The Project Kesher Network Rises to the Challenge
The Project Kesher (PK) network was created to be adaptable to any circumstances. As Karyn Grossman Gershon, PK Executive Director said, “Our 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.”
Due to COVID-19 and the current restrictions imposed on activism and gathering in Belarus, Israel, Russia, and Ukraine, global PK-trained leaders immediately switched to virtual education, communication, and gathering. In just over a week, activists translated their work to a new mode of delivery and created new relevant content, enabling the community to stay in touch with and to train our women.
In just one week of programming:
20 Russian-speaking women in Israel attended a PK webinar on financial literacy. Yulia Kornilova facilitated and spoke about retirement programs and rights during this difficult period.
51 women from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine joined a webinar called “Anti-panic. How to protect oneself from the virus of fear” facilitated by psychologist Angelika Korob (a recent graduate of the Belarus Jewish Women’s Leadership Program).
16 women participated in the first webinar for the Jewish Women’s Leadership Program in Belarus, as the in-person seminar was postponed. The participants discussed aspects of leadership and the difference between personal and collective responsibility. 29 women participated in a similar webinar for PK Ukraine’s Jewish Women’s Leadership Program that was scheduled to take place in Odessa.
45 women attended a Jewish education webinar facilitated by Rabbi Olya Weinstein Executive Director of PK Israel. Participants discussed how our tradition for centuries saved our people from dangers and studied Jewish texts about facing such times.
Together, in one week of self-isolation and social distancing, Project Kesher-trained leaders gathered over 160 women for connection and constructive learning- and hundreds more have viewed the YouTube videos of some of the live stream classes.