NEW YORK – As Jewish communities recover from natural disasters and confront rising antisemitism, conflict and economic uncertainty, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is strengthening Jewish life during Rosh Hashanah and the fall holiday season through communal gatherings, educational programs and direct support.
In Venezuela, where recent earthquakes have upended daily life and strained local communities, JDC is delivering holiday food packages to families and individuals in need and supporting Rosh Hashanah celebrations for the elderly at the Hebraica JCC in Caracas. Through its longstanding partnership with the local Jewish community, JDC is helping ensure that the comfort and traditions of the holidays remain accessible during a difficult period of recovery.
“Rosh Hashanah is a time to reconnect with one another, care for those who need us, and come together in community,” said JDC CEO Ariel Zwang. “As Jewish communities around the world confront challenges ranging from natural disasters and conflict to rising antisemitism, JDC is there to support them, and we are helping them welcome the New Year with hope and a sense of belonging.”
At the same time, JDC is bringing the spirit of the Jewish New Year to communities across the former Soviet Union, Europe, Central Asia, India, Israel, Africa and beyond through holiday assistance, educational programs, volunteer initiatives, community celebrations and opportunities for Jewish learning and engagement.
In Israel, where people and communities continue to grapple with the impact of war and loss, JDC is helping create spaces for connection and healing during the High Holiday season. JDC is supporting survivors of the Nova music festival and their families through programs designed to help them navigate the emotional complexities that can accompany the holiday season. In Ofakim, among the communities hardest hit on October 7, neighborhood initiatives are bringing residents together through family activities, cultural programming and communal celebrations that foster resilience and renewal.
In Ukraine, where the humanitarian crisis continues, JDC-supported JCCs and Hesed social service centers are hosting Rosh Hashanah celebrations, creative workshops and intergenerational programs highlighting the holiday’s traditions and meaning. Holiday food packages are being distributed to more than 8,700 households, helping to ensure that those in need can celebrate the New Year, with support from a partnership with the Claims Conference and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
In Moldova, JDC is supporting a range of Rosh Hashanah activities through the Kedem Jacobs JCC, including educational workshops, home visits for older adults, Shabbat programs, and cultural and community events..
Across Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Jewish communities will gather for festive holiday programs, educational activities and volunteer initiatives, with vulnerable community members receiving tailored support. In Shymkent, children and adults will explore the history and traditions of Rosh Hashanah. In Aktobe, participants will create a time capsule filled with notes and objects to be opened at next year’s celebration. In Almaty and Pavlodar, holiday activities will combine Jewish learning, holiday crafts and volunteerism.
In Mumbai, India, JDC programs will engage youth, women and older adults through Rosh Hashanah, Selichot, Yom Kippur and Sukkot activities. Community members will participate in holiday learning sessions, cultural events, online discussions and festive gatherings.
In Poland and Hungary, JDC-supported JCCs and family service programs are creating meaningful opportunities for Jews of all ages to engage with the season’s traditions. Activities include educational workshops, community meals, family celebrations and holiday resources for home observance.
The season’s themes of renewal and hope are also reflected in JDC’s international development work. In South Africa, unemployed rural women participating in JDC’s Ubuntu Beekeeping Initiative have harvested more than 550 pounds of honey over the past year as they develop sustainable businesses and new sources of income from candles to honey vinegar. Through a partnership with the local Jewish community, the initiative is helping bring one of Rosh Hashanah’s most cherished symbols, honey for a sweet new year, to Jewish households and creating lasting economic opportunities for women and their families.
As Jews around the world welcome the year 5787, JDC’s work continues to help ensure that communities can celebrate the season regardless of the challenges they face.
JDC receives support for its life-saving and daily work in 70 countries from the Jewish Federations of North America, Claims Conference, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, UJA-Federation of New York, individual donors, and foundations.
