Moscow ‘Shaarei Tsedek’ Center Hosts JDC Officials
MOSCOW, Russia — The ‘Sharei Tzedek’ Charity Center in Moscow hosted a visit by several top officials of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). At the invitation of Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, the delegation included Steve Schwager, JDC Executive Vice President. He was accompanied by Asher Ostrin, the CIS Country Director based in Jerusalem, and Alik Nadan, the Representative for Moscow and Central Russia.
The guests were met by Moscow JCC Director Mordechai Weisberg and Shiya Deutch, the Director of the recently-opened ‘Shaarei Tsedek’ Charity Center. They enthusiastically took part in a full tour of the building and learned about its various programs, remarking that they were rather impressed with all the services that are available to Jews through this center.
They also met with Miryam Barenbaum, the Chief Doctor of the ‘Rambam’ Medical Center, which is also located in this building. She showed them the facilities for providing consultations and therapeutic assistance to community members. The visitors noted that this clinic is on par with other modern health facilities elsewhere in the Russian capital. The key difference is, of course, that its services are offered to its clients free-of-charge.
At the end of the meeting, JDC Executvie vice president Steve Schwager affixed a mezuzah at the entrance to the medical center. Likewise, he was presented a memorable gift – a miniature model of this unique new ‘Shaarei Tsedek’ Center, in recognition of the JDC financial support to the Sharei Tzedek Charitable center.
