First JDC Board of Director's Mission to Armenia and Georgia Discovers Surprising Link.

On the heels of last Fall’s Central Asia subcommittee trip to Azerbaijan, four members of JDC’s Board of Directors traveled the final leg of the Caucasus Mountain region to visit the Jews of Armenia and Georgia. Among the many surprises, was finding that JDC literally had deep ‘roots’ in Armenia.

As the group was led on a tour of Armenian sites, they were shown the "Henry Morgenthau tree" – planted on that country’s official Walk of Righteous Non-Armenians. When the Board members excitedly explained that Morgenthau was JDC’s ‘Founding father,’ the guide’s eyes lit up.

"He is a hero to the Armenians, as well," noted JDC’s Regional Director Meir. As U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman empire in 1915, Morgenthau saved the lives of many Armenians from the Turkish onslaught, much in the same way Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenbourg would go on to save Jewish lives in WWII.

Upon visiting Armenia’s small Jewish community (fewer than one thousand members), the Board mission, which included Yoine Goldstein, Jane Weitzman, Carol Saivetz and Harold Zlot was warmly welcomed by Rimma and Rabbi Burstein, the leaders of the community. The were warmly welcomed at the ‘Jewish Building’, which houses the welfare center, as well as the sole Armenian Jewish community center and the Synagogue. Later, the group was hosted at a big communal celebration complete with Jewish songs and dances to make the North Americans feel "at home."

The mission then left Armenia and traveled to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, where they found deep roots of another kind. Georgia’s Jewish community has enjoyed a 2,600-year history in that region, according to popular belief, and they shared many of their local traditions with the JDC Board members. Traditional dances and folk costumes displayed the surface of the Georgian Jewish identity and of course, a sumptuous, festive Georgian feast topped off the experience.

Later, while celebrating Shabbat with local Hillel students, the mission participants were presented with hand-made, embroidered challah covers. Committee Chair and President of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Yoine Goldstein, was honored in the synagogue on Shabbat morning and gave a D’var Torah following the service.

In their meeting with Georgian President Edvard Shevardnadze, the group discussed matters of importance both to Georgia and its Jewish community. The President was visibly moved when Goldstein explained what a legend he is among Jews and Americans for his role in helping to end Communist rule in the Soviet Union. This remark was covered that evening on Georgian National News.

Later, and equally important, the group visited elderly Georgian Jews at the JDC-sponsored day center facility. One man, a survivor of the Nazi siege of Leningrad, thanked the group for coming and told them how important the local Hesed welfare center and its programs are – "Each time I enter the day center," he smiled," I am as joyous as the day of the liberation!"

As a result of the mission, the Board members now feel strengthened in their roles as advocates on behalf of the Jewish communities of the Caucasus Mountain region. "We hope that by bringing attention to the plight of these proud, but extremely impoverished, communities we will be able to secure greater funding to help them meet their communal needs," stated Goldstein.