The Newcomers Incentive Program has been formally extended until December 31, 2010.

The Newcomers Incentive Program is designed to reach out to Jews outside of the Greater New Orleans area to encourage them to make New Orleans their home. 

The Jewish community of Greater New Orleans dates back more than 250 years, and continues to thrive to this day, with Jews of all denominations collaborating closely to ensure a vibrant and engaged future.  Recently branded by The Jewish Week as the “new mecca of tikkun olam [repairing the world],” the Greater New Orleans Jewish community offers both a rich history and a fresh and youthful approach to  communal life—from the Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division to Moishe House, Young Jews of the Crescent City and AVODAH. Our mid-sized community offers all of the benefits of a large city with the hospitality of a small town—with kosher dining options, two Jewish day schools, two Jewish Community Centers and nine synagogues to explore.

The program is designed to help newcomers through the transition period and make them feel at home in New Orleans. The program offers social networking and financial assistance, including:

• Complimentary one-year silver membership
  provided by the Jewish Community Center
• Complimentary one-year membership provided by an area synagogue of your choice
• Complimentary one-year membership provided by
  the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadassah
• Free start-up JDate membership
• Scholarships available for children for the Isidore Newman School
• Social networking events to introduce newcomers to representatives from area agencies and synagogues
• Housing or business loans
• Moving grants
• Rental grants

Please note that there is no automatic entitlement to these benefits. Compensation is dependent upon our availability of funds and applicant's eligibility, to be decided on a case by case basis by a committee under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans.