Support for Ukraine

Dear JCC Community,

We are keeping a close watch on the deepening crisis in Ukraine. Tragically, lives continue to be lost and we pray for both a quick end to the aggression and the safety and well-being of all the people of Ukraine.

We are fortunate to have Jewish organizations such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and other partners as they provide real-time information and updates on the situation in Ukraine and the status of the Jewish community there. Donations can be made directly to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee or to the Jewish Agency. 

While our prayers continue for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, there are emergency needs.  The Associated has created a  Ukraine Emergency Fund  to support our partner organizations (JDC, JAFI, World ORT) serving Ukraine and the Jewish community in our Baltimore partner city of Odessa. We are joining with other Jewish communities and Jewish federations around the country to raise $20 million.  Please consider supporting these efforts and feel free to forward this email to others who might want to help.  

Funding will be used to:   

• Provide life-saving food and medicine, as well as sanitary items like diapers 
• Ensure mental health support for Ukrainians experiencing trauma from the invasion 
• Assist those wanting to make Aliyah and ensure other emergency evacuations of Jews as necessary 
• Purchasing satellite phones to maintain communications across the region 
• Supporting the hundreds of workers serving the Jewish community in Ukraine who are balancing work and their own trauma 
• Securing the local community and its institutions 
• Assisting internally displaced people in multiple locations.   
• Launching an emergency hotline 
• Securing temporary housing for people in transit 

One JCC member, Vlad Volinsky who is from Ukraine was interviewed by WBAL TV 11. Please view the interview here.   

National Briefings through Zoom 

Tue, Mar ch 1 | 7:30pm
The Evolving Situation in Ukraine & In Ukraine’s Jewish Community: A Conversation with Karyn Gershon, CEO of Project Kesher.   
Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 895 0719 8217. Passcode: 102314.  

Wed, Mar ch 2 | 1:00pm
JCC Global will speak with representatives from the JCCs in Ukraine to get an insider’s view of the situation. If you would like to join, please sign up to receive the Zoom link. 

Kol Yisrael arevim z’bzeh  — “All Israel is responsible for one another.” In these very troubling times, this ancient Jewish principle resonates ever more deeply.  

L’Shalom (in peace), 
Laura Rubenstein, Board Chair
Larry Plant, 1st Vice Chair
Barak Hermann, CEO