Russian Jewish Cultural Heritage Program
Since 1990, JFCS/East Bay has resettled more than 2,000 refugees from the former Soviet Union. While the local Russian Jewish community has worked very hard to create a meaningful life in a new country, many members also yearn for an opportunity to explore their Jewish identity. They fled religious persecution in the former Soviet Union, now they want to explore what being Jewish really means, and to experience Jewish community and Jewish life.
JFCS/East Bay responded and in January 2007 launched the Russian Jewish Cultural Heritage Program.
Below is a sampling of the program’s activities. Please select the link to the left for more detail about our educational and social events.
- A monthly Russian-language newsletter, Vmeste (click to view the most recent issue).
- Shabbat celebrations for Russian Jewish seniors.
- Bi-weekly classes in Russian and English on Jewish traditions, culture, and history at our Walnut Creek office.
- Jewish and Russian holiday celebrations including the High Holy Days, Chanukah, Passover, Shavuot, and Victory Day.
- A monthly Russian Sunday Club at the Walnut Creek Senior Center with films, art shows, speakers, and Jewish and Russian cultural programs.
- A bus tour in Russian about the Jewish history of San Francisco with visits at Jewish cultural and historical sites.
- The L’Chaim Picnic in Larkey Park for 250 people of all generations.
