The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. Since 1914, JDC has exemplified the concept that all Jews are responsible for one another and for improving the well-being of vulnerable people around the world.
Today, JDC works in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters.
An example of JDC’s effect on the community is its Baby Help program in Argentina in 2003, providing vital services and Jewish connection for impoverished pregnant women and children (birth to 5 years) following the country’s devastating economic collapse.
In addition to ensuring basic necessities such as food, milk, vitamins, vaccinations, and diapers, the Buenos Aires center offers day care so parents can find and maintain jobs, and welcomes dozens of young families for spirited celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays throughout the year. Many of the families are single-parent households; many are troubled homes with serious social issues that take a toll on the children.
Take 18-month-old Ezequiel S. Born with a severe congenital spine malformation, Ezequiel has permanently impaired mobility and extreme urinary tract complications. His parents, who struggle to make ends meet on their meager earnings as school teachers, feared they would need to quit working in order to meet his special needs.
Desperate to find a loving and healthy environment for their son, Ezequiel’s parents brought him to Baby Help last year. The caretakers provided him with the specialized medical and educational attention he needed, enabling his parents to keep their jobs and support the family.
Today, Ezequiel is a happy baby boy, curious to learn about his surroundings and excited to engage with the elderly visitors who add warmth to his environment.
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