Federation
Who is “Federation” and what do we do?
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Photos courtesy Ted Epstein
he answer is simple: It’s you – and every member of the Jewish community of Greater Naples and the surrounding areas. The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is the thread that runs through the fabric of our Jewish community, its organizations and services, connecting us all. The Federation is your center for Jewish Philanthropy. The Federation supports programs for Jewish people in need in Greater Naples, Israel and throughout the world, providing food for the hungry and counseling for the troubled, spearheading rescue and relief efforts for isolated Jews in distressed regions, and funding innovative Jewish educational and unity initiatives. The Federation creates a sense of community for thousands of Jewish residents in Greater Naples and its surrounding areas by creating and supporting programs to further Jewish learning, identity, pride and culture. Federation meets the challenge of providing for the needs of our Jewish brethren, wherever they may be, from young children and families to seniors. The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing connection, advocacy, education and care for anyone in need through its network of beneficiary and constituent agencies as well as local Jewish organizations. While the Federation is doing this here, other Federations and network communities are doing the same elsewhere; all are connected through the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Founded on the principles of unity and dignity for all, today’s Federation has evolved into a major fundraising, planning and coordinating entity of the Greater Naples Jewish community. The Jewish Federations of North America are meeting places for Jews from all backgrounds, ensuring the continuity
of the Jewish people here at home, through national initiatives, in Israel and in 60 countries globally. Through your support of the Federation’s Annual Community Campaign, you play a vital role in helping Federation “get the job done.” Think of it as a triangle: Federation, its agencies and you. So, if anyone asks you who Federation is – just point to yourself – because that’s where it all begins.
Where does the money go?
The local Campaign allocation process involves a committee of volunteers as well as Federation staff. They take part in this important process, which balances available resources with community priorities through a grant process. Locally, the Federation makes a grant to the Naples Senior Center at JFCS in support of the social services it provides for our community. And grants are made in support of a variety of educational and cultural programs conducted by local synagogues, the Holocaust Museum and other local Jewish organizations. Additionally, several national organizations receive support from the domestic allocation. Internationally, your contribution works to support
a broad range of social, educational and vocational needs throughout the Jewish world. Our allocation to JFNA is distributed to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which brings relief to the needy and works to revitalize Jewish life in 60 countries, and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), which rescues people from countries and resettles them in Israel. We also provide supplemental grants in support of special programs and projects that our community has embraced, like Neve Michael Youth & Children’s Village in Pardes Hana, Israel; the Sapir Community Center in Kfar Saba, Israel; transportation and Shabbat dinners in Cuba; and the Progressive Synagogue Preschool in Kiev, Ukraine. Giving tzedakah to an umbrella organization like Federation, which then distributes it to a number of member agencies, has its roots in early Jewish history. In small towns and large cities, donations were given to a communal kupah as an expression of devotion to community and the entire Jewish people. It demonstrates a love of community that is without limitation.
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Jane Schiff, Jeffrey Feld, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Lt. Gary Martin and Chief Stephanie Spell
CONNECTIONS 2022
A Guide to Jewish Living in Greater Naples
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