Impact Stories: Supporting Global Jewry

Too Afraid to Speak

Imagine a friend gives you a necklace for your 25th birthday. It’s lovely. It has a cross on it. You wear it to your grandmother’s house and she starts yelling at you for having a cross. You innocently ask what the problem is. It’s then that you find out you’re Jewish.

This is exactly how Natalia learned about her Jewish heritage. After surviving the Holocaust, Natalia’s grandmother was still too afraid to speak about being Jewish until three years ago. This story is too common in Minsk, Belarus where Natalia and her family live.

Upon finding out about her family’s background, Natalia began attending synagogue and learned she wasn’t alone and that programs were available to help her learn more and become part of the Jewish community. She is now a madracha (counselor) at family camp where she helps other young people and their families connect with Judaism.

“I am so proud to be Jewish and excited to be part of this growing community. I spend all of my free time volunteering with the younger kids, teaching them what it means to be Jewish.”

Letting Kids be Kids

Stress is part of life, but it shouldn’t be a major factor in a child’s life. Unfortunately for many at-risk youth in our partnership region of Yokneam-Megiddo, Israel, it is.

Batya is in fourth-grade. She’s the oldest child of a physically disabled mother and a father who is absent from home for long periods of time. Because of her family’s situation, Batya participates in our Bayit Cham after-school program, which provides food, counseling, and tutoring. After receiving reports from school that she was having difficulties, socially and scholastically, a more comprehensive plan was developed.

Now, after three years at the club and in partnership with her parents who are taking parenting classes, Batya is thriving. She receives individual help doing her homework and seeks out adults when having a conflict with a peer for assistance with resolution. Her performance in school has improved thanks to her new skills.

“Batya is now a more relaxed girl who has matured considerably and is pleasant to be around.”