By Cheryl Aronson, Associate Vice President, Israel and Overseas

CJP has long been committed to strengthening the relationships that connect us to one another and bind our communities, and to providing support to our brothers and sisters in Israel and overseas. Our people-to-people connections make CJP uniquely equipped to reach out and have a positive impact for Israelis and Jews worldwide, especially in times of crisis.
We are pleased to share a few recent highlights and achievements: 

• CJP established the Israel Fire Relief fund when news broke of the wildfires that ravaged northern and central Israel. Boston’s sister city, Haifa, was among the hardest hit with more than 1,600 residents left homeless. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the Fund has raised nearly $100,000 in financial support for our brothers and sisters in need.
• Earlier this fall, CJP welcomed Dor and Nisso, this year’s Shinshinim ambassadors from Haifa, Israel. During their Shnat Sherut (year of service), Dor and Nisso are living with local families and working in day schools and synagogues, including The Rashi School, Cohen Hillel Academy, Temple Emunah in Lexington, and Temple Beth Shalom in Needham.
• Our Netivim program has been recognized by the Israeli government and and we’re expanding it nationally to Petach Tikvah, Ramle-Lod, and Be'er Sheba this year. Netivim is part of our Boston-Haifa programming; it helps to support and ensure the success of young Ethiopian Jews through high school, their time in the IDF, and their transition back into society.
• The expansion of the Parents at the Center model is taking root in six northern Israel communities identified by our national partners JDC-Ashalim and the Ministry of Education. Our unique approach to engaging parents helps to ensure safe and stable environments for families. These efforts are also fast becoming the benchmark for early childhood service providers, something the Israeli government is keen on spreading across the country.
• We are committed to supporting the vulnerable and elderly in the Former Soviet Union In partnership with Jewish Family & Children's Service (JF&CS) and Project Kesher (an international Jewish women’s organization), CJP will be launching a new program for vulnerable mothers in Dnipro (formerly Dnepropetrovsk),, Ukraine. Our efforts are based on JF&CS’s Visiting Moms project and will support new mothers who need social and psychological services.

If you have questions or would like more information, feel free to contact me at cheryla@cjp.org.