Hesed Evaluation Study: Jewish Identity, Community Orientation and Voluntarism – Report Number 5: Findings from an In-depth Study of Hesed Directors and Jewish Community Representatives

This report is the fifth in a series that presents findings from an evaluation study of Hesed Community Welfare Centers in the former Soviet Union (FSU). The study was initiated by the JDC-FSU Department and conducted by the JDC-Brookdale Institute in cooperation with the William Rosenwald Institute for Communal and Welfare Workers in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Hesed model, a multi-faceted service network, was designed by the AJJDC at the end of the communist era to respond to the needs of an aging Jewish population with severe economic and health problems. It embodies three guiding principles: Jewish values, community orientation and voluntarism. Today, approximately 170 Hesed Centers serve over 250,000 clients throughout the FSU. The study’s goal was to evaluate the extent to which Hesed’s guiding principles are being realized as the system develops. It was conducted at eight Hesed Centers in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and examined the perspectives of their directors, employees, volunteers, home-care workers and clients, and of local Jewish community representatives.

This report examines the perceptions of Hesed directors and Jewish community representatives regarding Hesed’s impact on the Jewish population, its role in Jewish community renewal, its relationship with community representatives and local organizations (both Jewish and non-Jewish), and the unmet needs of the local Jewish population. It also relates to the directors’ views regarding the work of Hesed’s volunteers. The following are selected findings:

  • The directors and the community representatives reported that Hesed has a significant impact on the Jewish identity of its clients by reinforcing their sense of belonging to the Jewish people and increasing their knowledge about Judaism. The directors reported a similar impact for Hesed’s volunteers and employees. The reports of both respondent groups also indicate that Hesed has an impact on the general Jewish population by providing a sense of belonging to the Jewish people.
  • The community representatives’ views of Hesed’s ideal role in the process of Jewish community renewal were not uniform: Some believed that Hesed should lead the process, while others felt that Hesed should concentrate on social welfare and leave community renewal to other organizations.
  • The directors and the community representatives both reported that Hesed cooperates with local Jewish organizations, including synagogues, cultural centers, community centers, Jewish schools, and Hillel. The directors also reported that Hesed maintains contact with non-Jewish organizations, primarily the municipal social welfare department and local hospitals.
  • Twenty-five percent of the community representatives reported difficulties in Hesed’s interaction with some local Jewish organizations, relating mainly to what they perceived as Hesed’s unwillingness to cooperate, and its efforts to impose its will on other organizations.
  • Both the directors and the community representatives thought Hesed should broaden its existing relationships with local Jewish organizations. In addition, the community representatives expressed the view that Hesed should establish broader contacts with community representatives, particularly businessmen, in order to obtain more financial support.
  • The responses of the directors indicate that volunteers play a significant role at Hesed. Although most were satisfied with the number of volunteers participating in their programs, all reported ongoing efforts to recruit additional volunteers, particularly among the young.  They reported that Hesed provides a variety of incentives to volunteers, but also recommended ways in which they can be improved.  In addition, they noted areas in which the volunteers require additional training.
  • The directors and the community representatives reported a wide range of unmet needs among the local Jewish population, particularly the elderly, middle-aged unemployed, and single-parent families. The community representatives also reported the need for additional Jewish cultural activities.

The study was funded by the JDC-FSU Department. The findings are being utilized in the ongoing development of the Hesed network.