Meet Up. Get Together. Make Jewish Connections—We'll Pick up the Tab!
Looking for Jewish community? Want to connect with others who identify as Jewish or maybe Jew-ish? Trying to meet new friends IRL (in real life)?
Now’s your chance to bring people together and let Federation foot the bill! Our Welcoming and Inclusion Initiative offers Gather Grants to help you get together with others in Greater MetroWest.
Learn more below!
Apply
Questions? Contact Sharon Zucker at [email protected].
David Saginaw, Chair of Welcoming and Inclusion Committee
Amy Ganz Sadeghi, Chair, Gather Grant Initiative
This initiative is made possible due to generous funding from the Gary Aidekman Family Foundation and the Cooperman Family Fund for a Jewish Future of the Jewish Community Foundation.
What do I need to do?
Apply to host a gathering of 10 or more people for a meaningful Jewish experience. After the event, you’ll receive a $250 Visa Gift Card. It’s our way of saying thank you for helping people gather Jewishly, and we want to make it affordable and fun!
Am I eligible to apply for a Gather Grant?
Any person who is Jewish or living in a Jewish household in Greater MetroWest NJ can apply to receive a $250 Gather Grant. This includes residents of Essex, Union, Morris, Sussex, and parts of Somerset Counties.
What does a “meaningful Jewish experience” mean?
Each gathering will and should look different from other gatherings! That is the beauty of J-Gather! We want you to do something that feels meaningful to you and to the people you bring together. There are a lot of ideas and resources on this page, but feel free to make it your own!
How many people do I need to invite to my gathering? Does my family count? What about my friends?
We ask that you host a minimum of 10 people (children and/or adults) who are not in your immediate family.
What can I use the funds for and do I need to provide you with receipts?
You can use the funds for a lot of different things: a meal, cocktails, snacks, decorations, craft supplies, books, instructor/speaker, and more. You will not be asked to provide expense receipts.
What can't I use the funds for?
Funds may not be used for registration for another Federation or partner agency event, transportation to another event, or reimbursement for an event that happened previously. Funds are for individuals only—this is not an institutional grant.
What are some suggestions for my gathering?
- Shabbat dinner or potluck
- Host a “whine and wine” session, inviting a social worker from Jewish Family Service of Central NJ or Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ to come facilitate discussion around topics like parenting, family dynamics, mental health, and more.
- Jewish cooking class (in your home or in a studio)
- Holiday or Judaica art projects (use the funds to hire an instructor, book time in a studio, or for supplies)
- Shabbat picnic in the park
- Challah braiding workshop
- Girls’ night for Rosh Chodesh (It is traditional for groups of women to gather during the new moon celebrating and elevating the role of women in the Jewish religion)
- Jewish themed book club/ discussion group
- Host a watch-party for people who love Jewish-themed movies and tv (ChaiFlix or other streaming platforms)
- Organize a Volunteer or service project (our Center for Volunteerism team can help!):
- Bring a group to volunteer at one of our partner agencies, like Daughters of Israel, the JFS Charlotte Shak Food Pantry, or the Bobrow Kosher Food Pantry.
- Do a “make one/take one” flower arranging class and drop off the extra bouquets to brighten the rooms of residents at one of our partner senior living homes, such as Lester Senior Living.
- Shavuot Party (Shavuot is on June 2-3rd celebrates receiving the Torah and Commandments at Mount Sinai. It is customary to eat delicious dairy foods on this holiday: cheesecake, cheese blintzes, ice cream!)
This sounds great but I have no idea where to start! Can you help me?
Can you help me find the right 10+ people to invite to my gathering? Can I go to someone else’s gathering? What if I’m excited to host a gathering but I don’t need the $250 for the event? What if I have other questions that aren’t answered here?
These are great questions! We are here to help you host the right gathering for you and your community! Please reach out to Sharon Zucker, Director of Welcoming and Inclusion, for help finding others in our community who might be interested in a similar gathering or for help with any other questions you have about the Gather Grants. And if you don’t need the $250, you can feel free to donate it back to Federation or to one of our partner agencies.
