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Making Life Complete

Since she was a small child, Clara knew she was headed for a career in medicine. Her parents were both accomplished professionals and, like the many Jewish members of St. Petersburg’s cultural elite, they made sure that Clara would be able to fulfill her own career potential.

But while she was at medical school, Clara found another dimension to her life – through the Hillel Jewish student club that JDC had helped establish. "Hillel helped me enrich my knowledge of Jewish life and enabled me to share and spread it," she says. First, she learned to lead Passover seders for the community as part of Hillel’s Pesach project. Then she started to become a part of the project’s planning process. "It gave me a new feeling of exploration and community."

Today, while still studying, Clara also serves as Hillel’s assistant director. But she seems puzzled when asked how she finds time for her Jewish activities. "I love medicine," she replies. "And my work with the Jewish community? Well, that’s what makes my life complete!"