Joint Distribution Committee letter: “Help for Ukraine’s Jews”

2014/4/21 12:59:31

“With Ukraine’s credit rating recently downgraded, fears of energy stoppages, rising costs of food and medicines, and pension delays, we have seen needs increase among the most vulnerable poor Jewish elderly and the families we work with. To address this, we have activated an emergency response through our network of more than 30 social welfare centers that serve more than a thousand locations across Ukraine.”


The following Letter to the Editor appeared on the Opinion page of the April 14, 2014 edition of the New York Times:

 

To the Editor:

 

Re “Among Ukraine’s Jews, the Bigger Worry Is Putin, Not Pogroms” (news article, April 9):

 

While anti-Semitism and continuing unrest remain understandable concerns in Ukraine, there is another threat that affects Jews and millions of other Ukrainians in the country: the economic consequences of the crisis.

 

With Ukraine’s credit rating recently downgraded, fears of energy stoppages, rising costs of food and medicines, and pension delays, we have seen needs increase among the most vulnerable poor Jewish elderly and the families we work with. To address this, we have activated an emergency response through our network of more than 30 social welfare centers that serve more than a thousand locations across Ukraine.

 

This has included stepped-up delivery of extra medications and food, upgraded home care services, and counseling services for stress-plagued staff members and clients alike. We even ensured Purim and Passover holiday baskets and celebrations for the neediest, despite the challenging environment.

 

This may not be the stuff of headlines, but with unclear solutions in place to tackle the financial challenges facing Ukraine, our vigilance and care for the country’s Jews is needed now more than ever.

 

PENNY BLUMENSTEIN

President, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

New York, April 10, 2014

 

 

Text courtesy New York Times:

See original publication at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/opi ... lp-for-ukraines-jews.html

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