Notice the Jewish Russians in neighborhoods near you

By Marina Berkovich

Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance (JRCA) serves as “home base” for Jews from the former Soviet Union and countries that evolved after its collapse. We welcome Southwest Florida residents, snowbirds and visitors. In the bad olde days of the USSR, there were 15 republics. Most Americans did not learn their names, preferring, for simplicity reasons, to refer to first-generation Jews from the USSR as Russians. Probably, because Russia was where most of their own ancestors hailed from.

I periodically convey that now it is the ex-Soviets turn to keep that “Russian” identifier that Americans had given us during our exodus from the USSR. “Russians” stuck and it’s not unsticking.

During the recent Kristallnacht commemorative services I attended, Bishop Frank Joseph Dewane of the Venice Diocese, who speaks sufficient conversational Russian, asked me: “Being originally from Kiev, do you identify as a Ukrainian or a Russian first?”

“Jewish” was my instant reply, “because they all think of me as a Jew first.” In the rising reality of domestic antisemitism in previously safe harbors, I think it is only one of the hundreds of important lessons we, the Russian Jews, have been wanting to share with our American neighbors ever since we first arrived, clueless and confused, having escaped the clutches of Soviet antisemitism and largely unaware of what being Jewish really means. Some communities, groups and individuals helped us understand that.

Decades later, many Russian Jews are relocating to Florida from various U.S. states, Canada and directly from countries that were the former republics of the USSR. Some relocate from Europe. This relocation is happening at warp speeds in certain communities in Estero and North Naples, specifically, as we all tend to pull our immigrant strings in search of a better place. Southwest Florida certainly attracts our compatriots with its usually great year-round weather, pleasant lifestyle, far better infrastructure than that of the overcrowded cities we lived in before, ever-improving cultural life and very appealing fast-growing vibrant Jewish community.

Most Russian Jews are well educated, had excellent jobs/careers and raised wonderful families in immigration. The majority learned Judaism as adults and tend to prefer Chabad services. Many Russian Jews migrating into Florida lately were brought to the U.S. as children and are now fleeing economically and politically decaying states with their escalating anti-Jewish displays.

Russian Jews hold conservative values very near and dear. We already experienced the devastating long-lasting effects of socialism and its inevitable companions of racial discrimination, economic redistribution, social equity and similar social pursuits most American-born Jews have been endorsing. Do not be afraid to get into a discussion of opposing values with your Jewish-Russian neighbors over an excellent homemade meal of borsch and blinis. In the traditional old-world style, truth is born during an argument, and it is an enlightening experience to all parties. Make your JewishRussian neighbors feel like they belong.

Russian Jews love Israel, worry about its fate, mourn its losses and celebrate its victories. 1.3 million Jewish Israelis speak Russian, nearly 20% of its population. The majority of us have mishpuha there. None of us forget that we left the USSR because Israel was there — that’s why the Soviet Jews were liberated.

Stand with Russian Jews as strongly as you stand with Israel and come to this season’s JRCA events, all at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center:

Sunday, Dec. 24, 12-3 p.m., Chanukkah/ New Year

Sunday, March 24, 12-3 p.m., Purim

Sunday, May 12, 12-3 p.m., VE Day and Israel Independence Day

Please email JRCAGroup@gmail.com to receive future detailed notifications. Have a happy and peaceful 2024!