Help JCCs in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries keep making a difference
While the tragic war is still raging, there has been a tremendous outpouring of financial, social, emotional, and medical support from Jewish communities and JCCs the world over.
Major Jewish organizations have mobilized enormous resources and staff who are working tirelessly on the ground. However, from many conversations that we held during the last few days, we understand that still, financial help is what is most needed right now to the JCCs. The time will come, hopefully soon, when the focus will be on rehabilitation and rebuilding of the Jewish communities and absorption of refugees and immigrants in Israel and other countries. This will be the time when JCCs will be asked to help in a more tangible way and we have began planning for that.
Below are links to donations. Please consider supporting some of them:
The following are either… links to the community websites OR documents to download containing donation details
JCCs/Heseds in Ukraine accepting donations:
Solomonika JCC, Dnipro, Ukraine
Hesed Beshet, Khmelnitsky, Ukraine
JCC Halom, Kiev, Ukraine
Hesed Bnei Israel, Kiev, Ukraine
Beit Graham/Hesed Hana, Krivoy Rog, Ukraine
Khmelnytski Hesed Beshet Charitable Foundation unit in Lutsk, Ukraine
NOEK JCC, Mykolaev, Ukraine
Migdal JCC, Odessa, Ukraine
Hesed Shaarei Zion, Odessa, Ukraine
Mazal Tov JCC, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
JCCs at neighbouring countries that help Ukrainian refugees:
Balint Haz JCC, Budapest, Hungary
Kedem JCC– Jacobs Campus, Chisinau, Moldova
JCC Krakow, Krakow, Poland
JCC Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
NOEK – Mykolaiv JCCThe coverage of the destruction of Mykolaiv is horrific. Yet, Polina and Misha Goldenberg, the founders of the Hesed/JCC, continue to serve the community, including 200 Holocaust survivors, and 600 other Hesed recipients, at great risk to themselves and others in the community.Despite the dire situation, the JCC in Mykolaiv celebrated Purim and they are trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Like many others, the JCC is filled with reserves of food and other supplies for the Hesed recipients.
The Hesed Besht Khmelnitsky Welfare Fund
Igor Ratushny is the long-time Director of Hesed Besht, that operates in four regions of Ukraine: Khmelnitsky, Ternopol, Volyn, and Rivne. Prior to the war, approximately 5,000 Jews and their family members, who live in 101 locations, are registered with them. They provide many types of services, mainly, medicine, homecare, moked (help center), food packages, meals-on-wheels, medical services, winter relief and more. Given the situation today, they have launched the “Let’s Connect” program, which brings together about 150 people, with social events being held every day- even now!
They also operate a Call Center that calls up to 200 people every day, accepting requests and inquiring about the needs of community members. Volunteers and psychologists work at the Call Center to address people’s psychological needs. Currently, they have stockpiled food, diapers and detergents – which help people in critical conditions survive. All these services are provided by their paid staff and volunteers.
JCC Beit Graham, Krivy Rig, Ukraine
Beit Graham Jewish Community Center is part of Hesed Hana Charitable Foundation will celebrate 25 years this coming May. Oksana Mantuzova grew up through the ranks of the JCC and was recently appointed as its director. It implements a wide range of social and cultural programs reaching out (before the war) over 3500 Jewish community members of all ages in Krivy Rig and surrounding periphery. JCC Beit Graham works as a cultural center with a spectrum of educational programs for all ages and Hesed Hana as a social center for elderly, individuals with special needs and families in crisis.
Since the outbreak of the war, they are trying helping 1200 individuals in need:
- providing the 12 step course of first aid for community members
- collecting necessary supplies (food, clothes, medicines) for refugees from other regions that arrive in our community (more than 1200 kg)
- collecting supplies for the army
- providing answers for specific medial needs for participants of JCC/Hesed
- providing supplies and food for Jewish holidays, for example Purim and Passover
- providing zoom meetings for Hesed clients
My grandparents and my baby mother came to the United States as the Russians were making life very difficult in 1910-1913. My Mother Barbara Mollie Witas Rosenberg Rolfe was born in Lutzk in 1911. My Grandfather, Kos Witas was the son of Rabbi Gidallia Witas.
Roger Rolfe
Before World War I and II, my grandparents lived in Mlinov, which is near Rivne, Dubno, and Lviv. They emigrated to the USA. I wish to donate money to the JCC near Mliniv, which I believe is Khmelnytski Hesed Beshet Charitable Foundation unit in Lutsk. The link contains the following information which I do not understand:
Religiina Hromada Progresyvnogo Iudaizmu; 25084437; JSC Oshadbank
SWIFT CODE: COSBUAKVOL; Account: UA493033980000026008301013637
Please give me a name and address to send a check. Thank you.