1) To strengthen Klal Yisrael (the
community of all Jews) by providing and coordinating local services to those in
need, welcoming newcomers to our community and providing outreach to
unaffiliated community members, encouraging volunteerism, supporting the UJC's
efforts in Israel and around the world, strengthening our relationships with
our Israeli brothers and sisters, and by promoting Tikkun Olam (repairing the
world).
2) To educate the Jewish and general
community by sponsoring programs and activities with a Jewish focus,
disseminating information on Jewish issues, explaining the importance of
Tzedakah (justice, charity and righteousness), supporting local Jewish
educational entities, funding educational activities and fostering positive
Jewish attitudes throughout the community-at-large.
3) To encourage collaboration and
partnerships by bringing together synagogues and other Jewish institutions to
address local needs and through community-wide advocacy regarding Jewish issues
and the State of Israel.
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The Federation
Trusteeship
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford is the central
address of the Jewish community in New Bedford and its surrounding
communities. It is a voluntary body created and maintained by volunteers
who determine its philosophy, objectives and programs. The Federation is
a trusteeship which acts on behalf of its membership who, by definition, is
anyone who is a contributor. Day-to-day operations are overseen by the
Executive Director, Olga Yorish. The Federation Campaign
is one important way in which an individual may express his or her
commitment to Jewish life. It is the success of the campaign that makes
possible the rescue of Jews in need, here at home and abroad, the building of
our local community, and many other activities and programs in the New Bedford
area.
For more information about services
provided by Federation, please click here.
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Officers
President
Dr. Stuart
Forman |
Vice-President – Campaign
Ellen
Hull |
Vice-President
Dr. Janet Freedman |
| |
|
|
Vice-President
Dr. Jack
Belkin |
Treasurer
Edward Siegal |
Secretary
Dr. David Rosenberg |
| |
|
|
Immediate Past
President
Judy Pollack |
Executive Director
Olga Yorish |
|
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Your Federation at
Work
Supports children's
Jewish education at the Bernard H. Ziskind School for Judaism, the Ahavath
Achim Educational Program, and the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode
Island.
Assists with counseling and crisis
intervention, and provides emergency financial assistance to local families and
individuals.
Supports Jews in need in Israel and around
the world through allocations to the Jewish
Agency for Israel and American
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Participates in the national network of
Federations through membership in the United Jewish Communities.
Coordinates Passover Relief appeal. In
cooperation with the rabbis, raises funds and provides a weeklong supply of
Passover food t needy local Jewish families.
Funds and coordinates, in collaboration
with the Jewish Convalescent Home and Coastline Elderly Services, a kosher meal
site at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Provides 25-30 daily hot kosher meals for the
elderly. In addition, 15-20 meals are delivered daily to the homebound
elderly.
Participates in the Partnership 2000
program of the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC), a direct link between
the local community and the Afula-Gilboa region in Israel.
Sponsors community-wide programs in
conjunction with the Center for Jewish Culture at UMass Dartmouth.
Coordinates and sponsors community-wide
Holocaust programs, including the annual Yom HaShoah Observance and year-round
teachers' workshops, educational resources, and speakers to local schools and
community groups.
Recruits donors for the annual Blood Bank
Drive, which supports a vital service at St. Luke's Hospital for members of the
Jewish community.
Provides grants to local Jewish teens for
educational programs in Israel.
Co-sponsors bi-weekly Lunch and Learn
program at Ahavath Achim Synagogue.
Coordinates and maintains the community
calendar for all local Jewish organizations.
Administers the College Scholarship
program. In 2008, awarded 12 grants to young men and women in our community for
the 2008-09 school year.
Acts as a liaison between the Jewish
community and the general community of Greater New Bedford on issues of common
interest and concern.
Maintains a permanent lending video
library of 160 videos of Jewish interest.
In addition to funding these services and
programs, the Federation allocates funds to the following agencies that provide
important services to the Jewish community:
Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society
National Yiddish Book Center
Birthright Israel
CAMERA
Anti-Defamation League
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Repairing
the world is federation leader's mission
By LINDA ANDRADE RODRIGUES
Standard-Times staff writer
April 20, 2008
Olga Yorish, executive director of
the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, is a woman on a
mission....
To
read the online article in its entirety, click the link below. =>
SouthCoastToday.com.
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Jewish Federation