Humans of Ukraine
A few years ago, a social media phenomon was created that became viral. Facebook and instagram pages called "Humans of (name a city or country)" emerged, narrating individual stories from random invidiuals.
In our 48 hours in Ukraine, we are exposing Jewish Federation leaders to our collective impact through personal and impactful stories and activitie. The goal is for leaders to come back and share impact with you. My hope, with this little blog, is to share the inspiring stories we are witnessing.
Today, at dinner, we invited at each table young leaders to mix and mingle with the participants that just arrived.
After dinner, Katya, a young leader from Dnepropetrovsk, shared her personal story. Katya was born in a Jewish family that was not connected, she thought there was only one way of being Jewish and rejected it. She traveled to Israel for the first time and was inspired to learn more.
That's when Katya enrolled in a Jewish Agency for Israel summer camp, where she connected to her heritage and Israel in a positive and open way. Inspired to give back, she became a Jewish Agency camp counselor and in this capacity she traveled to Israel and to the United States. She told the audience that the Jewish Agency helped her to find a way to be part of the Jewish people and thanked Jewish Federations for their generous support.
Living near a war zone, Katya shared with us how she sees children fleeing Donestk and part of her giving back is helping those children on their way to Israel where they are making Aliyah for a better and safer future.
But there were other leaders in the room, at camp yesterday and tonight, we met with Olja (second from right) who is a 26 year old graphic designer. Olja fled with her husband to Kiyv with nothing in 2014. In Kiyv, she has connected to the Jewish life thanks to another Olja (second from left) who works at the Jewish Agency, she took part in leadership programs and is now a counselor at a Jewish camp just outside of Kiyv.
What's inspiring is that despite the war and the economy, young leaders are emerging and taking responsibility in Ukraine today. In Kiyv, there is a positive Jewish life where people have freedom of choice. Tonight, we had with us a Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Rabbis as well as leaders from Hillel and Moishe House. After more than two decades of freedom or religion, the communities are burgeoning.
We will have more stories to share with you so stay tuned!
In our 48 hours in Ukraine, we are exposing Jewish Federation leaders to our collective impact through personal and impactful stories and activitie. The goal is for leaders to come back and share impact with you. My hope, with this little blog, is to share the inspiring stories we are witnessing.
Today, at dinner, we invited at each table young leaders to mix and mingle with the participants that just arrived.
After dinner, Katya, a young leader from Dnepropetrovsk, shared her personal story. Katya was born in a Jewish family that was not connected, she thought there was only one way of being Jewish and rejected it. She traveled to Israel for the first time and was inspired to learn more.
That's when Katya enrolled in a Jewish Agency for Israel summer camp, where she connected to her heritage and Israel in a positive and open way. Inspired to give back, she became a Jewish Agency camp counselor and in this capacity she traveled to Israel and to the United States. She told the audience that the Jewish Agency helped her to find a way to be part of the Jewish people and thanked Jewish Federations for their generous support.
Living near a war zone, Katya shared with us how she sees children fleeing Donestk and part of her giving back is helping those children on their way to Israel where they are making Aliyah for a better and safer future.
But there were other leaders in the room, at camp yesterday and tonight, we met with Olja (second from right) who is a 26 year old graphic designer. Olja fled with her husband to Kiyv with nothing in 2014. In Kiyv, she has connected to the Jewish life thanks to another Olja (second from left) who works at the Jewish Agency, she took part in leadership programs and is now a counselor at a Jewish camp just outside of Kiyv.
What's inspiring is that despite the war and the economy, young leaders are emerging and taking responsibility in Ukraine today. In Kiyv, there is a positive Jewish life where people have freedom of choice. Tonight, we had with us a Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Rabbis as well as leaders from Hillel and Moishe House. After more than two decades of freedom or religion, the communities are burgeoning.
We will have more stories to share with you so stay tuned!
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