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The Jewish Council of North Central Florida is the umbrella organization for the Jewish communities of Gainesville, Ocala and surrounding areas and has several divisions: Maimonides Society, Social Action Programs, Family & Children Social Programs, JNET Gainesville, Local Grants to support the Gainesville community, the Chronicle, JCNCF Organized Events and Overseas Giving. |
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Maimonides
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Maimonides Societyis a group of Jewish health care professionals and others from the community who seek to strengthen the bond among themselves, Israel, and the community through philanthropic, social action, and educational initiatives. Through various programs and projects, members seek to enhance the quality of life for individuals in the community and to address some of the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of our seniors, disabled, and chronically ill and their families Programs include Shabbat dinners in senior residential facilities, holiday gift bags for seniors, caregivers’ support group, a bi-annual women’s retreat, and healthcare related speakers and educational programs. We are always looking for volunteers to help us provide these services to the community. Maimonides Society membership is open to the entire community, from Jewish healthcare professionals to anyone who wishes to support the valuable work Maimonides does. Dues are $36 per year for an individual; $72 per family. A major effort of the Maimonides Society this year was the creation of the Shalom Gainesville Resource Guide.Family and Children Social Programs include Chai Tots, a series of events for Jewish families with young children, Kids Konnect, exciting programming for children in grades 3-5, Shalom Baby bags for newborns and their families and activities to welcome newcomers to the community Social Action and Tikun Olam (repairing the world) are a part of many of JCNCF’s events and programs. Mitzvah Day is our keynote social action program, and brings the Jewish community together for activities to benefit the greater Gainesville area. Last year, Mitzvah Day participants took part in various activities around Gainesville, including helping out at Helping Hands, serving lunch to the homeless, making greeting cards for U.S. troops, outdoor cleanup activities and assisting at Reichert House. Bins are available throughout the year to collect donations, such as clothing, household goods and products, furniture and toys to distribute on Mitzvah Day. Gainesville/Ocala JNET is a socializing and networking group for professionals, business men and women, community leaders, and anyone else with a product or service they wish to share or who would like to meet other professionals in the community. Monthly networking events take place the first Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Gainesville and the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Ocala. Dues are $36 per year. Sponsorship opportunities are available. . JCNCF provides grant moneys to local synagogues and Jewish organizations so that they can create programs that benefit and engage the broader Jewish Communities. Click Here for specific grant requirements. The Chronicle monthly newsletter has become a major vehicle for communication in the Jewish Community. The Chronicle highlights the activities of JCNCF as well as all the other Jewish organizations. JCNCF also sends out a monthly email newsletter to provide a community update and central calendar. JCNCF organized events include the Annual Campaign, Community Hanukkah party and other holiday celebrations, annual programs commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day and Israeli Independence Day and a series of Israel- and Jewish-themed speakers, programs and events throughout the year. Overseas allocations are made to the Jaffa Institute in Israel and the Jewish Federations of North America. The Institute for the Advancement of Education in Jaffa ("The Jaffa Institute") was established in 1982 as a private, non-profit, multi-service social agency to assist severely disadvantaged children and their families, providing over 35 educational and social support programs. The Jewish Federations of North America distribute the allocated funds principally to the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). This enables us to do our part to support our Jewish brothers and sisters in need in Israel and around the world. This funding does not support the Israeli government or military, but rather allows us, as a community, to support the people of Israel and those in need. |