Russian Jewish Program

JFCS East Bay is proud to have resettled more than 2,000 Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union.

While the local Russian Jewish community has worked very hard to build successful lives in the United States, many members of this community also yearn for an opportunity to explore their Jewish identity. They fled religious persecution in the former Soviet Union, and now want to explore what being Jewish means, experiencing both Jewish community and Jewish life.

JFCS East Bay’s Russian Jewish Cultural Heritage Program was developed in 2007 to provide community building and Jewish education for these refugees.

The program’s activities include:

• Jewish holiday celebrations including the High Holy Days, Chanukah, and Passover.
• A Victory Day Picnic that typically draws 200 people of all generations.