The National Council of Jewish Women, Inc. was founded in Chicago in 1893 by Hannah Greenebaum Solomon. A volunteer-driven organization, NCJW has more than 90,000 members and supporters in the U.S. Inspired by Jewish values, and with the belief that these values have universal appeal, NCJW works through a program of education, social justice advocacy, and community service to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure civil liberties for all.
Since its establishment in 1900, the Seattle Section has been instrumental in developing well-known community service programs like Neighborhood House, Council House, Community Psychiatric Clinic, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and the United Way Volunteer Center. The Seattle Section has over 500 members and supporters who champion their programming, which serves women, children and families of all races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, and economic backgrounds in King County.
• Shalom Bayit — Furnishing Peaceful Homes: This program started in September 2001 to provide gently used home furnishings to survivors of domestic violence leaving abusive situations to make a better, safer life for themselves and their children. With a warehouse to store community donations, volunteers work with local domestic violence shelters, agencies and advocates to assist women and their children when they move into new homes and start new lives. The project received the 2006 “Take Action Against Domestic Violence Award” from the King County Coalition Against DV.
• Community Programs & Workshops: NCJW believes in the importance of community and membership involvement in community service activities. In order to provide members and the community with information on current affairs, NCJW offers programs and workshops on a variety of issues affecting women, children and families, as well as to socialize and connect with each other to build community.
• Public Affairs/Advocacy: Seattle Section promotes advocacy of various issues, including reproductive choice, domestic violence, gun control, GLBTQ and civil rights issues, and childcare through community education, voter registration, lobbying state and national legislators, and letter writing. NCJW initiatives include Strategies to Prevent Domestic Violence, the BenchMark Campaign to Save Roe by addressing federal judicial nominations, and Plan A: NCJW’s Campaign for Contraceptive Access.
• Scholarships: More than $20,000 in undergraduate college tuition is awarded annually to Jewish students who are residents of Washington State and attend an accredited school in the state.
• Monthly birthday parties are held for residents of Kline Galland.
• Israel programming: NCJW started the Women and Gender Studies Program and the Women’s Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University. This program became the first bachelor’s degree-granting program of its kind in the Middle East. To meet the changing needs of at-risk Israeli women, children and families, NCJW launched Yad B’Yad — Hand in Hand — with Israel. Through this program, NCJW provides grants to Israeli community, grassroots and NGOs serving the Jewish, immigrant, Arab and Bedouin sectors.