I would like to tell you about our Russian-speaking group of
Jewish Seniors. Our group was established three years ago and
was named Most-Bridge Russian Jewish Seniors Society. The number
of members is now more than 140.
Having grown up under a totalitarian regime and in an
assimilated society, most of us know neither the language, the
culture nor the traditions of our folk. The mass exodus of Jews
from the former Soviet Union to Israel, Germany, the USA, and
Canada, which began in the 1990s, resulted in a spiritual
awakening and a desire to create a connection with our own
people.
Most of us are elderly people, who have many problems
(financial, psychological, health conditions, language etc.)
which have led to depression and isolation from Canadian society.
Integration is much easier for the young.
This is the basic purpose of the founding of our group.
Our purpose is not only to bring together Russian Jews on the
basis of their shared experiences, but also to give them
access to Jewish culture and traditions and Jewish history; that
is, to all aspects of Jewish life.
With this in mind, we publish an information bulletin in
which we inform our members about the community and upcoming
news and events, with articles about Jewish customs and holidays,
as well as recipes, news from around the world and much, much
more.
At our meetings and activities, we inform our
members, new immigrants, of their rights and duties as Canadian
residents etc.
We plan future special events such as holiday's
celebrations, sightseeing trips and outing to movies and
concerts.
We provide peer counseling for seniors, members of our Society,
Holocaust survivors and victims of Nazi persecution, by making
available application forms for compensation and helping them to
fill out these forms.
We are ready to seek, find, and serve the needs in the fields of
health, safety, information, communication, entertainment, and
other concerns.
Our Society works closely with the Jewish Family
Service Agency, the Holocaust Education Centre, the Seniors
Department and the Seniors Advisory Council of the Jewish Federation
of Greater Vancouver as well as with Congregation Beth Israel.
We receive priceless help and support from well known people
in the Jewish community of Vancouver.
Some members of the Seniors Advisory Council have been offering
lessons in English to help our people to improve their English
skills.
I just wanted to say that we appreciate everyone's efforts in
supporting us. These include contributions made financially by
the Jewish Community Foundation and by participating in our
programs.
We need help from qualified Jewish people who can and want to
give us a hand in preparing some documents - applications for
grants and subsidies. Undoubtedly great things are possible when
there is unity in actions and spirit.
Thus, a bridge has been built. Our Society is a meeting place
for Russian-speaking Jewish seniors with different views and
interests. The most important is to be together, to adapt
quickly to our new life in Canada, and became active members of
the Jewish community.
We accept with great pleasure all suggestions and proposals that
can help and improve the organizational activities of our
Society.
The Torah instructs us that all Jews are supposed to give a
half-shekel tax to the Temple once a year. Every person was
obligated to give, whether he was rich or poor. I guess your
support and cooperation with us can be compared with that
half-shekel tax.
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