Frequently Asked Questions

What is (a) federation?
What does UJC MetroWest do?
What does UJC MetroWest do compared to other Jewish organizations?
What is the North American Jewish community's relationship to Israel?
Where does my money go?
How are funding priorities in Israel and elsewhere determined and met?
Can I designate where I'd like my money to go?
My husband and I would like to adopt a child. Where could we get professional advice and information?
My father’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and my mother is overwhelmed caring for him 24/7. What help is available?
What local services in a Jewish setting are available to people with developmental disabilities?
My sister-in-law is struggling to live with a chronic illness. She’s getting good medical care but I feel she needs something more. What does our Jewish community offer?
What kinds of projects in Israel are supported by UJC?
What are UJC’s overseas partnership communities?
How can I get involved?

Q: What is (a) federation?
A: A federation is the heart and soul of North American Jewry's philanthropic and humanitarian activities. It embodies a 3,500-year-old tradition of caring that goes back to the giving of the Torah and sustains us in the bold pursuit of Jewish community, Jewish values, and Jewish peoplehood. Locally, United Jewish Communities (UJC) of MetroWest NJ is the people who care enough to want to perfect an imperfect world. Federation is the passion of commitment, where tzedakah and a sense of social justice can make a difference in someone's life.

Q: What does UJC MetroWest do?
A: UJC MetroWest builds and strengthens Jewish community – at home and around the world. Whether the task is caring for the elderly, providing quality Jewish education opportunities, reducing Jewish poverty and hunger, rescuing and resettling new immigrants, or spurring Jewish renaissance worldwide, UJC MetroWest is committed to seizing this moment in Jewish history to insure the continuity of the Jewish people.

Q: What does UJC MetroWest do compared to other Jewish organizations?
A: UJC MetroWest is the one place that belongs to every Jew, the place where philanthropy, volunteerism, and shared commitment come together to make a difference, to repair the world. As part of a continent-wide system, UJC MetroWest has the capacity to reach every Jew in need with a social-service network unparalleled in the world. These resources and the experience and reach of our two preeminent overseas partners – The Jewish Agency and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – enable us to bring life-saving and life-sustaining caring to all Jews in need. And it brings North American Jews into direct, personal, meaningful partnerships with the people of Israel through many innovative programs.

Q: What is the North American Jewish community's relationship to Israel?
A: A strong, secure Israel is the bedrock of the global Jewish community. Through our overseas partners, UJC and North America's federations have played – and continue to play – a pivotal role in Israel's remarkable story of immigration, renewal, and growth.

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Fundraising: Where do the dollars go?

Q: Where does my money go?
A: A gift to the United Jewish Appeal of MetroWest NJ annual campaign provides unrestricted funds that UJC uses to meet urgent, ongoing humanitarian and social service needs of the global Jewish people, to encourage and support Jewish education and Jewish community, and to strengthen the relationship between North American Jews and the Israeli people. Part of your gift remains right in the community, helping to strengthen the MetroWest community, a premier provider of programs to safeguard and enhance Jewish life at home. Part goes to meet overseas needs through our partners. These dollars help build the Jewish homeland and rebuild strong Jewish communities in over 60 countries around the world.

Q: How are funding priorities in Israel and elsewhere determined and met?
A: To meet ongoing needs as well as support programs that benefit diverse populations and circumstances, UJC has put in place a revolutionary approach to overseas funding – an overseas needs and assessment system. This system insures that a significant amount of the money allocated for overseas purposes will be provided for core services, such as rescue, immigration, and absorption, with an increasing amount in the future earmarked by the federations for other specific, creative projects.

Q: Can I designate where I'd like my money to go?
A: The UJA MetroWest annual campaign is the primary means of meeting the ongoing needs of the Jewish community worldwide. Beyond the annual campaign, various philanthropic opportunities offer a wide variety of programs and projects that stress people-to-people connections in supporting unmet global social and human needs. Endowment gifts enable donors to support a general or specific area of interest. And participating funds allow donors and their families to partner with the federation in funding those areas of the federation mission most deserving of additional support.

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A Few Examples of What We Accomplish

Q: My husband and I would like to adopt a child. Where could we get professional advice and information?
A: Jewish Family Service of MetroWest is a fully licensed adoption agency.

Q: My father’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and my mother is overwhelmed caring for him 24/7. What help is available?
A: The Herr Adult Medical Day Care Center, operated by Daughters of Israel in West Orange, has a special program of activities for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. It operates five days a week and provides door-to-door transportation. A Caregivers Resource Center provides support groups and information, including planning for later care.

Q: What local services in a Jewish setting are available to people with developmental disabilities?
A: Several agencies in MetroWest offer services to people with developmental disabilities and their families. These include special educational programs; social, recreational and cultural activities; summer day camp; counseling, support groups and advocacy; training in independent living; vocational training and job placement; kosher group homes, a supervised apartment program, and respite opportunities.

Q: My sister-in-law is struggling to live with a chronic illness. She’s getting good medical care but I feel she needs something more. What does our Jewish community offer?
A: The MetroWest Jewish Health & Healing Center integrates modern approaches to well being with timeless Jewish wisdom. Its offerings include healing services, pastoral counseling, spiritual support groups, and workshops and programs. The Project SHIN (Spiritual Healing Integrating Nursing) nurse is available for home or hospital visits and consultation with families.
 
Q: What kinds of projects in Israel are supported by UJC?
A: The 39% of UJC MetroWest unrestricted funding that goes to Israel supports a broad range of services. These include Ethiopian absorption in Rishon LeZion, an extended school day for low-income students in Ofakim-Merchavim, religious pluralism projects, responses to terrorism, and educational trips to Israel for teens and college-age youth.

Q: What are UJC’s overseas partnership communities?
A: As part of its commitment to Jewish people throughout the world, UJC MetroWest has developed special relationships with seven overseas communities – six in Israel, and one in Ukraine. The partner communities in Israel are Rishon LeZion, Ra’anana, Ofakim/Merchavim, Kibbutz Erez, Gush Etzion, and Horfesh. Cherkassy, Ukraine, is our overseas partner community. The partnerships involve special projects, cultural and educational exchanges, and MetroWest missions to the communities.

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UJC Involvement

Q: How can I get involved?
A: UJC MetroWest is the place that builds community and you are the spark to that flame. By volunteering, you play a pivotal role in relieving an older person's hardships, affirming for a child the powerful values of Jewish tradition and continuity, and helping others do the wonderful mitzvah of saving Jewish lives and Jewish life. Click here to get involved today.