As we approach the end of 2016, we want to take a moment to share some highlights from the past year.

With our mission as a guide, the Jewish Federation of Madison works toward building a strong and unified Jewish community which will ensure the survival, well-being, and continuity of the Jewish people locally, in Israel, and throughout the world. Our community strived to accomplish these goals through the many services and programs of the Jewish Federation this past year by: 

Supporting Those In Need

• The 2016 Tzedakah Campaign goal is $1,018,000. We still need to raise $68,000 to reach our goal. If you haven't donated already, please consider doing so today. If you have already donated but would like to increase your gift we'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
• Our community helped resettle refugees from Syria in Jordan, Israel, Europe, and other places through the work of the Joint Distribution Committee and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
• We helped victims of Hurricane Matthew and continued to help hurricane victims in Nepal.
• When terror struck the people of Israel, help arrived through the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Fund for Victims of Terror.
• The Camp Shalom Scholarship Fund awarded $105,500 to 193 campers who would otherwise be unable to attend camp.
• $15,500 in full and partial scholarships were given to students attending one or more of Gan HaYeled’s preschool programs.

Strengthening Our Community

• Jewish Federation of Madison Executive Director, Dina Weinbach, co-chaired the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Superintendent’s Human Relations Advisory Council (SHRAC) which works to assure the success of all students in our public schools.
• The Federation monitored and responded to incidents of anti-Semitism in our community and worked vigilantly in protecting individual and civil rights and safety for Jews and indeed for all people.
• Community Outreach efforts this past year included meeting with over 50 families who are new to Madison, who recently had a baby, or who wanted to learn more about the Jewish community.
• 28 families participated in the Yad B%u2019Yad (Hand In Hand) Playgroup for babies and their parent or caregiver.
• 34 active players on the “Matzah Balls” co-ed sports team played five sports (kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, flag football, and basketball).
• 2 new groups were created - JAM (Jewish Adults of Madison) geared toward those with more time for themselves and SPF (Singles, Professionals and Families} for adults in their 20s 30s and 40s.
• Other programs this year included: Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration, Yom Hashoah commemoration, Annual Teachers’ Convention open to all Jewish educators, and the Hava Nagila Jewish Community Picnic.
• Madison Jewish News, the Jewish Federation of Madison's monthly newspaper, completed its 49th year.
• Our weekly Monday morning eNewsletter got a redesign and mobile version, catching it up to our website www.jewishmadison.org.
• We added Instagram to our existing social media presence of Facebook and Twitter and a Condolence Notification service.
• The Jewish Federation of Madison funded and supported Jewish Social Services, UW Hillel, the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, Chabad at the University of Wisconsin, and the Madison Jewish Community Day School.

Engaging Our Children

• Camp Shalom, for grades K-5, completed its 62nd summer with 656 campers served.
• Camp Shalom Noar Bogrim completed its 4th summer and served 225 campers in 6th-9th grade.
• Winter Maccabiah, held over winter break, served 36 campers in grades 2nd-8th.
• In partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camping, the Federation made up to $1,000 available per camper through the One Happy Camper program and helped send 13 children to Jewish resident camps for the first time.
• The Hilde L. Mosse Gan HaYeled Preschool, now in it's 46th year, served 23 students during the school year and 27 over the summer in Camp Shalom Katan.
• Midrasha Hebrew High School, the joint post-B’nai Mitzvah program of the Jewish Federation of Madison, Beth Israel Center, and Temple Beth El, began its 41st year with 70 students enrolled.
• The Laurence A. Weinstein Midrasha Incentive Award of up to $2,000 was awarded to 10 graduating seniors for continuing Jewish education in college or educational trips to Israel taken within the first two years after High School graduation.
• 15 students Kindergarten through 12th grade took part in Yonim, Madison’s outstanding Israeli folk dance program.
• Family Education Programs included Spirituality in Early Childhood, Tu B’Shvat Seder and Slides, Kindness Wins Online Safety Workshop, Michael Twitty Kosher Soul, Hamantashen Baking Workshop, Pizza by the Pool, and a Hanukkah Mitzvah Day.

Connecting With Israel

• Our Partnership 2Gether (P2G) programming this past year included a visit from 10 Israelis from our partner region, Sovev Kinneret, who came to Madison to run the marathon.
• We began the 14th year of participating in the Shlichut program offered by JAFI (Jewish Agency for Israel). Daniel Gil and Shirly Raiz-Gil entered their 2nd year as our Community Shlichim.
• 4 grants of $1500 each were awarded to high school students who participated in a three week or longer organized trip to Israel.

---

Your Support Makes All This Possible. Let's Build A Stronger Community Together. Donate Now >

---

Read More in December's Madison Jewish News, page 7 or the 2015-2016 Annual Report.

See More About the Programs & Agencies We Fund.