Synagogue Outreach Network (SON) is a new Initiative launched in 2011 by COJECO (Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations), funded by UJA-Federation of New York’s Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal.

The Synagogue Outreach Network (SON) is aiming to find new opportunities for innovative outreach that would infuse our congregations with the valuable contributions of Russian-speaking Jews, as well as new ways of bridging the gap between “second-stage” Russian-speaking Jewish population and congregations of various denominations in Manhattan, Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester and Brownstone Brooklyn. Some 226,000 Russian-speaking Jews live in the New York area today. While the vast majority of this émigré community strongly and positively identify as Jews and support Israel, most remain outsiders to the Jewish institutions and especially synagogues. This project involves training with professional bi-cultural and bilingual staff who understand the nuances of the émigré community; as well as coaching, and the opportunity for synagogues to apply for outreach implementation grants.

Synagogue Outreach Network Grant Opportunity

The Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal (COJIR), working with the Council of Jewish Émigré Community Organizations (COJECO) and the Synagogue Outreach Network (SON), is making available a limited number of synagogue implementation grants to support congregations to begin or expand their outreach to the Russian-speaking Jewish community, test new program models, and attract wider audiences. The SON implementation grants are available to congregations of all denominations, as well as independent congregations, in Manhattan, Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester, and Brownstone Brooklyn. Synagogue grants will be made available to congregations in support of educational, cultural, life cycle moments, and social programs with a primary focus on targeted and carefully designed outreach and Jewish identity-building experiences for Russian-speaking Jews in their catchment area. Synagogues that are geographically well positioned, in areas where Russian-speaking Jews now live, are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications are due on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012.

You can apply HERE:  http://www.ujafedny.org/grants/

For more information, please e-mail Olga Markus, Synagogue Outreach Coordinator at synagogueoutreach@cojeco.org or call the COJECO office at 212.566.2120.