The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn
(UJO) was founded in 1966 by holocaust survivors who
re-established the Orthodox Jewish communities from Eastern Europe
in Williamsburg. Our founders were a diverse group of Jewish
leaders representing the major Jewish groups in Williamsburg at
the time.
Those survivors were mostly orphans, or widowers whose entire
families perished. They arrived penniless and totally
empty-handed, with little more than a shirt on their back.
However, they had an unbreakable faith and spirit, that enabled
them to go on and rebuild not only their lives and families, but a
vibrant and thriving community.
Our founders knew that everyone equally deserves a dignified
living, free of hunger and embarrassment. They also saw a strong
need for an organization to represent the united voice of the
community to government agencies, and serve as a liaison between
government and the community. Thus, they established the UJO as a
Family Preservation Center to help families of South Williamsburg
with their various needs in a dignified manner, and as the main
umbrella organization uniting all major congregations and
communities in the neighborhood to intervene for the community’s
general and unique needs.
What started as a small office, is today an organization with
about 40 devoted staff members and an army of volunteers, serving
and representing more than 70,000 community residents and over 200
not-for-profits, charitable organizations and civic associations
in Williamsburg, Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant.
We stay true to our founding mission, of serving individuals and
families with dignity and respect. When you walk into our doors,
you will find a staff that is eager to help and knows that poverty
isn’t a choice neither a definition. And yes, on countless
occasions we find that well-to-do people also need help, with
bureaucracy and government services. We are happy to help each and
every one.
We look forward to serving you. It’s our pleasure to help.