“Today, when my JCC is turning 17 years old I can celebrate “bar-mitzvah” of my own involvement with it, cause it was 13 years ago when I first opened the door leading to the Center, just with some interest in it, but more – following my elder brother. At that point I had no idea the JCC would become my large Jewish family”, Daniil Spector, one of the JCC activists and those who had been preparing a special event on February 1st – celebration of the 17th anniversary of Migdal JCC establishment – mentions.
While the major December 2008 activity for kids and parents from Mazel Tov and Beitenu center was preparation for and celebration of Hanukkah holiday, the Center went on holding its regular activities.
Dear Friends!
Please, pay attention that our e-mail addresses had changed! Our old e-mails, such as migdal@tm.odessa.ua, migdal@odessa.net and migdal_museum@tm.odessa.ua, migdal_museum@odessa.net will soon be out of service!
Note are recent addresses:
Administration: migdal@migdal.ru
Office-manager: office@migdal.ru
Library: library@migdal.ru
Publish-house, magazine «Migdal Times»: m_times@migdal.ru ~
And:
Jewish museum of Odessa «Migdal-Shorashim»: ~museum@migdal.ru
Early childhood development centre «Mazl Tov»: mazltov@migdal.ru
Please, check your Address Book and write down all the changes!
Thank you!
Migdal-Shorashim Museum of History of Odessa Jews
Migdal-Shorashim Museum organized several exhibitions on its premises in the course of this period, such as the exhibition that was dedicated to work of famous Jewish historian B. Minkus and the one revealing life and work of Odessa artist I. Ostrovsky. In May, 2008 Shorashim opened a new exhibition on art and graphics that shows works from the museum’s archives. Among some of the main exhibits are wonderful judaica that the museum has in its collection.
However, the museum did not only organize its own exhibitions, but also actively participated in Odessa exhibitions, presented in the local museums including Odessa Art Gallery and Odessa Literary Museum.
Purim
Within Purim celebration that Migdal JCC of Odessa (with its programs, such as Beitenu Center for Children at Risk and Mazel Tov Early Childhood Center) organized or was involved in, there was an array of activities, which attracted ages from several months (Mazel Tov babies and toddlers) up to middle and senior age.
16th ANNIVERSARY OF MIGDAL JCC
It was extremely difficult to recognize “Beit-Grand’ building on Sunday, February 3rd. For just one evening the building turned into a 19th century oasis, fascinating everyone with bright crinolines and formal tuxedoes. And it became possible as Migdal JCC was celebrating its 16th anniversary. As creatively as always.
WINTER DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN
As always, at the time of winter school holidays, Migdal JCC implemented Children’s Day Camps for Odessa kids. The educators did their best to organize the kids and contribute to their health state and upbringing. The playground embraced some 50 children of different ages and was entitled “All About Jewish Calendar”. The program, very well prepared, could boast of a myriad of captivating events and included different kinds of training, games and tours in addition to computer, décor, art classes and studies held in an interesting form.
Hanukkah in Odessa
Hanukkah in Odessa this year has managed to prove its second name - “Festival of Lights” - once again. An array of activities – from presentations and concerts up to big communal events – has swirled hundreds of community members during the dates of the holiday – December 4-12, and is even planned to do so afterwards till almost end of the year, for so many gatherings and parties are offered within the framework of Hanukkah celebration. Just as Hanukkah lights are lit every day throughout the week in thousands of homes, numerous lights were lit in the hearts of Odessans during the celebrations they organized or took part in.
Sixth International Scientific Conference “Odessa and Jewish Civilization”
Migdal-Shorashim Museum of History of Odessa Jews and Migdal JCC continued its yearly tradition to hold International Scientific Conference “Odessa and Jewish Civilization” within the framework of OFEK Festival in Odessa.
Family Shabbat-on-Wheels Launched in Odessa Mazel Tov and Beitenu Center
Shabbat-on-Wheels has been a very popular type of activity utilized by Migdal JCC in order to get more unaffiliated members of the community to Jewish Renewal programs, as well as to keep the existing members interested, in a family style manner. The usual way Shabbat-on-Wheels works is when a group of some 50-60 JCC participants leaves the JCC on Friday afternoon, spends entire Shabbat in some facility (usually rented in a resort area of Odessa, even in winter time), then returns to the JCC on Sunday morning. The participants are of all ages, in families, etc.
SUMMER FAMILY RETREAT – HALOM 11 - HELD BY MIGDAL JCC
The annual Migdal summer family retreat took place on August 15-22 and became number 11 this year. This was a week of fun, pleasure and activities.
ODESSA-BALTIMORE TWINNING RELATIONSHIP THROUGH PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE PROJECTS:
STUDENTS AND TEENAGERS GROUPS
HOSTED BY ODESSA COMMUNITY
During May 31-June 5 and June 20-25, some 25 youngsters total – students of Darell Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center (Baltimore, MD) and teenagers from Baltimore community – visited Odessa for introduction to the community history and contemporary life.
MIGDAL-SHORASHIM MUSEUM OF HISTORY OF ODESSA JEWS
RE-OPENED AFTER RENOVATION
The renovation works at Migdal-Shorashim Museum began in December 2006 and culminated mid-April 2007.
PURIM
The star event of March month was definitely Purim celebration. Odessa Migdal JCC celebrated the holiday, as always, in the circle of its big family: Mazel Tov, Beitenu center and many other groups’ participants. For two days and nights, about 300 participants and spectators including the youngest ones – babies and toddlers – gathered under the roof of the JCC.
FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF MIGDAL JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
The entire week before such an important event in the life of Migdal and its activists – 15th anniversary of the JCC – was very intensive and hard: rehearsals and preparations, favorite and new songs, dances and performances – all those activities involved each member of the large Migdal’s family, be it babies and parents from Migdal - Mazel Tov Center, participants of Migdal - Beitenu Center for Children at Risk, or friends of the Migdal - Shorashim Museum of History of Odessa Jews.
As always, at the time of winter school holidays – during January 2-9, 2007 - Migdal JCC implemented Children’s Day Camp for Odessa children. The educators did their best to organize the kids and contribute to their health state and upbringing.
How to identify nationality of a person? Perhaps, you should refer to his words. But for our organization the document is an important factor. As the saying reads “you are a small insect without the paper”. But it is really significant important: first of all not to overload mind of children and adults with useless information and besides to know whose mind should to be loaded with this information.
Migdal JCC's building that is a former Synagogue of Kosher Butchers will turn 100 years soon. And the building now is collapsing. Major repayments are needed.
Migdal is now looking for sponsors.
The «Beitenu» program has existed for 3 years.
This program is designed for children from the group of risk:
1 Children- orphan – 16 children
2 Children without one of the parents- 70, without a mother – 36
3 Children which are under guardianship, their parents are deprived of parents’ rights- 10
4 Children from poor families -52
5 Children from families with asocial parents {drug-addicted, drunkards, HIV-positive}.
You can download the Presentation «Center «Beitenu» from here (7mb)
Programming, design and maintenance by Jewish Student Club of
Migdal
International Center of Jewish Community Programs
the International Center of Jewish Community Programs
«Migdal»
,
Odessa.
Kira Verkhovskaya
,
the President of the
JCC «Migdal» center.
