During a whole week October 4-8 JCC Kedem hosted one of the most intensive and nice visit of the last several years. In the frames of Toronto-Kishinev partnership we received Ellen Cole, Miles Nadal JCC Executive Director, and her husband Mircea Popescu, who is originally from the neighbor Romania. The visit has become possible through support of the World JCC Association.

The program was very intensive: Ellen was in Kishinev for the first time and was interested in everything both from professional and personal points of view. She had a series of meetings with the JCC staff, visited programs and events, participated in official meetings with Elena Belyakova, Bureau of Interethnic Relations Director, and Svetlana Bivol, National Philharmonic, gave interview to journalists from the Jewish and non-Jewish mass-media, had a tour of the Jewish Kishinev and spent many hours in exchange experience sessions with Stella Harmelina and Michael Finckel, senior managers of Kishinev JCC, and Mickey Katsif, local JDC Representative.

“Such meetings and development of our partner relations with Toronto Jewish Federation that for over five years has supported KJJC are priceless”, said Stella and Michael. “We are sure that basing on our mutual human and program potential we will fruitfully cooperate for many years ahead for good purposes of our communities. Canada and Moldova are very different in many aspects, our JCCs act in different social, economic and historic conditions. But we have many common things, plans and ideas, and what is the main we are eager and have a strong will to work together, to be in contact with such wonderful people as Ellen and Mircea, as Sherry Kulman, Adam Minsky and many others who came in Moldova and supported us.”

“We can’t begin to thank you enough for the wonderful experience we had in Moldova. Your staff, your creativity and your passionate commitment to community shines through everything you do. It was an uplifting experience for both of us. And nothing beats KEDEM hospitality. You should be very proud of your achievements. I am”, wrote Ellen Cole after the visit and these words give us an optimism and feeling that we are on the right way.