JUF has helped my family with kindness, care and compassion. They are professional and use money wisely. They do not turn anyone away, and that is very important to me. I deeply appreciate the organization, and most importantly, the people who work there.
The JUF isn't run as smoothly as one might expect, and there is a lack of concern for individuals who pile up at the doors of the social service agencies. The heads of those agencies, like Jewish Family Service is run horribly, and the guy who hires the folks at JFCS couldn't care less. Imagine these are over-stressed and under-educated guys with a narrow perspective on life and too many kids at home to feed.
Raising a teen is hard work for a single jewish mom soft at the edges trying to navigate the sharp turns of the agencies under the JUF umbrella.
I remember watching a woman in her kitchen preparing for Shabbot, chopping meat on a cutting board, moving it around with a brut force and intensity, lacking respect for what it once was, a creature perfect in its form. Lets put aside the kosher kill and realize the preparation ..
I called JUF's human resources/rabbi of the Golf Rd Skokie shul last summer. I was ill with c dif. Needed help from JCFS but the director of JCSF dropped the ball on me and was so flippant about it i complained to the JUF /skokie rabbi above who hires the underlings.
The director head of JCFS manipulated some rationale, unrefined and retaliatory, to steal my lottery winning which i obtained through financial aid Skokie JCFS office.
That office denied me a good fit for counseling for over a year and never offered me help till i won that lottery which he retracted.
I lost my health, my child, my home and my life. From the POV of me, mom, parent-- they've partaken in the torturous behavior of a private high school which they fund and which ganged up against me with my difficult adolescent.
As a single parent, can you imagine them using their money against you , to tear you apart from your kin?
For my lack of funds and ill health I get pushed aside?
This is not Judaism.
Its almost 2 years Ive been on their chopping block. The head of the agenies above threaten me when i draw attention to this and to all concerned who steamrolled over me.
They "prepared" me --- a single mom on the same Shabbot chop block, whacking what was once alive in me to bits of what is now almost dead. I am food for vicious thought, for them. Delicious, digested, and without concern for the soul it once inhabited.
The JUF is an umbrella that hid and irrevocably and viciously separated my family. There's no excuse. They shucked me aside because as I had no substantial wealth backing they allowed me NO VOICE..
There's is a mechanical seperation attempting to force feed us like farm chickens you think its ok to eat because theyre kosher. They are tortured. Tortured kosher. The JUF -- that big umbrella --tore a gaping hole in my heart and ruined my life and my faith in those who profess an interest in Judaism.
The Jewish United Fund extends its reach to help so many in need, both here in Chicago and around the globe each and every day. JUF has made a concerted effort to raise increased awareness of its mission and reach more people through new channels of communication by increasing its online presence on its website, through Facebook and diverse and informative blogs. JUF also works hard to engage the next generation and gives young Jews in their 20s and 30s a voice through Oy!Chicago.com and programs such as "Double Chai in the Chi, 36 under 36" which recognizes outstanding young contributors to the community each year.
The Jewish United Fund is an incredible organization that helps 300,000 Chicagoans of all races and religions and 2 millions Jews in Israel and around the world. I love volunteering at JUF supported agencies, and it feels great to see where my money and efforts go!I feel confident that when I give to JUF my support is going directly to helping those in need and furthering causes I care about.
JUF helps so many people in so many ways, from meeting the most basic and essential daily needs to responding to crises to improving quality of life and building community. Jews and non-Jews. In Chicago, Israel and around the world. It really makes a difference in people's lives. And it does it very effectively and efficiently. I know my dollars are being used the way they should be.
The Jewish United Fund is an incredible organization that helps needy Chicagoans of all denominations, and plays a critical role in supporting all facets of Jewish life in Chicago, Israel and around the world. I know that when I donate to JUF, my money goes directly toward helping people in my community and supporting causes I care about.
It matters to me that JUF/Federation takes care of both Jews and non-Jews in need, and that it does so with fundraisings costs of just 4 cents on the dollar. Personally, I also am gratified that JUF funding supports the work of the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel. and programs to empower women in communities like Beit Shemesh.
I support Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago because its affiliate agencies reach the Chicago community at large. From reuniting families immigrating from countries were they suffered persecution and helping them establish lives in the US, to sponsoring community-building events, to helping parents of children with special needs and children of aging parents - JUF's agencies and programs have an incredible outreach. I appreciate the focus on meeting people's needs - food, heat, healthcare, etc.
I support the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. I know that my donation will be used effectively in two ways - to help those with immediate needs and to build a future we all want to be part of.
I believe that JUF is an outstanding nonprofit organization to support because you know that when you give them your money, they use it as efficiently as possible and reach thousands of individuals in need, not only in the Chicagoland area but all over the world. As the center of federated giving for Chicagoland Jews, dollars raised by JUF/JF have the greatest possible impact and fund so many incredible organizations, including JCFS, CJE Senior Life, and The ARK locally as well as JDC and JAFI for overseas initiatives in Israel and beyond. They address health and human services issues as well as jewish education and communal concerns. Because I caer about all of these things, it's great to have a place to give one donation that goes the extra mile to support all of these critical programs.
When I moved to Chicago nearly seven years ago, not only did I not know a single person, but I had never visited Chciago before. In the process of getting myself acclimated, I began attending JUF functions (young profession events, bar nights and their softball league). The window of social opporunity that JUF created was endless. I quickly learned what a vital organization JUF is to the Chicago community. Many of us are very familiar of the benefit and care the outstretched helping hand of JUF offers in the social service, fundraising and volunteer arenas. In parallel, those who become involved are rewarded, in my opinion, more than they give. Since attending my very first event, Shabbat in a Box, I have made countless friends, volunteered for amazing causes and donated to make a difference. My circle of friends would not be what it is today without the foundation YLD has set. I was privileged to be given the opportunity to join the YLD Board of Directors. Now, as I am actively part of the organization that gave me so much, I have the ability to give back so that someone else, new to Chicago like me, will have the same amazing experience, because of JUF, I had upon moving to the city.