Jewish history in Greater Boston

1895: The Federation of Jewish Charities of Boston is established April 25. It soon renames itself Federated Jewish Charities to indicate a broader mission, then switches to Associated Jewish Philanthropies in 1930, and becomes Combined Jewish Philanthropies in 1960. Original member organizations include the United Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Hebrew Ladies Sewing Society, and the Leopold Morse Home for the Aged and Infirm Hebrews and Orphanage.

Boston’s Jewish population is estimated at 20,000, including 14,000 recent immigrants.

1907: Boston’s Jewish population triples, to 60,000.

1917: Boston’s Jewish population grows to 77,000.

1930: Boston’s Jewish population begins moving from the South End, West End, and East Boston to Dorchester and Mattapan.

1935: Nuremberg Laws deprive German Jews of citizenship.

1938: Boston Committee for Jewish Refugees, launched four years earlier, joins the group.

Kristallnacht - Night of Broken Glass - in Germany occurs Nov. 9-10.

Boston’s Jewish population is now at 118,000.

1940: Group creates the Combined Jewish Appeal to mount one campaign for all member agencies - a national first. Campaign secures 5,000 new gifts.

1945: 100th anniversary of Boston’s Jewish community.

50th anniversary of Jewish philanthropy in Greater Boston.

1946: Boston Jewish community focuses on Holocaust survivors in Europe and mobilizes for a 24-hour Supplies for Our Survivors campaign, collecting some 2.5 million pounds of food, clothing, and medicine.

1948: State of Israel is founded May 14.

Boston’s Jewish population grows to 137,000.

1975: Demographic study shows Boston’s Jewish population is 195,000.

Jewish community continues to migrate to suburbs, including Sharon.

Synagogue membership drops and intermarriage among those under age 30 increases.