JDC Voices

The Jewish community in Sofia, Bulgaria accomplished something incredible — opening their own Jewish day school. But just as they found their sea legs, the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Former JDC employee and ThinkPink founder Nela Hasic shares how coronavirus has changed the work of fighting breast cancer but leaves her hopeful for the future.

In honor of World Refugee Day, we share the story of Meri Zegelman, an Internally Displaced Person in Ukraine, who has become a vital member of her new home community in Kharkiv. Plus one of her recipes!

Sasha Gutenberg, Hillel director in Novosibirsk, Russia, writes about how the Kaplan Leadership Initiative has empowered her to join an international community of young leaders who are building the Jewish future.

One JDC staff member reflects on how the coronavirus pandemic has given her new insight into the plight faced by the elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union that JDC serves.

Bires Gashu used to be mocked for his spinal deformity. Here, he shares the story of his long trek to receive live-changing care from Dr. Rick Hodes.

The CEO of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria reflects on how COVID-19 has brought her community together, even as they’ve been forced to remain apart.

In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we’re sharing a letter President Harry S. Truman sent to JDC Chairman Edward Warburg in 1945, expressing his praise for JDC’s post-war relief effort.

Liliya Tarnopolskaya, case manager for the JDC-supported Hesed social welfare center in Kiev, shares how she and her team are adapting to COVID-19 and providing care to their elderly clients from a distance.

JDC’s historical advisor explores JDC’s century-long history of partnership with the US Government and Americans to provide aid to those in need.