Annual Campaign:
One Place Where You Make the Difference

According to Jewish tradition, the highest form of tzedakah or charity is giving to a central campaign or community fund or kupah.

Throughout Jewish history, in small towns and large cities, within both Israel and the Diaspora, it was the custom of Jewish communities to create an address for centralized giving. This guaranteed the privacy and dignity of the poor as well as the successful maintenance of communal "agencies." Today, the kupah (literally translated as community fund) is the Annual Campaign of the Jewish federation.

The gift to the communal kupah, or centralized campaign, is a noble expression of devotion to the entire Jewish people. It demonstrates a love of community which is without limitation – a proud statement of commitment to our individual communities and to every individual Jew.

There are those who maintain that the most "Jewish" way to give is to bypass the centralized campaign and give directly to those in need. In fact, the Talmud insists that the contribution to the centralized fund is the highest form of tzedakah, for it is the best way of ensuring the anonymity of both donor and recipient. Moreover, the general community fund is best prepared to meet the challenges of emergency issues which require a united front, such as responding to anti-Semitism or organizing rescue missions for Jews in danger.

Tzedakah derives from the Hebrew tzedek, denoting justice or righteousness. Tzedakah is based on the sense that justice requires sharing.

Jewish Values
While a designated gift may satisfy the desires of a particular donor and the recipient agency or cause, it is the gift to the centralized campaign which works towards satisfying the needs of all—transcending specific institutions or projects. The centralized campaign is concerned with the entire community – its continued viability and vibrancy – and the dignity of all of its members, including our brothers and sisters who may live thousands of miles away, but are no less precious to us than those who live next door.

Participation in the centralized campaign is a statement about Jewish values. As Jews, we count on the ability of individuals to uplift the entire collectively, and we treasure our historic desire to be full participants in a community's welfare. A donation to the federation annual campaign is an investment by the donor in his or her community; it is a statement by the donor that he or she belongs to the Jewish people.

The Annual Campaign embodies the values and traditions of the North American Jewish community more than anything else we do. It says that we care about people, not about their politics or religious practices. It says that we will ­as a community ­address critical, often life-threatening issues.

Everything from domestic abuse to public health problems to hunger and disaster relief and more.

The impact of the continuing and unparalleled philanthropic success of the annual campaign is priceless. Millions of lives saved, cared for, reached out to and rebuilt; centuries-old Jewish traditions and values preserved for future generations.

Based on the thoughts and writings of Arna Poupko Fischer, Judaic Consultant  

Annual Report Card

This year TOGETHER, we made it happen!

• Provided scholarships to attend Jewish Summer camps, Youth Programs in Israel and Young Adult Study Programs
• Provided assistance to families/individuals in need facing temporary economic challenges, i.e., rent, utilities, food
• Supplied hospitality for patient families & transients passing through little Rock
• Engaged our fourth Israeli Shaliach who completed her year of living and working in our community: teaching at many of the congregations & Ati Day, enhancing our community connection to and understanding of Israel, and providing Jewish programming in Bentonville, Fort Smith, Fayetteville and Hot Springs. Our fifth Shaliach arrived in August and is continuing the work of her predecessors.
• Generated greetings from the Shalom Committee to new Jewish families, patient families, homebound individuals and AR Jewish soldiers abroad with Mishloach Manot, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah baskets
• Participated in the JCCA Walk for CommUnity to promote tolerance and diversity
• Fulfilled a mitzvah project at Our House Shelter providing Christmas meals for residents and a gift to the shelter, served and presented by JFAR volunteers
• Partnered with the Arkansas Food Bank to feed hungry people of all denominations
• Insured Holocaust education through the Abraham Jakubowicz Holocaust Education Fund, Central Arkansas Tolerance and Diversity Initiative and, in conjunction with Yom HaShoah, presented "Testimonies of Tolerance”
• Instituted PJ Library – A program that provides Jewish themed books monthly for children between the ages of 2-7
• Published ACTION – the Arkansas statewide Jewish newsletter
• Conducted conversational Hebrew Classes
• Sponsored Programs for Hillel at The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville & Hendrix College
• Organized and funded Israel Scouts Friendship Caravan performances both in Central and Northwest Arkansas
• Supported Overseas efforts through Jewish Federations of North America for the Jewish Agency for Israel, birthright israel & the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for services and programs in Israel, the FSU & anywhere there are Jews in need
• Provided Israel Independence Day Celebration (Yom HaAtzmaut)
• Organized the Jewish Food & Cultural Festival (May 16, 2010)
• Welcomed and hosted the American Jewish Society for Service (AJSS) – supporting the work of Jewish teenagers from around the country spending part of the summer in Arkansas providing community service