JDC (The Joint)

JDC’s “Back on Track” employment program — launched in Israel following the events of October 7, 2023 — offers trauma-informed career coaching to individuals injured in the war, impacted by it, or struggling to return to their regular jobs and daily routines. The program has already reached more than 200 of the most vulnerable Israelis, with plans to further expand in the coming months. This is Jenny’s story.

As one of the coordinators for Active Jewish Teens (AJT) in Ukraine — the JDC program in partnership with BBYO that brings together thousands of Jewish teenagers from all across the former Soviet Union — Valeriia S. has dedicated her life to powering the future of Jewish leadership in her country. We recently caught up with Valeriia at an AJT seminar, where she described the program’s deep significance and impact. Here's Valeriia in her own words: I’ll be honest — today, when Havdalah began, I felt tears well up in my eyes. It was such a fleeting moment — here one second, gone the next — but our teens will go home, rewatch the videos of the event, and reminisce about how it all unfolded. They'll treasure these wonderful moments all their lives. AJT feels like my second home because I spend so much time connecting with the participants. Watching them do incredible things and strive to improve the Jewish community is truly inspiring. It’s even more inspiring when these teens grow into madrichim (counselors), and then become our colleagues. That's how I know my efforts are paying off. Working with teenagers is also a significant responsibility. They're at an age where they should be enjoying life and doing the fun things they used to do before the conflict. But since this nightmare began, they've been weighed down by challenges no teen should have to bear. I take on the role of a caring mother, giving them the chance to leave their difficult circumstances and cities under shelling. Even if it’s just four days or a week, here they can meet their friends, learn something new, celebrate Shabbat together, and enjoy a sense of peace. When they go back home, I always ask everyone to text me, “We’ve arrived. Everything is fine." Only then can I relax and start planning the next events. My biggest dream is for every Jewish teenager to proudly say they're a part of AJT — to contribute to the growth of their local youth clubs and Jewish communities, as well as JDC-supported Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) and Hesed social welfare centers. With JDC's help, I know they will.

After a missile struck the building next to Tatiana Wojciechowska's home in Kyiv, Ukraine, she knew it was time to leave. As a client of city’s Hesed social welfare center, she reached out to us — the same organization that had helped her and her mother, 83, for years. "The journey was terrifying, and it was especially difficult for my mother," Tatiana told us. "But we knew we could trust JDC. They did everything so quickly — I think of it as a miracle." When they arrived in Warsaw, Tatiana and her mother discovered an entire network of JDC support — food, medicine, housing assistance, and the warmth of Jewish community life. A psychologist by training, Tatiana soon found a sense of purpose as a JDC volunteer, helping elderly Ukrainian Jews process their trauma through art-therapy sessions. "I've always admired people who give — and I often think about how spiritually blessed they must be," Tatiana said. “I believe this is the essence of Judaism. It’s what God commanded us — to help each other."

“With conflicts raging in Israel and Ukraine and the frightening rise of antisemitism, this year’s celebration of Chanukah is ever more meaningful and bonding for Jewish communities. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the global Jewish humanitarian organization, is ensuring that the holiday’s message of resilience and hope is felt by vulnerable Jews the world over. “ Jerusalem Post recently published an article spotlighting JDC’s impactful work during Chanukah around the globe and in rescuing Jews from danger. It highlights the story of a Ukrainian teenager — a member of Active Jewish Teens (AJT) — inspired by Chanukah to dedicate her time to assisting two elderly JDC clients. The article also showcases how JDC’s Mashiv Haruach program, which fosters recovery and resilience in Israel, is helping some of the most devastated communities in the South find ways to gather outside together again by drawing on the strength of the menorah’s light.

Wrap up your Chanukah with a festive performance from the Fargenign Jewish song ensemble at the JDC-supported Hesed Bnei Azriel social service center in Kyiv, Ukraine!

Vladimira G. grew up in the Soviet Union, when living an open Jewish life was unimaginable. Years later, she connected with the JDC-supported Hesed Arieh social welfare center in Lviv, Ukraine, and embraced her Jewishness. In this post, Vladimira, 82, talks about why JDC's help matters and offers an inspiring Chanukah message. Here's Vladimira in her own words: About Chanukah, my mother would say, “It’s such a cheerful holiday, and if it were possible, you and I would celebrate." But it wasn't possible — she was too afraid someone would find out we were Jews. So, she'd tell me the Chanukah story disguised as a fairy tale. She didn't want to take any risks; I was precious to her, the only one of my four siblings who made it past childhood. My mother was determined that I live — and I survived by a miracle. Decades later, when I joined Hesed, I felt I'd rediscovered my Jewish family. I was euphoric — Hesed was something new in my life that brought me joy. Though it was difficult for me to walk, at that time I still could, and I'd go to Hesed and openly celebrate all the Jewish holidays. Now that it's winter, Hesed's help is more important than ever. When the weather is cold, frost gets into my apartment and I have to wear winter clothes inside. Winter brings other challenges, too. Everything gets pricier, and when I want to buy fruits or vegetables, it's simply out of the question. Even medicine — which gets more and more expensive no matter the season — is especially unaffordable. I feel stuck. Going outside is impossible — the body answers back. That's where Lena comes in, my JDC homecare worker. I can't even walk into the other room, but with Lena, I have everything I need. She cooks, cleans, and brings me food and medicine. She's reliable, too, always arriving on time. Most importantly, she empowers me. When she's done helping out, she always sits down and we talk. Sometimes, we even solve crossword puzzles together! Chanukah is a holiday of hope — it's a story that teaches us the Jewish people rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Though my mother and I were never able to celebrate Chanukah together, I survived to light the menorah on my own, and that's thanks largely to JDC.

Happy New Year from Bereshit 22 — the annual flagship Jewish educational event in Romania! This lively event, themed "Israel in Our Hearts," featured academic lectures by guest professors exploring the Jewish people's historical and modern connection to Israel. Highlights also included the re-inauguration of the Cerealists' Temple of Bacău — a significant moment for the local Jewish community — a Shabbat celebration, and dancing to traditional klezmer music. In this video, participants are celebrating havdalah, the ceremony that brings Shabbat to a close and marks the start of a new week. As we welcome 2025, we invite you to embrace this spirit of renewal by finding meaningful ways to bring Jewish values into your everyday life — strengthening both your community and the world around you. The event was organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania in collaboration with JCC Bucharest and with the support of JDC.

2024 was a deeply challenging year for Jews worldwide, marked by the tragic war in Israel, the ongoing devastation in Ukraine, and the alarming rise of antisemitism across the globe. Yet even in the face of these hardships, there were countless moments that reminded us of the resilience and spirit of our global Jewish community. As we prepare to step into 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on some of the events that brought us hope and joy: the gratitude of homebound seniors in Ukraine after a visit from their homecare worker, the relief sparked by a our resilience initiative in Israel, the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride with the Jewish community in Budapest, and so much more. These glimpses of connection, compassion, and courage inspire us as we look ahead to a new year. 📷1: Homecare visit, Ukraine 📷2: JDC-supported Jewish Family Service summer camp in Bakuriani, Georgia 📷3: ImpactWell in Ghana, the JDC-Ruderman Family Foundation initiative that utilizes new Israeli medical technologies to reduce illness and improve life expectancy among outlying and underserved populations, especially women and children, in developing countries. 📷4: JDC Entwine trip to Lviv, Ukraine 📷5: Pride with the JDC-supported JCC Budapest-Bálint Ház in Hungary 📷6: BBYO Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Tokyo, Japan 📷7: Relief activities in a shelter in Kiryat Bialik, Israel 📷8: JDC-Jewish Federations of North America trip to Argentina 📷9: A JDC community case worker and client in Ofakim, Israel

What are your hopes for 2025? Like us, maybe you're hoping that the new year will be a brighter one for poor and elderly Jews around the globe. Right now, you can make this dream a reality with a triple-matched gift for the world's most vulnerable Jews. Thanks to a group of generous supporters, every $1 you give between now and midnight will be tripled. That means your gift will go three times further in providing life-saving aid to the Jews who need it most. Donate now: https://bit.ly/49VDOjj

“You can’t form a policy that affects a country based on a gut feeling. You need reliable data as the foundation for decision-making.” The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute — Israel’s leading center for applied research on social policy and human services — is celebrating 50 years of helping the most vulnerable Israelis. With a Jerusalem-based team of 100 employees, including 75 of Israel’s brightest social researchers, MJB conducts 150 studies, publishes over 50 reports, and delivers more than 100 consultations annually. Here’s to 50 years of groundbreaking research, dedicated service, and unwavering commitment to a better future for all Israelis!