Reach Out Winter/Spring 2018

Creating community connections 2

Not one for opulence, wise counsel. But we lost a Khrushchev’s commitment true statesmen in Kenneth to solving the urban Rubens last October. Kenneth housing shortage was rapid was President, Chairman construction of sturdy and trustee in the 1970s, 80s buildings, with little spent on and 90s. Principled, highly design. Sixty years on and intelligent, diplomatic and a whilst the buildings remain true gentleman, Kenneth led sturdy, the heating, water and World Jewish Relief into the waste arrangements haven’t uncertainties of responding matched the buildings’ to the fall of the Iron Curtain longevity. Energy efficiency and the expansion of our was never contemplated and work to assist a massive the rotten windows let in the and impoverished Jewish icy winter air. community.

Our older clients treat these We proudly state that all our Paul Anticoni homes as their palaces. They work is guided by ‘Jewish are clean, tidy and “ownership” values’. In discussion with a gives a sense of pride. But for group of Rabbis and Jewish Chief Executive many, their building’s disrepair educators, we recently sought contributes to a downward to capture the essence of these spiral of physical and mental values. This group concluded wellbeing. Ice freezes on the that tzedakah and hesed insides of the windows in underpin our work, but it is the winter, few have a functioning “action” of applying the values bathroom or toilet and the that makes us stand out. I Many of our vulnerable chronic damp, rotting ceilings, celebrate our focus on “doing” mouldy walls and smell of not talking – our courage Jewish clients throughout decay is abhorrent. inspired as much by those we help as those who help us to live Winter in is only help. manageable with a solid in “Khrushchyovkas” - barrier to keep the cold out. Within the last year, we have Instead the default is simply to been busy with so much prefabricated concrete wear all the clothes you own, action. Helping almost 43,000 blocks, named after the stay in bed and shiver. And people is testament to this! that may mean shivering for But we want to do even Soviet leader who initiated five long months – if you can more, which is why we’re survive that long. encouraging community their mass production in the members to join our volunteer World Jewish Relief is many Disaster Response Team, 1950s as a solution to the people’s heating system. to assist our humanitarian We’ve embarked on a massive response at times of major housing crisis. The scale and home repair programme, international disaster. If championed by our Patron, His you are interested or know rapidity of construction was Royal Highness the Prince of someone who might be, Wales, to repair every Jewish further details are on our celebrated internationally person’s dilapidated home website. that needs fixing over the next at the time. Unfortunately five years. That’s 3,500 homes! Thank you for all of New heating systems, double- your support. and unsurprisingly, they glazed windows, running water, toilets, secure doors and have outlasted their 25- new plaster. Ambitious, yes – but we never shirk a challenge. year shelf life and today World Jewish Relief has been leave inhabitants living in blessed to have been led by appalling disrepair. a generation of outstanding [email protected] Chairmen and I am lucky to call on six of them for 3

Against all odds: Liudmila’s story

IN 1960, LIUDMILA FOUGHT OFF COMPETITION FROM ACROSS UKRAINE TO BECOME NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPION. IN THE SAME YEAR, SHE WAS PART OF THE NATIONAL TEAM THAT BECAME CHAMPIONS OF THE USSR. AS A JEW AND A WOMAN, REPRESENTING HER COUNTRY AT CHESS WAS UNUSUAL TO BEGIN WITH, BUT LIUDMILA BATTLED ADDITIONAL ADVERSITY TO REACH THE TOP OF HER GAME.

From birth, Liudmila’s block with no lift. It takes her this year. She says she can see eyesight had been extremely 25 minutes to climb the stairs; the world in “its contours and In 2016/17 poor and there was no fix for she feels like a prisoner in her vivid colours” once again. World Jewish Relief the problem. She memorised home. all the chess moves from “When I found out how much provided: books held close to her eyes Living alone and fearing the surgery cost I thought I and moved the pieces around blindness, the simplest tasks would spend the rest of my by feel. Despite these hurdles, were starting to become life in the darkness…I am Cataract Liudmila outclassed her almost impossible. Unable back to an active life. I move surgery opponents. to leave her home, learning safely around the house and or glasses for chess moves and playing outside. I can take books from 1,740 people Some 55 years later, games were some of the only the library and cook and my Liudmila’s eyesight had ways to while away the hours, evenings are not so long and deteriorated drastically as but even this had become a lonely.” Equipment for cataracts developed, clouding huge strain. Liudmila was the lenses of both her eyes. certain she could never afford For many people like 136 people All too suddenly, everything, the expensive surgery to Liudmila a simple surgery, a to manage including chess, became a remove the cataracts. She felt pair of glasses, or medication diabetes terrible struggle. she was in checkmate. is transformative. It returns their independence, allowing which can lead to Liudmila is 72 and lives in Then Liudmila turned to them to continue to live in eyesight problems Kyiv, Ukraine. She never World Jewish Relief. dignity, safety and comfort. married and lived with her parents her whole life. Now, Thanks to the generosity Medication there is no-one to care for her. of supporters, Liudmila for 724 Liudmila lives on the fifth underwent two operations to people floor of an old Soviet tower remove the cataracts earlier 4 The unforgotten of Oni BY OLI KNIGHT, HOME REPAIRS PROGRAMME MANAGER

I HAD WAITED WITH GREAT As we wound our way The decline of the Jewish around the steep roads, community is predominantly following the Rioni a result of post-Soviet Union ANTICIPATION TO VISIT ONI, river upstream, I could aliyah to Israel. Those understand why even when unable or simply reluctant A TOWN SITUATED 830M there’s just a little snowfall, to leave their homes and Oni becomes a very isolated the life they know have lost ABOVE SEA LEVEL, HIGH UP place. their community. The harsh conditions - both physically IN THE RACHA MOUNTAINS When we arrived I was taken and economically - make to the oldest part of the town every day a struggle. IN NORTHERN where, taking centre stage, stood a beautiful synagogue, World Jewish Relief has AND INACCESSIBLE FOR designed by a Polish been providing the Jews architect and built by Greek of Oni with support each Jews from Thessaloniki winter for over five years, MUCH OF THE YEAR. in the 1880s. I was sad to ensuring they can keep learn of the decline of the their homes warm. But INTRIGUINGLY IT IS ALSO community in Oni which the main agenda of my had once been home to the trip was to consider the A TOWN STEEPED IN third largest population of feasibility of introduding Jews in Georgia, falling to our Home Repairs project JEWISH HISTORY, WITH 3,500 in the early 1990s and to the town. Homes in Oni today, only a handful. The not only have to bear the THE EARLIEST JEWISH few elderly Jews I met and brunt of the harsh winter spoke to fondly recall a town but many remain damaged SETTLERS ARRIVING 2,600 bustling with Jewish life, from an earthquake in 1991 the festivals and the noise of that killed 270 people and children playing around the destroyed 46,000 homes in YEARS AGO. synagogue. the region. That’s 26 years of unsuitable, unsafe housing. 5

I visited four homes during hearing and struggles with and hygienic. Amazingly, my visit, but two struck me mobility enters her home. both now have hot running most. The house was wooden, water and indoor toilets the floor was in terrible for the first time! In Oni I first visited Tamar. She is condition and accessibility we made a total of five 94 years old, deaf and almost was a major worry. Her home repairs this year blind and has lived in the main concern however were and 322 across the rest of same house since 1938! She the rats; she showed me Eastern Europe. Without has a home care worker the holes in the mattresses our intervention and your and a neighbour who cares where they had eaten away generosity these people for her, without whom she or nested. The house also could never have dreamed of would not be alive. As soon had no bathroom or toilet having these repairs made. as it gets cold (the majority inside. of the year) she has to move Returning to the bustling to a tiny, smoky room with Thanks to donations from city of Kutaisi - the second a log burner at the back of supporters, we were able largest city in Georgia - I her house, where she spends to totally renovate both was struck by the thought almost all her time. She had homes. Tamar’s home was that although Oni is a no inside toilet, nor running properly insulated, repairs small, hard to reach, almost water. were made to the floor and forgotten community, walls and double glazed our work there proves the The second lady I met, Maro, windows were fitted. The strength of a global Jewish was 84. Her home reminded whole top floor of Maro’s family and the remarkable me of a tree-house, as we house was dismantled and difference we can all make. had to scale a wooden ladder renovated, making sure it is to get to the first floor. This now safe, accessible, warm is how a lady who is hard of and hygienic. Amazingly,

Before (left), during (above) and after (right) photos of Maro’s house in Oni. For the first time in her life Maro has running water and a shower inside her home. 6 A Jewish future in Eastern Europe Reflections from Rabbi Harvey Belovski, Golders Green Synagogue

I LAST WENT TO UKRAINE 12 YEARS AGO. I RECALL BEING DISHEARTENED TO SEE THAT THE LEVELS OF POVERTY, DESTITUTION AND RELIGIOUS LIFE FELL FAR BELOW MY EXPECTATIONS.

Golders Green Synagogue achievements of the Relief that people like opportunities for others has been twinned with Jewish community even Valentina’s lives are in the community. It will Zaporizhia, a city in more remarkable. transformed. enable the next generation Eastern Ukraine, for more to become self-sufficient. than 25 years, supporting Amidst wider However, simply giving the synagogue and Rabbi degeneration, the ability of large amounts of money As citizens of the world, Ehrentreu to develop the the community to provide and resources indefinitely we have a responsibility Jewish Community. services like the shul, the is unsustainable. Another towards members of Jewish Community Centre astonishing change has the Jewish community I have just returned from and welfare support been the shift from passive who are in desperate a visit to this industrial services, including to a giving to empowerment: need, wherever they city on the banks of the large number of ‘internally moving people away from are. The community in Dnieper River. But this displaced persons’ – being needy recipients to Zaporizhia is testament time I was joined by seven internal refugees fleeing taking responsibility and to the difference our members of my synagogue the conflict in the east giving back. support can make to the and World Jewish Relief. of the country – is world’s poorest Jewish They were to show us the astonishing. At the synagogue, Rabbi communities. With the range of challenges facing Ehrentreu has empowered strong emphasis on Jews in the city as well In a run-down Soviet- and enabled people to empowerment these as what is being done to era apartment block we take an active role in Jewish communities in improve the lives of the met Valentina. She lives synagogue life and take Eastern Europe might just most vulnerable. in desperately poor and responsibility for the stand up on their own in squalid conditions but future of the community. the future. As we drove into she benefits from an Empowerment is also Zaporizhia I was struck extraordinary range of evident at the ‘Edison If you or your community by the feeling that not services which ensure she Space’ co-working would like to join a future much had changed. has money to buy food hub, established and trip to Eastern Europe, Despite more than a and fuel and is able to go supported with the help please contact Rebecca decade having passed, to the Jewish Community of World Jewish Relief. Singer on rebecca@ the buildings, roads and Centre several times a As well as employment worldjewishrelief.org or living conditions have week to participate in services, it offers loans 0208 736 1250. remained the same, if classes. It’s only thanks to entrepreneurs so they not deteriorated further: to the significant support are able to expand their all of which makes the provided by World Jewish businesses and create 7

Rabbi Belovski and members of Golders Green Synagogue stand with Rabbi Ehrentreu (right) in the synagogue in Zaporizhia 6 Determined to make a difference Rafi Cooper, Director of Communications

“WE HAVE TO KEEP TELLING HIM TO STOP - WE’RE TIRED, WE NEED A TEA BREAK! BUT HE JUST KEEPS ON GOING. HE’S AMAZING AND WORKS SO HARD.”

Balie Chatpa runs the for Syrian refugees, is building his confidence The programme Acorns charity shop in helping participants and independence. Ahmad combines ESOL (English Coventry. Balie has just speak better English, said, “I feel respected and for Speakers of Other taken on Syrian refugee find employment and valued here, but even if Languages) training, Ahmad as a volunteer ultimately integrate into I do my best I can’t give volunteering – which in the shop for two British society. It’s inspired back what’s been given to allows people to practise days a week and she’s by our organisation’s me.” their English– and been astonished by his history, helping Jewish the support needed commitment and work refugees who came to this Throughout the day, we for people to find and ethic. He helps her to country before, during hear many heartbreaking maintain employment. iron and organise all of and after the Holocaust. tales of devastation. I find navigating the the clothes as well as I cannot avoid seeing Ahmad arrived with his UK’s bureaucracy tricky, greeting customers with historical echoes in today’s wife and three children. so I can barely imagine his newfound English refugee crisis and it makes Having fled Syria, they what it must be like for language skills. me incredibly proud to briefly lived in Lebanon, people who don’t speak work for a charity helping where his fourth child the language, have lost all My colleagues and I arrive people who have fled died at just four days old of their qualifications or in the shop on a freezing unimaginable war and because Ahmad couldn’t have never encountered a November day to be persecution. afford to pay the hospital CV, let alone written one. greeted with such warmth bill. and gratitude by Ahmad Ahmad used to part-own Our tailored, one-to-one that it’s hard to stop myself a clothes shop in Homs, While I struggle to support helps refugees from making an impulse Syria. He showed us a comprehend the emotional to negotiate their way purchase to support the photo of himself sitting trauma that his family through that complex shop’s ethos, although proud and upright behind must have faced, what I maze and hopefully arrive I’m glad of my colleague’s the shop counter. But can do is tell people about at the ultimate prize: gentle dissuasion when then he told us of how the change World Jewish finding employment and I eagerly pick up a VHS he recently tried to view Relief’s programme is being able to put food on version of Back to the that shop on Google making. In partnership their families’ tables, like Future 3. Earth and it had been with Coventry Council, we we’ve already done for 43 shelled, replaced by have built a programme refugees. I hope that one Ahmad has been rubble. It’s clear to me that the UK Jewish day Ahmad will once again supported by our that empowering Ahmad community should be have his own clothes shop. Sustainable Training and to volunteer and meet proud of, that aims to help Employment Programme people in the community 680 refugees by 2020. 7

Balie and Ahmad together in Acorns charity shop 8

A roof over their heads; a family reunited

Mireille Flores, Humanitarian Programmes Manager 9

IN SEPTEMBER, WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF EACH OTHER, TWO MAJOR EARTHQUAKES HIT MEXICO. THE FIRST STRUCK OFF THE COUNTRY’S SOUTHWEST COAST. CHIAPAS AND OAXACA STATES, TWO OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND POOR IN MEXICO, WERE HIT PARTICULARLY HARD. THIS 8.1 MAGNITUDE QUAKE WAS THE STRONGEST TO HIT MEXICO IN A CENTURY. IT LEFT OVER 90 PEOPLE DEAD AND THOUSANDS OF HOUSES AND HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS WERE DAMAGED OR COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE SECOND EARTHQUAKE TOOK THE LIVES OF ANOTHER 361 PEOPLE.

Almost immediately after most vulnerable families. the tremor to pass. The next the earthquake, World The project has provided 100 day we could see the damage, Jewish Relief began talks households with emergency there were cracks everywhere to partner with CADENA, a shelter kits - large tents that and the house had broken to local Jewish humanitarian can withstand the wet season pieces.” organisation backed by the - and other essential items Jewish community of Mexico. like camping beds, blankets, With nowhere safe to sleep I travelled to Mexico to carry pillows, gas cooking facilities, Fausta had to split up the out a general assessment kitchen utensils and a sanitary children and send them of the situation and begin kit. away to friends and relatives implementing the project. but thanks to the incredible It is estimated that people generosity of the Jewish The sadness and pain was will be using these kits for at community in the UK, we visible everywhere I went. least six months until they were able to quickly support Rubble lining the streets was receive assistance to rebuild Fausta’s family with one of the a constant, raw reminder of their homes or start rebuilding shelter kits. the suffering of those killed themselves. and those who suddenly found When we delivered the kit an themselves homeless. Meeting Fausta’s family I overwhelmed Fausta thanked learned how tragedy had us with tears in her eyes. The In Oaxaca, where I visited already befallen them earlier children ran into the tent a number of families, there this year when her daughter to claim a bed (and begin a wasn’t a conversation in which lost her battle with cancer. pillow fight!). people didn’t mention the Her grandchildren had moved word ‘fear’. Fear of sleeping in in to her house and were For people who have their cracked houses, fear of grappling to come to terms suffered like Fausta and the aftershocks felt every few with her passing when, on 19 her family our support is hours and fear of not being September, the family was vital and transformative, able to recover what they had struck by the earthquake. and in the coming months lost. we will continue working “The kids were sleeping and with CADENA to design a To respond to people’s I screamed at them to get out project that helps rebuild needs, our project provided of the house. We all ran and communities and people’s complete shelter kits to the huddled together waiting for lives. 10

Last year we...

SUPPORTED SPENDING A TOTAL OF 42,899 PEOPLE IN £6.2m ON PROGRAMMES COUNTRIES19 AND PARTICIPANTS

In Eastern Europe we...

REPAIRED 327 HOMES PROVIDED PROVIDED 2,600  6,293 PEOPLE PEOPLE WITH MEDICATION, WITH FOOD EYE SURGERY AND HOT IN 12 LOCATIONS OR GLASSES MEALS

HELPED 2,820 PEOPLE FIND SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT

And elsewhere around the world we...

SUPPORTED ENABLED 1,155 FARMERS 1,375 IN AND HOUSEHOLDS IN KENYA, DISTRIBUTING 1,937 IN NEPAL WATER AND TO GENERATE A GREATER ESTABLISHED FOOD VOUCHERS HOUSEHOULD INCOME A WOMEN’S SUPPORT CENTRE ON THE DELIVERED FOOD TURKEY-SYRIA BORDER PROVIDING SOCIAL AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT TO CREATED AN EMPLOYMENT 7, 400 SCHEME SUPPORTING 120 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE SYRIAN REFUGEES IN 1,762 CONFLICT IN UKRAINE BRADFORD AND COVENTRY REFUGEES 11

60 SECONDS WITH... OUR THANKS TO... PAULINE LEVIS, DINE IN HELP OUT HOST World Jewish Relief would like to thank the following What is Dine In Help Out? In May I held my first Dine In Help supporters and their Out. It’s essentially hosting friends families for generous gifts for a meal in aid of World Jewish left in their Will: Relief, a charity close to my heart. Lewis Cutner What event did you host? I laid on a buffet dinner for 18 Joanna Seldon friends, each of whom contributed a Gifts in Wills are critical to World similar amount to what they would Jewish Relief. We couldn’t achieve have paid for a meal in a restaurant. give to anyone interested? what we do without the invaluable I made a mainly fish based spread, I thoroughly enjoyed doing my support of those who want to leave a followed by homemade apple cake bit and look forward to hosting a lasting legacy. We wish your families and cherry clafouti. World Jewish similar event in May 2018. I would a long life. Relief provided useful materials strongly encourage others to do about their work, which even likewise! For more information about leaving offered help with recipes. a gift to World Jewish Relief in your Our sincere thanks to Pauline for will please contact Richard Budden, How did it go?! her efforts. Dine In Help Out will be Head of Individual Giving The evening was great fun and held across the country throughout & Legacies on 020 8736 1250 / proved very successful - I was able May 2018. For more information [email protected]. to send a cheque for £500! contact Sam Martin at samantha@ worldjewishrelief.org or on 020 What advice would you 8736 1250

CHALLENGES FOR EVERYONE DONATE TO CELEBRATE We’ve secured spaces on marathons, half marathons, Mark a special occasion bike rides, swims and fun family challenges. by supporting World Jewish Relief! Personal trainers Simon and Karina of Freerange Fitness will Birthday, anniversary, Bar or Bat be supporting all our participants. Mitzvah, or wedding, you could use “Find out what your real limits are your next celebration to give hope - it’s is a great personal challenge for a better future to those in need. and an amazing way to raise money for World Jewish Relief.” 1. If you know someone who is celebrating you can donate to Run World Jewish Relief in their The Big Half starting at Tower honour. We will send them a Bridge and finishing in Greenwich Mazel Tov card to let them know on 4 March 2018 you have donated.

Obstacle 2. If you have a special occasion Join the Wolf Run on 8 April 2018 coming up you can ask well- and embrace the mud! wishers to donate to World To hear more about the event Jewish Relief in your name. Cycle that’s for you, contact Sam Martin We will keep you updated on who Prudential Ride London 100 will on 020 8736 1250 or at has donated and the total you take place in July/August 2018 - [email protected] raise. book your space before they go! For more information contact Richard Budden on 020 8736 1250 or [email protected]

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Eat, drink and raise Dinemoney In Help! Out ad

Bring friends and family together to enjoy great food and company, whilst supporting World Jewish Relief.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Sam Martin on 020 8736 1250/[email protected] worldjewishrelief.org/dineinhelpout

WHERE For every £1 we receive, 79p is spent on our life-changing projects 21% supporting older Jewish people and those escaping poverty, YOUR MONEY primarily in Eastern Europe. We invest the other 21p to manage our GOES income and to help raise the next pound. 79%

To make a donation please visit worldjewishrelief.org

Oscar Joseph House E [email protected] 54 Crewys Road T 020 8736 1250 London worldjewishrelief.org NW2 2AD @wjrelief Registered charity no. 290767