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.
Read more about this topic: Jewish United Fund