There are many ways in which Odessa JCC “Migdal” is helping its members. They help them build new Jewish families; help them find their Jewish roots and self-identity.   Unfortunately, in Jewish community there are still many families who also need financial help.  Young families and families with small kids are among those who often face financial troubles.

It is clear, that possibilities for help are limited, and that is when others come in to join your efforts.  For “Migdal” center such help from within came in a face of two wonderful foundations at once – Kids in Distressed Situations (USA) and Jewish Child’s Day - JCD (UK).  These two organizations were a real gift from Above that came through close friends of Odessa community center– Leaders family from New York and Israel Strategic Initiatives from Jerusalem.

Wonderful goods were brought to Odessa families with kids by K.I.D.S.  foundation.  Thanks to them more then 60 kids from 1 week to 13 years old received new good cloths for sports and everyday life.  For large families this assistance is most relevant as well as for families with toddlers who grow up faster then ability to purchase cloths for them.

And, with assistance from Jewish Child’s Day, Migdal and Mazl Tov center will be able to purchase equipment for small kids and toddlers, such as highchairs, cradles, baby walkers, etc. that will be given to families for rent. This means that many families will be able to use it and then give back in order for others to use this expensive equipment.

Help others and you will get help!

Our Ukrainian friends from JCC “Migdal” are also very active on FB and on their fan-page you can find all their latest news, photos and updates.

Please, welcome:

https://www.facebook.com/jcc.migdal?sk=page_insights

Those of you, who will not be able to be with us in person during 20th anniversary, would be able to see LIVE BROADCAST of the show on our web-site or on “Migdal”‘s fan-page on Facebook on February 5th at 6 p.m. Kiev time.

On the 10^th anniversary of those tragic events mourning ceremonies were held not only in New York but throughout the world as well.  For example, American flag was deployed on Eiffel tower and Colosseum was lighted up for the whole evening in the American colors.

In Odessa, Ukraine Jewish Community Center “Migdal” was probably the only organization commemorating the memory of victims of 9/11.  On this day “Migdal” was holding Open Days presenting its programs for the new school year and activities for those who were at the Family Camp Halom – 15.  And as part of both these events were Anti-Terror activities.  Kids and grown-ups were drawing poster and doing sand animations on the topic “No to the Terror”.  They were also discussing the problem of terror in the modern world and ways to prevent it. 

People may say different things about globalization and not always good ones.  But as long as the whole world as one family can support each other in the hard times we will live in the happy world.

This is important information; please take few minutes to read this. Migdal is planning some major repairs in the building due to the urgent need! We hope to be able to change our coal heating system into gas that has many positive sides to it. Firstly, it will prevent this old building from falling, secondly, this way of heating is much more effective and we won’t be cold in winter any more. But its also very expensive changes! If any of you can help or knows anyone (any foundation) that can, please contact us!
Without your generous help and sincere friendship Migdal won’t be able to survive all the hardships!

Thank you for taking a minute of your precious time.

P. S.  JCC “Migdal” is located in the very old building that is 101 year old and is a former synagogue.  Its heating system is also more then 100 years old and its quite a surprise how it is still working.  New heating system will make 60 grown-ups a week and about 100 children a week warm in winter.

Think about what an enourmous impact your good will can do.

Pesach is not over yet but while we are looking for last holidays we’d like to share with you story of Pesach in Odessa.

With a help of Migdal International Society Inc. and especially Leader’s Family in Odessa in JCC “Migdal”

were held two Seders for more then 100 people.

For more then a week prior to Seders JCC “Migdal” along with Early Childhood Development Center “Migdal – Mazl Tov” were cleaned totally up to get rid of chametz.  As there is so much place to clean, volunteers among parents were called to help out.

All rooms and cupboards, all toys and books were thoroughly cleaned and freed out of chametz.  And in the hall of “Migdal”, where Seders were to take place at, cleaning was supposed to be even more serious.  All the tables and chairs were not only cleaned and washed but also covered twice by oilcloth.  Amazing, how much was done by our wonderful volunteers among which

were men as well as women and kids.

Everything was cleaned and set before the Seders’ time.  Some volunteers came a bit earlier to make last preparations and to set all food on the table.  Then women started lighting the candles and all center filled with peacefulness and joy as well as leisure chatter and congratulations.

As there were two leaders at the Seders:  Velvel Verkhovsky and Zvi – Hirsh Blinder the story was told fully, with different comments and different visions on the events.  Hopefully, most of hundred members of Seder Pesach in Migdal went back home with deeper understanding of inner strength and freedom.

And with G-d’s help, next year we will all meet in Jerusalem! Leshana Haba B’Yerushalayim!

International Jewish Family Camp “Halom” is opening its 15th season and invites to you to spend marvelous week at the seaside near Odessa.

August 17-24 you will have
“Incredible adventures of Jews in the desert”

Participants get:
- educational and entertainment program
- 4 Kosher meals a day
- Deluxe and economy class rooms
- Transfer from/to Odessa to/from the camp
- Additional excursions, tours and other attractions in Odessa after the Family retreat

Call us: +38-0482-372128, +38-048-7770718 everyday except Friday, Saturday and Jewish Holiday from 14.00 to 20-00, Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00
e-mail: migdal@migdal.ru

Don’t think for too long as space is limited!

Board Founders of Migdal International Society Inc. and all people who know Dina are wishing her all the best: lots of health, happines, joy and love.  May you always surronded with your wonderful family and dear friends.

Mazl Tov!!!  Ad mea veEsrim!!!

First came a children’s birthday party. It is difficult to find warmer and more sincere
atmosphere that reigned in the hall with more than 250 people there. Perhaps this was due to
high density clusters of infants per square meter but not only.
Youngest performer was only 1 month old, with others on stage just a little
older. The “youngest” dance was performed by 12 children and 12 mothers respectively.
Choreographer Julia Tvorilova herself appeared on stage together with this company.
Other 3 dances prepared by mentioned choreographer were performed by boys and girls
aged 11 to 19 years, among them should be mentioned “Shvigaro”, “Train” and “Idish”. So
different by style, music, color but still so fascinating.

A team of 6-7-year-old children delighted the audience with two already popular
dances “Flowers of Life” and “Children of our yard”. Two even younger dance groups under the
leadership of Julia Kupresova showed bright merry dances “Karapuz” and “Hava Nagila.”
But isn’t it too much about dances? One may think that no music on that holiday and
that would be quite a mistake. Music school “Mazal Tov” under the direction of Tatiana
Provotorova showed a mini-concert inside a large show. Singing, poetry reading, congratulations
and…flowers to Kira Verkhovsky, director of JCC “Migdal”.
Much more can be said about children groups that performed that morning but another
big deal of surprises was accomplished by parents. They filmed new brilliant “Funny stories”.
It was their idea, their filming and all the work was done by parents as a present. As it is well
known among Jewish society it is quite difficult to get something from members that are so used
to be favored in different ways from their Jewish communities.

Also “Migdal” was congratulated a group of schoolchildren. They were assisted by
Kristina Fogel and Dima Proychenko. Despite the new deal for the kids, video, stories and ideas
were very original, and most importantly – genuinely desired to pass on their festive mood.
After a short break till the evening elder members of JCC (about 130 of them) went to
Music Hall “Utochkin” for a Mafia birthday party. Everything was in mafia style: dress code,
entertaining, funny games and all the rest.

This evening was truly full of surprises. Cartoon with congratulations from staff was
like a total surprise for everyone and till now this video is very popular in the Internet. Then a
huge delight was to hear songs from the vocal group as two of the singers just month ago gave
birth to wonderful girls (they both attended the children’s party in the morning). There was even
more music after that, one of which was played by the staff of “Migdal” and accompanied with
dances and surprise from a cake. From that huge cake came out Michael Rashkovetzky, director
of Jewish museum “Migdal-Shorashim” with roses for Kira Verkhovsky.

There is so much more to be said about “Migdal”’s 19th Birthday but that would take too
much space.

Migdal International Society Inc. just wants to wish JCC Migdal even more successful
programs, many more members and all the best. Ad mea veEsrim.

This event celebrates Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s completion of his 45-year quest to produce the first original Talmud commentary and translation since the Middle Ages.

In Odessa the most powerful celebration of Global Day of Jewish Learning took place in JCC “Migdal”.  That Sunday was full of surprises, various lectures and different events for all age groups.

Global Day of Jewish Learning in “Migdal” was opened by a wonderful lecture “Book, that wasn’t suppose to exist” given by Ber-Shmuel Kapulkin.  Lecture-room was full of people and even after it was over questions didn’t stop to come for another 15 minutes.  Tornado of questions was stopped only with the beginning of new lecture.  Rabbi Dovid Feldman was talking about “Talmud for Dummies”. It was the first time for most of people to learn about Talmud and to hear about the way Talmud is studied by Jewish men.

You may think that Global Day of Jewish Learning in JCC “Migdal” was only for older people.  But that is not so. Festival of Cartoons based on Jewish stories was mostly for kids though not that few grown-ups also participated in it.  As a result of the Festival, “Migdal” now has a gallery of wonderful cartoons: half done with pencil and half with the computer help.

Check out our website and you’ll get a chance to see some of the photos from that wonderful Global Day of Jewish Learning in JCC “Migdal”, Odessa.