The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven has announced the recipients of the inaugural Impact Grant Initiative allocation. 

A direct result of the community strategic planning process, the new Impact Grant Initiative is designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and engagement from every aspect of the Federation’s catchment area. The broad-based initiative is designed to inspire project proposals that create meaningful Jewish experiences to address Federation’s core priorities of education, security, advocacy, and collaboration priorities. 

To be eligible for a grant, applicants were required to work in collaboration with another Jewish organization or synagogue. 

Recipients will receive a maximum of almost $100,000 in funding for up to three years to local Jewish organizations, synagogues and individuals. 

After much consideration and discussion of 11 grant applications, the Impact Grants Task Force — comprised of Linda Caplan, Dr. Dena Schulman Green, Dr. David Hass, Chesky Holtzberg, Sami Merit, Dr. Norman Ravski, and Stacey Perkins— selected the following inaugural grant recipients: ICONIC PLACES ON THE SHORELINE

Camp Laurelwood with Temple Beth Tikvah and PJ Library Camp Laurelwood is working in collaboration with Temple Beth Tikvah and PJ Library, a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, to provide engagement opportunities for intergenerational Jewish families living on the Connectiut shoreline; and to maximize resources support creative and impactful programs that nurture and advance Jewish values. 

This initiative will expand to engage families in local public spaces — such as, RJ Julia Booksellers, Bishop’s Orchards, Ashley’s Ice Cream, Camp Laurelwood in local public spaces — such as, RJ Julia Booksellers, Bishop’s Orchards, Ashley’s Ice Cream, Camp Laurelwood Hammonasset State Park, Essex Steam Train and Lavender Pond Farm — in order to bring Jewish values into public spaces to serve as a reminder that Jewish identitycan happen everywhere, not just in traditionally Jewish locations. Each event will focus on a Jewish value and incorporate appropriate PJ Library books and activities across the generations. 

COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM Congregation Mishkan Israel with Greater New Haven Board of Rabbis and Cantors

Greater New Haven’s local spiritual leaders are working hard to provide ongoing life-long Jewish learning opportunities to the local Jewish community. The program is initiated by a partnership of spiritual leaders from Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden (Rabbi Brian Immerman), Temple Emanuel in Orange (Rabbi Michael Farbman), Temple Beth David in Cheshire; with the commitment of spiritual leaders from Temple Beth Sholom in Hamden (Rabbi Benjamin Scolnic), Westville Synagogue in New Haven (Rabbi Fred Hyman), and Beth El-Keser Israel in New Haven (Rabbi Eric Woodward) who will offer Jewish learning classes. 

UNIPER TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE ISOLATION FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS Jewish Family Services Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven and Greater Hartford together provide case management, emergency assistance, and home care support for 248 Holocaust survivors across Connecticut, 92 of whom live in Greater New Haven. A shocking number of survivors live in poverty, and JFS New Haven works one-on-one with them to help them age in place and live life as fully as possible. Many Holocaust survivors and other aging adults suffer from social isolation (even prior to the pandemic) and JFS of New Haven and JFS Greater Hartford are launching a new program that uses free, user-friendly, TV-based Uniper technology that connects older adults with local community programs, helps them stay connected to friends and family, allows them to participate in online classes, and much more. The grant will provide vital staffing and other critical elements and infrastructure for the program, including Russian translation, visits to survivor’s homes, etc.