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.
During a whole week October 4-8 
The program was very intensive: Ellen was in 
“We can’t begin to thank you enough for the
wonderful experience we had in