Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston, MA)

The Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) of Boston, Massachusetts is the oldest federated Jewish philanthropy in the United States. The current incarnation of CJP was formed in 1960, when two separate federated philanthropies - the Combined Jewish Appeal and Associated Jewish Philanthropies - merged to create a single organization dedicated to serving the needs of Boston's Jewish community. As a result of this merger, CJP was able to focus its priorities and engage the community in providing resources for Jewish organizations in Boston and beyond.

CJP's records contain the history of several other organizations, from the forerunners of the current Federation to the Jewish institutions supported by CJP. Their beginnings can be traced to the founding of the United Hebrew Benevolent Association (UHBA) in 1864 at the Pleasant Street Synagogue (now Temple Israel). Initiated by Nathan Strauss and 26 other men of the Congregation Adath Israel and Ohabei Shalom, the Association's purpose was "to dispense the charities of the Israelitish persuasion with a greater degree of system and effectiveness than has heretofore prevailed" ( Pioneers in Service, 7).

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