PHOTO: Marty Haberer and Nino
Each year, the Jewish Federation of North America hosts its Campaign Chairmen & Directors Mission. The mission shows campaign and other development chairs how, collectively, Federation impacts lives. The volunteers are accompanied by Federation directors for a first-hand view of the work funded by Federation that is being done in Israel and around the world.
More than 100 volunteers and directors are participating in the July 13-20 mission. Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Chief Development Officer Marty Haberer accompanies Campaign Chairs Don and Esther Schon on the trip, which starts in Tblisi, Georgia in the former Soviet Union, and continues onto Israel.
In Tblisi, the group will see how Federation dollars are put to use through its overseas partner, the JDC. The group will then travel to Israel to observe how JAFI is using Federation dollars to improve lives in the Holy Land. Witnessing first-hand how Federation funds are put to work better prepares the volunteers to share how Federation builds vibrant Jewish communities and helps Jews in need throughout North America, Israel and around the world.
For further questions about the Jewish federation of Greater Phoenix annual campaign, please contact Marty Haberer at 480-886-9009 or at [email protected].
Following are stories Marty encounters along the way:
ETHIOPIAN-ISRAELIS STRUGGLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCLIMATE IN ISRAEL
Historically, the transition to adulthood in Israel has three milestones: 1 ) completing of studies, 2 ) securing employment and 3 ) finding a partner and creating a family. In the past, the transition was shorter. Today, however, it is a long process, with all three milestones occurring at a later age. In Israel, participating in the army or national service and the prevalence of combining post-secondary education with employment makes the transition to adulthood more challenging. A recent survey of young adults conducted by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute shows that a significant are having difficulty making the transition. These young adults neither work or study. They are not pursuing higher education and most have no vocational training.
Only in the last decade has the need to focus on this age group and to develop a range of services to facilitate their transition been recognized internationally and in Israel. In addition, several populations in Israel face a unique set of circumstances that pose obstacles to their transition: Arab-Israelis, Haredim, people with disabilities and Ethiopian Israelis.
For young Ethiopian-Israeli adults, the transition to adulthood is a more complex, characterized by successes and on-going challenges. Recent educational trends are encouraging and there has been a dramatic increase in employment rates. Civil engagement is growing at all levels. Nevertheless, large educational gaps with the wider Israeli population continue to translate into lower quality employment, lower wages and reduced economic opportunities.
These difficulties are faced both by the significant percentage of young adults whose families have immigrated in the last two decades and by those whose families immigrated earlier and who were born in Israel. Although there is progress from the first to the second generation on some key indicators, on others, there is stagnation or decline. Therefore, there is a clear need to continue expanding opportunities for young Ethiopian-Israeli adults and to further reduce the gaps with the non-immigrant Jewish population.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix allocated $350,000 this year so that the JDC and Jewish Agency for Israel can work with communities such as the Ethiopian-Israeli community.
STORY OF HESED
Maya — A Hesed Eliahu Tbilisi Client Since 1997
Maya, 88, has lived in Tbilisi all her life. When she was 10 years old, her father was arrested as an enemy of the people and exiled to the Vorkuta gulag for 10 years.
Maya remembers her mother sewing from morning until night in order to put food on the table. After her father’s arrest, Maya’s family was evicted from their large apartment in the city center and given a room in a communal apartment, in which Maya still lives to this day. Maya’s apartment has a shared kitchen and bath. There are hanging wires and in some places, the roof is open to the sky.
Maya studied education at Tbilisi State University and worked as a teacher of Russian language and literature for more than 40 years. Her monthly pension is $66.
Maya has been a regular and active participant in the day care center and cultural events. Until February 2013, Maya received monthly food packages from the Hesed, but after she was badly burned by an electric stove, she was transferred to the Meals on Wheels program and now receives hot meals three times a week. Don and Esther Schon, our campaign chairs, surprised Maya with some groceries during our visit.
Through our Federation annual campaign, we contributed $175,000 to the JDC which provides Meals on Wheels, medication, home care, home repairs, winter relief and laundry service for Maya and thousands like her every day.
MEET NINO
Medea, 34, is a single mother, who has spent her entire adult life working hard to care for her daughter, Nino. She has worked as a nurse and as an apartment cleaner.
Nino, 14, just finished 8th grade at a Jewish day school. She is very bright especially in science and technology. She enjoys drawing, singing and needlework.
Medea and Nino are planning to move to Israel soon. Medea has been chosen to join a new Jewish Agency absorption program through which she will immediately be given employment in an Israeli hotel with a good salary and benefits. Nino is applying to join a prestigious Israeli high school for gifted children, at Technion University.
This family is being cared for by the Jewish Agency For Israel. Along with the Joint Distribution Committee, JAFI serves as our Federation’s overseas service agency. Together, JAFI and the JDC received $350,000 in allocations from us this year.
