V E R A

New Russian Jewish Association Launched in Vancouver

From left to right:  Elizabeth Reitman of Broadway Florist (sponsor); Michael Nemirovsky, Chair, Board of Directors of the American Forum of the World Congress of Russian Jewry; Charlotte Katzen of Jewish Family Service Agency, VERA Board Member;  Alexandra Gerson of Jewish Family Service Agency, VERA President; Anatoly Brusilovsky, VERA Board Member; Natalia Likholatnikova, VERA Board Member;  Alexei Orekhov, VERA Board Member

After many years of consistent immigration to Vancouver, which has created a significant size community within a community, Jews from the FSU have organized themselves with the support of JFSA to help strengthen their integration and involvement in the greater Jewish Community. There is considerable debate regarding the actual size of the Russian Jewish community as many Russian Jews do not affiliate, and when filling out the census report they identify as Russian and not necessarily Jewish. JFSA estimates it has resettled well over 6000 Jews from the FSU over the years, the Russian community considers their numbers larger, around 10K, and the Federation estimates around 3000. In any case for a total Jewish community of 30K they represent a significant subset, which participates very little in Jewish communal life. The goal of the new organization which is called VERA, modeled after the World Congress of Russian Jewry based in New York , is to develop leadership of Russian Jews, promote stronger affiliation and identification as Jews and to develop programs and services targeted at the Russian Jewish community in Vancouver. Over 130 attendees of all ages and backgrounds from the FSU came to launch this new organization including prominent Rabbis in our community- Rabbi Yosef Wosk and Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman, in addition to dignitaries from the community and representatives from JFSA. JFSA will provide local coordination of this organization, which will serve as an Advisory Board to the JFSA Board of Directors. The hope is to finally build strong Russian Jewish representation and engagement at all levels of our greater Jewish community.

It looks like a great start.