Nine Things We Do (and One We Don’t)
A Guide to the Work of the Jewish Federation
We get that it’s confusing. The Jewish Federation plays so many roles in our local and global Jewish community that it’s easy to lose track of all we do.
Let’s start with why we’re here. Our mission is actually very simple: We take care of the needs of the Jewish people and build a vibrant Jewish future for all, in Greater South Bend, Israel and around the world.
In other words, we make sure that help is available to those that require it. We also work to keep our community connected and unified, and to keep our Jewish values, culture, and traditions strong, today and for the future.
But how do we accomplish our mission? To help clarify, here are nine things we do (and one we don’t):
We raise money through our Annual Campaign to support the Jewish community of Greater South Bend, the people of Israel, and Jewish communities around the world. We launch emergency fundraising campaigns, when necessary, during times of crisis. We also raise long-term resources through our professionally managed Endowment Fund to ensure the welfare of Jewish South Bend for future generations.
We distribute the funds raised to our annual operating budget, which serves as the heartbeat of the Federation. The budget entails the essential resources to support social welfare, Jewish life, education, and other core areas including Jewish Family Services (JFS), Community Relations Committee (CRC), Camp Ideal, Holocaust Education, and the Israel Desk through our overseas allocation to Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and our Partnership2Gether (P2G) Western Galilee region.
We plan for the near and long-term welfare of the community, assessing changes in current and future needs, community demographics, economic trends and other factors. This year has been dubbed Vision 2025 as we continue to engage in a rigorous planning process that informs how we can best use community resources to ensure the welfare and sustainability of the community.
We strengthen Jewish life by offering a wide variety of art, culture, educational, and Israel advocacy programs and events, including those for young adults (NEXTGen) who will carry the Jewish torch into the future. Our upcoming Taste of Chugim (activities & clubs) is designed to engage as many Jewish individuals in our community as possible with more affinity group opportunities. This includes many who are otherwise uninvolved in Jewish life.
We support Israel and its people, forging lasting connections between Jewish South Bend and Israelis by building a strong and active relationship with our partnership community in the Western Galilee region.
We help Jews in need around the world. Working closely with Jewish Federations of North America, we support critical rescue, relief and, when necessary, relocation services to vulnerable and at-risk Jewish populations wherever they may be. We respond to crises locally or globally as they emerge, whether it is a flood, a pandemic, a war in Ukraine, or an attack against the Israeli people. Federation takes the leading role in the communal response.
We advocate for the Jewish people in the media and public square, building positive relationships with other groups in the broader community through our Community Relations Committee (CRC). With our shaliach program, Omer Karavani works to present a positive image of Israel to the wider community. And through our extensive Holocaust education programs in local schools, we work to prevent Antisemitism and eliminate all forms of hate and intolerance.
We keep the community safe, working closely with Secure Community Network (SCN), Safe Indiana, and local law enforcement to ensure the security of our community and institutions. This includes our congregations, day school, camps, and the Federation campus.
We bring the community together, acting as a central convener for the Jewish community of South Bend to celebrate, commemorate or observe events and milestones in our shared Jewish experience.
In addition to that list, there is one thing we absolutely do not do as an organization:
We don’t advocate for any political party or participate in partisan politics in any way, locally, nationally, in Israel, or anywhere in the world. We remain an apolitical organization focused on the welfare of the Jewish people.
As you can see, we do a lot to realize our mission. And while we certainly don’t do everything in our community, if you need help or information about something we don’t handle, we can help you find someone who does. Please call us, we will be happy to have a conversation with you.
Moshe Kruger
Executive Director
mkruger@thejewishfed.org
(574) 233-1164 x1802