In about a month, the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s special fundraising effort to help Jewish organizations operating in Ukraine has topped $1 million. The mark was officially crossed Sunday, March 27, at Tikvah Ukraine, the Community Cantorial Concert for Ukrainian Relief.
“I am so proud of our community. Minneapolis has a history of stepping up in times of crises, and the war in Ukraine is no exception,” said James Cohen, CEO of Minneapolis Jewish Federation. “It was especially gratifying to cross the mark at the concert so we could share the moment with many of our dedicated donors.”
The funds raised at the concert were matched 100 percent by the Mel Cohen Jewish Innovation Fund; the match is what put MJF’s efforts into seven figures.
The funds will go to the Federation’s on-the-ground partners: the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), The Jewish Agency for Israel, and World ORT. The money raised is in addition to a $200,000 allocation the MJF board approved to its overseas partners.
There are approximately 200,000 members in Ukraine’s Jewish community, which boasts close to 300 Jewish organizations dispersed over some 100 towns and cities. Funds raised will support urgent necessities including community security, temporary housing, emergency needs in Jewish schools, and Aliyah-(immigration to Israel) related assistance.
Minneapolis Jewish Federation is part of a consortium of similar organizations across the country under the umbrella of the Jewish Federations of North America. Collectively, they have raised more than $40 million.
