Isaac Lichtman (Gesher ’17) spent a year in Krakow, Poland, working at the Krakow JCC as a JDC Jewish Service Corps Fellow. He is now living in Israel and just completed a Master’s Degree in Security & Diplomacy at Tel Aviv University.
What were you up to in Krakow last year?
I spent last year working at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow, Poland, through the Joint Distribution Committee! I helped them with anything from community building to fundraising to supporting their incredible Ukrainian refugee program. It was the most amazing experience ever!
What is the Joint Distribution Committee? Can you give a brief overview of the organization’s work over the decades?
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a Jewish humanitarian aid organization founded in 1914 to help primarily Eastern European Jews. Today, the organization helps strengthen Jewish communities worldwide and provides disaster relief to anyone in need!
What made you interested in pursuing this opportunity?
I did a lot of work in the Jewish community/pro-Israel advocacy during college, and I loved it so much that I wanted to continue doing it after college. So I looked around for opportunities, and the Joint Distribution Committee’s Jewish Service Corp program seemed so incredible and unique that I had to apply!
How was your personal Jewish experience in Krakow?
Krakow’s Jewish community is really up and coming these days. It’s really an incredible place to be Jewish in 2025, especially after October 7th, and JCC Krakow does the most amazing job providing its growing community with countless events and meals for every occasion. I always had a place to go, and never faced any sort of antisemitism. It’s also just a beautiful place to be!
What was your favorite part of living in Poland for the year?
I loved exploring the country and connecting with the people. Maybe the coolest thing was seeing how much shared culture we have with them. One glance inside a traditional Polish restaurant and you’d think you’re eating at Bubbe’s!
What was your favorite part of working at the Krakow JCC?
The JCC’s community is special because so many of its members are Poles who decided to reconnect to Judaism after decades of forced assimilation by the communists. It was inspiring to meet so many people who decided to reconnect (they didn’t have to!) and to do my small part in facilitating their Jewish journey.
What are some of the opportunities for people to get involved with the Joint Distribution Committee?
I would highly recommend my program, the Jewish Service Corp. Every year, they select Jews in their 20s and 30s and send them for a year to help Jewish communities around the world. If you’re a college student abroad in Europe, you can also connect to your Jewish community through their KAHAL program. And if you’re ever in Krakow, Poland, be sure to stop by the JCC to learn all about the amazing rebirth of Jewish life in Krakow!