Dear Friends

Celebrate Israel Parade

Join COJECO, our member organizations, and the entire Russian Jewish Community on Sunday, June 5^th,  in supporting Israel at the Celebrate Israel Parade.   The American Russian Jewish Community group will meet @ 11:30AM at 53rd Str. bet. 5th Ave. & Madison Ave. The estimated time of step-off will be 12:15-12:45PM.

For information on T-shirts, buses, or other questions, please contact Iryna Gubenko atirynag@cojeco.org or 212-566-2120.

Center Without Walls

Congratulations to the Center Without Walls agencies on the completion of the 2010-2011 program year.  We thank you for all the wonderful work that you have done this year for the Russian-speaking Jewish community.

Since its inception in 2006, The Center Without Walls initiative (CWW) has acted as a catalyst to promote and strengthen the dialogue between Russian-speaking Jews and the American Jewish community.

Requests for Proposal for the 2011-2012 CWW program year will be sent out soon. To learn more about CWW or to receive an RFP please contact Victoria Anesh at vanesh@cojeco.org. To learn more about CWW criteria and requirements please visit http://cojeco.org/projects/center-without-walls/.

CWW Family Retreat

We are excited to finish our Center Without Walls program year with a Family Retreat from June 3-5^th at The Hudson Valley Resort.  Children, parents, and grandparents – over 130 people – will participate in exciting and interactive workshops for children and parents, that will include arts and crafts, discussions on Jewish parenting, theatrical shows, games, and much more!

Center Without Walls is a project of COJECO supported by the UJA-Federation of New York and Genesis Philanthropy Group.

BluePrint Fellowship

Congratulations to all Fellows on their graduation from the 2010-2011  BluePrint Fellowship! We are extremely proud of all of you and looking forward to all ongoing and upcoming projects!

The BluePrint fellowship is a great opportunity to meet young talented individuals, learn new skills and receive a minigrant to create your own unique project. Accepted individuals  work with a personal coach/mentor, travel and gain new connections. The Fellowship starts with a 3-day retreat at a beautiful farm in Upstate NY, continues with  exciting workshops in NY,  one-on-one personal sessions with coaches/mentors, and much more. The  BluePrint Fellowship is open to young adults from a Russian-speaking Jewish background, between the ages of 25 and 40.

For more information on the BluePrint Fellowship or to apply for the 2011-2012 year please visithttp://cojeco.org/projects/blueprint-fellowship/ or email Rika Gorn at rgorn@cojeco.org

Arlekino Theatre Troupe Summer Sunday’s Program

Join Arlekino Theatre for an amazing program! The Sunday program will run from June 19th to August 21st, from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for children ages 3-4 and from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. for children ages 5-7. Each program includes 1.5-hour art, music, and drama workshops per week where children will be building skills to become confident performers.  All lessons will be held in Russian to promote your child’s Jewish identity and Russian language development. A light, organic snack will be provided.

The total cost of each program is now only $280! Summer Sunday’s is offered in two sessions: from June 19th-July 17th and from July 24th-August 21st. Each session will cost $150.

Please note that the Sunday programs will be taught at the Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, located at 7802 Bay Parkway.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, email admissions@arlekinotheater.com, stating whether you prefer the full semester or a specific session.

Arlekino Theatre was created by COJECO BluePrint Fellow Jane Tuv.

This project is made possible through a grant by the Blueprint Fellowship project of COJECO and The Jewish Agency for Israel, funded by the UJA-Federation of New York and Genesis Philanthropy Group.

Project Gesher

On Tuesday May 31, COJECO Gesher program completed its 2010- 2011 program year with a Graduation Party. 27 student-interns were awarded Teacher Appreciation Certificates for devoted service to children from day-care centers participating in the Gesher Jewish Educational Initiative.

Bukharian Jewish Community

At the last meeting of the Bukharian “Pen Club” – the Union of Bukharian Writers, Poets, and Publicists – community leader Imonuel Rybakov presented his book “Easy Bukharian”.

This book is the result of hard work and efforts of the author who worked in New York, and went to the former Soviet Union to work with old authentic materials. The publication of the book was co-sponsored by COJECO. Imonuel Rybakov is now teaching “Easy Bukharian” as well as a history and culture of Bukharian Jews seminar in Queens College.

EZRA

Remember and Never Forget!
By LEEZA DUKORSKAYA, Madricha at Ezra USA

On May 1, 2011 – The young Jewish leaders of Ezra USA gathered together to commemorate Yom Ha’Shoah in honor of the victims and martyrs of the Holocaust. Amid poems, photographs, songs, prayers, stories and undoubtedly tears, emerged the impact of the Holocaust 66 years later. To share in the commitment to remember, children as young as 9 years old welcomed several generations into Ezra’s Dmitriy Salita Center. The overwhelming message from both survivors to the younger generations sitting before them with glossy eyes was, “Do not forget what befell us!” We are the next generation responsible for protecting our Jewish identity, our Jewish state, and our religion.

REMEMBER AND SAY “NO MORE!”

EZRA USA and NY Association of Holocaust Survivors and the Holocaust Memorial Committee NEED YOUR VOICE!

Location: Holocaust Memorial Park, between Emmons Ave and Shore Boulevard

The Germany Close Up Fellowship Program with COJECO

For the third year, COJECO is organizing a trip to Germany from August 25^th-September 4th in partnership with Germany Close Up. The trip is a great opportunity to experience Germany through a Jewish lens, travel around Europe, and spend time with other young Russian Jewish professionals. The entire cost of the program is $770 which includes flight, hotel, food, and program.  If you would like an application please email Rika Gorn at rgorn@cojeco.org

Established in October 2007, Germany Close Up – American Jews Meet Modern Germany is an initiative created to enrich transatlantic dialogue and provide Jewish American young emerging leaders up to 35 with an opportunity to experience modern Germany up close and personally. The purpose of the program is to allow participants to gain their own perspective on Germany through individual experience.

The 11-day program between August 25^th and September 4^th – especially designed for Russian speaking Jewish participants from the US and Canada – will enable participants to experience Berlin’s multicultural life, visit former East Germany, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and experience other key historical sites and other cultural venues. A special focus will be aimed at exploring various aspects surrounding the story of the arrival and integration process of Jews from the Former Soviet Union in Germany.

Rgorn@cojeco.org for additional information.

To keep up with our programs and news, visit our website at www.COJECO.org for frequent updates.