Romania
Overview
Romania, which became part of the Soviet bloc following World War II, suffered greatly under its long-time communist dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, who left the nation in dire economic straits when he was overthrown and executed in December 1989. It wasn't until 1996, when the former communists still dominating the government were finally swept from power, that Romania began to undertake serious social and economic reforms. Its obsolete infrastructure and industrial base hampered its transition to a market economy, and macroeconomic gains have yet to overcome widespread poverty. Romania joined the European Union in 2007.
Need
JDC returned to Romania in 1967 with a large-scale relief operation mounted in response to the effects of chronic poverty on some of Romania's most at-risk communities. More than 40 years later, poverty, rising inflation, and the ongoing effects of the global economic crisis continue to plague Romania's most vulnerable citizens. These include elderly Nazi victims who have no family left to assist them, and at-risk children, many of whose parents are barely able to provide for their families.
Response
Working with the Jewish community, JDC established the Children in Need program, which provides food, medicines, and school supplies to needy children. JDC's other efforts include:
- Cash and medical assistance, meals-on-wheels, home care, and other services for aging Holocaust survivors
- Support for the Rosen Home for the Aged
- Jewish summer and winter camps and other Jewish community life activities for families
- Day center for the aged
JDC is also committed to growing and strengthening a new generation of local community leaders. Its leadership programs for youth and the middle generation include Hadracha College courses for those in the Young Jewish Leadership Program, as well as international seminars and conferences for youth and adults.
The Bereshit program is an exceptionally successful recent JDC initiative. What started out as a small, barely-known program has quickly become the biggest and most popular Jewish educational program in Romania, with 250 participants and growing.
Impact
JDC's work has substantially improved the quality of life for Romanian Jews and enhanced their involvement in community activities. Currently:
- Nearly 2,000 Romanian Jews receive some form of social and/or medical assistance
- Close to 500 needy elderly receive monthly cash grants
- Some 140 at-risk children receive food vouchers, clothing, medical assistance, and school supplies annually, along with support for their participation in Jewish community and educational activities
- More than 2,000 Jews are served by JDC-supported Jewish Community Centers in Bucharest, Oradea, Iasi, and Timisoara
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