Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley is the central resource for embracing, connecting, and supporting Jewish people locally and globally in South Bend, Indiana and the surrounding Michiana region. Founded in 1945 as the Jewish Community Council of St. Joseph County, the Federation works through coordinated fundraising, social services, community outreach, and educational programming to sustain a vibrant Jewish community.

The Federation is headquartered at the Kurt and Tessye Simon Jewish Community Building, situated on a 27-acre campus in South Bend that serves as both its administrative offices and the central hub for the local Jewish community. From this campus, the organization runs a wide range of programs including Camp Ideal, the Michiana Jewish Film Festival, Jewish Family Services, youth and family programming, adult education, Holocaust education and a speaker’s bureau, and Community Relations and Israel advocacy work.

In addition to direct programming, the Federation partners with local synagogues, agencies, and institutions such as the University of Notre Dame to bring Jewish cultural, educational, and interfaith opportunities to the Michiana region. Its work spans generations, serving children through Camp Ideal and youth programs, adults through NEXTGen and adult education, and the broader community through Holocaust education, interfaith dialogue, and Israel partnership initiatives.