Scope and Contents:
The Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation (CUJF) is a non-profit organization that seeks to serve the needs of Jewish communities in Champaign-Urbana and beyond. This collection reflects CUJF’s charitable mission and its contributions to the Jewish community of Champaign-Urbana.
CUJF was founded in the late 1920s-early 1930s by members of the Jewish community of Champaign-Urbana. Throughout its history, CUJF has sought to provide financial aid to the community of Champaign-Urbana and to international Jewish communities. The organization grew out of the efforts of two local Jewish business owners, Jack Marco and Isaac Kuhn, who provided financial aid to Jewish community members and travelers. Spurred by the widespread economic distress caused by the Great Depression, Marco and Kuhn appealed to the Jewish congregation of Champaign-Urbana to form an official charitable organization. This organization, initially called the Federation of Jewish Charities or United Jewish Charities, later became known as the Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation.
Today, CUJF is affiliated with the Jewish Federations of North America, an umbrella organization for fundraising and giving in Jewish communities. In addition to providing financial assistance, the organization fosters education and engagement, often focusing on Jewish history and culture.
This collection consists of eleven series: administrative, annual reports, minutes, finances, annual fundraising campaigns, Gift of Israel Program, publications, correspondence, events, photographs, and restricted. The records that make up these series document the activities and mission of CUJF and provide insight into the evolving needs of Champaign-Urbana’s Jewish community. Records include lists of officials and members, annual reports, leadership meeting minutes and reports, tax documents, planning materials for fundraisers, documents of the CUJF’s cooperative savings program for youth, the CUJF Bulletin, correspondence, materials relating to organizational events, and photographs.
These materials were donated by the Board of Directors of Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation in 2023.
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