The “Joint” (short for “the Joint Distribution Committee”) was formed through the merger of Jewish aid organizations established in the United States at the start of the 20th century, in response to pogroms against Eastern European Jews and the hardships of World War I. Donations to the organization primarily came from wealthy members of the Reform Jewish community, and it quickly became one of the world’s most significant aid organizations.
The Joint provided food for the hungry, resettled displaced persons, and treated the sick. Before the Holocaust, it helped hundreds of thousands of Jews escape Europe. After the Holocaust, it managed the displaced persons camps that housed hundreds of thousands of survivors. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, the Joint played a key role in facilitating waves of immigration to the new state. During these years, the organization reached its peak, spending billions of dollars to support Jewish communities worldwide.
In subsequent decades, the Joint assisted Soviet Jews in their struggle to emigrate and supported Ethiopian Jews in their aliyah to Israel. In recent years, the organization’s activities have somewhat decreased, focusing on research institutes, employment initiatives, programs for at-risk youth, and data centers. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the Joint continued its mission to support Jews in need.
