History

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle was established in 1926. By 1948, the year the Jewish state of Israel was established, our annual campaign was raising $652,000 from 3,651 contributors. Today, the Jewish Federation raises around $6 million with $30 million in our endowment.

Mission History

During the late 90’s and ‘00s, our mission was “to ensure Jewish survival and enhance the quality of Jewish life locally, in Israel and worldwide.”

In 2009, the Board of Directors adopted a new mission statement: “The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle works to ensure a vibrant Jewish community that is connected locally, in Israel and worldwide.”

A Tragic Moment for our Community

On July 28, 2006, five women were shot and Development Director Pamela Waechter was killed at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle offices in downtown Seattle. The first trial of the shooter ended in a mistrial in 2008. The second trial reached a guilty verdict on all counts December 15, 2009.