Chile

Overview

Chile is South America’s most stable and prosperous nation, with steady growth and reduced poverty rates due to more than two decades of freely elected leadership and sound economic policy. Approximately 12,500 of Chile’s 15,000 Jews reside in the capital of Santiago. Other smaller communities exist in Viña Del Mar (Valparaiso), Concepcion, Temuco, and Valdivia. Isolated from other South American countries by the Andes, Chile’s cultural, economic, and social identity is markedly different from its neighbors. Inevitably, the country’s Jewish population has traditionally been isolated from the larger Latin American Jewish community and from global Jewry.

Need

Despite the country’s relative prosperity, high unemployment is a growing concern. Against this backdrop, the Jewish communities of Chile are working to build a vibrant Jewish future with improved access to Jewish education and leadership development activities.

Response

JDC works as a partner and consultant to the Jewish communities of Chile to enhance community development and prepare individuals for viable employment opportunities. JDC also works to forge relationships between this isolated community and neighboring Jews in Latin America and beyond. JDC’s efforts include:

• Leatid programs and seminars train local Jewish community lay leaders and professionals to respond to challenges and advance community development
• An employment center modeled on Argentina’s Ariel Job Center provides job training programs
• Training and counseling services for the Board of Jewish Education (Va’ad Hachinuch)

Impact

• Chile’s Jewish communities today are more connected to the larger Jewish community both culturally and in terms of program partnerships
• Jewish schools are meeting the modern education and training needs of students, with JDC playing an advisory role
• A new generation of Chilean Jews is prepared and eager to take on the mantle of effective community leadership as a result of JDC training initiatives

Responding to February 2010 Earthquake

Since immediately following the February 27th earthquake that struck central and southern Chile, JDC has been working in partnership with the Chilean Jewish community’s Emergency Committee to deliver humanitarian assistance to victims of the disaster. The community is focusing on rebuilding the medical infrastructure in Curanipe, Chanco, and Cauqanes—coastal towns at the epicenter of the quake that were also severely damaged by the subsequent tidal wave. JDC is helping to fund the Jewish community’s efforts, which include delivering 50 tons of medicines, food, and clothing; donating modern defibrillators and ambulances; and providing financial and volunteer support for the clean-up and reconstruction of area hospitals.

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