http://www.jdc.org Feature Stories from JDC Convio Content Management System Module en-us www.jdc.org-437653343 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/metsuda-young-leadership.html Ask Nadezhda Kulikova what she learned from attending JDC’s Metsuda program in Pyatigorsk, Russia, and she’ll tell you the four-day youth leadership development seminar “broke” her. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-437655415 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/misha-mitsel.html JDC senior archivist Misha Mitsel’s book “The Final Chapter: The Agro-Joint in the Years of the Great Terror” explores the history of the Agro-Joint, which created Jewish agricultural colonies and industrial schools in southern Ukraine and Crimea during the 1920s and 1930s. Read a Q&A with Mitsel on this both tragic and triumphant time in JDC’s history. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-437651977 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/israeli-sports-program.html The concept of Father’s Day would not always have come easy for 10-year-old “David,” who lives with his parents and older brothers in a coastal Israeli town north of Tel Aviv. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-437661729 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/in-krakow-a-dynamic.html For one night a year, the city’s seven remaining synagogues open themselves up to the public and host everything from a poetry reading to a symbolic multimedia walk through the seven gates of Jerusalem, from a photography exhibition to an Israeli-inspired hummus and grilled vegetable feast in a synagogue courtyard. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-430028754 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/remembering-a-true-jointnik.html Learn more about Stanley Abramovitch (z"l), a force for good in JDC's world for 65 years, who was the embodiment of the notion that all Jews are responsible for one another. The 93-year-old Abramovitch was buried in Israel today. Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-428192751 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/community-center-in-israel.html By the time Eisa Abaker, 28, left Sudan at age 19, he’d seen things with his own eyes most people will never even read about. “People were killed, children died, there were massacres, and whole villages were destroyed. I had problems with the government, with their treatment of people. I left Sudan because it was impossible to keep living there.” Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-427292399 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/creating-jewish-identity-on.html “Judafest Juniors is a unique event where positive Jewish identity is created for families and young children through inventive activities,” explains Agi Kardos, a mother of two who grew up during the socialist regime in Hungary in a traditional Jewish family—something very unusual for her generation. “Many people who are not ready to attend other kinds of Jewish programs are warmly welcomed here; and it’s accessible to non-Jews, giving our community a chance to open up to Budapest’s larger society, too.” Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-427301457 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/a-helping-hand-transforms.html Liah, 16, is in 11th grade and already knows she wants to be a defense lawyer. She is eager to help people, because she knows firsthand a stranger’s assistance can mean the difference between life and death. Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-418983034 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/aiding-bulgarias-families-in.html As she was turning 16 this year, Jackey wished she could look forward to a bright future full of possibilities. But coming of age during Bulgaria’s economic decline has left her feeling far less certain about her opportunities. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-418987141 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/healthy-living-program-gives.html Two years ago, Odet, 19, was in the midst of a deep personal crisis. Born and raised in a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community in Jerusalem, she was finishing school and looking ahead at the next chapter of her life—one that would imminently lead to marriage and children. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-419042071 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/building-community-through.html Tahl Mayer, JDC Entwine’s 2012-2013 Jewish Service Corps Fellow in Mumbai, India has joined the local Jewish Community Center (JCC) to spearhead a new youth leadership and engagement initiative. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-410959563 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/rekindling-jewish-life-in.html Liora, 15, first came to the Ilan Youth Club at Vilnius’s Jewish Community Center (JCC) when she was only 7 years old, and initially she felt completely lost. She observed a circle of people passing a box full of spices, praying over wine, and putting their hands up to a candle while staring at their fingertips. Liora had no idea she was witnessing her first Havdallah ceremony. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-411006776 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/homecare-worker-goes-the.html Some 24,000 of JDC’s 160,000 elderly Hesed beneficiaries live in villages located hundreds—even thousands—of miles from the nearest city, with rudimentary heating in rundown homes open to the cold and damp. Many have no indoor plumbing; some still get their drinking water from wells. Once hardy, these now fragile elderly brave the elements several times a day just to fill basic human needs. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-410964444 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/employment-initiative-in.html One year ago, Shelly M. felt like she’d hit rock bottom. A 32-year-old single mother of two children, 7 and 5, she was living in public housing and relying on a government-issued food card to feed her young daughters. Shelly hadn’t worked in two years and was drowning in debt. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-403889473 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/creative-arts-program-in.html At his elementary school, Sammy is just one of many students from struggling homes—recent immigrants from the Caucuses, single-parent families, parents with chronic illnesses or addictions, victims of second- or third-generation poverty, and more recently, migrant workers. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-403896149 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/for-holocaust-survivor-hesed.html Varlen, 82, can still remember the power of the Nazi’s boot kicking his side before he was sent into forced labor for the German war machine. He was only 13, but his experiences in German-occupied Kiev transformed his adolescence into a daily battle for survival that he still recounts in vivid detail. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-403893339 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/in-caracas-a-jewish.html Facing a moment of significant change and challenges, the Jewish community of Venezuela is being steered through today’s realities by its dedicated leaders, with steadfast support from JDC. Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-389383900 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/for-elderly-moroccan-jews.html “It is very important that we are not alone. We are in a Jewish and secure place,” explains Messod, an elderly resident at the Levine Community Residence built by JDC in Morocco. “I feel safe here, and if I need anything, I know I can get help.” Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-389380518 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/young-leader-uses-art-to.html Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia in the years after the fall of Communism, Masha Sergeeva, 21, grew up with limited understanding of—or pride in—her Jewish identity. That’s all changed now. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-335185382 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/a-struggling.html "This family has gone from dependency to self-sufficiency—and is now able to help others." That's how their mentor described Danny and Tseganesh Bruk of Rishon LeZion, recent graduates of a three-year JDC empowerment program for Ethiopian-Israelis. Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-389392594 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/israeli-arab-transforms.html “As a child I couldn’t imagine coming to terms with my disability,” says Hanaa, 32, who was born congenitally blind, the youngest of six children in an Israeli Arab family with limited means. “But once I did, I realized I could derive motivation from it and go far.” Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-382397961 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-education-in-istanbul.html Rafi came to Ulus as a first-grader, but after his parents divorced and finances for his single mom grew thin, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to remain there to complete his education—even though he anticipated the incredible opportunities it could offer him. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-380948921 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/at-end-of-hard-road-jewish.html At the end of a long dirt road departing from Gori, a small war-ravaged town in Georgia’s countryside, Lela, 22, awaits her visitors excitedly. She has put on her nice blouse, only necklace, and brightest smile. For this young woman who suffers from partial paralysis and spends the majority of her days in her crumbling home, this visit is the highlight of her week. Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-379820449 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/for-family-at-tipping-point.html For the past two years, the Minevas’ downward spiral has mirrored Bulgaria’s economic decline—and now both have reached a critical tipping point. Mihaela, 40, proud mom of 15-year-old Monica, never imagined her family would plunge into poverty. In 2010, Mihaela’s husband lost his construction business and abandoned the family. The same year, her father lost his small grocery shop and suffered a heart attack. Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-374083713 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/early-childhood-initiative.html Odelia knew her five-year-old daughter “Tamar” was different. After learning she’d been a victim of abuse at the first day care she ever attended, Odelia was reluctant to enroll her in kindergarten full time. Then she heard about the New Beginnings program at a local kindergarten in Netanya. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-374086519 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/learning-fest-helps-rebuild.html Sasha, 24, is still glowing with enthusiasm, energized by the 800-person Havdallah ceremony—the biggest he’s ever seen in Poland—that culminated this October’s Limud learning fest in Warsaw. For a young man who grew up in a secular family in Dzierżoniów, a small Polish town with no Jewish community, seeing this convergence of Jewish life of all denominations and every corner of his country was an unparalleled experience. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-374078950 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/caring-for-ukraines-elderly.html Anya’s home smells of freshly baked sweets and is abuzz with a cheerful mix of Russian, Yiddish, and Ukrainian. Each week, this 70-year-old hostess opens her living room to a group of fellow elderly Jews who have been convening here for over a decade with the support of JDC’s Warm Homes program. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-367564180 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/volunteer-takes-her-jewish.html Sarah Goldenstein, 25, never imagined she’d go from teaching Sunday school in her home state of North Carolina to helping build Jewish community among Russian immigrants in Germany, but that’s exactly what she’s been doing for the past two years as a Jewish Service Corps fellow through JDC’s Entwine initiative for inspired young Jews. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-367553572 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-life-in-st.html For the past two years, Masha Aryeva, 39, has been the Director of the Yesod Jewish Community Center (JCC)—the first-rate, central hub of Jewish life in the cosmopolitan city of St. Petersburg, Russia. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-367561589 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/center-for-young-adults-takes.html Mila A., 24, loves her job. Every day she helps immigrants set out on their life’s course at the very same JDC Center for Young Adults where she was once received help on her own challenging journey, which has now come full circle. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-360247012 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/with-new-possibilities-arab.html Young Israelis in JDC’s Afikim program benefit from both individual mentorship and group workshops that help them gain self-assurance, develop professional skills, and learn real-life problem-solving strategies. Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-360245560 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/bringing-a-sweet-new-year-to.html Olga grew up under communism, when religious practices were outlawed and Jewish life was hushed for decades. She never learned any Jewish history or traditions in her home as a child; when she became a mom, she had none to pass on to her daughters. Thu, 06 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-360241997 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/for-needy-family-in-latvia.html For Konstantin, 25, and his family, the global financial crisis isn’t a newspaper headline. It’s a chapter in their tumultuous story, which has been playing out in Riga, Latvia for decades. Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-360248718 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/back-to-school-inspires.html “If you see far, you will go far,” is the first thing a teen orphan will hear when they climb atop the mountain peak in Rwamagana, Rwanda to join the community of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). Home to 500 students from each of Rwanda’s 30 regions, the village is a safe-haven that offers education, family, and hope for the future to young people who had lost everything in the country’s genocide and its aftermath. Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-354261301 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/inspired-volunteer-spurs.html Julia Shoymaru, 18, is Deputy Director of Haverim, a JDC young leadership program in Chisinau (Kishinev), Moldova. She is the group’s proudest advocate, because this is where she found her home, her identity, and her voice. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-354265204 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/community-parents-bring.html “There are a lot of things I cannot do on my own anymore,” says 89-year-old Yeshayahu. “Sometimes the electricity goes out or my wife needs medical help. It’s very important for us to know we have someone to count on.” Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-354267614 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/campers-with-disabilities.html All year long Henrik Z., 32, who has Down’s syndrome and lives with his pensioner mother in Budapest, Hungary, looks forward to the most special week of his summer. That’s when he goes to camp Szarvas, where he sees his friends, plays soccer, and celebrates Shabbat with the community he feels closest to. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-348852581 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/nourishing-jewish-connection.html Stacy Palestrant is originally from Phoenix, Arizona where she grew up affiliated with the Jewish Conservative movement. But for the past four and a half years she and her family have lived in Beijing, China, where they are equally involved in both the local Chabad and the “unaffiliated” community, Kehilat Beijing. Her daughters, ages 5 and 3, speak fluent Chinese, Hebrew, and English; and she believes that just as being proficient in multiple languages helps people traveling from one country to the next, fluency in diverse forms of Jewish expression holds advantages for Jews traversing different communities. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-348237399 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/surviving-breast-cancer-marks.html At first glance, Ruth, an American-Israeli journalist living in Jerusalem, and Ibtisam, a Palestinian mother of three from the West Bank, could not be from more different worlds. But last month, as they joined JDC’s COPE Forum for Palestinian and Israeli Breast Cancer Survivors on a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, they cemented a bond that transcends ethnic, religious, and national divides—a bond that can only be understood by fellow survivors of the disease. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-348241248 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/camping-in-belarus-brings.html Mirroring a common reaction among fellow Jewish 10-year-olds in Minsk, Belarus, Pavel’s eyes light up with excitement at the mere mention of “Shemesh” Camp at his local Jewish Community Center (JCC). That’s because Pavel can’t wait to join his friends for a 10-day session of fun and Jewish learning that will include trips to parks, museums, movies, and other attractions around Minsk. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-348231187 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/in-barcelona-presidents-of.html Maxim Benvenisti, 59, President of SHALOM, the Organization of Bulgarian Jews and JDC’s main partner in Bulgaria, says the dramatic impact of Europe’s economic crisis makes him fearful for the future of his community. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-340620573 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/in-turbulent-times-community.html Eric, 26, echoes the frustration of his generation as they confront an uncertain future in their native Greece and neighboring euro zone countries. “Our economic and political situation is really difficult. People are struggling and they are angry,” he said. “My parents have been hit hard and now I need to help support my family, which puts a completely new pressure and perspective on what I can do next.” Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-340622143 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/overcoming-disability-to.html “The first time my 14-year-old son saw me using a cane for the blind he went completely pale with shock. That’s when I knew I needed to confront my disability and to find a way to help him deal with it too,” says Ella, 40, a working mom whose sight has been degenerating steadily for the past seven years. “Being a parent and a spouse with a visual disability presents a lot of challenges. I needed help overcoming mine.” Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-340622936 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/caring-makes-house-calls-to.html At age 25, Vera is one of the youngest JDC homecare workers assisting needy Jewish elderly in all of the former Soviet Union (FSU), but her compassion and determination belie her age. “My work gives me an amazing opportunity to get to know different people with different backgrounds. It is very rewarding, and I am happy to be able to help every person I meet,” she says. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-340618824 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-caring-for-elderly.html “Rebeca” is 101 years old but as she pedals away on the elliptical machine at the Jewish home for the elderly in Montevideo, Uruguay, she seems to have the sprightly energy of a woman not a day over 80. Still, the toll of her remarkable life and the growing limitations of aging mean she is no longer able to care for herself. With no family to turn to, Rebeca looked to the Jewish community for support. Like thousands of Jewish elderly seeking living assistance as they age, her prayer was answered. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-334662606 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-life-takes-to-the.html This June, Kazinczy Street in Budapest’s Jewish quarter will come alive with the spirited energy and joy of over 4000 Jews coming together to celebrate the richness of Jewish life in Hungary today. Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-334665263 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/entrepreneurship-empowers.html “When I first heard about the JDC-NFTE entrepreneurship program I didn’t think it was for a girl like me—I never considered going into business,” says 16-year-old Rahhef, an Israeli Arab teen who lives in an impoverished Arab village in northern Israel. “But now that I’ve completed the program I’m in love with the world of business and I’m open to so many new possibilities.” Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-334671930 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/from-argentina-to-mexico-a.html “Judaism is a spark in my heart and I feel committed to bringing it to others,” says Dr. Daniel Fainstein, a proud Jewish leader in Mexico who is the Dean and a Professor of Jewish Studies and Education at the Hebrew University of Mexico, Latin America’s only Jewish academic college. Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-334212034 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/mother-in-moscow-champions.html When Sofia R., 54, first learned her only son had an autistic disorder, she gave up her job as a computer programmer to focus on his education. Despite his high IQ, his behaviorial issues kept him from being accepted to kindergarten or primary school—and there was no special educational framework for him anywhere in Moscow. Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-326840972 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/preparing-immigrants-for-army.html When Malash A., 21, an Ethiopian Israeli, received his draft notice from the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) three years ago he was filled with shock and worry. His family had moved from a rural village in Ethiopia to Jerusalem only a few years before and was still struggling to adapt to the cultural realities of life in Israel; his parents did not have the personal experience to advise him through the recruitment process. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-326828364 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/passover-inspires.html Marina is an only child. She shares a rundown two-room flat in Minsk, Belarus with her parents, both of whom are disabled and struggle to subsist on a monthly pension. The Jewish community has been this family’s lifeline since Marina was a young girl. In addition to providing her with basic food and medicines, JDC has enabled Marina to attend Jewish camp, participate in Hillel activities, and attend myriad programs at the local JDC-supported Jewish Community Center (JCC). Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-326836226 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/baby-help-in-argentina-goes.html JDC established the Baby Help program in Argentina in 2003 to provide vital services and Jewish connection for impoverished pregnant women and children (birth to 5 years) following the country’s devastating economic collapse. In addition to ensuring basic necessities such as food, milk, vitamins, vaccinations, and diapers, the Buenos Aires center offers day care so parents can find and maintain jobs, and welcomes dozens of young families for spirited celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays throughout the year. Many of the families are single-parent households; many are troubled homes with serious social issues that take a toll on the children. Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-318148526 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/aiding-bulgarias-new-poor.html Formerly self-sufficient families have joined the ranks of the “New Poor” as a result of declining wages, forced unpaid “vacations,” unemployment, and burdensome mortgage payments. Among Bulgaria’s Jews, more and more families are turning to their community’s welfare system; hundreds are unemployed and unable to turn to their own relatives for help (as parents are usually unemployed as well and grandparents are living off meager state pensions). Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-320725036 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/scholarships-give-greeces.html Since closing the doors of the family clothing business in Athens for good last year, Rafail, 58 has had to count every Euro. Unable to afford the mortgage or sell the house, he and his wife, Sara were forced to cut spending back to a near halt—including pulling their small children, Lela, 10, and Moni, 6, out of Athens’ Jewish Community School. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-317986941 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/young-teacher-jewish-continuity.html 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. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-317684306 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/recovery-for-japanese-elderly.html Ms. Saito is among tens of thousands of people living in transitional shelters as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami that pummeled the east coast of the country in March 2011. While JDC's initial phase relief brought the disaster victims emergency aid like food, water, and blankets, the protracted situation of those who lost everything—family, homes, livelihoods, and community—necessitated a different kind of intervention. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-318145145 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/employment-centers-open-new-doors.html JDC's multi-year plan with the Government of Israel is helping Israeli Arabs face these challenges head on through the creation of employment training and placement centers in Arab cities and towns. Through the partnership, 20 employment centers will be built to serve Arab, Bedouin, and Druze communities across Israel. Five of these centers are already up and running and the remainder will be operational by 2015. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-306467600 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-service-helps-mother-hungary.html 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. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313817122 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/brazils-jewish-community.html Gabriel heads up the JCC Hebraica, São Paulo’s premier Jewish hub that buzzes with activities for Jews of every age. Learn how JDC’s leadership training in Latin America helped Gabriel shape and realize his vision for his community. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313877665 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/women-havanas-jewish-renaissance.html When Marlen Fernandez Barroto was born 40 years ago to a peasant family in Havana, Cuba it was anything but predictable that she would become a central figure in the island’s Jewish community of 1,500 members. Growing up during Fidel Castro’s era, religion was nowhere to be found in Marlen’s home, though she says, “My mother always told me that I was curious about religion from a young age.” Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313811351 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/georgian-family-surviving-war.html Nodar, 80, barely survived a critical injury and the destruction of his home in the Russo-Georgian war. Read how emergency assistance from JDC supported his recovery and helped him discover community for the first time. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311964256 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-caring-warmth-moldoa.html To survive Moldova’s harsh January snowstorms, Tatiana, 11, and her family of five huddle desperately around the sole gas stove in their dilapidated apartment. Learn how JDC’s winter relief assistance is ensuring they will make it through this tough season. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313805817 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/early-intervention-gives.html 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. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-306243432 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/new-generation-jewish-renewal-bulgaria.html Just one generation ago, Jewish life in Bulgaria and throughout much of Europe and the former Soviet Union had been nearly silenced by decades of Communism and the preceding war years; today Martin is among thousands of young people growing up practicing Judaism openly in renascent Jewish communities across the region. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313902580 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/kazak-boy-jewish-revival.html 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. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-313565395 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/enterprising-community-leader.html Lisi, a 29-year-old volunteer organizer in Turkey, says, “Our community is small, but our potential is enormous.” Find out how JDC’s leadership training helped her recruit hundreds of unaffiliated young people to Istanbul’s Jewish community. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-315390746 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/israeli-immigrant-turns-life-around.html Struck by tragedy, 23-year-old Avigail was raising her three young sons alone. Find out how JDC’s employment training program for disadvantaged Israeli women empowered this Kavkazi immigrant. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311960960 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/state-of-the-art-school-haiti.html 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. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311959698 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/young-leader-jewish-india.html Despite the challenges of growing up Jewish in Mumbai, Meirah’s family ensured she’d have a strong Jewish identity. Find out how JDC’s leadership training programs empowered this dynamite community leader. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311953344 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/disabilities-inclusion-champion.html Longtime champion for people with disabilities Jay Ruderman just hosted a national Jewish special needs conference. Find out more about this successful event and the Ruderman Family Foundation’s “Israel Unlimited” partnership with JDC and the Israeli government. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311956307 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-music-community-daughter.html Following her mother’s death, Katya was left alone to care for her blind father in their run-down apartment in Ukraine. Learn how JDC rescued this family and is reviving Katya’s Jewish future. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311933296 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/polands-jewish-gathering-youth.html A life-changing first trip to Israel inspired Anna to get involved with her Jewish community in Poland. Read how she and other dedicated volunteers teamed up with JDC to bring hundreds of Jews together for a record-breaking Limmud learning fest. Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 www.jdc.org-311891271 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/at-risk-youth-turned-aspiring.html Fakhera was only 15 when her father lost his job and she dropped out of school to help her family of nine survive. Find out how JDC’s Turning Point program helped this Israeli at-risk teen gain business acumen and get on track to success. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311888094 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/elderly-woman-finds-community.html After a lifetime of hardship and loss, Zhanna was battling poverty and Ukraine’s brutal winters alone. Find out how a JDC Hesed social welfare center became her lifeline and helped break her isolation. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311925117 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/doctor-brings-expertise-and.html “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. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311852876 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/holiday-sweetness-boy-zaporozhye.html 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. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311871470 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/bringing-health-awareness-to.html Klara's aggressive breast cancer was diagnosed at a JDC Health Day just in time to receive life-saving treatment. Learn how JDC is helping hundreds of women like Klara access vital health services today. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-307590971 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/learning-fest-reinvigorates-romanian-jews.html 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. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311885002 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/hebrew-learning-program-disabled-immigrants.html Igor K., 40, is an invalid who came to Israel less than one year ago from Luhansk, Ukraine. Since childhood he has struggled with diabetes, and today he can barely walk; with his knee distorted by a 30 degree angle, he is fully reliant on a crutch to support the right side of his body. When asked about his day-to-day challenges in his new homeland, he says his biggest impediment is isolation. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304993030 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/healing-hug-israel-japan.html 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. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304678541 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/argentina-student-scholarship-hand.html Kevin hardly remembers Argentina’s economic collapse in 2001 because the crisis in his home started long before then. Find out how JDC answered this troubled family’s call for help and how Kevin is giving back to his community today. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304988413 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/powering-up-israels-haredi.html Pini Mendel, co-founder of a boutique tech company, is one of Israel’s trailblazing social entrepreneurs. Find out how JDC’s employment initiative helps him fully staff his pioneering firm with 90 ultra-Orthodox women who are among the best programmers in the business. Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305621325 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/homecare-restores-dignity-hope.html For Irina, a 79-year-old widow living below the poverty line in southeastern Ukraine, every day is a battle with loneliness. Learn how a JDC homecare visit this Rosh Hashanah will bring her vital relief, dignity, and human interaction. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305635024 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/basketball-israeli-kids-off-streets.html Shmuel worried that his withdrawn teenage son Dror was on the brink of self-destructive behavior. Learn how a JDC father and son basketball program got Dror and his teammates off the street and onto the court. Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305630258 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/argentina-building-jewish-leaders-learning-fest.html Inspired by his strong Jewish upbringing in Argentina, Fernando made a pledge to recreate Jewish life for others. Find out how JDC’s leadership and professional training programs gave him the skills to fulfill his promise. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305625122 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-camping-community-europe-fsu.html 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. Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305638956 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/hungry-brothers-tashkent-aid-hope.html Artyom and Andrey are too busy doing daily chores around their dilapidated mud hut to “just be kids.” Find out how JDC is giving these needy brothers an extra hand and connecting them to their caring Jewish community. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305651087 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/reviving-baltic-jewish-communities.html This summer, hundreds of kids are celebrating Jewish traditions and making new friends at JDC-supported camps in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Find out how Olameinu camp director Irina O. will make their experience unforgettable. Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305662270 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/family-retreats-special-needs-kids.html For Vladimir and Irina, parenting two young children with debilitating illnesses is a daily struggle. Learn how JDC’s family integration camp connected them to new resources and renewed their strength. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305644480 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/survivors-garner-strength.html The grief and pain of what Tzvi witnessed during his time in Auschwitz have become increasingly overwhelming with age. Read how JDC’s Café Europa program is helping him find comfort among fellow survivors in Israel. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305657048 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/woman-valor-hope-families-uruguay.html Miriam is a leader among volunteers who are restoring dignity to hundreds of Montevideo’s Jewish families facing economic despair. Find out how JDC’s innovative leadership trainings are creating a strong network of support for those in need. Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305699338 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/cultivating-jewish-leaders-across-borders.html A lot can happen in 10 years. Just ask the more than 300 participants in May’s annual Weinberg Gesher Young Leaders Institute, held in Bulgaria. What began a decade ago as a cross-border seminar to network Jewish students has blossomed into a premier annual event that connects, educates, and empowers Jewish youth in Europe to become the leaders of tomorrow. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304979712 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/young-filmmakers-jewish-morocco.html JDC NextGen’s Dina Kadisha traveled from Casablanca to Marrakesh to the Atlas Mountains to get a glimpse of this millennia-old Jewish community. Follow the rising filmmaker on her JDC journey Inside Jewish Morocco. Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304931963 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/strengthening-father-son-bonds-disability.html When Haled discovered his son Muhammad was born with severe mental and physical impairments, he felt angry, guilty, and afraid he wouldn’t be able to connect and communicate with his child. Learn how JDC helped this struggling dad in Israel see the joy in his son’s smile. Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-305668394 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/mazel-jewish-boy-ukraine.html Growing up in the Soviet Union, Julian and Victoria didn’t have access to Jewish formal education. But today their six-year-old son Daniel is in his fourth year at the Kharkov JCC and already speaks and reads basic Hebrew. Find out what’s next for the new Jewish generation in Ukraine. Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-315445509 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/giving-israels-haredim-hope.html As the Jewish State celebrates its independence, JDC redoubles its commitment to Israel's struggling citizens. Find out how JDC’s Mafteach employment centers equipped a Haredi father of new triplets with the skills and confidence to land his first job and support his family. Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-304953070 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/hesed-helps-three-generations-ukraine.html Boris has not yet reached his bar mitzvah, but he—along with his mother and grandmother—has faced hardship that belies his age. Find out how JDC helps Boris and tens of thousands of poor Jewish children across the former Soviet Union. Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-311878097 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/jewish-root-young-leader.html Since Tanya first learned she was Jewish at age 17, she has been making up for lost time. Learn how JDC’s Knafaim leadership development program is helping this Moscow entrepreneur explore her new identity and connect others to their vibrant community. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-315438755 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/teach-first-israel-leaders.html Bridging achievement gaps in Israel’s troubled education sector, JDC is helping recruit the country’s best and brightest to inspire today’s students. Read how teachers like Shmuel are investing in the future leaders of “the Start-up nation.” Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 www.jdc.org-315442610 http://www.jdc.org/news/features/how-i-moved-to-india.html Former JDC Jewish Service Corps fellow Jeanine Buzali takes us on her personal Jewish journey in India. And see the faces of the future of Mumbai’s Bene Israel community in Asian Jewish Life. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500