JUFJ was founded in 1998 by a small group of longtime activists and younger organizers who were inspired to action after attending a class on the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. He saw the teachings of the Prophets as a call for social action in our time, and was a prominent leader in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s.

For many of us the march from Selma to Montgomery was both protest and prayer... Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.  —Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, 1965

Many of the hallmarks of JUFJ’s work—commitment to multicultural & interfaith coalitions, and concern for the most vulnerable in our society— are founded on Heschel’s teachings and the movements he helped lead. JUFJ’s Heschel Vision Awards honor local leaders who follow in Rabbi Heschel’s footsteps, fusing activism and deep moral commitments. These leaders inspire and empower Jews and Washington-area residents from all walks of life.