Is Fox Valley Jewish Jewish Neighbors Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform?
We are all of the above, and at the same time none of the above, because FVJN is, above all else, inclusive. Our members come from all sectors of Judaism, and we have no affiliation with any of them because we want everyone to feel comfortable being a part of FVJN.
I’m Jewish but my spouse is not. Can we both come to events?
Definitely! We welcome mixed-faith couples. In fact, more than half of our membership consists of one adult who is Jewish and one who is not.
Do you have a Synagogue?
No, we do not. Census figures show that there are over 4000 Jewish people in Kane County, and there no doubt will be one here someday. Many members of FVJN are actively interested in starting a Synagogue and are researching various alternatives. If you would like to help in these efforts, e-mail us; we’ll be grateful for your help.
There are several Synagogues within a 30-45 minute drive from the Tri-Cities, depending on where you live. We have members who belong to all of them, so if you are Synagogue-shopping, we can put you in touch with local people who belong to any of the Synagogues you are considering. You can learn more about each of them by clicking “Local Synagougue Info” at the left.
I was brought up Jewish, but I haven’t been observant recently. Will I feel out of place at an FVJN event?
No. Our events are designed mainly to connect Jewish people in the Tri-Cities area with one another. Whatever you consider your level of “Jewishness” to be is not important. What is important is that you want to meet other Jewish people who live nearby.
How many Jewish families are there in the area?
We really don’t know. We have about 150 families on our mailing list, and several more hear about us each year, usually saying, “We thought we were the only ones out here!” So we guess there are at least twice as many as we know about.
Does Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors charge dues?
No, it is supported soley through the voluntary contributions of the people who participate in the events.
If I give money to Fox Valley Jewish Neighboirs, is it tax dedcutible?
We’re happy to be able to report that the IRS has granted Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors tax-exempt status pursuant to IRS Code Sectioin 501c3, retroactive to February 18, 2007.
FVJN applied some time ago for tax-exempt status, in order to, among other things, allow donations to FVJN be tax-exempt to the extent that a donor’s tax situation permits. The IRS has ruled that FVJN has been granted tax-exempt status, and that the status is retroactive to the date of FVJN’s date of incorporation on February 18, 2007.
This means that if you have made a donation to FVJN from 2/18/07 on, your donation may be tax-deductible; and we suggest that you consult with your tax advisor about this. Similarly, your donations going forward will be tax-exempt to the extent permitted by law in light of your personal tax situation. We similarly suggest that you consult your tax advisor to determine the deductibility of all such donations.
Can I bring my kids with me? I want them to meet other Jewish kids in the area, if there are any.
One of the main reasons behind the founding of Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors was so that our children can see that there are other kids like them. Most of our programs are intended to be family-friendly, so unless a program description says specifically otherwise, kids are most welcome!
What is there for my kids to do?
A lot! We have an FVJN playgroup for younger children. Also, for most Jewish holidays, we have fun craft projects for the kids. For middle and high school kids, we’ve begun FJVN Youth Services, along with social gatherings. In addition, our services and the majority of our activities are family-friendly.
