Federation is mobilizing community builders and organizations to ensure a strong future for us all in Jewish Greater Washington. Together, we are building an open, connected, and vibrant Jewish community that cares for each other, fosters Jewish learning and journeys, embraces Jewish peoplehood and Israel, and acts as a force for good in the world. From sustaining Jewish life locally, in Israel, and around the world; to fostering innovative new partnerships and initiatives that will serve the next generation, Federation is connecting the Greater Washington Jewish community to one another, to big ideas, and to organizations that address critical issues. Explore our latest Digital Impact Report to discover the many ways in which we are connecting with purpose.
Federation strategically convenes individuals and organizations to work with us as we lead the charge toward a stronger and more vibrant tomorrow. Through our personal connections and with a larger purpose, we are building an open, connected, and vibrant Jewish community, strengthening and sustaining Jewish life in Greater Washington.
community members gathered for Federation’s Grand Slam Sunday: Community Day at Nationals Park to connect with each other and cheer on our home team.
attended Federation’s first annual Main Event, Jewish Greater Washington’s evening of networking, inspiration, and entertainment, with special guest, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
attended Federation’s Homecoming to honor long-serving community leader Paul S. Berger and to toast the past, revel in the present, and connect with the future of our Jewish community.
Federation and our partners are committed to advancing and fostering inclusion across all of our work. Through programs and services that welcome, raise awareness, and advocate for the rights of all community members, we grow in ways in which everyone feels supported and encouraged to participate in Jewish life.
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people participate annually in welcoming and inclusive LGBTQ+ programming and events, including through PJ Library offerings and the Edlavitch DCJCC’s GLOE – Kurlander Program for GLBTQ Outreach & Engagement.
annual hours of job training empower individuals with disabilities to join the workforce.
individuals with disabilities and their families connected with resources, support, and a road to independence though Federation.
“Federation’s Mental Health First Aid training provided me with a grounding in extremely needed skills to support the youth and teens I work with as they journey through life. Now I am better equipped to know how to identify, connect, and provide a next response to help prevent or address a mental health crisis.”
—CANTOR REBECCA ROBINS
CANTOR EDUCATOR, TEMPLE SINAI
Federation and our partners are proudly fostering diverse Jewish learning opportunities and journeys for Washingtonians of all ages. With 3,500+ years of Jewish wisdom to guide us, it is within our reach—and our mandate—to ensure that Jewish learning remains accessible and relevant to life in 21st century America.
Learn Moreis invested annually in our community’s Jewish education system.
community members, including rabbis, think tank leaders, and agency executives, engaged in high-level Jewish learning to elevate and shift the Jewish communal conversation in Greater Washington.
of children in grades K–8 are enrolled in a Jewish educational activity, including day schools, part-time schools, and private classes/tutoring.
Federation’s missions to Israel and around the world provide an opportunity to be inspired, ignite our thinking, and build lifelong friendships. Mission participants return with an enhanced connection to the countries and cities they’ve explored and a renewed commitment to the Greater Washington Jewish community.
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“I had no idea that I would embrace Israel so deeply and have experiences that made this journey so much more than just a ‘trip.’ The inspiration I drew from the variety of activities among blended communities filled me with hope and pure joy. The series of speakers provided me with insight, thoughtfulness, and purpose. The tour guides’ storytelling skills filled our experiences to the brim. The Israel YOUR Way Mission brought everything together with many significant events and celebrations that will forever leave an imprint on my heart.”
—DAHN B., PARTICIPANT
ISRAEL YOUR WAY 2019
Federation and our partners help individuals build an enduring and personal connection with Israel. It is up to us to transcend current political realities and strengthen our relationship with Israel. We work to help our community continue embracing and celebrating the Israel’s story of survival and prosperity.
LEARN MOREof young adults in Greater Washington have been to Israel.
congregants and students connect to Israel and Israelis thanks to the work of 13 shlichim (emissaries) in our community.
teens have participated in the Margo & Yoram Cohen Family Israel Engagement Fellowship since its inception in 2014.
In times of crisis and calm, Federation connects passionate leaders, volunteers, and donors with opportunities to make a tangible difference. Federation and our partners are working together to identify, mobilize, and respond to the biggest issues facing our community, enabling every individual to act as a force for good.
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annual hours of home care meet the needs of local Holocaust survivors.
volunteers made a difference for our community at Federation’s Sara & Samuel J. Lessans Good Deeds Day. With 70+ partner organizations, Greater Washington’s is the largest organized Good Deeds Day effort in North America.
was raised in emergency relief funds in 2018-2019 for hurricane victims, security funding, and other critical local and global efforts.
Establishing a Jewish identity is a lifelong journey. Together with our partners across Greater Washington and around the world, Federation offers a multitude of opportunities for community members of all generations infuse their lives with Jewish meaning.
Learn MoreJewish teens in grades 6-12 participate in a Jewish youth group.
enables local children to experience Jewish overnight camp for the first time.
young adults are finding community and connecting to Israel through Hillel and Birthright Israel trips.
With the rise in anti-Semitic violence, we must protect ourselves from those who would seek to do us harm. Together with the Secure Community Network (SCN) and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Federation works to enhance the safety and security of the Greater Washington Jewish community.
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to support faith-based institutions that have experienced, or are at high risk of experiencing, hate crimes.
has been infused into our community through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, including approximately $5.2 million for synagogues.
“In the face of rising anti-Semitism and security threats across the country and around the world, the close relationship between the JCRC and Federation has become more vital than ever. Together, we are working to spread awareness of critical issues, and to raise and provide the resources needed to support and secure our Jewish communal agencies, congregations, and community members.”
—RON HALBER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JCRC OF GREATER WASHINGTON
Jewish tradition teaches the importance of making the world a better place for future generations. By partnering with Federation’s United Jewish Endowment Fund (UJEF), community members can make gifts that fit their financial goals and focus their charitable giving on the community issues and organizations most important to them.
Learn More“Much of my professional and communal work is inspired by my grandparents’ and parents’ commitment to seeing our community’s potential. Their guidance and thoughtful approach to their legacy encouraged me to establish my own. Thanks to a subsidized life insurance policy through Federation’s UJEF, I proudly created a Lion of Judah Endowment to ensure that my annual gift to Federation will continue to support the Jewish community long after I’m an active part of it.”
—JESSICA S.
Federation’s Strategic Plan articulates a clear vision for our community and an updated mission for our work. With a renewed focus on identifying issues that need attention and on mobilizing our community towards effective action, we outlined three new strategic priority areas: Adult Jewish Learning, Engaging the Next Generation in Jewish Life, and Strengthening Jewish Life in Northern Virginia.
