Disabled Hesed Client Dreams of Teaching

When the JDC Hesedmobile stops in a small village in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, it is to help the one Jew who lives there.

Sergei lives in an old, disintegrating boarding house for the disabled. Suffering from cerebral palsy since childhood, Sergei has nevertheless maintained his incredible love of life, and has received an advanced education in science.

Before becoming a Hesed client, Sergei was fully isolated from the outside world. He didn’t let himself dream of having a warm blanket during the cold winters or owning his own wheelchair. Today, the JDC Hesed that serves his village provides these services, plus Meals On Wheels and Winter Relief.

A Hesed social worker visits Sergei twice a month, and once a month, the Hesedmobile brings him to the nearest Hesed Day Club, where he meets new friends that have become his only family.

Despite being trapped in his own body, Sergei is burning to share his knowledge with young people, to write books, and see his teaching methodology used in local schools. Most of all, Sergei dreams of having his own pupil to teach. One with whom he can share his immense love of life.