Krivoy Rog

KEY FACTS

Today there are between 12-15,000 Jews from a population of almost 700,000

The new community centre, when complete, will house the JCC, the hesed, and the children’s services.

The JCC provides educational and fun programmes for anyone from the Jewish community

Krivoy Rog is an important industrial city in central Ukraine. The city is long and thin, stretching for 130km along the ore deposits. Much of the population is involved in mining, a dangerous process given the age and depth of many of the mine shafts. Much of the population of Krivoy Rog suffers medically due to the pollution caused by mining and the majority of WJR clients are living in dilapidated, Soviet style, apartment buildings where windows are often broken, heating is suspect and communal lighting and lifts are a rarity.

Today there are between 12-15,000 Jews from a population of almost 700,000 and most are fairly assimilated yet fascinated by the opportunities afforded by WJR to reconnect with their Jewish heritage.

As an ‘Our Town’ project, WJR has created strong links with the Jewish community of Krivoy Rog. A capital project is currently being undertaken to transform the Jewish Community Centre from a run down building into a centre worthy of inhabitation. The centre, when complete, will house the JCC, the hesed, and the children’s services. The hesed caters for the elderly and those with disabilities, providing services ranging from welfare to education. The JCC provides educational and fun programmes for anyone from the Jewish community (and any others wishing to learn more about the Jewish way of life).

WJR also funds programmes to provide the elderly, children and people with disabilities with an holistic welfare package