Our Programs

Community programming and events

The Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass is the central planning, service provider, and fundraising body for the Jewish community of central Kentucky. Through our annual community campaign, which began in the early 1900s, we are able to provide Jewish programs and services locally, in Israel, and in Jewish communities around the world.

In the fall of 1967, nine Jewish mothers recognized the need for a Jewish day camp in central Kentucky. By the next summer they were running Camp Shalom, the first formal community-wide program. Over 40 years later our day camp, Camp Shalom--and now Camp Gesher as well, is serving Jewish families from the region and beyond. Since the formation of Camp Shalom, our Federation has become the vibrant agency it is today.

The Federation also runs a social service agency, Jewish Family Services, which is based in our main office. JFS provides programming for seniors, "Family Life Education" programs on a wide range of topics, some financial assistance, and confidential information and referral services.

Tikkun Lexington Volunteer Corps

Tikkun Lexington is the Jewish Federation Volunteer Corps. It often works in partnership with the Social Action committees of our local congregations. The name "Tikkun Lexington" is derived from the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or repairing the world. The volunteer opportunities developed by Tikkun Lexington focus on helping those in need and in being an integral part of our city and our region.

Each year in the month of December, Tikkun Lexington extends a helping hand to local social service agencies, nursing homes, homeless shelters, meal delivery services, and animal shelters (to name just a few) to aid their year-round staff and give them a break during the holiday season. Learn more about Tzeason of Tzedakah.

Our volunteers also visit the Jewish residents at the Stewart Home School in Frankfort, Kentucky several times per year. We celebrate the holidays and show our support as many of them are far from their families.

Community Relations

The Community Relations Committee is the public affairs arm of the Jewish Federation.  Among others, the primary areas of concentration include:

· Liaison with non-Jewish organizations
· Coordinate Federation’s participation in joint communal efforts
· Educate the Jewish community concerning social action issues
· Provide information about Israel and the Middle East
· Be a source of background on Jewish communities in foreign lands
· Advocate for Israel, for human rights, and for Jewish causes
· Sponsor the annual Yom Ha Shoah observance

The CRC is chaired by Larry Kant and co-chaired by Michael Grossman. The committee consists of volunteers who openly debate the issues as they arise.

The CRC is a constituent of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Public Relations

JFB stays connected to both the Jewish and wider community in central Kentucky through its various publications and web presence. Ten times per year the Shalom newspaper is sent to over 1,000 mailboxes, mostly in the immediate Lexington area. Shalom is printed and mailed at no cost to the community through a subsidy from the Federation.

JFB also sends emails at least weekly to keep the community abreast of upcoming events and important news items within the local and wider Jewish community. Many of these news items can also be found on this website and events are usually posted on our Community Calendar.

Whenever possible, the Federation staff sends out press releases to the local media about possible items of wider interest, and has an active presence on Facebook.

Upcoming JFB programs

Volunteer Sign-Up

Tikkun Lexington logo
Join our Tikkun volunteers in performing mitzvot within the community year round. Click here to sign up!

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