The Jewish Federations of North America

For Jewish Teens Struggling Now, Jewish Groups Extend a Lifeline

Makayla Wigder, a high school senior from Houston, had been looking forward to the prom, graduation and one last summer with her friends before leaving for college. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. Now those plans appear highly unlikely to materialize. “It’s just…

Stuck Home But Having Fun: Engaging Young Children Jewishly During COVID-19

After weeks at home, like kids across the country, Ashley Chenault’s three children missed the friends they usually see at PJ Library activities. So Ashley was thrilled when she and her kids got to participate along with their friends in a fun virtual scavenger hunt, run by the Jewish…

Here’s How U.S. Jewish Groups are Helping Overwhelmed Health Care Workers

When the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping across America, New Orleans artist and former paramedic Peter Seltzer decided he had a role to play. Seltzer not only came out of EMT retirement to pick up paramedic shifts, he also investigated how else he could help health care workers by…

Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Holocaust Survivors at Special Risk Getting Help

Earlier this year, when the coronavirus pandemic began to unfold in Asia and appeared destined to hit the United States, the Jewish agencies that deal with America’s most vulnerable Jewish populations decided they had better get ready. Holocaust survivors, whom many consider to be the…

How Jewish Communities are Deploying Passover Aid

Across America, Jewish Federations are finding unconventional ways to cope with the restrictions while helping with Passover needs. Among them: kosher chickens in Columbus, Ohio, free matzah in Memphis, supermarket gift cards in Chicago, catered Seder plates in Houston and online Seders…