ALEF Jewish Center - 25!

The year of 2025 is a special one, as it marks the 25th anniversary of ALEF Jewish Center! 25 years of Jewish traditions, friendships, even marriages, Jewish education, cultural programs, and many other events of the Jewish life. I hope you will take a moment to read this letter and to see our impact on the Jewish life.

In 2009 ALEF was chosen as one of the best 36 Jewish organizations and projects in Europe, which were included in The Compass Book. Fourteen of those organizations were invited to London to share their experience, and we were among them.

Times  are changing and today the goals of our work also have changed. The life of people in Latvia is not easy at all and Jews are not an exception. The exception is that Jewish people always try to help each other. About 10-15 years ago people were more interested in the celebration of the Jewish holidays, outdoor activities, and other entertainment, so we gave that to them. Today they need more informational support in everyday life matters. Ordinary people, not only elderly, need help with understanding and resolving their problems. ALEF has become an information center: every day we receive telephone calls from Jewish people with a great variety of questions. We help them to find a better decision. We find information and know how to apply in the proper quarter, be it municipal, government or Jewish institutions. Elderly people need assistance with legal and social security matters, because regulations often change. Even such small things as, for example, finding the best electricity rates or the best providers. Another example – how to apply for disability benefits, this being a rather complicated procedure. So, we help people to fill out forms and to gather documents, and advise them on where to go and what to do. These are only few examples. So, as you see, there is a huge variety of situations when people need assistance.

Support each other is our motto. From time to time we receive telephone calls from non-Jewish people with requests to help their elderly and sick Jewish neighbors. As a rule, they say: "You, Jews, never leave your people without help”. I can say, that our goal is to prove, that this motto is really true!

Of course, we do continue our educational programs. We continue with our seminars on Jewish history and traditions. It is most important that during such seminars participants can see that ancient Jewish wisdom, based on Torah, remains most relevant today.

In order to continue our work consistently and to expand our effort we need the support of our friends in general and you personally. We all try to obey Mitzvoth. Yet everyone is so busy with one’s job, family and everyday problems, that one does not always have time to think about where and how to do Mitzvoth. Every donation is a Mitzvoth, which helps to give support to many people and also proves, that the words “we are really one big family, Jews are united” are not a myth, but are really true.

If you have the opportunity and desire to support us, you can make a donation using the following bank details.

Name of the organization: Biedrība Ebreju kopienas centrs ALEF

Registration Number: 40008067186

Name of Bank: Swedbank AS

BIC/S.W.I.F.T.: HABALV22

Bank account: LV46HABA0551032130536

The amount of donation is not so important, whether it is ten dollars or a thousand dollars - it will be of great help to those who need our assistance and a Mitzvoth for you! Your financial support is the key to success in our work.

With gratitude for your attention and time,

ALEF Jewish Center