This post is part of a series highlighting the international work our Federation is doing in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Learn more by joining us at Global Jewry: One People, One World on November 16th—an in-depth look at our impact and the challenges we face.
In Russia, decades of Communism hindered the development of Jewish life. In fact, through our Federation’s work with the Russian Jewish community in Los Angeles, we know that many young Jews who immigrated to the U.S. did not know growing up that they were Jewish. But thanks to the generosity of our community, our Federation is revitalizing Jewish life across Russia, educating young Jews about our history, culture and tradition, and developing tomorrow’s Jewish leaders.
One of the ways we are ensuring the Jewish future in Russia is through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) Lehava Young Leadership Program in St. Petersburg, which, similar to our Federation’s PresenTenseLA fellowship, encourages Jews in their 20s and 30s to pursue innovative ventures within their Jewish community.
Check out the video below to hear how the JDC’s Olga is helping empower young Russian Jews to connect with their heritage and create a brighter tomorrow in St. Petersburg:
Beyond working to create a strong Jewish future, we have been vital in ensuring that Jews from St. Petersburg to Kazakhstan live with dignity. The gap between classes is vast, and many of the world’s poorest Jews live in Russia. Fortunately, our Federation is there to assist the most vulnerable by providing food, medication, home care and winter relief for frail, elderly Jews. In addition, we provide healthcare, financial support and child development services to needy children and families throughout the country.
Financial assistance and leadership development are merely ripples in the ocean of work our Federation and the JDC are accomplishing with Jewish communities around the world. Learn more by joining us at Global Jewry: One People, One World on Sunday, November 16th ! This captivating program will offer an in-depth look at our work and the challenges we face—with opportunities to hear firsthand from our partners on the ground how we’re transforming lives throughout the Jewish world.
For more information, contact OnePeople@JewishLA.org.
