Kehilla Projects

Since NCSJ’s participation in the Riga Roundtable in 1988 and the first VAAD Congress in 1989 when it became apparent that Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union (FSU) were publicly organizing themselves, NCSJ began responding to their requests for connections with sister American Jewish communities. NCSJ’s Community Services Committee has encouraged many American Jewish communities, through their local JCRC, Federations and synagogues to establish linkages and regular contact with counterparts in the FSU to support Jewish education, welfare, religious life, and advocacy. NCSJ has helped to match communities, provided guidance in establishing the relationships, promoted the concept of linking communities, offered program suggestions, and shared information amongst participating communities. Requests from the FSU continue to outpace available American partners, but NCSJ remains committed to creating new linkages as resources permit.

Texas-Russia Advocacy Program

There are many ways to be directly engaged in the revitalization of Jewish life in these emerging communities.  These include community-to-community projects, university-to-university programs, one-time projects, multiple efforts, providing scholarships and/or material to a Jewish summer camp, supplying food packages through Operation Lifeline, hosting Jews in your community for leadership training, sending medical supplies, sponsoring Jewish educational programming, student exchanges, and democracy and advocacy initiatives. NCSJ works closely with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to ensure that the maximum optimal possible uses of resources are realized. 

OBJECTIVES

• To strengthen emerging Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union by providing humanitarian aid, supporting Jewish programming, and cooperating with other Jewish groups working in the FSU.
  
• To facilitate the active and direct role of American Jewish communities, through local CRC’s, Federations, and national agencies, in the revitalization of Jewish communal life in the FSU through direct inter-community contact, support of local, national, and international advocacy, and monitoring of political change and human rights performance.
  
• To assist the emerging Jewish communities of the FSU in becoming independent and self-sustaining members of the international Jewish community and to spiritually reunite with Klal Yisrael.
  
• To develop new leadership in the American Jewish community, providing visibility to local community efforts, while promoting the ongoing commitment of American Jewry to Jews in the FSU.   

         SOME CURRENT KEHILLA PROJECTS

Read about Kolot, a program to combat domestic violence in Russia


Spotlight on Kehilla Projects

NCSJ Treasurer Dr. Judy Wolf has called Kehilla Projects a fulfilling opportunity to participate in the renewal of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union. "To me, its essence is really personal relationships, community-to-community, individual-to-individual," Dr. Wolf said.

Several Kehilla Projects have spurred outreach at an unanticipated level, and fused the energies of many people—from students to physicians to senior citizens—who had previously been uninvolved in Jewish community efforts in the former Soviet Union. Another added benefit has been the increased funding, resources and technical expertise that the projects have generated.

Lesley Weiss of NCSJ (third from left) and Rita Drozdinskaya (center) of Voronezh Jewish community addressing RFE/RL policy briefing on domestic violence in Russia

Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, urged more communities to reach out and become involved. "Kehilla Projects provide a platform for advocacy," Weiss said. "We are always looking for ways to involve our constituent member agencies to use their expertise in the FSU." The projects require partners and funding, missions to the FSU to assess the community’s needs, and effective outreach here at home. Kehilla Projects are an ideal way for American communities to become involved in the revival of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union.

If you're interested in learning more about Kehilla Projects and/or how you can become involved in your area, please contact NCSJ.