Message from PK's Executive Director
Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive as Project Kesher made the difficult decision to cancel our annual benefit. As you probably know, the benefit is the single largest source of funding for Project Kesher ’s work and we are so appreciative to those who continue to send their gifts.
Project Kesher’s community of activists has responded to the global pandemic in a manner that reflects the impact of their training and our shared values. Here are just a few of the steps taken by Project Kesher-trained leadership in the past few days:
Project Kesher Russia posted one of the first Russian-language sites educating people about the Coronavirus and how to prevent transmission. They had 25,000 hits in the first 24 hours.
Project Kesher Israel announced a weekly Russian-language online Jewish text with Rabbi Olya Weinstein that will be open to the entire transnational network. This week they conducted the first online financial literacy class, with 19 Russian-speaking Israeli activists.
The PK global leadership designed a webinar on the rise of domestic violence during periods of crisis and available resources for help and support in each country.
Project Kesher Belarus has completed a transnational webinar on stress management with Angelika Korob, psychologist and recent Women’s Leadership Program graduate. who has volunteered to provide guidance to the community during this period of crisis.
Project Kesher Russia announced a mini-grant competition in partnership with the Jewish Agency and Russian Jewish Women’s League to underwrite Jewish communal programming by PKR leaders.
The Project Kesher community has made it through the cold war, the freeing of Soviet Jewry and mass emigration, Maidan, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and we will get through this. Together, our network is committed to remaining kind, constructive, and connected. Thank you for investing in us.
Sincerely,
Karyn G. Gershon
Executive Director
Project Kesher