Connecting with Israel & Global Jewry
At Federation, we are dedicated to strengthening the bonds of the global Jewish community and fostering deep connections between San Diego and Israel. Through cultural exchanges, we facilitate meaningful relationships between San Diegans and Israelis – promoting understanding through travel, education, and communication. By collaborating with global partners, we ensure the dignity and safety of at-risk Jewish populations by raising awareness and crucial funding in times of need, while also contributing to the growth and prosperity of emerging Jewish communities worldwide. And by underwriting travel opportunities to Israel for teens and young adults, we inspire the next generation to cultivate lasting connections to the Jewish homeland.
Much of this work is made possible through Federation’s ongoing, long-term partnerships with two highly experienced and trusted global organizations: the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI).
Our Global Efforts
More Global Connections
Gesher Project
Gesher means “bridge,” and through this project, Federation is building deep partnerships between some of San Diego’s largest Jewish agencies with their counterparts in Sha’ar HaNegev, Israel to foster people-to-people relationships and spearhead potential projects between organizations while strengthening the connection between the two sister communities.
The first cohort of this program began in early 2023, and included bringing over 70 professionals from Hillel San Diego, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC | JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, San Diego Jewish Academy, and Seacrest Village Retirement Communities to Sha’ar HaNegev.
Partner Communities
In addition to our 25-year relationship with Sha’ar HaNegev, our San Diego Federation is proud to partner with other global Jewish communities to meet their evolving needs, support local Jewish communal organizations, initiate cultural exchanges and more – all in our shared pursuit of building vibrant, thriving Jewish life.
One such partner community is Sofia, Bulgaria. Of the roughly 6,000 Jews living in Bulgaria, about 4,000 of them reside in Sofia, the country’s capital city. While Jewish life has been an integral part of this region for thousands of years, it crashed to a halt in the 1940s when the Bulgarian Communist Party came into power. The regime fell in 1990, and in partnership with JDC, Federation has since worked to help support Sofia’s road to self-sufficiency and the revival of its Jewish community.
This work includes supporting local Jewish organizations and programs, such as day schools and summer camps; caring for impoverished, elderly members of the community through critical food and medical assistance, homecare and social programs; and providing aid to vulnerable or at-risk Jewish children, including those with disabilities.
Learn more about this work and the history of Bulgarian Jewish life here.
