Following the October 7th attacks on Israel, the Jim Joseph Foundation awarded emergency grants over a few months period to help sustain Jewish life in North America and provide meaningful Jewish experiences for youth and young adults. These were unique new initiatives and partnerships that aligned with the Foundation’s mission and strategic priorities while meeting the needs of the moment.
We share information about these grants below, to inform the field about our approach to philanthropy during this unprecedented time.
Foundation for Jewish Camp: A $500,000 grant toward FJC’s $8.5 million Israel Emergency Response Plan, designed to provide resources and support to its network of over 300 day and overnight camps. This includes support for staff recruitment, mental health and wellness services, Israel education resources, and security capital, training, and personnel.
Hillel International: A $1 million grant toward Hillel’s $15 million campaign that supports additional staff at local Hillels to meet the demand for Jewish and Israel educational programs; extra skill-building, educational programming, care, and support for current staff; development and dissemination of new curricula about antisemitism and the situation in Israel; new immersive student service-learning experiences in Israel and preparation for professionals who lead trips; bridge building programs across different student groups; and security and crisis responses.
M²:The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education: A $150,000 grant toward the Israel Crisis Initiatives Project, which includes a new curriculum to understand the redemption of hostages as a Jewish value, support for educators to reframe Yom Ha’Zikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut in 2024, and a professional development program for Jewish educators in Israel and North America to move from grief to growth.
The Jewish Education Project: A $750,000 grant to fund Mishlachot Areyvut, a partnership between The Jewish Education Project and The iCenter to send cohorts of select educators and senior educational staff to Israel from now until June. These trips will prepare Jewish educators in various settings to reconnect with Israel and Israelis in order to design and teach with new educational frameworks to meet this moment.
Adamah: A $100,0000 grant to support special programming, including an Israeli Families Weekend at Pearlstone, Respite Retreats for Israelis, college students, and rabbis, and the addition of Israeli young adults to every cohort of Teva educators and Adamah fellows.
Imagination Productions for OpenDor Media: Two grants totaling $200,000 to support the creation of new educational content about Israel for Unpacked and the Unpacked for Educators Elementary School Pilot Project. This includes the creation of a new Youtube Channel, a new podcast, and three modules of newly designed curriculum and multimedia for grades 3-5 that includes parent engagement.
Birthright Israel Foundation: A $500,000 grant to operate two distinct immersive Israel travel experiences: a seven-day Israel Trip Staff Intensive to train cohorts of 22-40-year-old trip leaders, and a two-week Volunteer in Israel program for 18–40-year-old young adults.
BBYO: A $50,000 grant to enable enhanced Israel educational offerings at BBYO’s International Convention, including bringing a larger cohort of Israelis than originally planned. With a larger presence of Israeli teens and adults, BBYO provided an expanded Israel education program for American teens.
CASJE (Collaborative for Applied Studies in Jewish Education) at George Washington University: A $50,000 grant to provide rapid research digest e-newsletters with summaries of research from others in the field on how American Jews are responding post-October 7th. This project went through January 2024.
Hadar: A $50,000 grant to support programming in response to the war, including a young adult volunteer and learning trip to Israel, musical gatherings across the country, programming for gap year students who returned to the United States, and a learning series for rabbis.
JPro Network: A $30,000 grant to support the launch of four new affinity groups, one Community of Practice, and more “Zoom In with JPro programs” and Spotlight Master Classes, with a focus on immediate needs in the field.
The Jewish Peoplehood Alliance: A $50,000 grant to support the One2One Initiative (which connects U.S. and Israeli teens) with technology adaptation, enhanced marketing, training and professional development for educators and professionals, and updating protocols to meet the needs of those less engaged.
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies North America: A $40,000 grant for equipment, extra classes, staff hours, meals, and related resources to support continued Jewish learning at Pardes’ Jerusalem campus during a time of war.
The Jewish Federations of North America: A $100,000 grant for the design and execution of Shabbat of Love—a large scale, transcontinental Shabbat celebration to center Jewish light, love, and positivity during a challenging time.
JCPA for Resetting the Table: A $50,000 grant to support Resetting the Table to hire an additional professional to serve increased needs on campus in this moment.
Oshman Family Jewish Community Center: A $50,000 grant to support the Z3 conference offering diaspora-Israeli dialogue about the future of Jewish identity and world affairs.
Boundless Israel: A $50,000 grant training for Jewish and Israel educators on how to offer spaces for education, processing, and allyship during this time.
EarlyJ, a project of Hopewell Fund: A $75,000 grant to strengthen security measures at Bay Area Jewish Preschools. EarlyJ is working directly with Bay Area preschools (there are 47) and awarding grants toward this end.
Moishe House: A $35,000 grant for security cameras and other urgent requests from Moishe House residents and hosts needing support in response to the war.
Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools: A $40,000 grant to develop and run a media campaign promoting Jewish day school as an attractive option for families at this time.
Emergency Grant