewish Leadership locally and nationally.
  • The Jewish Federation provides education about Judaism to the general community. The Federation, a United Way partner agency, also works with area churches, the media, public and private schools, and arts and civic organizations to educate and inform.

Putting A Face On Israel – Shlichim Program

The Jewish Federation believes it is important to strengthen our community’s ties to Israel. One of the most effective ways to do so is to build relationships using the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Young Shlichim (emissary) program. Shlichim go to communities around the world to interact with local Jewish and non-Jewish residents and to lead educational, interactive, and engaging programs about Israel.

Our shaliach, Amit Matityau, is in Chattanooga through August, 2021 through the Young Shlichim program.

Some of the many programs and special events Amit leads or in which he participates are as follows:

  • Teaching on Sundays at Machanooga
  • Alternating weekly as a Hebrew teacher on Wednesdays at B’nai Zion Congregation, Mizpah

Congregation, and Chabad of Chattanooga

  • Offering Israeli-themed programs
  • Engaging with the Jewish Federation’s Young Jewish Leadership group
  • Promoting Partnership 2Gether (P2G) exchange programs with the Hadera-Eiron region in

Israel

  • Assisting with our local Jewish teen group, the Jew Crew

The Shaliach position also entails outreach, and Amit:

  • Speaks to public and private school children from elementary through high school
  • Speaks at civic groups, such as Kiwanis and Rotary
  • Writes monthly articles for the Shofar
  • Keeps our community informed through periodic community emails
  • Speaks at churches and at non-Jewish community events

Overseas

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)

JFNA represents 153 Jewish Federations & 400 independent Jewish communities. The Federation movement, collectively, is among the top 10 charities on the continent, protecting and enhancing the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning). JFNA provides assistance to the following organizations.

The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)

Over the last 60 years, JAFI has helped rescue and absorb 2.5 million immigrants, established more than 800 rural settlements, cared for over 400,000 children and transformed almost 100 disadvantaged neighborhoods. JAFI is helping to build the nation of Israel and, in turn, is building the framework for Jewish revitalization worldwide. Since 1989, JAFI has brought more than 700,000 olim to Israel; 600,000 are still expected to come. Also, each year JAFI sponsors Israel Experience programs for 20,000 young persons, touching the lives of more than two million Jewish children.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

This agency works quietly in 57 countries around the world. When Jews are in life-threatening circumstances, in sudden crisis, languishing without spiritual guidance, JDC is there. JDC is proof that Jews take care of each other. In the Former Soviet Union there are 139 JDC- staffed social welfare agencies providing food, medicine, mail and comfort. Cuba’s Jewish population of 490 is aided by a JDC-sponsored rabbi and youth worker. When the United Nations could not get food into Sarajevo, the JDC got into the city and rescued Jews and others.

World Ort

World Ort is the world’s largest Jewish education and vocational training non-governmental organization. Started in 1880, World Ort is today operational in 37 countries and helps around 300,000 students around the world, including in Israel. Specializing in technology, our mission is to provide communities, wherever they are, with the skills and knowledge to cope with the complexities and uncertainties of their environment.