Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne · Est. 1921
Fort Wayne’s Jewish Story.
Still being written.
One of Indiana’s oldest and most welcoming Jewish communities.
From Mitch Albom evenings to Rosh Chodesh dinners to Camp Joe summers — there is a rich, active Jewish life here. Come see what’s been happening.
Camp Joe Levine
Three weeks. Lifelong friendships. One unforgettable summer.
Camp Joe is Sold Out for This Year!!
— We’ll see you next summer!
Registration for 2027 opens January 2027.
For over a decade, Camp Joe has given Fort Wayne’s Jewish children a place that’s theirs — three weeks in July, surrounded by friends, Jewish learning, and the kind of summer that stays with you. Swimming, hiking, Shabbat, sports, arts — and counselors who get it.
Applications are online. Spots are limited.
3 Weeks in the summer
At a nature park perfect for Camp
Ages 4 to 13 years old
Apply and Pay Online
Introducing YACHAD
The Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne is proud to introduce YACHAD — a new group for adults in their 20s and 30s, up to age 40. YACHAD means togetherness, and stands for Young Adults Connecting, Hanging, And Doing (Things).
Two meet-ups in, and the momentum is real.
May 7 · Clyde Theatre. Friends old and new connected over dinner and drinks in the Club Room before catching ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and bassist Jackson Waldhoff on the main stage.
July 12 · Indiana Dunes State Park Beach. YACHAD hit the road to join the young adults of the St. Joseph Valley Jewish community for a memorable day in the sun and sand — togetherness, with a beach view.
What’s Next
- Happy hours
- Hikes
- Live music
- Sporting events
- Axe throwing
- …and more!
For details on these or other upcoming events, contact the Federation office.
Coming Up
Upcoming Events
🕐 7:00 - 9:30 PM📍 Rifkin Campus at 5200
Celebrate Rosh Chodesh with us at a complimentary bourbon tasting! Join your Jewish community for an enjoyable evening of tasting, noshing, and great company. Admission is free and all are welcome. Please RSVP by Thursday, August 20.
🕐 6:00 PM📍 Tequila Mexican Restaurant on Jefferson Boulevard
There's nothing quite like good food and great conversation with fellow Jewish women in our community! Our ladies' dinners have been a wonderful way to connect, and we'd love to see you at the table. Each dinner begins at 6:00 PM, and guests pay for their own meal. Mark your calendars for our upcoming evenings out. Please RSVP one week before dinner.
🕐 12:30 PM📍 Rifkin Campus at 5200
Join us for a delicious afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun as our Women's Rosh Chodesh Group comes together for a community recipe exchange and tasting! This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the traditions we carry in our kitchens, discover new favorite dishes, and enjoy the company of fellow Jewish women in our community.
🕐 Time TBD📍 Location TBD
Event description goes here. 1–2 sentences about what this event is and why people should attend.
The Community, Lately
Recent Moments
A look at what’s been happening in Fort Wayne’s Jewish community. New events are added regularly.
Sixteen participants joined us for Havdalah, S’mores, and hiking at Eagle Marsh/Little River Wetlands on Saturday evening, June 13.
Our Annual Meeting is always a meaningful opportunity to gather in person, and we are grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate together.
This year, we were honored to recognize Bishop Bill McGill as “One of the Righteous” for his longstanding support of our community.
We are honored to welcome a special delegation from the Western Galilee — a group of individuals who represent the living pulse of Israel in all its complexity, pain, and enduring hope.
Ways to Get Involved
Fort Wayne’s Jewish community has been built by people who showed up. There is a seat at the table — and there is work to be done. Here is where to start.
Annual Campaign
Your gift sustains Camp Joe, visiting speakers, and 175 years of Jewish life in Fort Wayne.
Volunteer at Events
Every Federation event runs on volunteer hours — setup, hospitality, registration, breakdown. Two hours moves the needle.
Board & Committees
The Federation Board sets direction for the community. Committee seats open each year — bring your skills and your time.
Camp Joe Counselor
Three weeks. Sixty kids. The summer Fort Wayne Jewish families wait all year for. Counselor applications open each spring.
A Message from Our Executive Director
Welcome to Fort Wayne’s Jewish Community
Michael Theise, Executive Director
“Our community is built on relationships - on showing up for one another in moments of celebration and in times of challenge.”
Welcome to the Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne — and to one of Indiana’s oldest Jewish communities. For more than a century, we have gathered together, sent our children to Camp Joe, and welcomed thousands of guests to events that have shaped Jewish life in northeast Indiana — most recently evenings with Mitch Albom and a speaking delegation from Israel. Guided by Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam, we work locally and partner globally.
Our partnership with the Western Galilee through Jewish Federations of North America connects Fort Wayne Jewish families directly to Israel — not abstractly, but through delegations, friendships, and shared investment in our partner community there.
Whether you have lived here thirty years or arrived last month, there is a seat at our table — at Rosh Chodesh dinners every third Wednesday, at Federation programming throughout the year, and in the volunteer and leadership opportunities that keep this community going. Reach out. Stop by. Find your place.
Monthly Gathering
Rosh Chodesh Community Dinners
Every third Wednesday of the month, Women of the Fort Wayne Jewish community gather for dinner, conversation, and connection at a local restaurant. No agenda — just community.
Open to all Jewish Women. Whether you’ve lived here 30 years or just moved to Fort Wayne, there is a seat at the table. We took care of the details. You take care of the tab.
Every 3rd Wednesday
Monthly · All Jewish Women Are Welcome
Join us for dinner, connection, and community. Contact the office to confirm location and time.
RSVP HereFort Wayne Jewish Life
Everything Jewish
in Fort Wayne
The Federation is Fort Wayne’s umbrella Jewish organization. Here you’ll find everything you need to connect with congregational life, programming, and community resources — all in one place.
New to Fort Wayne?
Newcomer Quick Reference
Stay Connected
Chailights Newsletter
The official Jewish Federation of Fort Wayne newsletter. Community news, event recaps, Federation updates, and highlights from Jewish life in Fort Wayne — delivered to your inbox.
Current and past issues available in the Highlights archive →
Jewish World News
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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- Avila Chevalier attended Oct. 8 pro-Palestinian rally that Mamdani and Lander condemned