Holidays and Celebrations
Children in menorah and dreidel costumes for a Chanukah play in a children’s home kindergarten program.
La Paz, Bolivia, December 1942.
An important part of JDC’s reconstruction and Jewish renewal work is the facilitating of Jewish holiday celebration and life-cycle events. Especially in times of displacement and economic hardship, JDC has shipped matzah, wine, ritual items, and other holiday supplies to enable the festive celebration of Jewish holidays. Along with physical relief, JDC has placed a priority on responding to spiritual needs.
Jewish soldiers in the Polish army posing with matzah
Suwalki, Poland, c.1916-1918.
Blowing the shofar for the New Year
Cochabamba, Bolivia, c.1940s.
First Passover after World War II for refugee and orphaned children
France, c.1947.
Daniel Baranowski, a “hidden child” orphaned during the war, at his bar mitzvah ceremony
Wezembeek Oppem, Belgium, c.1947.
Jewish refugee children celebrating Sukkot
Holland, c.1947-1948. Photographer: Herbert Mendelsohn.
A wedding at the Porta Nuova DP camp
Torino, Italy, c.1948. Photographer: Weichselbaum.
At the circumcision of the thousandth baby born in the Cyprus detention camps
Cyprus, June 1948.
Jewish DPs in Munich celebrate Israeli Independence Day
Germany, c.1949.
Hungarian Jewish youngsters light the menorah
They are refugees from the Hungarian Revolution awaiting resettlement in the West. JDC is providing assistance during their stay in Austria.
Salzburg, Austria, c.1956.
Yemenite seder at the Malben Home for the Aged in Shaar Menashe
Israel, c.1960. Photographer: Fred Csasznik.
Bride and groom holding a Kiddush cup under the chuppah
Geneva, Switzerland, c.1960s. Photographer: Jean Mohr, Geneva.
Young girl with a large piece of round hand-made matzah
Tehran, Iran, c.1964. Photographer: Jean Mohr, Geneva.
Russian Jewish children light the menorah for Chanukah
Rome, Italy, c.1976.
Yom Kippur services in the Dohany Synagogue
Budapest, Hungary, c.1980.
Preparing yartzeit candles in the Trabelsi Synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur
Djerba, Tunisia, c.1990. Photographer: Frederic Brenner.
Three generations of an Argentine family blessing the Shabbat candles
Buenos Aires, Argentina, c.1990s. Photographer: Roy Mittelman.
A skit about Queen Esther at a Purim celebration at the JDC office
Mumbai, India, c.1998.
A bride at Kosh-chinon ceremony at a wedding in Bukhara
Uzbekistan, c.2000.
Jewish youth celebrate their coming of age at a community bar and bat mitzvah celebration in Ulan Ude
Siberia, Russia, July 2007.
Exhibit
Everything Possible: JDC and the Children of the DP Camps
Featuring historic photographs from the JDC Archives, focuses on JDC’s significant efforts on behalf of children in the displaced persons camps established by the Allied Armed Forces after World War II. JDC was permitted to enter the camps to supplement minimal provisions with critical nutritional, medical, educational, and religious services for survivors.
