Jewish Community Center Boston & CJP Guide 2026

Featured image: Hebrew College on Washington Street in Newton. Photo: Daderot via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

Greater Boston’s Jewish community is served by a network of nonprofits, from the regional federation to a community center in Newton, a social service agency in Waltham and a college for Jewish learning. This guide explains what the main organizations do, where they are and how to reach them, based on each group’s own website as checked on Oct. 22, 2026. It is meant for newcomers, families, students, older adults and anyone looking for help or a way to get involved.

CJP Boston: the Jewish Federation of Greater Boston

Combined Jewish Philanthropies, known as CJP, is the Jewish federation for Greater Boston. It says it has worked in the region for 130 years and pools donations, volunteers and partnerships to fund the network of organizations that support Jewish life locally. CJP lists three focus areas: a strong, safe and caring community; Jewish life and learning; and Israel connection and rebuilding. Under the first, it says it safeguards Jewish spaces, responds to threats, confronts antisemitism and helps people with essential needs. CJP’s office is in the Kraft Family Building, 126 High St., Boston, and its main phone is 617-457-8500. CJP also runs JewishBoston.com, a directory of local synagogues, organizations and events.

JCC Greater Boston in Newton

JCC Greater Boston, at 333 Nahanton St. in Newton, offers education, fitness, cultural and social programs for every age group, from infants to seniors, and says everyone is welcome. Current programs listed on its website include:

an outdoor pool, with early bird pricing for the 2027 season available until Oct. 31, 2026;
Camp Grossman, a traditional outdoor day camp in Dover for kids entering kindergarten through 10th grade, with transportation from more than 30 towns;
Camp Kaleidoscope, an arts and science day camp for grades K to 9;
a kosher cafe on site, certified by KVH Kosher.

In 2026, Boston Jewish Film became part of JCC Greater Boston. Its 38th Boston Jewish Film Festival runs Nov. 4 to 15, 2026, with 15 films from nine countries shown at venues across Greater Boston, according to the JCC.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service Boston

Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS) is headquartered at 1430 Main St. in Waltham and serves people of all backgrounds across Greater Boston, at its offices, in homes and online. Its services fall into five main areas:

Early relationships: the Center for Early Relationship Support helps new parents, including free weekly support groups for parents of newborns.
People with disabilities: CHAI Services supports children and adults with developmental disabilities, mental illness and autism.
Older adults: including Your Elder Experts, a team that guides older adults and their families, and support for Holocaust survivors.
Basic needs: the Center for Basic Needs Assistance helps with food, heating, housing and help for immigrants in Eastern Massachusetts.
Mental health and wellbeing: short-term and ongoing support.

People who are not sure where to start can call the JF&CS Access Team at 781-647-5327. JF&CS also runs Parent Connect, a free, confidential helpline for parents and caregivers, at 781-693-1378.

Hebrew College in Newton

Hebrew College, at 1860 Washington St. in Newton, was founded in 1921. It offers graduate programs including a rabbinical school, along with adult learning, youth programs and Hebrew language classes (ulpan). The college describes itself as pluralistic, meaning students from different Jewish backgrounds and practices study together. Its president is Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld.

Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts)

The Jewish Arts Collaborative, known as JArts, presents Jewish arts and culture in Greater Boston. Its website organizes programs by art, music, Israel, holidays, food and fashion and posts an upcoming events calendar.

Community safety and reporting antisemitism

CJP lists community security as part of its work, and the ADL’s New England office collects reports of antisemitic incidents. The ADL counted 279 antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts in 2025. Our report on the ADL’s Massachusetts data breaks down those numbers, and our look at antisemitism statistics in Canada covers official data north of the border. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.

More for Jewish Boston

Find a congregation with our guide to synagogues in Brookline and Newton, plan the holiday with our Hanukkah 2026 in Boston guide, and find a meal with our kosher restaurants in Greater Boston guide.

Additional details

The Boston Jewish Film Festival opens Nov. 4 with “The Soundman,” according to the JCC’s festival page, and sells both all-access passes and single tickets.
Boston Jewish Film’s mailing address is now JCC Greater Boston, 333 Nahanton St., Newton.
JF&CS published a 2025 to 2030 strategic plan called “Under One Roof.”
Kosher certification in the region is handled largely by KVH Kosher, which publishes a public directory of certified restaurants and stores.

Sources

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Jewish Community Resources in Boston: CJP, JCC Greater Boston, JF&CS, Hebrew College and JArts