New Orleans Federation to celebrate 100 years on Sept. 11

“100 Years of Collaborative Jewish Philanthropy in New Orleans” will be the theme of this year’s Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans annual meeting, Sept. 11 at the Uptown Jewish Community Center. The centennial celebration also incorporates the annual meeting of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana.

The Federation has been celebrating its centennial all year, starting with a January event that featured Richard Stone and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.

On Dec. 23, 1912, a group of Jewish New Orleanians signed a charter that would establish what has become the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans. They wanted to consolidate the fundraising appeals of the many different organizations in the Jewish community.

The Federation of Jewish Charities underwent a few name changes over the years, taking its current name in 1977.

The centennial event will include a short documentary film about the Federation’s history, with interviews from about 15 individuals who were involved with the Federation at pivotal and historic times.

Brenda Brasher, on the Tulane Judaic Studies faculty, wrote a history of the Federation, which will be published in a centennial book that will debut at the Sept. 11 event.

There will also be the screening of a decades-old annual meeting musical video and a tribute by some of those who were in the original video.

The meeting will also include the installation of Morton Katz as president, succeeding Alan Franco.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. A reception will begin at 6:15 p.m. Road work will be continuing along Jefferson Avenue. Parking will be made available next door at De La Salle High School.