In Toronto, numerous Jewish organizations serve the community, and among them is the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. Learn more about the organization’s development and its support for Jewish people in this article on torontoski.info.
How Was the Organization Established?
In 1917, community leaders Ida Siegel and Edmund Scheuer founded the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies (FJPT), the organization’s first iteration. Its establishment was driven by financial crises caused by pre-war immigration and economic recession.
From its inception, the FJPT coordinated fundraising and distributed money to numerous small Jewish social welfare agencies, reducing competition for scarce resources.
The first campaign, led by Edmund Scheuer, ambitiously aimed to raise $30,000. Although the final amount collected was $25,300, this was still a remarkable achievement for the fledgling organization.
During its first decade, FJPT faced significant challenges, including mass immigration of European refugees from Eastern Europe and the influenza pandemic in Toronto. The organization focused its efforts on health, hygiene, family welfare, and aiding Jewish families.
Active Development of the Organization
In 1922, FJPT relocated to the Associated Hebrew Charities building, which also housed a Jewish shelter. By 1928, on the eve of the stock market crash and the Great Depression, the organization launched its 13th annual fundraising campaign. Despite the economic challenges, it raised over $140,000.
In 1930, FJPT shifted its focus from simply providing financial aid to implementing preventive measures and working with individual cases to foster social and financial independence.
This era was also marked by significant labour strikes in Toronto, where Jewish-dominated tailoring unions demanded better working conditions.
In 1938, the success of the Brunswick Talmud Torah campaign inspired FJPT director Martin Cohn to adopt a similar approach to fundraising. Cohn believed that the Welfare Fund model could improve planning, oversight, and assistance for Toronto’s Jewish community. The FJPT leadership supported his initiative, forming the Committee of Five and establishing the United Jewish Welfare Fund (UJWF), led by Florence Hutner.
The Organization During and After WWII
The Second World War had a profound impact on Toronto’s Jewish community. Over 17,000 Canadian Jews served overseas, and families in Toronto worried for their loved ones. As reports of Jewish persecution in Nazi-occupied Europe spread, fundraising efforts continued despite the dire global situation.
Following the war, the UJWF faced new challenges, focusing on supporting Jews in dire circumstances. In 1947, the Canadian Jewish Congress received $1 million from UJWF for refugee immigration and settlement.
In the 1970s, UJWF began researching Jewish education in Toronto, resulting in recommendations for funding Jewish school programs and hiring and training educators. Simultaneously, fundraising efforts continued to enhance the lives of Toronto’s Jewish residents.
Transition to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
In 1999, the UJWF rebranded as the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. The organization continues to provide essential support to the Jewish community, fighting antisemitism, promoting Jewish arts in Toronto, and ensuring access to education for Jewish children.
The Federation remains steadfast in its mission to protect, empower, and enrich the lives of Toronto’s Jewish population.