For more than 30 years, the Or Avner organization has been operating schools and offering a plethora of after school and other educational programs for Jewish kids in Ukraine. Thousands of Jewish students attend the Or Avner schools and/or participate in the SmartJ afternoon programs, the JFuture Sunday Schools, the Darkeinu Jewish heritage educational program, and the EnerJew youth movement.
Recently, “First Bell Ceremonies” were held across the country, where students, parents, city rabbis, educational staff, and special guests gathered to hear the sound of the Shofar and words of blessing. This will be another challenging year, but we remain hopeful and energized in our work with the students.
It is critical to educate the next generation of children, to ensure they are connected to their heritage, roots and values. The goal is to ensure that each Jewish child receives quality educational instruction in a supportive environment.
Over the past couple of years schools and educational programs have been especially critical to the health and well-being of children in Ukraine. In addition to providing a safe and warm environment, schools and community centers have provided much needed support for the mental health and emotional needs of the children. Jewish Relief Network Ukraine is proud to support the Or Avner schools in Ukraine. With your help, we continue to save lives and restore hope.
