Jewish Federation makes an enormous difference in Jewish life in Israel - and has been doing so since well before 1948 and Israel’s independence.
In fact, the American Jewish community raised millions of dollars for Israel, first for the acquisition of land and, later, for the in-gathering of Jewish exiles and refugees from lands of distress.

Today, Israel’s needs are even greater. Each year, a portion of Federation funds go overseas for global humanitarian and social service programs—the majority of that sum goes to our agent in Israel: the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI).  JAFI’s primary role is rescue and resettlement of Jews in distress—for immigration to Israel, absorption into Israeli society and for ongoing social welfare, economic development and education services. Since 1990, the Jewish Agency has brought more than one million people to Israel from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, Chechnya, Yugoslavia, and Albania.

JAFI-supported services also include:

• comprehensive job training
• employment counseling,
• Hebrew language education
• services to distressed families
• development of rural areas.

Twenty-five percent of Federation’s overseas funds goes to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide aid to Israel to address special challenges such as children-at-risk, struggling immigrant populations, elderly and disabled and to provide relief, rescue and rehabilitation programs in 63 countries around the world.

Additional funds are directed by Jewish Federation’s Global Jewish Needs Committee to humanitarian projects. Through JAFI, Federation funds are targeted to special social and human service projects in Yokne’am-Megiddo, St. Louis’ Partnership 2000 sister-city region in Israel.

When there’s an emergency, Israel has turned to the world Jewish community for help. And Jewish Federation of St. Louis responds.

• When Israel fought for its independence, Federation sent more than $1.12 million in emergency funds.
• In 1967, the Six-Day War created a need for emergency funds. The Israel Emergency Fund (IEF) was created to offer humanitarian aid. In its first year, St. Louis raised nearly $1.8 million from almost 4,800 donors.
• In 1990, Federation was once again called upon to raise emergency funds to rescue Jews of the former Soviet Union. St. Louis Jews pledged $7.6 million to Operation Exodus. Just one year later, Federation raised money to help airlift 15,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours in Operation Solomon. 
• In 2006, in response to the war with Lebanon, St. Louis raised $2.6 million dollars in an Israel Emergency Campaign for rescue, relief, and rebuilding efforts. That campaign continues today in the wake of constant attacks near Gaza.
• Today, Jewish Federation of St. Louis continues to raise funds for Israel in special campaigns to facilitate immigration, rebuild distressed neighborhoods, and construct capital facilities such as schools, day care and community centers. 
  

Partnership 2000 (P2K)
In 1995, the Federation (along with the Jewish Federation of Atlanta) established a direct working relationship with the growing city of Yokne’am Illit and the 13 kibbutzim and moshavim of the Megiddo Regional Council. This region in Israel is 20 minutes southeast of Haifa, situated in the central Galilee, adjacent to the West Bank. More than 20,000 people live there, including immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and Argentina. The region is geographically significant as a transportation gateway between the northern Sharon coastal plain and the central Galilee. It is also known internationally for its significant archaeological site Tel Megiddo. Another archaeological site, Tel Yokne’am, is currently under excavation.

Federation uses a portion of our overseas allocations to fund projects that address Yokne’am-Megiddo’s economic, educational, and social development, as well as the absorption of new Ethiopian and Soviet immigrants.  At first, most P2000 programming focused on economic development and social welfare issues.

Today, the emphasis has expanded to include developing and strengthening relationships between the people of St. Louis and Atlanta—and the people of Yokne’am and Megiddo. Exchanges of professionals, summer camp counselors, young leaders and frequent visits by delegations of leaders have fostered strong bonds between the communities, despite their vast geographical separation.

Major initiatives funded through the Partnership, in collaboration with the municipalities are:

• A citywide youth center in Yokne’am
• Safe and Supportive Rural Community Project of the Megiddo Regional Council, which targets seniors in the Council’s 13 jurisdictions.

Advocacy for Israel
Federation, directly and through its community relations agencies (the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee and American Jewish Congress), plays a key role in educating the public about the needs of the State of Israel and mobilizing public and governmental support.

Economic Development
In recent years, increased emphasis has been given to strengthening the economy of Israel.  In addition to funding high-tech business incubators, vocational training, and small business loans, Federation in 1994 awarded a three-year grant providing seed money to the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) of St. Louis. Today, the Jewish Community Relations Council's (JCRC) Israel Business and Technology Center (IBTEC) is working to promote Israeli business and technology in St. Louis.
Travel to Israel
It has long been known that a personal connection with Israel is a powerful force in strengthening Jewish identity, especially for teens and young adults. In 1998, the Central Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE), with a special allocation from Federation, opened the Israel Experience Center to expand efforts to promote travel to Israel among young people.  The Center engages in marketing, promotion, subsidization and pre/post-trip educational programming to fully capitalize on the power of Israel as a vehicle for enhancing Jewish identity.

birthright israel Trips for Young Adults
In 2000, Federation, along with communities throughout North America, became a funding partner in birthright israel, an innovative project of North American Federations, the Israeli government, JAFI and other philanthropists to offer every young person  between the ages of 18 and 26 a free first trip to Israel.  Some 120,000 young people have participated in this program since its inception, including hundreds from St. Louis.

As in the past, Federation and its agencies continue to directly sponsor trips and missions to Israel for community members, donors, high school and college age students. The Federation also provides an incentive savings plan as well as modest scholarship assistance for youngsters who are in need.  Visit our Missions & Trips page.

Promotion of Israeli Arts and Culture
Federation and its agencies highlight the tremendous cultural and artistic vitality of the State of Israel and are often engaged in promoting and bringing such talent to the United States. For example, in September 2004, Federation donors and Partnership 2000 Committee members Stuart and Susie Zimmerman connected art, Israel and the local Craft Alliance through P2000 with “Material Culture: Craft of Israel,” a six-week exhibition. 

Federation also convenes community observances of Israel Independence Day and other community activities that strengthen identification with the State of Israel and public understanding and support for it.

Highlights: Federation-Sponsored Activities for Israel

• 2001—Federation rallied for IsraelNOW, a five-part solidarity program of advocacy, education, missions, programming and financial support;
• 2002—Federation convened a community rally in solidarity with Israel which was attended by 2,500 members of the St. Louis community;
• 2002—Federation launched an Israel Emergency Campaign in which $2 million was raised in 90 days to help Israeli victims of terrorism; $1.2 million was raised in the first 10 days of the campaign;
• 2003—Former Jewish Federation President Jay Sarver was named chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, the #2 spot in JAFI, the world’s largest Israel relief organization;
• 2003— Federation sent 90 St. Louisans to Israel for an historical conference and mission;
• 2005—Federation invited Yokne’am and Megiddo mayors to speak in St. Louis about our Partnership 2000 sister-city connection;
• 2005—38 women participated in a groundbreaking Women’s Mission to Israel, sponsored by Federation;
• 2005—Federation, through UJC, supports the Ethiopian National Project. With help from Federation-funded relief organizations, 3,700 Ethiopian Jews were resettled in Israel, and the work continues.  Federation-funded programs and services also help the 100,000 Ethiopian Jews who have resettled in Israel.