At this program, which is offered at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Sharon began to feel some of her isolation lift when she saw other children with cancer engaged in music, art and games. Art therapist, Analia Magen, established a trusting relationship with Sharon. Under Analia s gentle guidance, Sharon began to paint and talk again. She even had her artwork exhibited at the Ein-Hod artist village. The Federation is also directly funding the Shalom Hartman Institute s Program for Jewish Empowerment, which trains Israeli educators to teach Judaism as an open, pluralistic, insightful and relevant tradition.
Federation is . . .
Lives Growing up in Moscow, Julia Raiskin s classmates teased her about being Jewish. She wrestled her way out of these gibes with lies and excuses. In 1990 at the age of 13, Julia immigrated to Bergen County with her parents, who wanted to escape religious discrimination. Fast forward eight years, when Julia returned to Moscow to conduct research for her Harvard thesis on the transformation of psychiatry in post-Soviet Russia. The Jewish identity she now took for granted was questioned continuously.