Dear friend of JDC,
Of all the countries plagued by
Europe’s economic crisis, Greece has stood out in the headlines. After five
years of economic contraction, the country continues to buckle under
bailout-imposed austerity measures, plunging living standards, and soaring
unemployment rates. Add to that political extremism and social unrest and one
understands why this ancient nation has been exposed to the global spotlight.
Under those circumstances I traveled to
Athens three weeks ago and found the city’s 3,000-member Jewish community—like
all of Greece—struggling, but determined to forge ahead.
As many of you well know, JDC, with
Jewish Federations of North America support, has been leading a global
consortium of Jewish organizations, communities, and philanthropists who’ve
extended help to this financially strapped community over the past two years.
And while my visit was in many ways a
statement of solidarity, bolstered by a JDC Board mission that took place just
a few days before, I believe our presence in Athens was even more poignant
because it provided insight into the juxtaposition between the crippling
challenges besetting Greece and a Jewish community proudly weathering that
storm.
To read more about the unfolding
situation in Greece and the insights gained from our visits, please click here.
Till the next time,
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