WE  
  Cultivate a  
  Jewish Future  

Each year, our Jewish summer camp experiences shape the identity and values of generations of Jews. Campers go on to become leaders in their communities, and share a love and commitment to Jewish culture and tradition. Our flagship JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in Szarvas, Hungary and a network of camps in Poland, the Baltics, Bulgaria, and Romania have been transformational in creating a legion of thousands of grassroots Jewish activists, leaders, and professionals who are focused on building their community’s future. While COVID-19 has halted in-person camping in some places, JDC has worked with communities to create robust virtual and safe in-person programming to continue this work.

When we invest in tomorrow’s Jewish leaders, we invest in a bright Jewish future. That’s why we develop programs fostering Jewish identity and responsibility around the world, including Active Jewish Teens (AJT), a partnership with BBYO and Genesis Philanthropy Group, which provides thousands of Jewish teens in the former Soviet Union with a platform to strengthen their identities and serve their communities. In Europe, we coordinate Junction, a program that helps young Jewish professionals realize their potential through networking, training, and creative grants for grassroots initiatives strengthening Jewish life and community.

JDC Entwine, JDC’s platform for young Jewish professionals, catalyzes a sense of global Jewish responsibility among tens of thousands of young Jews in North America and beyond. Participants engage in global service and travel experiences, innovative educational programs, and tailored leadership development opportunities through which young Jews can explore, find meaning, and take action on Jewish and global issues. Additionally, Entwine’s DIY guides and partnerships enable new paths for celebrating Jewish holidays and Shabbat, and for young Jewish giving to diverse needs.

Volunteers are the backbone of Jewish community. Across the world, our expansive volunteer networks cultivate Jewish life, connect families to lifesaving services, and distribute food, medicine, and other essentials to the people who need it most. The spirit of volunteerism permeates our community centers and youth programs as well. We see this spirit in programs in the former Soviet Union that promote community responsibility and a culture of care and commitment to vulnerable elderly Jews and others in need. Since the start of the pandemic, Jewish volunteers have mobilized to distribute aid and provide human connection to isolated needy under lockdown.

Strong community is vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a safeguard against isolation and as a powerful tool for sharing knowledge and resources. Jewish institutions, like JDC-supported Jewish Community Centers (JCCs),  are the backbones of our communities, and have found innovative ways to support and engage members. Equally important are organizations like Yesod and the Kaplan Leadership Initiative, which provide seminars and resources, as well as leadership training and Jewish learning, to cultivate the next generation of Jewish professionals.

Each year, our Jewish summer camp experiences shape the identity and values of generations of Jews. Campers go on to become leaders in their communities, and share a love and commitment to Jewish culture and tradition. Our flagship JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in Szarvas, Hungary and a network of camps in Poland, the Baltics, Bulgaria, and Romania have been transformational in creating a legion of thousands of grassroots Jewish activists, leaders, and professionals who are focused on building their community’s future. While COVID-19 has halted in-person camping in some places, JDC has worked with communities to create robust virtual and safe in-person programming to continue this work.