RJCF -- Sderot Community Club

Sderot Community Club

Reports, articles, letters, photos about RJCF Sderot Community Club project

Grand Opening of Sderot Community Club

The Jewish community of Boston has been active in supporting children of Sderot for a number of years. Last year, the RJCF decided to enlarge our programs to include adults. The programs are designed to help adults cope with stress, depression, loneliness, and to provide a means for enlightening entertainment and personal growth. The Sderot Community Club is a joint venture project of the RJCF, and Israeli partner, Aid for Residents of Sderot and Gaza Region, and the municipality of Sderot.

In just one year we have made an important journey; from dream to reality. We are happy to report that the Sderot Community Club opened its doors on October 13, 2009.

History of the Project
In October 2008, members of the Russian Jewish Community of Boston visited Sderot. They were impressed with the tremendous progress which has been made in Sderot, but noticed that there was something the city was lacking, a social and community outlet for adults. From that moment, the RJCF began working on a new project, the Sderot Community Club. The goal was to build a center which would include classes and programs for adults, as well as for children. The adult programs would be designed to provide adult residents of Sderot, recruited from among parents of children enrolled in RJCF programs and from the community at large with a social outlet, as well as a center for intellectual and personal development.

Joint Venture with the City of Sderot:
The city of Sderot contributed a space in an old school to be used for the Sderot Community Club.

In the summer, the spaced was renovated by Sderot adult volunteers and teenagers of Sderot, regular participants of RJCF programs.

Plans for the Future:
About one year since the idea's conception, on October 13, 2009, the Sderot Community Club celebrated it's grand opening. Programs include English, mathematical thinking, painting, Jewish identity and tradition, nature study, and a high-class ceramics programs under the leadership of Sasha Raiz. The club also will be a center for lectures, holiday gatherings, and other programs for adults and children. The Sderot Community Club is off to a good start. Members of the Russian Jewish Community were in Sderot to witness the grand opening.

They spoke to Mayor Buskila about the possibility for a new project, getting space that is triple the size, in an adjacent building, in order to be able to expand the already promising center.
Mayor Buskila promised to the community the new space. He and Dr. Sam Geisberg, who represented the Russian Jewish community of Boston, shook hands to seal the deal.

We encourage you to become our partner, in the cause of helping our brothers and sisters, in Sderot.

Please donate towards the Sderot Community Club.