COJECO was formed in 2001 as an umbrella organization for grass-roots community organizations of Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants in New York to make their voices listened to and respected. The quantity and quality of Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants in New York had hit a critical mass: we were well educated, successful professionals, and we had become a real political and economical power in the United States. But to realize successfully our great potential as a community we — Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants — had to be united and well-organized. We did this under the COJECO umbrella. Today there are over 30 member organizations in COJECO. COJECO continues to support member organizations; represents them and advocates for their needs; supports them financially and helps them to find other financial resources for their initiatives, programs and projects; coordinates their activities; facilitates the development of the Russian-speaking Jewish community of New York; and helps Russian-speaking Jewish immigrants to integrate into American Jewish life.
COJECO Member Organizations:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G| H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
American Association of Jews from the FSU – NY Chapter (AAJFSU) was created in 1989; its New York chapter was incorporated in 1998. AAJFSU has 140 registered members; over 5,000 people involved in AAJFSU activities. AAJFSU advocates on the most vulnerable issues: medical insurance for immigrants and parolees; affordable and subsidized housing; citizenship and civic participation; human rights. AAJFSU meets with the political leaders, organize petition signings, and participates in activities of the New York Immigration Coalition and Jewish organizations nationwide.
American Association of Invalids & Veterans of WWII from the FSU has been formed in 1995. The mission is to preserve memory of the WWII and the heroism of the soldiers and officers from the FSU, to advocate on behalf of the veterans, and to provide emotional support to its members. Association organizes commemorating events, celebration of holidays; publishes memoirs and magazine “Veteran”. Over 2,000 members have been registered.
American Brotherhood for Russian Disabled (ABRUD) was incorporated in 1996; has now over 2,000 members. The mission is to provide help to the Russian-speaking disabled people to integrate into American life, to ease their problems, to educate their members on the opportunities available in USA. ABRUD provides computer and ESL classes; organizes trips. ABRUD works in close collaboration with medical offices and VESID. ABRUD has its own newspaper News of ABRUD and publishes special informative brochures.
Association of Engineers and Scientists was established in 1979 to help Russian-speaking professionals in integration into American job market and involvement into Jewish life through professional and social contacts.
B
Beth HaKnesseth Ohr HaMizrach organizes over 100 children and about 230 adults. The mission is integration into American and larger Jewish community at the same time preserving the heritage of Mountain Jews. Beth HaKnesseth has a Cultural Center that is both a major communal institution and an advocate on the behalf of the community that provides a wide range of social, cultural, educational, and psychological support services to individuals and families.
Bukharian Jewish Congress of the USA and Canada was established in 1998 and serves as umbrella for forty-nine organizations. The mission is to integrate Bukharian Jewish community into American society and Jewish community while preserving Bukharian traditions, culture and heritage. The umbrella comprises of the Jewish Centers and synagogues, newspapers and magazines, theaters and yeshivas, funeral home and Museum of Bukharian Jews heritage, foundations, music and dance groups, and the grass-root organizations.
C
Chabad Lubavitch of Kensington was incorporated in 1993. The mission is to promote Jewish knowledge and observance among Russian-speaking émigrés. Chabad Lubavitch conducts classes on Jewish traditions and philosophy, offers after school programs, organizes celebration of Jewish holidays and works in collaboration with Met Council on food package distribution.
Chabad of Rego Park/Corona was incorporated in 1998. The synagogue is a home for people who come to pray every day. The mission is to foster a sense of identity and pride among the Jewish Russian Community of Queens. Provides Hebrew School program, and Chabad Hebrew School. Publishes a magazine The Fifth Dimension. Total monthly circulation is 6,000.
Congregation Anshei Zedek of Bensonhurst exists for 90 years. The mission is to help Jews from the FSU to be more Jewish in religious and cultural sense. Synagogue offers classes for adults to learn Hebrew and to study Cabbala as well as classes for children to learn about Jewish holidays, traditions, music and Israeli dances.
Congregation Meor Hachaim of Luna Park founded in 2003. Majority of congregation are Holocaust survivors from the FSU. The mission is to help Russian-speaking Jews who survived Holocaust to feel at home in synagogue, to educate them Jewishly and feel part of the larger Jewish community.
Congregation Shaarei Shamayim (Jewish Reform Congregation) was incorporated in 1996. The mission is to educate Russian-speaking Jews about Jewish religion, culture and traditions, and to provide social climate to establish friendship and psychological comfort.
Congregation Tyfers Israel since 1999 became a spiritual and community center, placed in a historical building. The mission is to serve as a religious, cultural and educational center for Bukharian Jews.
E
The Educational Center for Russian Jewry was established in 1991 to help Russian-speaking Jews to integrate into American society and Jewish community. It has the following programs: ESL and Civics including preparation for the citizenship exam; Youth program; Jewish education; Hebrew classes; Weekly Lectures; Food Distribution of packages. Publish a popular magazine “Friendship”.
EZRA Olami is the worldwide organization that represents Zionist youth movement. The mission is to fight assimilation of the Russian-speaking Jewish youth, to connect them to Jewish traditions and Israel. The main activities include Birthright trips to Israel, many educational classes and events.
F
First Chernomorets, established in 1998, is the after school program. The mission is to attract the Russian-speaking émigré children to sport activities, to take them off the street, to lead a healthy lifestyle. They train children to play soccer and successfully participate in city and state competitions.
I
The International Émigré Association of Arts & Sciences was established in 1993 to help Russian-speaking professionals to integrate into American society. Now there are three main groups inside the IEAAS: medical professionals, publicists, and teachers. The Teachers’ Training Program assists with the placement of potential teachers into NY Public School systems.
J
Jewish Channel Institute was created in 2000 to provide formal and informal Jewish education for the Russian-speaking Jews. JCI does the outreach for Israel Open University to find students, helps students to get scholarship, etc. Also they find and train people to work at Energy Saving programs.
Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island has been established in 1973. The mission dedicates their resources to these goals and to the provision of supportive services designed at improving the quality of life of the frail elderly, vocationally disadvantaged poor, underprivileged immigrants and educationally at-risk youth and to provide technical assistance to enhance the programmatic, administrative and fiscal capacity of other not-for-profit organizations. Senior Citizen programs serve about 6,000 people; the other programs serve about 2,000 people.
Jewish Community of Starrett City was organized in 1995. The mission is to serve as support network for a community of over 2,000 senior citizens – immigrants from the FSU. This organization helps the senior citizens to naturalize; helps people in desperate situations, visits people in hospitals, and congratulates on their birthdays. Also, they organize Jewish holiday’s celebrations and commemoration events.
Jewish Union of Russian Immigrants was establishes in 1978. The mission is to raise awareness in Russian-speaking Jews of their cultural and religious heritage, and foster Jewish identity. JURI introduces fundamentals of Jewish history, culture and traditions. JURI has women ensemble Soul Strings that organizes theatrical performances 3-4 times a year.
L
M
Metropolitan Russian-American Parent Association (MRAPA) was created in 1995. The mission is to assist émigré children and parents in adjusting to the American public education environment, and to advocate on behalf of Russian-speaking children with disabilities and to help their families to learn the system of special education and support. MRAPA, working with Maidstone Foundation, started after-school program The Way to Life with a strong Jewish educational component.
N
New York Association of Holocaust Survivors was incorporated in 2005. The mission is to preserve memories of Holocaust, to bear witness to the Holocaust perpetrated against the Nazi atrocities on Soviet soil, and to help Holocaust survivors to adapt to the new life in USA. This organization supports its members by visiting them at home and in the hospitals and providing food packages.
R
Research Institute for New Americans (RINA) was created in 1998. The mission is to provide information regarding the social, demographic, identification and integration processes of the Russian-speaking community by doing study and research. The topics of the recent projects include: Status, Identity, and Integration of Russian-Jewish immigrants in NYC; Russian Jews in NY as Voter in November 2000 Election, etc.
RJeneration is a community of young professionals in their 20-30′s who came to America as kids, born enroute, or were born here. RJeneration works to represent a generation of Americans with a second culture and language, a Russian heritage, Jewish roots, and a defining immigrant experience; a “hybrid” Russian-Jewish-American identity throughout their lives.
“Roshnoi-Light” Club has been incorporated in 1992. The mission is to create scientific materials about the richness and uniqueness of the Bukharian Jewish heritage and its contribution to the world. “Roshnoi” has published over 60 books in areas of history, sociology, ethnography, demography, culture and science; also has organized many international scientific conferences and published Encyclopedia for Bukharian Jews.
Russian-American Foundation (RAF) has been incorporated in 1997. The mission is to serve as a bridge between Russian, American and Jewish cultures, to promote the achievements of the Russian-speaking Jewish community to the wider audience. RAAF is organizing Annual Festival Our Heritage (endorsed by the City of New York and Mayor), festivals for the Russian-speaking Jewish community, cultural events that involve prominent theatre and art professionals. RAAF events are attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Russian American Cultural Center (RACC) has been founded in 1998 to facilitate cultural exchange and to foster international collaboration by promoting the Russian Jewish cultural heritage. RACC programs include: literature events, events of community performance series, art exhibitions, etc. Cultural events organized by RACC are well attended by thousands of spectators.
Russian American Voters Educational League (RAVEL) was created in 1998. Mission is to educate the Russian-speaking Jews about the American political system and the electoral process, to strengthen the Jewish voice in the political life. RAVEL works in close collaboration with NY Immigrant Coalition and JCRC.
RAJE (former Shaarei Emunah) was founded in 1999. The mission is to ensure Jewish community, to help young Jews to explore their Jewish identity and strengthen their commitment to the Jewish people. The programs include: Shabbatons and seminars that introduce unaffiliated Jews to the depth of Judaism, classes on Torah and Cabbala, modern Jewish thought, and Hebrew language. About 1,000 young people attend the programs yearly.
S
“SHAARE” - self-help Association of American Russian Elderly – has been incorporated in 2005. The mission is to improve the quality of life for the elderly Russian-speaking Jews through cultural, educational and religious events. Concerts and celebrations organized by SHAARE attract hundreds of people.
Staten Island Community Center (SICC) was incorporated in 2005. The mission is to provide community services to the Russian-speaking population of Staten Island in friendly and culturally sensitive environment with very strong Jewish educational component. SICC organizes after school programs; serves hot kosher meals. SICC has a Summer Camp that has Jewish education program.
STEPS Theatre Production Company has been created in 1997. The credo of this theatre lies in context of multicultural coexistence. Its performances have been seen by thousands spectators from USA, South America, and Eastern Europe. The audience involves over 3,000 yearly.
U
United Association of East European Jewry was created in 1994. Mission is to promote and preserve Jewish culture and heritage, to foster Jewish identity among East European Jews from the former Soviet Union. UAEEJ offers lectures and cultural events, organizes celebrations of Jewish holidays and commemorations historical events. The seminars for family genealogy are extremely popular.
W
World of Women Immigrants (WWI) was established in 1999. The mission is to help Bukharian Jewish émigré women to integrate into American life and the larger Jewish community, to overcome immigration and family problems. WWI organizes seminars related to women’s issues and conducts meetings. WWI works with JBFCS, Cancer Free Inc., and Elmlhurst hospital.
