From Kyiv to Caracas, JCCs Power Vibrant Jewish Life

Jewish life doesn’t happen in a vacuum — it needs a team of dedicated Jewish volunteers and professionals, as well as ample resources, to thrive. That’s where JDC-supported Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) come in, places where Jews of all ages can participate in dynamic cultural programming, receive a Jewish education, access life-saving humanitarian assistance, and more. 

In this post, we sat down with JCC directors from Kyiv to Caracas to discuss the crucial role these centers play in powering their home communities. 

Ezra Kaim — Hebraica Caracas JCC; Caracas, Venezuela

What kinds of programs and initiatives can community members find at the JDC-supported Hebraica JCC?

Our programs run the gamut and serve Jews of all ages. We have cultural and sports activities for children and adults. We also offer recreational spaces to develop community leadership, like Noar Le Noar — our youth movement — and rikudim (Israeli folk dance).

We have a preschool for the youngest members of the community and special activities for families, such as cinema, art, music, and holiday celebrations. In addition, we have a mikveh, spa, hairdresser, kosher café, WiFi, free parking, a primary healthcare unit, and a community bank. For those curious about Jewish Caracas, we also run tours. 

Is there a program or initiative you’re particularly excited about? Why?

I’m especially excited about our prenatal program, as well as our cultural center, which offers art and music classes, rikudim, and hosts Noar Le Noar. I feel that these are the programs that define us as a Jewish community, highlighting our values and our ties to Israel.

What makes the Hebraica JCC such an essential place for Jews in Caracas?

The Hebraica JCC is the No. 1 address for the Jewish community of Venezuela — the place where Jews from across the country can meet, relax, learn new skills, and enjoy educational, social, cultural, religious, and sports activities. Our aim is to preserve and promote Jewish values as well as the welfare and continuity of our people.

We’re guided by these core objectives: to maximize the variety of activities and services for the entire community, promoting Jewish values and encouraging a greater sense of belonging to Jewish life and the State of Israel; to preserve, maintain, and improve the facilities that allow us to serve Venezuela’s Jews and enhance their quality of life; to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the institution, in partnership with JDC; to cultivate a team of passionate, dedicated experts who carry out the mission of the organization, promoting its continuity; and to

• encourage the participation of current and potential members, making known our activities and services through effective communication.

What role does JDC play in powering Jewish life at your JCC?

For many years, JDC has played a vital role in strengthening the Hebraica JCC. Their partnership touches everything we do — from their support for the Golden Age program, which allows us to serve the oldest members of the Venezuelan Jewish community, to their trainings for senior professionals. I myself participated in JDC’s Shituf leadership program , an initiative that allowed me to gain important skills and network with my peers from other Jewish organizations in Latin America.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the next 5 or 10 years?

I want us to focus even more on the needs of our members and, at the same time, make our programs and services more efficient than they are — all without deviating from our core mission. This approach will allow us to sustain ourselves for decades to come. 

Ezra Kaim is the director of the Hebraica Caracas Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Caracas, Venezuela. 

Savva Shapiro — Halom JCC; Kyiv, Ukraine

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to lead the Halom JCC? 

I’m originally from Kharkiv, and my involvement in Jewish life there led me to Kyiv at the end of 2022, when I was invited to lead Halom. “Halom” means “dream” in Hebrew, and it was always my dream to work for the benefit of my community. As JCC director, that dream has come true. 

What kinds of programs and initiatives can community members find at your JCC?

Since 2016, JCC Halom has remained committed to the organization’s mission of bringing together four generations of Jews under one roof. That’s why everyone who comes here can find a program that suits them. There’s something for everyone: kids’ clubs, teen clubs, family programs, field trips, volunteer initiatives, retreats, camps, Shabbat celebrations, and a host of other options.

Is there a program or initiative you’re particularly excited about? Why?

I want to highlight our latest educational initiative, which was launched online in August 2023 and offers distance learning for children of different ages in Kyiv and the surrounding regions. It covers various subjects such as the dramatic arts, emotional intelligence, English, chemistry, and many other subjects. Distance learning is crucial for students living through shelling, air-raid sirens, and the general uncertainty of the conflict. 

Since June 2024, JCC Halom has also started offering in-person classes. This programming is essential for teaching soft skills. After the COVID-19 pandemic and years of conflict, students need to be socialized again, and in the classroom, they learn how to communicate, collaborate, and feel included by their peers. 

What makes your JCC such an essential place for Jews in your community?

JCC Halom’s mission is to provide a welcoming environment for all Jewish families — and these aren’t just empty words. Here, children and adults can make new friends, get a quality Jewish informal education, find opportunities to be themselves, and have the chance to celebrate Shabbat and every holiday on the Jewish calendar. 

JCC Halom’s holiday celebrations are always filled with excitement, a family atmosphere, and cherished memories. The Hesed Club, a part of Halom, is open to participants aged 60 and older, and offers a wide range of activities, including dancing, table tennis, Pilates, computer literacy, art classes, Torah study — and that’s just a tiny fraction of our offerings! All projects and activities are interconnected, allowing participants of different ages to interact with each other, creating a sense of community for all.

We also provide tangible assistance. Families in need can receive material support — food, medicine, financial assistance, and other necessities — and the JDC-supported Or Shalom Trauma Support Center is open to the entire community. Caring for the neediest Jews is core to our mission. 

What role does JDC play in powering Jewish life at your JCC?

I have immense respect for our friends and partners at JDC. It is thanks to JDC that we were founded and have been operating all these years. It’s difficult to describe the depth and scope of JDC’s support, nor the number of activities they help provide for members of the Jewish community of Kyiv and Ukraine. All of them would be simply impossible without JDC.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the next 5 or 10 years?

My team is optimistic about the future. We’re creating new development opportunities for JCC Halom — including grant and fundraising activities — and forming partnerships. Our goal for the coming years is to uphold our core values, expand our programming, and grow as a community.

Savva Shapiro is the director of the JDC-supported Halom Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Artem Okun —  JCC Beit Dan; Kharkiv, Ukraine

What kinds of programs and initiatives can community members find at your JCC?

JCC Beit Dan offers a wide range of programs for Jews at any stage of their Jewish journey. This includes Jewish educational activities, art and creative programs, preschool initiatives, and more. 

Jewish children and youth have many options here. There’s a space for the Active Jewish Teens (AJT) network — the JDC program in partnership with BBYO that brings together thousands of Jewish teenagers from across the former Soviet Union — as well as AJT Junior, AJT’s program for preteens. 

While their children study, play, or meet, adults can join a coworking space or participate in educational and advanced training courses. Then, the whole family can join community events — cultural celebrations, festivals, theatre, concerts, Jewish holidays. 

The fun never stops. We also conduct on-site educational seminars, Shabbat retreats for families and teenagers, day camps, as well as family and all-Ukrainian youth camps. 

Is there a program or initiative you’re particularly excited about? Why?

I’m especially inspired by three projects: Kids Hub, our coworking space, and the Member Club. All of these programs respond to the current needs of Kharkiv’s Jews and support the development of the Jewish community. I’ll take you through each one. 

Kids Hub is a place where every Jewish child can have a comfortable place to do virtual study,. We provide all the resources these kids need to be successful — headphones, a tablet, and after-school help from our professional tutors. Students can also partake in our extracurricular courses, such as English, computer science, art, sports, chess, animation, sculpture and much more. And on Sundays, they can attend Sunday school, where our youngest community members can learn about Jewish history, traditions, and culture. 

KIDs Hub — and other programs like it — are essential to Kharkiv’s Jews. Schools and children’s institutions are often closed due to the conflict, and power cuts mean kids often don’t have the chance to connect to online classes when they’re at home. This program allows our children to socialize, gain knowledge, and develop their full selves.

As I’ve mentioned, the coworking space allows parents to be in close proximity to their children — a blessing in these chaotic, difficult times. For parents and other adults, We provide laptops, office equipment, and headphones. We also offer various courses on mastering digital professions, advanced training courses, and chances to network with people in their field. 

I’m also proud of the new Member Club program, which aims to foster a sense of responsibility among those who come here. These monthly meetings allow members to have a say in the community, advise the JCC team by submitting ideas and proposals, and invite new members to join Beit Dan. Our goal is for participants to strengthen their connection to the community and feel like they have a sense of ownership over this space.

What role does JDC play in powering Jewish life at your JCC?

In times of crisis, JDC provides humanitarian assistance and crucial resources that meet emerging needs on the ground. Thanks to their nimble, expert approach, we can quickly respond to emerging challenges and assist our community.

Long before the conflict began, JDC played a vital role supporting and developing Jewish life at Beit Dan — and in Kharkiv as a whole. Thanks to them, we receive the necessary financial support and know-how to implement a wide range of programs and initiatives — projects related to education, Jewish culture, as well as social and life-saving assistance. 

JDC pays special attention to cultivating the next generation of Jewish leaders. They train and support our madrichim (camp counselors), young volunteers, and Jewish communal professionals. This support makes our work more effective — and ensures that Beit Dan will last well into the future. 

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the next 5 or 10 years?

Over the next decade, I want to expand and deepen Beit Dan’s influence in the Kharkiv Jewish community. Here are our main goals: 

• Development of Programs and Services: We plan to expand our educational and cultural programs, reaching more participants and offering new formats and themes. 
• Expanding Outreach: We strive to attract more community members, especially young people and families. Our goal is to be the first address for families to engage Jewish life. 
• Strengthening Partnerships: We’ll continue bolstering partnerships with other Jewish organizations both locally and internationally.
• Social Responsibility: We’ll maintain our support for volunteer initiatives that help Jews in need. It’s crucial that Beit Dan remain not only a place for cultural and educational programs, but a hub for life-saving assistance long after this conflict ends. 
• Team Training and Development: We’ll continue investing in our staff to ensure a high level of professionalism and competence. the challenges and needs of the JCC.

I know we’ll achieve all of this — and much more — with JDC’s continued support. 

Artem Okun is the director of the JDC-supported Beit Dan Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kharkiv, Ukraine. 

Marcell Kenesei — JCC Budapest-Bálint Ház; Budapest, Hungary

What kinds of programs and initiatives can community members find at your JCC? 

JCC Budapest offers a wide variety of programs for a variety of age groups. Generally speaking, we have three pillars around which we organize our programming:

• Entertainment & Culture: When you step through the doorway at JCC Budapest, you’ll find a treasure trove of fun cultural initiatives. These are all the easily accessible programs, like Hora dancing, our film festival, as well as Judafest — our signature event and Budapest’s largest Jewish festival. 

• Jewish Education: We offer a wide range of exciting classes where people can learn about Jewish traditions, values, and customs. This also includes educational materials, like our Jewish Holiday Cards, as well as our Holiday Ambassadors Program and our Open University — a program that offers bi-weekly lectures designed to deepen Jewish knowledge and intellectual engagement.  

• Tikkun Olam & Social Responsibility: There are numerous ways community members can put their Jewish values into action. One option is our Mitzvah Program, a two-month initiative that educates teens about the significance of tikkun olam and assists them in taking action in the greater community. 

Is there a program or initiative you’re particularly excited about? Why?

Two come to mind. One is JCamp, our spring Jewish camp starts at the beginning of May. I’m thrilled about this particular year because we’re making JCamp regional — we’re inviting Ukrainian, Polish, and Czech kids to come to JCamp, which will be hosted at the Szarvas campsite, and with the help of JDC, we’ll provide them with a meaningful camp experience before the summer. 

The other program I’m excited about is the Global Ambassadors Program (GAP) — a transformative summer experience that connects Jewish teens worldwide. GAP will bring 12 Hungarian teens to San Diego this summer. The program has come full circle: Last year, we held the GAP here in Budapest, and teens who hosted their American peers in their homes here in Hungary will now be hosted by the very same people in San Diego. 

What makes your JCC such an essential place for Jews in your community? 

What makes us special is that we are a Jewish community without expectations. We don’t expect you to be anything other than what you are when you attend our programs. You don’t necessarily have to be religious or observant or have any prior Jewish knowledge— in fact, you don’t even have to identify as Jewish. The only thing you have to have is an interest in Jewish culture, values, and the community — and then we go from there.

What role does JDC play in powering Jewish life at your JCC?

JDC is the reason we exist. Not only did they establish JCC Budapest, but they continue to support us substantially in so many ways. They give us invaluable financial resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities — above all, they empower us to always do our best and strive for more. 

Today, I see JDC’s footprint in a few key ways. One is the Mozaik Jewish Community Hub — our professional platform for Jewish-community initiatives and NGOs. Mozaik is now the driving force of the Jewish nonprofit ecosystem in Hungary. Another place is Szarvas, the JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in rural Hungary. For so many young Jews in Hungary and around the world, Szarvas is their first significant Jewish experience.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the next 5 or 10 years?

In the next decade, I want a community that’s even larger in size, growing from 20,000 to 30,000 active members. Most importantly, I want Hungarian Jews to be even more active in the community and stronger in their identity. I want us to build a Jewish life that feels relevant to the 21st century. To get there, we’ll need even more volunteers, more lay leaders, more supporters, and more active community members. 

This is the work that inspires me — and I know we’ll achieve our dreams soon. 

Marcell Kenesei is the director of JCC Budapest – Bálint Ház.

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