The Charlotte Jewish News- September 2025- Page 5
Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
FEDERATION IMPACT: BENEFICIARY AGENCY SPOTLIGHT
ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS ALLOCATIONS
As a means of bettering our greater Charlotte Jewish community, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte allocates funds to Jewish organizations that embody Jewish values. In recognition of their work, we at Federation wish to bring attention to these organizations and the good that they do.
When Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte allocates funds each year, we do so with the understanding that our responsibility extends far beyond our local community. We are proud to support a network of overseas agencies doing critical, often life-changing work across Israel and the broader Jewish world. These partnerships— many of them strengthened through our collaboration with The Jewish Federations of North America( JFNA), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee( JDC), and the Jewish Agency for Israel( JAFI)— are an extension of our mission to care for those in need, deepen Jewish identity, and support a vibrant, secure Jewish future.
While larger partners like JAFI and JDC often come to mind, a portion of our impact overseas is made possible through support of smaller, grassroots organizations working on the ground to serve their communities. From underserved youth in Israel’ s periphery to Ethiopian-Israeli families, from bilingual schools that bring Jewish and Arab children together to programs uplifting people with disabilities— our reach is broad, diverse, and deeply rooted in values of dignity, opportunity, and unity.
Each year, a portion of our Annual Campaign goes to agencies such as:
• Aharai-Givat Olga, Educating 4 Excellence, Technoda, and the Yerucham Association, all of which empower Israel’ s youth with educational enrichment and leadership opportunities.
• Chabad Chesed Center, Talpiot: Community For Its Children, and the Gidon Association / Maksam, which provide basic needs and services for families facing food insecurity, neglect, or poverty.
• Krembo Wings, a youth movement where children and teens with and without disabilities come together to build friendships and community.
• Hand in Hand, a national network of bilingual schools that serve as a model for coexistence, welcoming both Jewish and Arab students and families.
• Israel Religious Expression Platform( iRep), which
promotes religious diversity and pluralism within Israeli society.
• TALMA, an immersive program that strengthens Jewish identity and education by connecting Jewish educators from around the world with Israeli classrooms.
• Friends of the IDF, which provides health and wellness support to Israel’ s soldiers.
• HIAS, which offers humanitarian aid to refugees and asylum seekers, grounded in Jewish values of welcoming the stranger.
• Ethiopian National Project supports Ethiopian-Israeli communities with academic, social, and career-building programs.
• Hadera Young Adult Center, which helps connect Israeli young adults with career opportunities and professional development.
• JDC’ s FSU Welfare Program, which supports vulnerable elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union with essential care and services.
This year marks a new chapter in our overseas engagement with the launch of a dedicated Overseas Allocations Committee, a group of community members tasked with evaluating the evolving landscape in Israel and beyond. As a key component of Federation’ s overall allocations process, this committee will help identify urgent needs and strategically allocate overseas funding to the organizations best equipped to address them.
Because of you, Federation’ s reach is global. Your support ensures that wherever there is a Jew in need, we are there.
Whether responding to a crisis, supporting inclusive education, or uplifting vulnerable populations, these overseas agencies reflect our collective values in action. Through them, we don’ t just make a donation— we make a difference.
Malak Jewelers
Since 1980