Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

The United Hebrew Relief Association was founded in 1859 to coordinate relief efforts for Jews in Chicago. Its major accomplishment was the founding of Michael Reese Hospital in 1880. The UHRA was reorganized in 1888 as the United Hebrew Charities, which supported the Chicago Home for Jewish Orphans, Drexel Home for Aged Jews, and the Hebrew Sheltering Home, as well as the hospital. In 1900 the UHC was succeeded by the Associated Jewish Charities. In 1911 the Federated Orthodox Jewish Charities was created. It supported the Marks Nathan Jewish Orphan Home, BMZ Orthodox Home for the Aged and Maimonides Hospital, forerunner to Mount Sinai Hospital. In 1923 the AJC and the Federated merged to form the Jewish Charities of Chicago. The Jewish Welfare Fund was established in 1936 as a response to worsening conditions in Europe and supported overseas organizations aswell as domestic organizations such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). In 1949 the Combined Jewish Appeal was created to raise funds for both the JWF and the Jewish Charities (renamed Jewish Federation of Chicago, later the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago). In 1967 the Combined Jewish Appeal was replaced by the Jewish United Fund and it merged with the Federation in 1974.