Impact Stories: Caring for Jews in Need

Peace of Mind

Jackie, like many of us, has an aging parent. Her 90-year-old mother lives independently; her macular degeneration and other health issues have presented challenges for Jackie who has a demanding job and a family of her own. Through a program funded by your Federation, Jackie’s mother was matched with a volunteer named Sharon who takes her to the grocery store, the mall, doctor’s appointments and provides other forms of friendship and support that Jackie is not able to provide for her mother. Sharon also gives Jackie a physical break and peace of mind.

“Sharon’s presence in our lives has made a huge difference in relieving my stress and providing my mother with a wonderful second set of loving arms.”

All Were Victims

Tamara Lipen and Inessa Carlin are sisters. Inessa is homebound. They have no family left to care for her - rather like many families from this region of the world, the Former Soviet Union, they were victims of the Holocaust.

In 1941, Tamara was 9 years old and lived in a building that was home to eight families. Hers was the only family that was NOT Jewish. The day that Jews were moved into the ghetto, she and her family walked with their neighbors – including the Carlins – helping them carry their family members and precious belongings. When she returned, the building had been destroyed.

On the day of the second of many pogroms, former neighbors Inessa and her mother, Fanya, fled the ghetto to find sanctuary in Tamara’s home. Despite the risk and few resources, Tamara’s family helped the Carlins. Inessa stayed in Minsk, posing as Tamara’s sister. Inessa is Tamara’s best friend and “sister” to this day.

All of Tamara’s family members are listed as Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem. Through programs we support, the Righteous like Tamara receive the same benefits as Holocaust survivors like Inessa in Belarus. These welfare benefits include home care, material support (food, medicine and winter relief), and social programming. As of 2013, there are 411 Righteous Gentiles and 5,000 Jews in Belarus who receive this life-saving support.

A Way Back

We don’t hear much about the effects of the economic downturn anymore, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t still reeling from the crises it brought to their lives. For Stan, the loss of his job in 2008 was a turning point from which he is still making his way back.

Stan is now living in an apartment and found new employment, but the time in between was a challenge. Stan received emergency assistance in order to remain in his home for a time, but ultimately it had to be sold while he had no source of income. Resume assistance and job counseling helped him find a new job where he is starting to feel like himself again.

No one ever knows when they will need help or find themselves in a crisis; that’s why your Federation is always in the background, ready to provide help when it’s needed.

“Without the Jewish community, I’m not sure where I would be.”