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Causes: Federated Giving Programs, Philanthropy
Mission: The mission of the charleston jewish federation is to build and sustain jewish life in charleston, israel, and around the world.
Programs: Jewish education and jewish life from connecting the local jewish community to the remember program for holocaust education and genocide awareness, charleston jewish federation supports agencies and initiatives to cultivate jewish life and jewish education locally and all over the world. Jewish community relations council of greater charleston the jewish community relations council of greater charleston envisions a more just society by sustaining a strong and vibrant jewish community locally, nationally, in israel and around the world, and by enhancing that strength through collaboration with other communities. Toward this end, the jewish community relations council of greater charlestons mission is to educate and advocate on issues of vital importance to the organized jewish community based on consensus, civility and an expanded commitment to living jewish values of social justice. By joining the leaders of the jewish organizations of our community, the jewish community relations council of greater charleston provides an amplified and unified voice of the greater charleston jewish community on critical issues in the public sphere. Education and loan fund the jewish educational loan fund (jelf) provides interest-free loans to jewish students from georgia, florida, north carolina, south carolina, and virginia for post-secondary education (undergraduate, graduate, and vocational schools). Jelfs loans supply the final funds that a student needs to attend school and are also need-based. Remember program in moving ceremonies during scheduled meetings, local city and county councils issue proclamations that commemorate the holocaust. It is crucial for members of the jewish community to attend the council meetings at which the proclamation is read. Holocaust education and genocide awareness programs countless students and educators have discovered that studying and teaching the holocaust can be a transformative learning experience. Such study necessitates delving into the behavior of individuals and how they acted and reacted during one of the darkest periods in the history of humanity. For many, understanding the range of human behavior represented by the categories of victim, bystander, perpetrator and rescuer makes the holocaust a story for all of humanity. The complex issues that accompany a study of the holocaust encourage students to think critically about important issues and values not only within the historical context of the holocaust, but also in contemporary society. The holocaust aptly demonstrates the fragile nature of democratic institutions, inclusion and even citizenship. It challenges students to develop their participation in our own democratic institutions. The legacy of the holocaust is the call to foster a caring and responsible society that respects its citizens. The study of the holocaust allows numerous entry points for learning across multiple disciplines. Students and teachers of history, world religions, language arts, english language development, and civics and social responsibility are just some of the areas of study that have successfully incorporated the holocaust into their learning activities. Studying the holocaust is about studying people, real-life individuals caught up in the destructive whirlwind of nazi aggression. It is this human element and the poignancy of the individual narrative that compels one to study and to remember, so that never again becomes a reality. Charleston jewish voice online formerly a printed quarterly publication, the digital jewish voice is now sent to the e-mail inbox of thousands of members of our community. The digital format allows us to provide more timely news items to the community more often than the printed version. We encourage members of the community to share their stories with the greater charleston jewish community through the jewish voice.
creating a community of shared responsibility: vulnerable populations as jews, we hold the shared responsibility of taking care of our entire community, including its most vulnerable members. From caring for local jewish community needs through the kosher food pantry, to caring for jewish refugees in ukraine, we help ensure that no one is left behind. Kosher food pantry since its creation in the fall of 2011, the kosher food pantry (kfp) has provided a communal response to hunger in the greater charleston community. The kfp reflects our commitment to the jewish values of tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (repair of the world) and to serving community members in need with kavod (respect). The kosher food pantry serves all individuals and families in need, regardless or age, race, sex, or religion. We are proud partners with lowcountry food bank, a member of feeding america. Counseling charleston jewish family services (cjfs) offers an array of mental health services to adults, adolescents, and families in the local community. These services address issues such as depression, anxiety or adjustment disorders, relationship issues, stress management, vocational issues, and more. Therapists are able to provide effective, short-term, supportive counseling, while making referrals to and collaborating with other healthcare professionals when appropriate. Cjfs does not provide clinical treatment to those with severe and persistent mental illness. Clients with chronic psychiatric illness will be referred to an organization which provides more comprehensive services. Interested persons should call to schedule an initial in-office evaluation to determine the appropriate services needed. Senior outreach initiative charleston jewish family services offers services and resource referrals through the senior outreach initiative for older adults in greater charleston. Cjfs seeks to maintain the independence and dignity of senior adults, while keeping them connected to jewish traditions and community. Our friendly staff provide the following services to assist seniors and their family and caregivers: -resources and referrals to the appropriate local agencies -comprehensive assessments -assistance in navigating senior benefits -home and long-term care visitations -food delivery through the kosher food pantry -wellness visits in addition, a licensed marriage and family therapist is available for confidential counseling for older adults or caregivers in our office.
engaging the next generation: nagid 360 nagid 360, the leadership institute of the charleston jewish community. Nagid is a hebrew word meaning "leader,- and in this dynamic group experience, local jewish professionals network and directly impact the future of our greater charleston jewish community. By taking a 360 view, you will explore our diverse, vibrant and growing city with important role models and leaders. Eligible candidates are young professionals (30's and 40's) seeking opportunities to grow their leadership, business and jewish communal knowledge and skills, while meeting like-minded people and having fun but that's not all. Participation in this cohort also means joining an elite network of mentors and peers, gaining access to vip events and receiving subsidies for conventions and trips around the world and in israel. At monthly gatherings from january - june, you will meet with important role models and leaders in the local jewish community while exploring your passions and navigating all that our local jewish community has to offer you. By participating in a team project that will make a direct impact on jewish charleston, you will learn through experience the skills needed to become a positive and creative community leader. In addition, participants will receive customized communications and invitations to community events and opportunities locally, nationally, in israel and around the world. Young adult division charleston's growth is attracting young jews from around the country, as well as natives returning to the area. Yad provides opportunities to expand your social or professional network with other 21-35 year-olds as we explore charlestons vibrant jewish community together. Yad encourages participation of interfaith couples in all of our activities. Pj library the pj library is a unique program that seeks to encourage jewish families with young children to explore jewish literature. In order to accomplish that goal, each month the pj library sends an age appropriate jewish content book or cd to enrolled children between the ages of six months to eight years. Created by the harold grinspoon foundation (hgf), the pj library is funded by the charleston jewish federation and local philanthropists in partnership with hgf. Shalom baby shalom baby is designed to help charleston families (affiliated, non- affiliated, and interfaith) celebrate the arrival of their jewish newborns and welcome them to the jewish community through: gift baskets, play groups, social events, holiday celebrations, and resource guides. This successful outreach program has expanded to meet new parents' needs by offering: infant massage tutorials, musical gatherings, baby book clubs, sleep solutions classes, and more. Charleston life and legacy
strengthening our connection to israel and jewish peoplehood: israel engagement initiative there is no place in the world more meaningful for the jewish people than israel. While the ancient land of israel has always been home to the jews, since 1948, the modern state of israel has completely transformed what it means to be a jew. Because of the state of israel, jews have a national identity, wherever they live. Here at the charleston jewish federation we believe that israel is one of the most effective ways to connect north american jews of all ages to their heritage, and thereby strengthen our connections to the local jewish community and the worldwide jewish community. We also know that israelis get more involved, more connected, and more aware of their jewish identity when they have relationships with jews outside of israel. Through our allocations to the jewish agency for israel and the joint distribution committee, the charleston jewish federation answers social, cultural, economic, welfare and educational needs all over israel. Our vision for the future is to capitalize on the rich and diverse jewish foundation of our community to build living bridges and help create many encounters, connections and relationships across all generations and affiliations. We intend to develop diverse travel opportunities and programs based on the platform of partnerships, working closely with local israeli leadership and geared toward the goal of connecting our people into one family with one vision for us all. Partnership 2gether partnership 2gether program, creates a living bridge between ten southeastern jewish communities and the hadera-eiron region of israel. Israeli educators who are working with our local teachers to bring israeli culture to our children, the israeli teens who are hosted by our families, the young leaders who study jewish identity together with our young professionals. Thanks to this partnership, the future of charleston's relationship with israel is stronger than ever. World ort world ort works for the advancement of jews and others through training and education. Through international cooperation programs, ort supports non- sectarian economic and social development in under-developed parts of the world by providing vocational training and technical assistance.