Welcome to the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation

Fostering a vibrant Jewish future at home and abroad and assisting broader humanitarian activities since 1929.

The estimated 200,000 Jewish people living in Ukraine have been affected profoundly  by the political and economic instability that has wracked the country.

 

Thousands are trapped in conflict zones in the east. Thousands more have fled the fighting.

  

You can help by donating to Jewish Federations of North America. JFNA has established a donation mailbox for contributions to help the Jewish people in the Ukraine.



The donations will be used for:

 

  • Securing the local community and its institutions
  • Maintaining critical welfare services
  • Assisting internally displaced people in multiple locations
  • Launching an emergency hotline
  • Securing temporary housing for people in transit
  • Purchasing satellite phones to maintain communications across the region
  • Securing five Jewish schools and training staff to  manage crisis needs

 

Thank you for supporting the Jews of the Ukraine!

News, Events, & Announcements



Meet the New CUJF Executive Director — Ma'ayan Weinberg

Q&A with the new CUJF executive director. Spend an evening with Ma'ayan learning about her background, growing up in the CU Jewish community, and vision for the future of CUJF. Bring your questions and share your hopes for how we will grow and evolve as a community. 
 
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 


CUJF 2022 Silver Seal
 
We earned a 2022 Silver Seal with @CandidDotOrg! Check out our #NonprofitProfile to learn more and make a difference with your support.


Israeli Dancing
 
August 14th @ 7:30 pm
Outdoor Patio of Sinai Temple, 3104 Windsor Ave, Champaign, IL 61822

 

Join us for some fun Israeli dancing on August 14th, 7:30-9:00 pm at Sinai's outdoor patio. Everyone is welcome! No experience necessary. RSVP to help us plan.


 

Through Their Eyes: A Student Exhibit on the Holocaust

 
Jewish Federation’s Holocaust Education Center is sponsoring a student exhibit featuring original works on the study of the Holocaust created by local students from Champaign and Ford Counties. The students' work promote an understanding of this horrific historical era and encourage tolerance.
 
The YouTube video can be viewed on HEC Library page.
 

 

Establishment of the Central Illinois Jewish Communities Archives/Mervis Archives at The University of Illinois

 
The Danville Jewish Community is proud to announce the establishment of the Central Illinois Jewish Communities Archives/Mervis Archives in the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Library’s Illinois History and Lincoln Collections.

 

Do you know a Jewish child in Champaign-Urbana that would love to get Jewish-themed storybooks? Tell their family about CUJF’s PJ Library program!

 
PJ Library sends Jewish books to Jewish kids each month. Free!
The Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation is a PJ Library sponsoring organization. CUJF pays a portion of the cost of each book sent to families. PJ Library covers the rest of the cost. There's no cost to your family!
You can sign up your child here: https://pjlibrary.org/enroll-in-a-community
Reading to your children is important. Reading - or being read to -- affects child’s development. Just having books in a home increases a child's ability to learn.
 
But finding the right books and making the time to read as a family can be hard. That’s where PJ Library comes in. PJ Library shares Jewish stories that can help your family talk together about values and traditions that are important to you.
 
A program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, PJ Library is made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations like CUJF. Families raising kids from birth through 9 years old with Judaism as part of their lives, are welcome to sign up. PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever your background, knowledge, or family make-up, or observance may be.
 
For more information about PJ Library, check out their website at www.pjlibrary.org/about-pj-library.
 
You can also email Ma'ayan Weinberg, CUJF Executive Director, at cujf@cujf.org.

 

Interview with CUJF Executive Director Linda Bauer

 
CUJF Executive Director Linda Bauer was interviewed by Illini Radio Group News Director Sam Albert recently. Linda spoke about CU Jewish Federation goals and activities and also about her family's story.
 
In the course of the interview, Linda also talked about her family and her parents, who were Holocaust survivors. That interview is available on the Soundcloud.

 

 

Jewish Life and Learning

 

CUJF engages our dynamic and diverse community with educational resources and community events to appeal to different interests, backgrounds, and ages throughout the life span.

 

Support for Our Most Vulnerable

 

As Jews, we have a responsibility to care for the needy in our community, as well as to support our members during their most vulnerable times. CUJF is there with information, referrals, and financial assistance when needed.

 

Community Giving

 

Together, we are stronger. CUJF serves as a central mechanism for raising and allocating funds to local organizations as well as supporting Jewish organizations and initiatives in Israel and throughout the world.


 

COVID-19: Let Us Know How We Can Help

 

In these difficult times, CUJF continues to fulfill its mission to Aid, Educate and Celebrate our Jewish culture and community. CUJF's Human Services function is more important than ever. We have been making calls to our seniors and volunteers are picking up grocery orders for those who are unable to go out. If you or someone you know could use a friendly phone call or a delivery of needed items, please email us at cujf@cujf.org or call our office at (217) 367-9872 and leave a message. We are checking email and voicemail regularly.

We've reached out to the kids in our community with an online PJ Library storytime in conjunction with Sinai Temple. CUJF plans to offer more virtual programs, plus continue to provide information about resources from the other Jewish organizations in our community. We are also raising funds in order to assist members of our Jewish Community who may be affected by work closures, unexpected medical bills, and other emergencies. You can support these efforts! Click on “Donate” at the top of the page and type "virus" in the “Earmarks” section.

Together, we'll do a world of good!

Join Our Mailing List

 

Get news of interest and information about events and resources throughout the CU Jewish community!

CUJF Publication Deadline

 

The deadline for CUJF’s weekly email blast is Wednesdays at 3:00 pm for publication on Fridays at noon. Tell us about your services, your events, and your good news!