The History of the Uniongrams

Since 1913, Women of Reform Judaism Uniongrams have supported our YES Fund (Youth, Education, and Special Projects), enabling WRJ to provide:  

• scholarships and student aid to rabbinic students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
• activities for high school and college youth
• financial assistance for overseas rabbinic and cantorial students in Israel, Eastern Europe, and the Former Soviet Union
• pre-school programs in Reform Congregations in Israel

The history of the Uniongram is an interesting and meaningful one.  Blanche Stoltz was a delegate to the Founding Convention of National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (NFTS) on January 21, 1913 in Cincinnati.  Her husband, Rabbi Joseph Stoltz, was asked to make wedding arrangements for a young German couple. They became so close to the young couple that Blanche served as a witness to their marriage. After the wedding, Blanche admired the cards that the bride was receiving from her friends in Germany, all in identical envelopes. The bride explained that the Jewish Girls’ Club she had belonged to in Germany used this beautiful blank card to raise funds for their charities.

After the creation of NFTS in 1913 (now WRJ), Blanche recalled the cards that were sent to the young German bride, and recognized the possibility of creating a similar note card to be used by the members of sisterhoods.  She took the idea to Rabbi George Zepin, who was the Executive Director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism).  Rabbi Zepin suggested that she name the cards “Uniongrams” after two organizations with strong ties to NFTS: the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and Hebrew Union College.

And so the Uniongram, which, along with other YES Fund items has raised millions of dollars, enabling WRJ to help ensure the future of Reform Judaism, was born.

Uniongrams are suitable for most occasions: Jewish and secular holidays, birthdays, b’nai mitzvoth, installations, welcoming new sisterhood members, weddings, and any time when you want someone to know that you’re thinking of them.

To order Uniongrams, please click here.

To order Uniongram e-cards, please click here.