United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ (UJC) is dedicated to building and strengthening Jewish community by ensuring the mental, spiritual, and physical well-being of Jewish locally, in Israel, around the world.

Rooted in the concept of areyvut, Jewish mutual responsibility, UJC stands at the center of a network of 20 local partner agencies to help meet the educational, vocational, recreational, and social needs of the MetroWest Jewish community and beyond.

Encompassing Essex, Morris, Sussex, and north Union counties, UJC is the largest Jewish federation in New Jersey, serving approximately 100,000 people through its United Jewish Appeal Campaign of MetroWest NJ. As the center of Jewish philanthropy in MetroWest, it raises and allocates the funds that are needed to respond to the diversity of Jewish needs on an ongoing basis and in emergent situations.

Among the many programs that UJC supports are expanded services for the unemployed; support of families in crisis; supportive services for seniors; strengthening Jewish identity; programs and services for people with special needs and their families; making Jewish education affordable; Jewish camping; Israel education and advocacy; leadership development; and Birthright Israel.

UJC program departments include:

• Community Relations Committee
• Legow Family Israel Program Center
• Women’s Philanthropy
• MetroWest Rabbinic Cabinet
• Joint Chaplaincy Committee
• Young Leadership Division
• Business Professionals Network

UJC has special relationships with seven overseas communities -- six in Israel, and one in Ukraine: Rishon LeZion; Ra'anana; Ofakim/Merchavim; Kibbutz Erez; Gush Etzion; Horfesh; and Cherkassy, Ukraine. Through its partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and ORT, UJC assists Israel and 60 countries around the world, including the former Soviet Union.

The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarship assistance for post-high school study of Judaism in Israel. Scholarships are available to men and women and are awarded on a competitive basis. The intention of the Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund is for it to be especially valuable to those students showing academic promise in their religious studies and the need for financial assistance to pursue study in Israel. Study can be in programs that earn college credits. Programs must be at institutions with a 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and must have an American affiliate mailing address. 

American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) – ARMDI supports the lifesaving efforts of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel as the tax-exempt fundraising organization representing MDA in the United States. Although it receives no government-budgeted funding, the MDA team of trained volunteer and professional medical responders is mandated by the Knesset to provide the entire nation’s pre-hospital emergency medical care, including disaster, ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood Services Center provides 100% of the blood needs of the Israel Defense Forces and 95% of the blood needs of Israel’s hospitals. AFMDA supporters built the MDA National Blood Services Center, continue to build or renovate many of MDA’s emergency medical stations throughout Israel, and supply MDA with a wide range of emergency medical supplies, equipment and ambulances. Most of the 800 MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units that are on call 24/7, logging nearly ten million miles and caring for 550,000 patients annually, were donated by AFMDA.

American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) – ARMDI supports the lifesaving efforts of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel as the tax-exempt fundraising organization representing MDA in the United States. Although it receives no government-budgeted funding, the MDA team of trained volunteer and professional medical responders is mandated by the Knesset to provide the entire nation’s pre-hospital emergency medical care, including disaster, ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood Services Center provides 100% of the blood needs of the Israel Defense Forces and 95% of the blood needs of Israel’s hospitals. AFMDA supporters built the MDA National Blood Services Center, continue to build or renovate many of MDA’s emergency medical stations throughout Israel, and supply MDA with a wide range of emergency medical supplies, equipment and ambulances. Most of the 800 MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units that are on call 24/7, logging nearly ten million miles and caring for 550,000 patients annually, were donated by AFMDA.

American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) – ARMDI supports the lifesaving efforts of Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel as the tax-exempt fundraising organization representing MDA in the United States. Although it receives no government-budgeted funding, the MDA team of trained volunteer and professional medical responders is mandated by the Knesset to provide the entire nation’s pre-hospital emergency medical care, including disaster, ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood Services Center provides 100% of the blood needs of the Israel Defense Forces and 95% of the blood needs of Israel’s hospitals. AFMDA supporters built the MDA National Blood Services Center, continue to build or renovate many of MDA’s emergency medical stations throughout Israel, and supply MDA with a wide range of emergency medical supplies, equipment and ambulances. Most of the 800 MDA ambulances and Mobile Intensive Care Units that are on call 24/7, logging nearly ten million miles and caring for 550,000 patients annually, were donated by AFMDA.

AMIT nurtures and educates Israeli children to become productive, contributing members of society. Its more than 85 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences, and other programs are located in 24 cities and communities throughout Israel, and provide a continuity of values-based, academic excellence from kindergarten through junior college. AMIT schools help each child reach his or her fullest potential, while obtaining the skills and knowledge to build a successful future.

While many of the children attending AMIT schools come from families living at or below poverty level, AMIT students reflect all Israel: religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, Sabra and new immigrant. All students are welcome in AMIT’s educational environment, and tolerance, respect, and the unity of the Jewish people are basic tenets of AMIT’s philosophy. We are proud that more than 95 percent of our graduates serve in the Israel Defense Forces or perform national service.

The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative of JFS provides a range of services to children, adolescents, and parents including:

•Individual, group, and family consultation and clinical counseling

•Ruth Sagner Center for Family Play Therapy

•Information and Referral

•Psycho-educational workshops and seminars (i.e. parenting workshops)

•Community forums on topics related to children and adolescent mental health issues

•Consultation services to community agencies, schools, etc.

•Preschool consultation

•Crisis intervention services

•First STEPS: Support, Training, and Education for Pre-Schools

The Community Relations Committee is the public policy and advocacy arm of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ. The CRC spearheads the development of the public policy agenda for the Jewish community focusing on local, state, and national issues. CRC advocates these views with legislators and engages with other constituencies, such as civic and interfaith leaders and the media, on these matters. The CRC works in the areas of Israel and world affairs, government relations, and community-based initiatives. The CRC informs and educates the community on current events and public policy matters of interest, and serves as a clearinghouse for new issues. The CRC rallies the community to action.