JDC (The Joint)

“When teenagers can feel powerless or very small, in AJT, they can have that power and that support that can help them to become leaders.” Kateryna V. is an Active Jewish Teens (AJT) leader in Kyiv, Ukraine, working with teenagers to help them strengthen their Jewish identities. Watch the video to learn how Kateryna and JDC programs like AJT — the youth network in the former Soviet Union in partnership with BBYO — are helping rebuild and revitalize Ukraine’s Jewish communities.

Shabbat Shalom from the JDC-supported NOEK Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, where more than 20 Jewish children and teens came together for the first Kabbalat Shabbat of 2025! "Thank you for the opportunity to pause, light the candles, and immerse myself in an atmosphere of unity and peace in hard-hit Mykolaiv,” one participant said. “Gathering for Kabbalat Shabbat inspires, warms our hearts, and energizes us for the week ahead!"

Books are Emma Z.’s passion. When she was a little girl, Emma pored through her family’s library, finding inspiration and strength in the stories she read. When the conflict in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Emma, now 65, found another source of strength — the JDC-supported Hesed Michael social service center in Zaporizhzhia. In our latest JDC Voices Blog post, Emma recounts her Jewish upbringing, her difficulties before and during the current conflict, and the story she’s most eager to read. Read the full reflection: https://bit.ly/40yKZL9

Are you a young Jewish communal professional living and working in Europe? Apply to JDC’s Kaplan Leadership Initiative to enhance your leadership and management skills, deepen your knowledge of applied Jewish learning, and strengthen your approach to community development. “If it wasn’t for Kaplan, I don’t know if I would have still continued as a Jewish professional,” said Danielle Chaimovitz Basok, a European Kaplan alumna who previously worked in Poland and Estonia and now serves the German Jewish community. “It really helped me see my potential and my future of what I can do for European Jews, and I have big plans.” Applications close this Friday, January 17th — don’t miss your chance to take your leadership skills to the next level! Learn more: https://bit.ly/40zHwMi 🎥: Kaplan Global and Regional Seminars, Chicago and Moldova, 2019. Interview with Danielle Chaimovitz Basok, Estonia, 2021.

The JDC family joins with our partners in the Turkish Jewish community to mourn the passing of Turkish Chief Rabbi, Rav Isak Haleva, z"l, a towering figure of Jewish life and a dear friend and mentor to many at JDC. May his memory be for a blessing as his life — filled with Torah, community, and the work of building bridges of coexistence and mutual Jewish responsibility — leaves a timeless legacy of strength and pride for Turkey's Jews and the wider Jewish world.

Jewish camping has been at the heart of Dan Baer’s life since he was a young child. Passionate about creating meaningful summer experiences for young Jews, Baer is now bringing this sense of purpose to his role as the new director of Szarvas, the JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in rural Hungary. In a Q&A for our JDC Voices Blog, we sit down with Baer to talk about his background, what led him to Jewish camping, and why he’s both thrilled and honored to lead Szarvas. Read here: https://bit.ly/4h8Xpzn

JDC’s Kaplan Leadership Initiative is a professional development program for mid-career Jewish community professionals in Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union who want to make a difference in their communities and maximize their potential. Late last year, the initiative hosted its bi-annual alumni seminar in Sofia, Bulgaria, offering a vibrant program designed to enhance leadership skills, expand Jewish knowledge, and foster meaningful connections between fellows from Georgia, Ukraine, and various countries in Latin America and Europe. Interested in being part of the program? Applications are now LIVE. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ednpYpVv

The elderly population in Israel is expected to double in size within the next 15 years. Through JDC’s Judith Morton Israel Institute for Optimal Ageing, we’re giving caregivers and professionals across the country the tools to ensure that living longer also means living a fulfilling life.

Shabbat Shalom from JDC’s volunteer center in Konotop, Ukraine, whose members recently traveled to Vinnytsia — about 500 kilometers southwest — to teach two Jewish art classes — one for young people and another for older adults. “During the art classes, people take time to reflect on life, engage in self-analysis, and think deeply — something they often can’t do in everyday life,” said Denis G., one of the volunteers and the JDC-supported multifunctional Hesed social service center coordinator in Konotop. “I’m happy this project brings joy, offers unique experiences, and helps preserve our art traditions."

Our hearts go out to Los Angeles — to our JDC family, the city’s stalwart Jewish community, and everyone impacted during this devastating time. Please follow our esteemed partner, Jewish Federation Los Angeles, for local resources and ways to help.