My Nonprofit Reviews

I am a volunteer at RAJE, the Russian American Jewish Experience, and have been for the past year. It is truly a phenomenal experience watching the growth of identity and Judaism in what was once a community of individuals that were completely removed from their roots and heritage. Following the fall of the former Soviet Union, a large influx of Russian Jews came to America. For many of them, they came with only the clothes on their backs. They were destitute, confused and had major language and cultural barriers which unfortunately caused many of them to fall into despair and depression. These were people who were highly intelligent, sophisticated and cultured in what was once their homeland. They had given up so much to come to the United States and give their children the opportunity to live the American dream. For some, their hard work paid off. There are former Russian immigrants in all the major universities and business centers throughout the world. However, despite their successes, many of these people lost their sense of community. In addition, many of the Russian immigrants who had come to the United States were not young students. They were older individuals who needed assistance and needed to feel part of a greater community. For them, community was essential. RAJE has allowed Russian Jews to feel part of a cultural tradition, one dating back thousands of years. RAJE has enabled them to recognize what it means to be part of a community, part of a people, and to help each other. I volunteer at RAJE every Sunday for five hours. Along with a number of other young adults, we run education programs, teach both parents and seniors how to live as a community, provide networking opportunities to young Russian Jews looking to go into various businesses, and practical advice to assist them in a variety of situations. Many RAJE graduates still maintain a connection by speaking to their mentors on a weekly basis. They are almost all college educated and live very productive lives. Some are even teaching the next generation of Russian students. During the last graduation ceremony, which takes place once a year at the conclusion of the year's program, a boy stood up and said, "my grandparents were arrested in Communist Russia for living the lifestyle that is welcomed here. They were never fortunate enough to come to the States and to live out their dreams. If there's one thing I owe them, it's to remain committed to my community and committed to my people. And RAJE has allowed me to do that." I really feel it is a pleasure to be able to volunteer in such a worthy organization.

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