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COJECO Newsletter September 2023
Events and Programs for the Russian-speaking Jewish Community
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Dear friends,
We hope you had a wonderful summer.
The Hebrew month of Elul is the last one before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. During this month we spiritually prepare for High Holidays- the season of deep personal reflection and introspection.
As all of us go through this spiritual journey and envision our next year, we welcome you to our warm and caring community for a year of Jewish exploration, exciting and engaging learning, and inspiration!
COJECO Team has been working tirelessly to prepare a year filled with top quality Jewish social, cultural, and educational experiences. From family engagement and learning in our B’nai Mitzvah Family Journey and RJKrug programs to Jewish educational travel in our Germany Close Up initiative; from assistance to grassroots Jewish efforts to immersive Israel experiences- we have planned a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages. Check out all the great programs by COJECO, our Network Organizations, and our Community Friends and Partners! We wish you a good month of Elul and a Happy and Healthy Year- Shana Tovah U’metukah!
Sincerely,
Roman Shmulenson, COJECO Chief Executive Officer
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Jews of the Wild West
Tuesday, September 5, @7:30PM
Presentation in Russian by tour guide and educator Elena Zusmanovich.
In this presentation Elena Zusmanovich will highlight the little-known pages of the Jewish history of California:
• The Jews and the Gold Rush
• Solomon, the Indians’ Chief
• The Emperor of the United States of
America
• Who bought Alaska
• 150 years of blue jeans!
• The bridge built by the poet
• Newspapers, shooting, and the
magical power of art.
This public program is offered at no cost but requires advance registration.
Please DONATE to support COJECO Academy of Jewish Heritage.
Advance Registration
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COJECO BluePrint Fellowship | |
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"Collective Effort"
Documentary Film
by COJECO BluePrint Fellow
Leonid Gurevich
Save the Date:
Sunday, October 29, @5PM
Venue- To be Announced
"The Collective Effort" is a captivating exploration of immigrant identity, Jewish identity, and the artistic identity of a creative mindset. This documentary, skillfully crafted by designer, editorial stylist, fashion photographer, and educator Leonid Gurevich takes viewers on a journey through the creation of a Dress made from fabric hand-painted by Jewish immigrants of various ages and social backgrounds.
From conception to the runway, the film weaves a narrative of unity, teamwork, and extraordinary results achieved through collaboration, while providing an insider's look into the enigmatic world of fashion design.
The COLLECTIVE EFFORT Documentary features actress Sophie Van Haselberg, Lauren Ezersky - VOGUE's iconic journalist, model-actress Marlen Fjeldstad, model and radio host Marina Novikova, Rabbi and author Tobi Rubinstein, and other prominent figures.
Click HERE for more information
The film is created with the support of COJECO as part of the BluePrint Fellowship Program.
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Members of our COJECO NJ Community are invited to apply for
IsraelNow and Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
February 12-20, 2024 Israel Trip for 8th graders
IsraelNow invites 8th graders on an educational and transformative journey — letting them form a special bond with Israel, new friends, and Jewish life.
Participants will learn about their heritage, discover Israeli culture, engage in social justice projects, and explore modern and ancient Israel. This program is not just about the trip to Israel but building connections with the teens and families when they return.
Students who identify as Jewish, live in JFNNJ’s catchment area (Bergen County, Hudson County, and Wayne, NJ), and will be in 8th grade during the 2023-2024 school year at a public school or non-Jewish private school are eligible.
Recorded Virtual Information Session
HERE.
Registration information HERE.
Trip Video HERE.
This trip is a program of IsraelNow Education Foundation and Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.
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COJECO Network Organizations | |
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Association of East-European Jewry invites you to join
“No One is Forgotten- Nothing is Forgotten”- The 20th Annual Holocaust Commemoration Remembrance Event
Sunday, September 10, @11:30AM
This meeting is dedicated to six million Jews who perished in the Fire of the Shoah (Holocaust). It will also honor the life and work of Jewish poets, musicians, artists, and others whose lives were lost. Holocaust survivors, WWII veterans, and members
of their families, leaders of the Russian-speaking American communities of New York, and representatives of various community organizations will gather to commemorate the victims of the Nazi regime.
Please join the event at the Holocaust Memorial Park in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
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Programs and Events by COJECO Community Partners | |
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Museum of Jewish Heritage-
A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
“FOUR WINTERS”
Film & Panel Discussion – Inspiring Legacy of Resistance and Bravery
Thursday, September 7, @7PM
In this award-winning film, some of the last surviving partisans tell their story, from young innocents facing down a ruthless enemy, cold, hunger, and fear, to becoming courageous resistance fighters with great determination, altruism, and resourcefulness. As fierce and skilled soldiers, they joined together and formed partisan brigades. Shattering the myth of Jewish passivity,
FOUR WINTERS reveals a truthful, inspiring, and riveting narrative of heroism and resilience.
Learn more and register HERE
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Museum of Jewish Heritage-
A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark
COJECO Teen Trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage- Stay Tuned for the Date
Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark is the Museum’s first exhibition for visitors aged 9 and up. The exhibition tells the remarkable story of the rescue of the Danish Jews during the Holocaust. Together, Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors of all ages mobilized to create one of the most effective—and exceptional—examples of mass resistance and escape in modern history. Despite the enormous risk, ordinary citizens united against Nazism to save nearly 95% of Denmark’s Jewish population.
Using state-of-the-art technology and creative storytelling, Courage to Act will immerse visitors in this inspiring story. Age-appropriate themes of separation, bravery, and resilience will help young people make connections to their own lives and reflect on the dangers of prejudice—as well as their own potential for compassionate, moral, and courageous collective action and upstanding.
Interested? Email us at info@cojeco.org to add your name to the list.
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Thank You to Our Supporters and Partners | | | | |
