Jewish United Fund - Timeline

Timeline

1900s

  • Associated Jewish Charities of Chicago is founded on April 12, 1900 (Passover Eve).
  • Chicago Hebrew Institute (CHI), forerunner to Jewish Community Center (JCC) Chicago, founded.
  • Associated Jewish Charities’ Jewish Home Finding Society pioneers foster care concept.
  • Michael Reese Hospital opens, begins 100 years of service.
  • Jewish Aid Society launches first worker-training program.

1910s

  • Home Finding Society leads to new Illinois law, a mother’s pension act.
  • Federation of Orthodox Jewish Charities of Chicago consolidates local Orthodox charities.
  • Julius Rosenwald builds new home for Jewish Aid Society on West Side.
  • Mount Sinai Hospital opens.

1920s

  • Jewish Aid Society merges with Bureau of Personal Services to become Jewish Social Service Bureau, later provides services during Great Depression.
  • Chicago Hebrew Institute becomes Jewish People’s Institute, begins construction of Camp Chi.
  • Hebrew Theological College founded; Board of Jewish Education founded, establishes College of Jewish Studies.
  • Associated Jewish Charities merges with Orthodox Federation, becoming Jewish Charities of Chicago. Julius Rosenwald is 1st president.

1930s

  • Associated Talmud Torahs, Jewish Vocational Service, and Jewish Children’s Bureau founded.
  • Jewish Charities forms Jewish Children’s Welfare Society.
  • Jewish community leaders help found Community Fund of Chicago, now United Way.
  • Depression-based school closings lead thousands of youths to enroll in Jewish People’s Institute.
  • United Jewish Appeal raises funds for European Jews in desperate need.

1940s

  • Jewish Community Center of Chicago established to expand leisure activities of Jewish People’s Institute.
  • Jewish Social Service Bureau becomes Jewish Family and Community Service (JFCS).
  • Jewish Charities, Jewish Welfare Fund merge fundraising as Combined Jewish Appeal.
  • Operation Magic Carpet brings 50,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel on a 400-flight airlift.
  • Jewish Charities becomes Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

1950s

  • Jewish Vocational Service pioneers therapeutic workshops for people with disabilities.
  • Camp Chi moves to Lake Delton, WI.
  • JFCS establishes Virginia Frank Child Development Center.
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago moves to 1 S. Franklin.

1960s

  • Jewish Welfare Fund supports Jewish programs on college campuses.
  • Combined Jewish Appeal becomes Jewish United Fund; Philip Klutznick 1st chair.
  • JUF establishes Public Affairs Committee, later Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

1970s

  • The ARK becomes a special grant agency; Response Center established.
  • College of Jewish Studies becomes Spertus College of Judaica.
  • Jewish Federation merges with Jewish Welfare Fund.
  • Federation establishes the Council for Jewish Elderly, now CJE SeniorLife.
  • First Walk With Israel.
  • Federation resettles some 300 Vietnamese refugees at US government request.
  • JUF responds to proposed Nazi march in Skokie.

1980s

  • B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations and College-Age Youth Services merge into Hillel-CAYS, today known as The Hillels of Illinois.
  • Federation’s Public Affairs Committee (later JCRC) co-sponsors rally in Evanston, protesting a proposed Neo-Nazi rally in that suburb; 4,000 attend.
  • Federation opens Government Affairs offices in Springfield and Washington D.C.
  • Federation opens EZRA Multi-Service Center in Uptown.
  • Federation spearheads Operation Moses, bringing 10,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
  • SHALVA and Keshet founded; Keshet starts first Jewish day school for disabled children in U.S.
  • JFMC Facilities Corporation established.
  • JUF’s Chicago Conference on Soviet Jewry flies 1,000 to D.C. for national, 200,000-strong rally, brings Federal lawsuit against USSR.

1990s

  • Operation Exodus rescues and resettles 200,000 Soviet Jews over 10 years.
  • JUF opens its Chicago Israel Office of the Federation in Jerusalem.
  • Operation Solomon airlifts 15,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 24 hours.
  • Federation establishes Community Foundation for Jewish Education and Jewish Women’s Foundation.
  • JUF celebrates Israel’s 50th anniversary: 10,000 attend concert, 10,000 attend Walk with Israel.
  • Petach Tikvah becomes Chicago’s Israeli Sister City, having been JUF’s Project Renewal sister city.
  • JUF joins Partnership 2000 with the Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir area of Israel’s Negev.
  • JUF’s JCRC escorts Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to Israel.
  • JUF celebrates Jerusalem’s 3,000th anniversary with its largest Mission to date.
  • JUF helps draft first state-wide bill making it illegal to raise funds to support terrorist activity.
  • TOV: The Tikkun Olam Volunteer Network and The JUF Uptown Café established.

2000s

  • Federation celebrates Centennial, launches Centennial Campaign, hosts General Assembly.
  • JUF provides humanitarian aid to Kosovar refugees fleeing ethnic cleansing.
  • JUF establishes Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders.
  • JUF runs Israel Emergency Campaign to address needs created by these situations.
  • JUF responds to terror attacks of September 11 with Terror Relief Fund, to Hurricane Katrina with humanitarian aid and volunteers.
  • 25,000 attend first JUF’s Israel Solidarity Day, incorporating the Walk With Israel, at McCormick Place.
  • JCB and JFCS merge into Jewish Child and Family Services.
  • Federation establishes Jewish Day School Guaranty Trust.
  • Federation moves to new headquarters at 30 S. Wells after 48 years at 1 S. Franklin.
  • JUF accompanies Sen. Barack Obama to Israel, then escorts Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley there.
  • JUF celebrates Israel’s 60th anniversary with gala at Northwestern University, attended by 8,000, and concert at Millennium Park, attended by 15,000.

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