 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |
|
|
Belgrade's New Kosher Kitchen Feeds Body and Spirit
Sipping a spoonful of soup over a tray colorfully packed with food, Iva looks right at home. "When I enter this hall, I feel peace and tranquility," says the elderly client of JDC's new Kosher Kitchen in Belgrade. Born in the Sajmiste concentration camp, Iva grew up in an orphanage and with support from the local Jewish community and synagogue. "I was included in the community kitchen after the war, when we got food from the Royal Hotel and Park Restaurant, and then when we got vouchers for food," Iva explains. She feels that the Kosher Kitchen, housed in a community social hall, is the best solution for nourishing elderly Jewish welfare clients in Serbia. "I would like it never to end!" she confides. As a former cook for the Yugoslav River Company, Iva proudly assumes the role of critic of the Kosher Kitchen. "The food is delicious and diverse," she says. "I would give the chef a straight 10 out of 10." The local staff and volunteers take great pride in providing nutritious hot meals to Iva and other appreciative clients. In fact, many of the staff and volunteers are themselves grateful for the opportunity to take on valuable roles in the society: they are beneficiaries of JDC's non-sectarian training and employment program for mentally-challenged individuals, operated in partnership with the local organization. Maria, who through this non-sectarian program is now working full-time as a dishwasher at the Kosher Kitchen, was born without arms. Other disabled young people help to serve food and clean the facility. Like the workers, it has become clear that the elderly come to the Center for a human connection as much as for physical sustenance. "I feel so great coming and having the chance to meet my friends and other community members," says Iva, who each day travels an hour from her home, 25km from the city center, in Sremcica. Clara is another Holocaust survivor who comes daily to the Kosher Kitchen. "Everything is great, tasteful and delicious," she says about the meals. Without pause, Clara echoes the sentiment of so many elderly who relish the daily trip as their sole connection to the outside world: "One thing I would appreciate is a possibility for some accompanying programs before and after the meals," she says. "I would rather come earlier and avoid traffic and stay later and avoid the rush hour. Spending time here with friends playing cards would be an excellent way to be in the community and in this wonderful social hall facility." 
And those are precisely the plans of the JDC staff in Belgrade, headed up by Yechiel, JDC Country Director for the former Yugolavia. "We know that this is just a start and we must work very hard not only to give food to elderly members of the community but to organize social time and quality activities for them so that they come to this complex more often," he explains. Pending funding, which is still being sought, JDC plans to make the hall feel more inviting by adding small card tables, a television, sound equipment and reading materials, as well as to appoint it with decorative details such as flowers and posters of Israel's landscape. As the weather improves, the staff will add outdoor furniture and sun-umbrellas in the yard of the synagogue so people can gather there before and after lunch. "Elders who often are alone need not only to eat but to sit, talk and spend time together in a nice environment, to feel that they are not alone and forgotten."
Special provisions are made for elderly clients on JDC's welfare caseload that cannot reach the Kosher Kitchen due to illness, transportation challenges or other obstacles. With support from World Jewish Relief (UK) and Connections (the volunteer women's auxiliary to WJR), JDC has purchased a new mini-van, enabling the Kosher Kitchen to deliver food in adverse weather conditions and to bring people to the restaurant. Currently, eight young volunteers help to reach these otherwise isolated elderly. Milton, a student of the Sports Management Academy who is very active in the Jewish community, began delivering food and medicines to elderly of his own initiative. Olga, a geo-economics student who is also part of the volunteer team, very much likes to hear elderly talk about their youth. "They tell these stories with a lot of patience because in the process they return back to the time they were young," she shares. What is clear to all is that the creation of the Kosher Kitchen is a monumental event for the local Jewish community in Belgrade. When the program began operation in September 2005, it was serving approximately 300 meals per month. As of early 2006, that number had risen to over 1,300 monthly meals. "More people are coming every day," says one of the kitchen staff. The elderly realize it is an indication of wonderful things to come. "I am patient since this is just the beginning," says Clara. "I see that our community leaders are doing all in their might to make this happen. We see improvement in interpersonal relations and people again like to meet and socialize. My thanks to all that think and work for us elders, making our last days pleasant ones." June 2006 |
