Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester Collection on Holocaust Survivors in Rochester

The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester is a social, cultural and educational organization that serves the Jewish population of the Greater Rochester area. Originally known as the Jewish Community Federation of Rochester, the organization was founded in 1929 to coordinate fundraising, philanthropy and social welfare activities in Rochester's Jewish community. It literally federated the interests of at least 9 distinct, pre-existing Jewish organizations in Rochester but did not replace their independent interests and operations. Over time, the Jewish Community Federation evolved to meet the changing needs of both the local Jewish population and the interests of Jewish communities around the world. These activities included fundraising for the nascent Israeli state, engaging in intra-religious dialogue, and supporting Jewish religious and cultural education. Most relevant to this collection, the Jewish Community Federation provided a base for Jewish refugee resettlement during and after World War II, and leads Holocaust remembrance efforst in the Rochester community. The organization changed its name to the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester on July 1, 2010 and, as of the writing of this finding aid in 2021, continues to play a leading role in Rochester's Jewish community.