Skolas str. 6
Riga, LV-1010
Latvia
- Democracy and community development
- Heritage
- International/Cultural relations
- Research
- Youth and education
The Riga Jewish Community is a non-profit NGO, registered in Latvia. The Riga Jewish Community operates the Welfare center, Youth center, Community center, museum “Jews in Latvia”, Jewish library, Career development center, as well as a broad network of various organizations and interest groups, aimed at implementing welfare programs and providing educational and cultural activities for all ages. Mr. Arkady Suharenko - Chairmen of Riga Jewish Community Mrs. Gita Umanovska - executive director of Riga Jewish Community Mr. Ilya Lensky - director of the museum "Jews in Latvia" Budgetary resources avaible in a year for idfferent programmes are about 1 000 000 EUR. The sources of fonding are individual sponsors, international and local foundations, donations for the entrance to the museum and other donations. Activities - walfare aid, concerts, festivals, lectures, projects, seminars, museum and library work. The partners are the Center of the Judaic Studies of the University of Latvia, Lipke memorial, Yad Vashem institute (Isarel), Israeli embassy, German embassy, Austrian embassy, Österreichischer Auslandsdienst (Austria) and others.
Riga Jewish Community main purposes is the development of Jewish culture in Latvia; preservation and popularization of Latvian Jewish history, including the Holocaust commemoration; providing the welfare support to disadvantaged members of the community, including the Holocaust survivors, as well as Righteous Among the Nations. Its objective is also to research, popularize and commemorate the Latvian Jewish history and preserve the Latvian Jewish heritage, as well as to contribute to the growth of tolerance and the concept of diversity in Latvia.
Activities of the Community include celebration of Jewish holidays, concerts, exhibitions, Shabbat celebrations, educational events, classes of Jewish traditions and religion. The Community organized Days of Jewish Culture in different towns of Latvia. The Community and the museum often and regularly organize lectures by local and foreign lecturers about Jewish history, culture and traditions. Every 2nd year the Community organizes the conference “Jews in the Changing World”.
Riga Jewish Community can contribute to the Network by promoting intercultural dialogue between Latvia and Israel, bringing people and organisations from the Baltic and Israel together, improving mutual respect between cultures and to supporting civil society.
We would like to be part of the largest network of organizations that deal with the similar issues as we do, in order to share experience, find partners for projects, be closer with other organisations, to take part in Foundation's programmes and projects.