Council of
Jewish Emigre
Community Organizations

August 2015

Dear Friends,

With summer in full swing, there is no shortage of exciting developments, including the graduation of the 6th COJECO BluePrint Fellowship cohort, the COJECO RSJ Symposium for professionals working with the Russian-speaking Jewish community throughout North America, Project Dacha Family Picnic, and Project Dacha Camp under way at Albert's Bungalow Colony.

Check out the great opportunities below and have a wonderful summer!

Best,

The COJECO Team

COJECO BluePrint Fellowship

Congratulations to the 6th COJECO BluePrint Fellowship Cohort!

Full photo album from the graduation ceremony can be found here.

The COJECO BluePrint Fellowship is funded by the UJA-Federation of New York

and Genesis Philanthropy Group.

Applications for the next cohort will be available in the fall. Stay tuned!

COJECO Germany Close Up

2015 COJECO Germany Close Up Trip for RSJ Young Adults

COJECO partners with Germany Close Up to bring Russian-speaking Jewish young adults on a 10-day educational trip to Germany. Participants have the opportunity to explore the past and present of Jewish life in Germany, and experience modern Germany first-hand.

We had a truly wonderful trip last month with an outstanding cohort of RSJ young adults! In equal parts educational, emotional, and fun, this is a one-of a kind experience! We look forward to seeing COJECO Germany Close Up participants soon at our upcoming programs and events.

COJECO Family Programs

Project Dacha Family Picnic

Project Dacha hosted a family picnic at Gouldsboro State Park, PA with an array of activities for children and adults. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers and all the families that were able to join us on this hot yet incredibly fun day.

For more information please visit the Facebook event page.

COJECO Project Dacha Picnic is made possible by the generous support of

UJA-Federation of New York and PJ Library New York Metro.

Project Dacha Camp at Albert's Bungalow Colony, NY

Project Dacha is a new model of Jewish day camp designed specifically for RSJ children, parents, and grandparents, providing informal Jewish educational experiences presented through a culturally sensitive approach.

Project Dacha Camp welcomed its first campers last week! Campers were engaged in activities revolving around a central Jewish theme of the week: The Power of Words (Otzmat Milim) and how we can use them to help, to create or to hurt. They enjoyed electives such as Hebrew, yoga, drawing, chess and much more. The campers have three more weeks of planned activities.

To learn more about Project Dacha, please visit our website or contact Marinaz@cojeco.org.

COJECO RSJ Symposium

The COJECO RSJ Symposium took place on July 16, 2015, bringing together over 50 professionals from Jewish non-profit organizations throughout North America working with the Russian-speaking Jewish (RSJ) community toward the goals of Jewish identity development and community building. Over the course of this one-day conference, participants had the opportunity to network with peers, evaluate program strategies, address challenges, exchange program ideas and best practices, and take stock in the incredible work being done in the field of RSJ community engagement.

You can find all the photos from the COJECO RSJ Symposium here.

The COJECO RSJ Symposium is made possible by the generous support of

UJA-Federation of New York and Genesis Philanthropy Group.

COJECO Member Organizations

RJeneration Annual Summer Picnic

August 8, 2015 at 12:00 PM

Join RJeneration at their annual Summer Picnic in Central Park to enjoy great company, food, drinks, music and games, with Russian-speaking Jews in their 20's, 30's, and 40's. This picnic is a potluck, so bring your favorite food/drink and share with the group. Bring a blanket, a musical instrument, soccer ball, frisbee, and anything else that would contribute to this fun afternoon.

When: Saturday, August 8, 2015, 12:00 - 4:00 PM

Where: Central Park - Southwest Lawn just north of the Delacourt Theater and west of the Great Lawn (google map: 40.781037,-73.968329).

For more information contact Jenny at 646-522-3258 or go on Facebook.

Association of East European Jews presents:

Fifth Annual Contest "NEVER Again"

Deadline: August 15, 2015

The Board of the Association of East European Jews announces the Fifth Annual Contest "NEVER Again!" for the best article, poem, essay, or interview, dedicated to the memory of Holocaust, written in Russian or English. The contest is open to school-aged children.

There are three prizes for the winners:
1st place - $150, 2nd place - $100, 3rd place - $50.
All participants will be awarded with commemorative certificates.

The deadline for submissions: August 15, 2015.
The best works will be published in the newspaper "Forum." The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 11:30 AM during the Annual Holocaust Memorial Meeting at Holocaust Memorial Park in Brooklyn.

Please send your works by e-mail to bgubenko@mail.ru or by mail to:

Bella Gubenko
Attn: Never Again Contest

1565 East 14 St, #3D

Brooklyn, NY 11230

COJECO Synagogue Outreach Network (SON)

SYNERGY report on "Synagogue Engagement:

Reaching Out to Russian-Speaking Jews"

From 2011 to 2015, UJA-Federation of NY supported the creation and development of the COJECO Synagogue Outreach Network (SON). This initiative sought to identify and foster new and innovative programs that welcome Russian-speaking Jews into congregational life. Creating a culture in which all people matter and all people are included is a core expression of thriving congregations.

We are proud to announce the UJA-Federation publication of SYNERGY's "Synagogue Engagement: Reaching Out to Russian-Speaking Jews," which shares the reflections and lessons from the 12 New York-area synagogues that received guidance and funding to engage Russian-speaking Jews.

Community Events

Congress for Jewish Culture presents:

Night of the Murdered Poets

August 11, 2015 at 6:30 PM

This is a special program honoring the Yiddish artists and writers murdered in the Soviet Union on August 12, 1952, which has come to be known as the "Night of the Murdered Poets". Among others, David Bergelson, David Hofshteyn, Perets Markish, Itsik Fefer, Leyb Kvitko, and Benjamin Zuskin were executed on that date in the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow.

This year we will feature Ala Zuskin Perelman in a rare New York appearance. Ms. Perelman is the daughter of Benjamin Zuskin, a principal actor in GOSET (the Moscow State Yiddish Theater), and will share memories of her father and read from her recent biography of him, The Travels of Benjamin Zuskin. Ms. Perelman will be available to sign copies of the book after the event.

When: Tuesday, August 11, 2015, 6:30 - 8:00 PM

Where: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research - 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

Cost: Free

More Information | Reserve Your Seat

Israeli theatre troupe Tziporela presents: ODD BIRDZ

July 16 - Aug 23, 2015

After nearly a decade of sold-out performances around the world, award-winning Israeli theatre troupe Tziporela is proud to return to American with their latest production, Odd Birdz.

Inventively weaving together movement, music, physical theatre, and outrageous comedy, this unique show transcends barriers of language, culture, and age to create an evening of hilarious entertainment that will lift your spirits and leave your cheeks sore from laughter!

When: July 16 - Aug 23, 2015 7PM or 10PM

Where: The Players Theatre - 115 MacDougal Street New York, NY 10012

Tickets: $47 -$77

Purchase Tickets | Learn More

American Hebrew Academy

The American Hebrew Academy (AHA), was established to provide an outstanding coeducational college preparatory program and Jewish secondary education. It is the goal of the Academy to intellectually motivate academically able students who are prepared to engage in the rigorous discipline of the dual curriculum. The Academy seeks to educate the whole student - mind, body and soul.

Founded in 2000 on 100 acres in Greensboro, North Carolina, the American Hebrew Academy is the only international Jewish residential secondary school. The Academy provides a nurturing educational environment where students are challenged to prepare for college, explore their Jewish identity, and graduate with lifelong skills for learning and leadership.

Please read the article about the academy recently published in Moscow/Jerusalem.

COJECO Community Services

COJECO Prins Grants

Assistance to professionals from the former Soviet Union in their first steps towards a new career in the United States. Learn more here!

Free Jewish Children's Books from PJ Library

Sign up for free Jewish children's books to be mailed to your home every month!

Connect with COJECO

Established in 2001, COJECO is the central hub of the Russian-speaking Jewish community of NY that facilitates successful integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the greater Jewish community, while preserving our unique cultural heritage. Learn more at www.cojeco.org.

Thank You to our Sponsors

Vivian G. Prins Foundation