Partners:

• ​Beit Grand JCC, Odessa, Ukraine

• Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater, NJ, USA

• Migvanim network of community centers, Ramat Hasharon, Israel

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Project “JCC Global – Teens Connect”:

The project fosters Jewish identity and cross-cultural friendships among teens from Odessa, Ramat HaSharon, and Bridgewater. Through online exchanges and in-person gatherings, participants explore cultural traditions, values, and shared experiences.

In July 2025, five teens from Odessa and Ramat HaSharon joined local peers at summer camp in New Jersey. For two weeks, they led sports and art activities, engaged younger campers, and built lasting bonds. As one partner noted, “At some point, you couldn’t tell who was Israeli, who was Ukrainian, and who was American—they became one group.”

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Mentorship:

Since Ramat HaSharon joined the program mid-year (replacing Afula) the partnership has initially focused on building relationships and developing the joint project.