Geula is 21, born and raised in Djerba, Tunisia, to a Jewish family whose roots here go back for centuries. But in the spirit of the times—and her country—she isn't spending much time looking at the past. Instead, she sets her sights on her work as a teacher, equipping her female students with the tools to be the next link in the unbroken chain she believes makes her community special.
After her husband’s tragic death, 56-year-old Hanna was left to care for her six children and elderly mother alone. Find out how JDC’s social relief services in Hungary secured this family’s day-to-day survival.
An evaluation by JDC’s Parents and Children Together (PACT) physical therapist revealed that Shirel had critical developmental delays in every area. She showed signs of emotional and social trouble; her muscle development was lagging, visible in her dragging feet as she walked. She desperately needed more help than Ilana could provide.
In Kazakhstan, a country the size of Western Europe and where religious expression was suppressed for decades under Soviet rule, a huge spiritual resurgence is underway. And while the local population is almost evenly split between Russian Orthodoxy and Islam, the local Jewish community—50,000-strong, and by far the largest in the region—is undergoing a vibrant renaissance of its own, one Jew at a time.
Fabienne, a Haitian 8th grader, dreams of becoming a doctor and helping her people. Find out how JDC’s new state-of-the-art school in Zoranje is giving Fabienne and scores of Haiti’s teenagers hope for their future.
“The challenges in Ethiopia are like nothing I’ve ever seen,” says Dr. David Gordon, who has worked in some of the world’s toughest developing countries. Read this JDC-Baylor Medical Fellow’s insights on medical miracles, mind-bending local customs, and the importance of cardboard toys for malnourished children.
Nataliya is a single mom struggling to support her son with cerebral palsy. Find out how JDC brought this desperate family relief—and a sweet surprise—this Rosh Hashanah.
Luciana, the 34-year-old president of the Timisoara Jewish community, is passionate about strengthening local Jewish life. Read how a pioneering JDC learning initiative inspired her community’s largest Shabbat ever.
When missile fire started to escalate in their border town during the Second Lebanon War, seven-year-old Dan handed his younger sister his Hibuki doll to ensure that she wouldn’t be afraid. Now, find out how JDC’s cutting-edge trauma treatment program is helping children in post-tsunami Japan cope in the wake of their tragedy.
This summer, thousands of young Jews across Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are coming together to explore their Jewish identities—many for the first time. From Belarus to Bulgaria, take a virtual tour of JDC’s acclaimed camp programs.