UKRAINE RELIEF FUND ESTABLISHED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CINCINNATI; UKRAINE COMMUNITY HOTLINE CREATED BY JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

Our National and Local Communities React.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (JFC) has joined the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) $20 million emergency campaign to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable Jewish populations living in Ukraine. Funds will be allocated through Jewish Federations’ core partners: The Jewish Agency for Israel, The Joint Distribution Committee, World ORT, and others who are on the ground in Ukraine. These funds will provide critical welfare where it is needed most, and focused support to safeguard Ukraine's Jewish community, as well as Jews in neighboring countries. 

Funds will help provide urgent necessities to vulnerable Jewish populations, community security, temporary housing for displaced persons, emergency needs in Jewish schools, and aliyah-related assistance.

The Federation Steps In

“As a Jewish community and as Cincinnatians, we have always joined together to help those most in need,” said Danielle Minson, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (JFC). “The people of Ukraine and their loved ones here in the region need that support now and we are here for them.”

To aid in this global campaign, JFC has established the Ukraine Relief fund, with 100% of all donations going to the local, regional, and international efforts taking place to protect those at risk. 

“The Jewish Federations, through our partners, are on the ground in Ukraine,” added Minson. “We take great pride in the power of the collective that allows us to respond to this emergency so swiftly.” 

“This situation is very real and very personal to our clients and coworkers with family members in Ukraine. Many are people we helped resettle in our region as they fled antisemitism in the former Soviet Union. This hotline is the first of many steps we are taking to provide help.”

—Liz Vogel, CEO, JFS

Tens of Thousands Impacted 

There are approximately 200,000 members of Ukraine’s Jewish community, and close to 300 Jewish organizations dispersed over some 100 towns and cities. Since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, they have been profoundly affected by political and economic instability, and Jewish Federations, together with their partner agencies, have provided ongoing support to this vulnerable population for communal needs, programming, and humanitarian aid. 

Locally, one of those key partner agencies is Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area (JFS). For more than 40 years, JFS has helped thousands of Jewish emigrants from the former Soviet Union and surrounding regions resettle in Cincinnati; work that continues each and every day. JFS is establishing the Crisis in Ukraine Community Hotline at (513) 766-3333 to connect family and friends living here with the resources available to help those overseas. The hotline will initially be open during regular business hours.

For JFS, It's Personal 

“This situation is very real and very personal to our clients and coworkers with family members in Ukraine,” said Liz Vogel, Chief Executive Officer of JFS. “Many are people we helped resettle in our region as they fled antisemitism in the former Soviet Union. This hotline is the first of many steps we are taking to provide help.”

Through the Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish Federations have brought Shlichim to Ukraine, run Sunday programs, supported the aliyah of Jews, and brought Ukrainian youth to Israel for immersive programs. Through JDC partners, Jewish Federations supported multiple Hesed centers across 1,000 locations—supporting the most vulnerable people of Ukraine. Jewish Federations run JCCs and Jewish youth programs to help younger generations reimagine Jewish life, where it once was all but decimated. Through World ORT, Jewish Federations have played an important role in the renewal of Jewish life through Jewish day schools, vocational training, and more.

“Jewish Federations are hard at work, day after day, year after year, in times of crisis and calm, to build flourishing Jewish communities,” said Mark Wilf, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Federations of North America. “And when an emergency erupts, we are positioned to meet the challenges of Jewish people and communities around the world.”

Current plans for this crisis rely on the strong presence built up through years of Jewish Federation support that is today serving as a critical lifeline to help protect and safeguard Ukraine's Jewish community. We pray for all to be safe, and for a speedy end to the hostilities.

About the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati envisions an exceptional Cincinnati Jewish community and, through the community-wide strategic plan Cincinnati 2020, brings diverse groups together to build it. We raise money and use a volunteer-driven, transparent process to distribute it to the local, national, and global programs that need it most. We connect our community agencies with the leaders and expertise they need to thrive. And we work to protect Jewish security by educating the community and advocating for Israel. We do all of this to help people in need, create an engaged community, assure our Jewish future, and support the Jewish people in Cincinnati, in Israel, and throughout the world.

Learn more at jewishcincinnati.org.

About Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area

For more than 75 years, Jewish Family Service has provided professional social services to families and individuals. Services include emergency and food assistance, aging and caregiver services, and support for Holocaust survivors, as well as the Russian-speaking Jewish population. The organization also provides counseling and care management. For those with chronic socialization challenges, the agency offers therapeutic social programming. JFS serves the Cincinnati Jewish community with cultural sensitivity, while serving all people who need help, regardless of their ability to pay. Jewish Family Service receives support in part from the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany, and United Way of Greater Cincinnati, enabling it to hire top talent and delivery premium programming at low or no cost.