New beginning for renamed Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

The organization serving the needs and interests of the Bluegrass region’s Jewish community has been renamed the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass.

“Throughout the world, the Bluegrass region of Kentucky is well known, and the name carries many positive associations,” said Linda Ravvin, president of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, formerly known as the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation.

“This new name will help current residents and newcomers to identify and access the organization that has long served the region’s Jewish community.”

The new name is a part of a new beginning for the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, Ravvin said. After many months without a director, due to the departure of long time Executive, Daniel Chejfec, the Federation brought in a veteran of the Jewish non-profit world, Judy B. Wortman. Through Wortman’s leadership, the organization recently adopted a new mission statement and new bylaws. The mission statement is:

“…to serve the Jewish people and its ideals locally, in Israel and throughout the world. Through coordinated fundraising, community-wide programming, social services, educational and other activities, the Federation seeks to: build community; provide assistance for those in need; enhance Jewish identity; develop effective Jewish leaders; combat anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination; and foster an understanding of Jewish culture and religion.”

 “We are now well into the 21st century, and the board of directors believed that our mission statement and our bylaws should focus on the needs and challenges of a new era,” Ravvin said. “Certainly, the new era has many challenges, as has been very clear over the past year or more. But the new era also has opportunities for the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass to serve its community. The directors and staff of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass are prepared to meet those challenges and to take advantage of the opportunities.”

Additionally, the renamed Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass will begin using the logo recently created for the national Jewish Federation system; formerly United Jewish Communities, the now renamed Jewish Federations of North America adopted these changes to better align itself with Federations across the country.

With the excitement of new beginnings in the air, the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass will continue to face new challenges and continue nurturing its roots, to serve the Bluegrass Jewish community, our brothers and sisters in Israel and in endangered communities around the world.