Community Building in Russia Takes Off with Knafaim Program
“It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to…the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility…and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.” This quote, from Robert F. Kennedy, speaks to a new JDC-funded program for Russian Jews, Knafaim (wings), which seeks to build Jewish communal life by engaging young professionals with educational opportunities to learn about Jewish culture in addition to offering seminars on general management and leadership-skills building.
The fact that there are economic woes in the Baltics is hardly “news” these days. But new to the media scene is how JDC is helping battle rising rates of unemployment and poverty among Jews in those countries—especially those who had managed to work their way into the middle class over the past number of years, only to find themselves knocked back down a number of rungs amidst the global financial crisis.
While the current economic stability of European countries is wavering, the future of the region’s Jewish leadership appears promising. Recently, a group of 20-something Jewish young adults from 12 countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Switzerland) gathered in Milan, Italy for Generation Next, a JDC-supported conference on young leadership.
The Jerusalem Post is featuring an insightful profile of the Jewish community in Krakow that colorfully illustrates what JDC has known for quite some time: Jewish life is thriving in Poland.
Appreciation Abounds During Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month a time to especially celebrate the contributions and history of US Jews. Marking this occasion last weekend, President Obama delivered a special statement in which he said, “As they have immeasurably enriched our national culture, Jewish Americans have also maintained their own unique identity. During Jewish American Heritage Month we celebrate this proud history and honor the invaluable contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation.”
Last week, sixty-five young Jewish leaders from across the U.S. visited Jewish communities in Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Rabat. As part of their study mission to Morocco, The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) National Young Leadership Cabinet engaged first-hand with JDC programs, including a Jewish old age home, the Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants (OSE) medical clinic, and thriving Jewish day schools, all run in partnership with this vibrant and historic community.
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