The Russian American Project

The United Jewish Fund and Council (UJFC) of St. Paul has launched a program to help young Jews from the Former Soviet Union say "Spaseebo" (thank you in Russian) to the community that helped settle them into a new American life. The project caters social events and activities to Russian young adults age 18 to 45 in the St. Paul area with little or no connection to the Jewish community.

More than 1,440 Russian immigrants have moved to the St. Paul area since the mid-1980s, and many brought young children with them. The youngsters grew up in the Jewish community, learning English and forging lasting friendships at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and Talmud Torah of St. Paul.

 
"The Jewish community helped us tremendously," said Ilana Volodarsky, Russian American Project Director, who arrived in St. Paul in 1989 with her parents and younger brother. "We knew that we could always count on the UJFC and JCC. Then when we got on our feet, we sort of went away - and that upsets me."

Today most have dispersed, making their way in careers and building their own families-with minimal links to the Jewish community. As part of the project, Volodarsky has conducted focus groups to gauge the attitudes of Russian-American young adults about the Jewish community, and organized social events.

Are you a Jewish, Russian young adult age 18 to 45 living in the St. Paul area (born in the Former Soviet Union or United States), or do you know someone who is? Contact Ilana Volodarsky, Russian-Americans special projects director, at (651) 695-3191 or ivolodarsky@ufjc.org.