Estonia
Overview
Estonia’s Jewish population was nearly decimated in the Holocaust. After World War II, the nation endured a half-century of Soviet rule, during which Jewish culture was strongly suppressed. However, with the fall of communism, this “Jewel of the North” has been seeing the re-emergence of a strong and dynamic Jewish community.
Need
While Estonia has undergone social and economic reform, continued inflation is taking a severe toll on elderly Jews, many of whom are living on fixed incomes and can no longer meet their basic needs. Community development is also a priority for this small Jewish enclave in order to ensure a self-sufficient and strong Jewish future in Estonia.
Response
JDC’s efforts to help Estonia and its Baltic neighbors achieve greater self-sufficiency while encouraging Jewish renewal involve integrated programs that cut across all age and interest groups. These include:
- Social welfare services (e.g., food, medicines, home care, winter relief) that assist Holocaust survivors, impoverished children and families, and others at risk
- Community development, including educational and recreational activities for seniors, young adults, and children
- Communal Jewish holiday observances and celebrations
- Expanding the “JCC without walls” concept in the region, offering alternative venues outside overtly religious settings for a varied range of Jewish activities
Impact
JDC social welfare services support the country’s 700 Holocaust survivors. In addition, JDC has facilitated the dramatic renewal of Jewish life through its support for events and activities that are attracting more and more participants each year. For example:
- 130 seniors participated in a Golden Age retreat
- 1,200 people engaged in Jewish learning at the Limmud-Keshet seminar
- 350 children connected to Judaism at the Olameinu Baltic Summer Camp
Children in the community have myriad opportunities for Jewish involvement, including:
- A winter camp
- A Jewish kindergarten fully supported by JDC
- Four youth clubs that provide activities and learning opportunities for children as young as 3.
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