JDC (The Joint)

JDC has been working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to heal countless Ethiopians facing urgent medical needs by restoring and upgrading essential healthcare services in conflict-affected regions. Today, JDC held a landmark Equipment Handover Ceremony at the Ethiopian Prosthetic and Orthotic Service - EPOS in Addis Ababa, so that — for the first time — Ethiopians will have the capacity to manufacture modern prosthetics and orthotics in-country, and more than 10,000 patients are expected to benefit annually from the new, cutting-edge machinery and expert training of local staff that we procured for EPOS. We were honored by the participation of Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba and State Minister Dr. Ayele Teshome.

JDC has been working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to heal countless Ethiopians facing urgent medical needs by restoring and upgrading essential healthcare services in conflict-affected regions. Today), JDC held a landmark Equipment Handover Ceremony at the Ethiopian Prosthetic and Orthotic Service - EPOS in Addis Ababa, so that — for the first time — Ethiopians will have the capacity to manufacture modern prosthetics and orthotics in-country, and more than 10,000 patients are expected to benefit annually from the new, cutting-edge machinery and expert training of local staff that we procured for EPOS. We were honored by the participation of Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba and State Minister Dr. Ayele Teshome.

In the first weeks and months of the Ukraine crisis, Vladimir S. hopped on his bicycle and rode through his native Chernihiv. These weren't leisurely rides. As a supervisor at the city’s JDC-supported Hesed Esther social service center, Vladimir was delivering vital necessities to elderly and isolated clients. Recently, Vladimir spoke to us about his experience of the conflict and his fierce commitment to Chernihiv's Jews. Here's Vladimir in his own words. I got the news that the conflict had started at five o'clock in the morning. My son-in-law called and said we were already being bombed. That's when I knew it was time to get to work. When this nightmare began, I spent each night at home and all day here at Hesed Esther. We were mainly concerned with caring for clients who remained in the city. As the days progressed, it was no longer possible to deliver aid by car — there was constant shelling. But we had to work — and so, I found a different mode of transport, bringing our clients groceries and other necessities by bicycle. The situation was terrible. Many elderly Jews were stranded, without power, heat, water, and gas. Imagine — how could you leave a person when you know they're helpless and all alone in their apartment? Our clients, our babushkas, were lying there in their winter clothes, in their coats. I had to do something. I also faced obstacles of my own. One day, I was in the street when I saw some people standing in the line for bread. A missile hit — and 13 of those people died at once. Another time, I was riding my bicycle when a missile hit one of our apartment blocks. It was right in front of me, just 300 meters away. Unfortunately, our Hesed was battered, too. All the windows were blown out, and a nine-story building nearby caught fire. I boarded up the windows with the only item I had — cardboard. Then there was another explosion, the cardboard blew out, and I had to do it again. I did this three times. I think that's the essence of what we're doing here in Chernihiv — no matter what, we keep rebuilding. We work at the organization that was established to support poor, lonely Jews. We have to continue. I simply believe that it's our duty.

JDC is proud to work with the dynamic and resilient Jews of India. Sharon Samuel, a member of Mumbai’s Bene Israel community, works as a youth program manager at JDC. Late last year, he helped organize Khai Fest, an annual talent show and fundraiser that supports the welfare needs of the Indian Jewish population — including Bayiti, JDC’s home for elderly Jews. “Khai Fest, I can say, is the biggest, biggest, event of the year for the Jewish community of Mumbai,” Sharon told us. “It’s the future of the community.”

A cat lover and former JDC volunteer, Lyudmila D. turned to the JDC-supported Hesed Besht social service center in Rivne, Ukraine, when the conflict began. We recently caught up with Lyudmila, 73, who told us about the life-saving assistance she receives that helps her survive during the conflict today. Here's Lyudmila in her own words: Markus was covered in blood when I took him in. Someone had abandoned him at my door. I was so upset, I can’t even express it. He’s a friendly cat — the friendliest, in fact. I don’t adopt cats anymore. I used to feed them in the basement. But after my husband passed away, I could no longer go outside, so I brought them here. At one point, I had 10 in my apartment. They help me not to feel alone, these cats — and three years into this nightmare, that's exactly what I need. No matter how much I try to explain what it's like for us Jews in Ukraine, it's impossible to understand. You have to experience it to grasp what we’re going through — you have to feel it yourself. JDC and Hesed Besht understand because they've been here all along. I live alone and my pension is barely more than $2 per day. Still, they provide us with everything we need to survive this awful conflict — food, medicine, homecare, winter relief, and the knowledge that our fellow Jews are there for us. Without JDC’s help... I don’t even want to say it — my life would be a complete disaster. But thanks to them, my cats aren't my only companions. Now that I've joined JDC's JOINTECH initiative — a program that delivers specially-designed smartphones so that seniors like me can join vibrant Jewish life online — I also have my wonderful Jewish community. With the tap of my finger, I get to participate in exciting Jewish programs: lectures, clubs, holiday celebrations, and more. It would be a miracle to leave the house like I used to. These days, though, when the air-raid sirens sound, all I can do is go to my hallway, sit down, and pray to God that all of this will be over soon. I hope that JDC continues its important mission — and that the donors keep up their support. Your generous help gives me the motivation to keep going, so I hope you stay strong, too.

Last September, Ian Knight and Noam Schuldenrein had the journey of a lifetime: They attended Access Jewish Hungary, a trip for Jews of all abilities hosted by @jdcentwine and Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s Adaptations Program. As we wrap up Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we sat down with Knight and Schuldenrein to learn more about what made this experience so unique as well as their hopes for those with disabilities for our JDC Voices Blog. Read the full blog post: https://bit.ly/3DdRc6f

Shabbat Shalom from the JDC volunteer center in Shostka, Ukraine, where Jewish community members baked challah for the elderly!

On the last day of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we want to spotlight Natalia S., one of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews we proudly serve. She’s also the devoted mother of Denis, a child with special needs — and life caring for him is infinitely harder now as the conflict in Ukraine enters its fourth year. Thankfully, we’re there to help. “JDC helps us a lot,” Natalia said. “They’re doing a mitzvah. A priceless good deed.”

It’s hard to grasp the full scale of the crisis in Ukraine without seeing it firsthand. Enter ReJoint Ukraine, a JDC Entwine program that gave young Jews from around the world the opportunity to experience life in Ukraine and witness JDC’s impact up close. “We had the opportunity to hear from some of JDC’s staff who’s based in Ukraine, and the power of their stories was so deeply impactful,” said Lauren Gross, a ReJoint participant. “I felt it at my core.”

Day in and day out — amid nearly three years of bombings and blackouts in Kyiv — Inna G. is always there for her fragile elderly clients. Inna, a homecare worker at the city’s JDC-supported Bnei Azriel Hesed social service center, lives by her personal motto: “Always strive for the best and help more because that's how you were raised.” Here is Inna in her own words: *** I have two clients at the moment. One man is 87, who I've been working with for 10 years, and another is 85 and we’ve been working together for about six months. It’s a joy to do this work! Since the beginning of the conflict — despite the disruptions caused by shelling, blackouts, and not sleeping well — the work remains the same: visit clients, bring food and medicine, cook and tidy up, talk to them, calm them down. JDC is a great help for elderly Jews who have remained in Ukraine, many of whom are now on their own since their children and grandchildren evacuated. I always go to work with enthusiasm because I realize they don't have anybody else, and I'm like a daughter to them. They tell me about their life, and I share what’s new with me. We're like a family. There are schedules for when the electricity is off in Kyiv. If there is power and no air-raid sirens, we can go outside and enjoy the fresh air or go to a store. If there are sirens, we hide in the hallway because my clients don't have bomb shelters in their buildings. I have an app on my phone that alerts me to attacks. If I can’t go to my clients, I call them and ask them to wait for me — because I will come. When the conflict started on February 24, 2022, I went to work and cooked several days’ worth of meals for my clients. Only then did I help my own family evacuate. But I couldn't stay away. I was very worried about my clients, and after just two weeks, I came back to Kyiv and continued working. If there was no JDC, I fear our elderly clients wouldn’t survive. They would have died of hunger, cold, and fright long ago. It’s only thanks to JDC and Hesed that their lives are possible.