Wishing you a peaceful Rosh Hashanah

From the Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance

By Marina Berkovich

Jewish Russian Cultural Alliance (JRCA) is an affinity group under the auspices of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN). Its mission is to enhance the social and cultural lives of our emerging/expanding community by providing the “home base” to the Jews from the former Soviet Union and countries that evolved after its collapse, who are now moving to Southwest Florida and are seeking new connections. Non-Jewish relatives and friends are, ofcourse, welcome.

When I first came to the U.S., I had a very difficult time explaining to the kind-hearted Jewish-Americans that I was an ex-Soviet, from the Soviet Union, not from Russia. I insisted then, and continue to insist, on remembering USSR. That, I explain in other forums. Here, I will strip the meaning of the word “Russian” as it transcended the geographic borders of the Soviet Jewish migration of the 1970s-1990s and the post-Perestroika exodus of all others from the 15 former Soviet Socialist Republics.

If you speak Russian, want to meet a “Russian” or are just generally curious, we welcome you.

For 40-plus years, we had been called Russians by Americans and the British, Canadians, Australians, Israelis — wherever our feet landed — whether we actually hailed from Russia or, most often, from any of the other 14 SSRs — Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. (NB: I’m yet to personally meet an ex-Soviet Jew from Kirgizstan. Anyone?)

This year, for obvious reasons, it is not in vogue to be referred to as Russian. But we are not into renaming ourselves to suit the times. That is something the old Soviet Union loved doing. So, we remain Jewish-Russian Cultural Alliance.

It was in the English language that we learned “a rose by any other name…”

We usually have four community events during the year on Sundays — Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Purim and May 9/Victory in Europe Day. We meet either at JFGN or a member’s business location. Join the email list by emailing JRCAGroup@gmail.com.

At our events, we hold roundtable discussions while enjoying a community meal of Jewish-Russian fl avors. In the USSR, while we were deprived of our religion and persecuted for being Jews, somehow, Jewish cuisine survived, even in deficit and depravation years.

Our Rosh Hashana celebration will be onSunday, Oct. 2, from 3-6 p.m. at a location to be announced. We will celebrate life, survival and welcome 5783 with toasts of l’chaim and mazel tovs. Couvert charge is $10 per person for wine and refreshments and each family brings a dish to the table. To register for JRCA Rosh Hashana, please call Mark at 856-912-0894 or email JRCAGroup@gmail.com.

And lastly, a bittersweet word of parting.

It is now seven years since our group started, and I am very proud of the achievements we have made. Many Jewish Russians who moved to Southwest Florida met others at JRCA events and lots of new friendships have been formed. I think it is imperative that we continue building the community we all created together. Thank you.

Our next leadership will be Mark Katsnelson, Irene Kharlamov, Darina Lumar, Olga Novikova and Zina Lovitch. Please welcome them to this challenging task and wish them lots of mazel. L’Shana Tova to all our friends! If you speak Russian, want to meet a “Russian” or are just generally curious, we welcome you. If you lived in the USSR, you are most qualifi ed to become a member. Help us spread the word. Tell your Jewish neighbors from the former USSR, we are waiting for them to be “found.” Please add yourself to our email list to take advantage of everything this group has to offer by emailing JRCAGroup@gmail.com.