Working with FSU Working with FSU Émigré Jewish Émigré Jewish

CommunityCommunitySasha BelinskiSasha Belinski

Israeli Shlicha for FSU Israeli Shlicha for FSU Émigré Jewish Community in Émigré Jewish Community in

San FranciscoSan Francisco

Background: FSU Émigrés in North Background: FSU Émigrés in North America America

The Russian-speaking Jewish population in North The Russian-speaking Jewish population in North America is estimated to be between 400,000 and America is estimated to be between 400,000 and 800,000 people.800,000 people.

The largest concentrations of the Russian Jewish The largest concentrations of the Russian Jewish community:community: New York – between 150,000 – 250,000 peopleNew York – between 150,000 – 250,000 people

Los Angeles – between 80,000 – 100,000Los Angeles – between 80,000 – 100,000

San Francisco and the Bay Area – between 50,000 – 70,000San Francisco and the Bay Area – between 50,000 – 70,000

Russian-Jewish Community: Russian-Jewish Community: Main CharacteristicsMain Characteristics

Is secular (and often highly Is secular (and often highly uncomfortable with religion)uncomfortable with religion)

Has had almost zero exposure to Has had almost zero exposure to Jewish religion, history, or traditionsJewish religion, history, or traditions

Has strong, Has strong, instinctiveinstinctive Jewish Jewish identityidentity

Identifies strongly and passionately Identifies strongly and passionately with Israel (many have immediate with Israel (many have immediate family there)family there)

Russian-Jewish Community: Russian-Jewish Community: Main Characteristics (continued)Main Characteristics (continued)

Tends to the right of the political Tends to the right of the political spectrum, especially on Israel-spectrum, especially on Israel-related issuesrelated issues

Highly educated and professionalHighly educated and professional

Remains culturally distinct from the Remains culturally distinct from the American communityAmerican community

Places enormous emphasis on Places enormous emphasis on children – including young adults – children – including young adults – and has deep concerns about their and has deep concerns about their children’s Jewish identity.children’s Jewish identity.

Russian-Jewish Community: Russian-Jewish Community: Main ConcernsMain Concerns

FSU émigrés are in even greater FSU émigrés are in even greater danger of assimilation than the rest danger of assimilation than the rest of the North American Jewish of the North American Jewish community community

If not properly engaged, this If not properly engaged, this population will assimilate into North population will assimilate into North American life, no longer self-American life, no longer self-identifying "Jewishly."identifying "Jewishly."

The organized Jewish community did not The organized Jewish community did not focus on the longer-term integration focus on the longer-term integration efforts. efforts.

The vast majority of émigrés were simply The vast majority of émigrés were simply not equipped to integrate into the Jewish not equipped to integrate into the Jewish community on their own. community on their own.

Many émigrés report feeling alienated Many émigrés report feeling alienated from Jewish life and community, while, at from Jewish life and community, while, at the same time, expressing eagerness, the same time, expressing eagerness, sometimes bordering on desperation, to sometimes bordering on desperation, to become a part of both become a part of both

Russian-Jewish Community: Russian-Jewish Community: Community ConnectionCommunity Connection

Most of the Russian Jewish immigrants are now Most of the Russian Jewish immigrants are now materially established their American environment materially established their American environment and are eager to explore the next level of fulfillment.and are eager to explore the next level of fulfillment.

Russian Jews offer a captive and eager audience – Russian Jews offer a captive and eager audience – one that already has a strong instinctive Jewish one that already has a strong instinctive Jewish identity but that needs a bridge to the organized identity but that needs a bridge to the organized community.community.

Most of the local Jewish organizations either are not Most of the local Jewish organizations either are not interested to outreach particularly for the Russian interested to outreach particularly for the Russian Jews or do not meet the cultural and educational Jews or do not meet the cultural and educational needs of the Russian Jews needs of the Russian Jews

Russian Jewish CommunityRussian Jewish Community

Why JAFI?Why JAFI?

Strong FSU expertise, with the ability to asses, Strong FSU expertise, with the ability to asses, motivate and excite North American Russian motivate and excite North American Russian speaking Jews.speaking Jews.

A pluralistic and humanistic educational A pluralistic and humanistic educational perspective of strengthening the Jewish perspective of strengthening the Jewish identity through Israel, arts and culture in the identity through Israel, arts and culture in the framework of experience-centered and framework of experience-centered and interactive educational environment interactive educational environment

A wide “pool” of Russian- speaking educators A wide “pool” of Russian- speaking educators for youth/adult education and for cultural for youth/adult education and for cultural connectionconnection

Our GoalsOur Goals

Engage Russian speaking Jewish youth Engage Russian speaking Jewish youth and students through existing local and students through existing local partnershipspartnerships

Development of new models to reach out Development of new models to reach out

to currently unaffiliated Russian speaking to currently unaffiliated Russian speaking populationpopulation

Build the capacity of local Russian Build the capacity of local Russian speaking educators, youth and student speaking educators, youth and student leadersleaders

Jewish Agency’s Educational Jewish Agency’s Educational

ApproachApproach The main idea is to explore the basics of Jewish The main idea is to explore the basics of Jewish

identity and tradition in non-invasive, non-identity and tradition in non-invasive, non-religious way using: religious way using:

Arts and cultureArts and culture - literature, music and arts - literature, music and arts have a special place in ability to convey a have a special place in ability to convey a personal message to Russian speaking Jew. personal message to Russian speaking Jew. Popular cultural platforms, used in FSU, can Popular cultural platforms, used in FSU, can be transformed and re-filled with be transformed and re-filled with contemporary Jewish/Israeli content. contemporary Jewish/Israeli content.

Israel engagement as an entrance point Israel engagement as an entrance point and attraction/outreachand attraction/outreach

Jewish Agency’s Educational Jewish Agency’s Educational

ApproachApproach Working with local grass root Working with local grass root

organizationsorganizations – many unaffiliated young – many unaffiliated young adults form groups with a strong social adults form groups with a strong social common denominator, that seek a common denominator, that seek a connection to quality Jewish/Israeli connection to quality Jewish/Israeli content and a organized social gathering.content and a organized social gathering.

Israeli shaliach/madrih as an Israeli shaliach/madrih as an intercultural bridgeintercultural bridge – Israeli informal – Israeli informal educator with FSU Expertise, educator with FSU Expertise, understanding the Russian Jewish understanding the Russian Jewish mentality along American reality mentality along American reality

Target segmentsTarget segments

Young adults (age 23 – 35)Young adults (age 23 – 35)

Families with young childrenFamilies with young children

College students (age 18-22)College students (age 18-22)

School students (post bar/bat mitzvah age School students (post bar/bat mitzvah age 13 -17)13 -17)

Modules of Engagement- Across Modules of Engagement- Across North AmericaNorth America

Bi-annual “Mitbachon” educational retreatTarget Group:Target Group: Partners:Partners:

Young Professionals UJA Federation of NY

Federation of San Francisco and Bay area

San Francisco Israel Center

SJP of Boston

Genesis Philanthropy Group

Cojeco – Council of Jewish Émigrés

BJE of Los Angeles

Local grassroots organizations for RuJew young professionals

Your community ?

Modules of Engagement- Across Modules of Engagement- Across North AmericaNorth America

Leadership educational trip to Israel and UkraineTarget Group:Target Group: Partners:Partners:

Young Professionals UJA Federation of NY

Federation of San Francisco and Bay area

Cojeco – Council of Jewish Émigrés

Your community ?

Modules of Engagement- Across Modules of Engagement- Across North AmericaNorth America

Jewish Summer Camp “Havurah”

Target Group:Target Group: Partners:Partners:

Teenagers Genesis Philanthropy Group

The Foundation of Jewish Camps

JAFI

Young Judea

UJA Federation of NY

Federation of San Francisco and the Bay area

Federation of Toronto

Your community ?

Models of Engagement - Models of Engagement - San FranciscoSan Francisco

Young Adults •Bina Leadership Fellowship

COJECO

Students •The Israel School for Leadership Development

•MeHaLev (Volunteering in Israel)

•Everything is Illuminated

UJA Fed of NY, Local communal organizations

UJA Fed of NY, Hillels, Outreach

Teens TELEM

B’Yachad Summer Camp

UJA Fed of NY, JCCs, JCCA

JCC’s, JCH of Bensonhurst, Shorefront Y, JCCA and the Jewish Agency

General Russian Jewish Community

“Culture Shook” Website

Models of Engagement - San Models of Engagement - San FranciscoFrancisco

Target GroupTarget Group Programming Partners

Adults JCFI – Leadership instituteIsraeli speakers eventsIsraeli art & culture eventsJewish holidays (Shabbats, Community Passover)

SFJCF, JCC’s, Congregations, Private homes

Young adults Mishmash Leadership programEducational events planned by the young adult board

SFJCF

Young families My Jewish Discovery Beth Am Congregation