What's the vision in Odessa?

Notes from our opening JDC briefing for the Associated - Baltimore Jewish Federation mission to Odessa:

JDC will eventually pull out. It may take a long time, but when the community is strong enough, and self-sufficient, we will pack up and come home. We've done this in over 30 countries, and the aim is to work ourselves out of a job everywhere.

In Odessa, we'll realize the vision when we have a sustainable Jewish community here that shows excellence in each of the following four areas:

·           A caring community that lifts and empowers its most vulnerable members and extends a compassionate hand to those in need

·           An engaged community that welcomes Jews of every age, in every neighborhood, wherever they gather, and offers them many ways to connect to their Jewish community

·           A learning community that encourages lifelong study through a wealth of high-quality formal and informal educational opportunities

·           A just community that seeks social justice through commitment to the Jewish ideals of tikkun olam (repair of the world) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness)

This is the vision. 

Now we just have to figure out how to get there.