Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia history

By 1918, the Federation’s income totaled $289,819 but annual deficits, met by borrowing from endowment funds, had piled up to more than $100,000.

In 1919, the Federation’s new agencies included some that were founded by Russian Jews, notably the Talmud Torah Association, Mount Sinai Hospital, the Hebrew Sheltering Home and Old Age Home.

Up until the 1920’s, most Jews in the United States were immigrants or children of immigrants.

Up until the immigration act of 1924 curbed the mass influx of European Jews, the fledgling Federation found itself in the position of supporting the economic and welfare needs of an impoverished population that was not able, or willing to repay its debts.

The Federation maintains the mutually beneficial partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania (which had its roots in the 1930’s) and at present, is the single largest recipient of United Way Funds, receiving close to $3 million annually.

In 1931, the leaders of the city’s business, labor, government and philanthropic sectors convened to discuss how to best handle the growing crisis.

Philadelphia’s Allied Jewish Appeal was founded in 1938 as an overseas complement to the Federations’ efforts, funding rescue missions in the face of Nazi persecution.

In 1957, the Federation of Jewish Charities and the Allied Jewish Appeal merged their 26 constituent agencies to become the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia, with a combined mission of supporting Jews locally and overseas.

In 1990 our unique role as the region’s central Jewish communal non-profit became reflected in our new name: The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.