CLOSE-UP Reclaiming Soviet Jews Continued from preceding page Soviet Jewish arrivals at the offices of NYANA (New York Association for New Americans) applying for assistance in finding housing, schools for their children and other essential services. the Columbus Jewish Community Center. As part of learning English, the students, youths and adults, study sub- jects including American Jewish history, Russian Jewish history, Shabbat obser- vance and kashrut. They take field trips to sites as diverse as the State Capitol and a kosher meat market. In the process, they learn about the United States and Judaism. The Center in Columbus also puts together holiday baskets for the immi- grants. The Passover basket contains a Haggadah and holiday foods. There are religious programs for Russian children during vacations, and preschoolers learn about Judaism at the Center. "We try to make acculturation as ap- pealing as we can in every respect," says Susan Tanur, director of planning and budget for the Columbus Jewish Federa- tion. "Only by covering every base can we assure that there's a good fit within the existing Jewish community." In smaller areas, attempts are made to create a nurturing Jewish atmosphere. Two new Soviet Jewish families are the toast of Hamden, Conn., near New Haven. Thirteen members of Temple Mishkan Israel drove 150 miles round trip to pick them up at New York's Ken- nedy Airport and bring them back to Hamden in time for kiddush. The syn- agogue is providing them with apart- ments, cars, resumes and job leads. Rabbi Herb Brockman of Temple Mishkan Israel is delighted with the ac- culturation progress. "With our encouragement the immi- grants got interested in services," he says. "It's a powerful statement about the allure of Judaism. They realize that the synagogue members are doing things for 42 FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 1990 them because they're Jews and we're Jews, that there is almost a magnetic at- traction between us and them. The Jew- ish connection makes them more re- ligious." In San Francisco, among the handiest vehicles for acculturation are chavurah study groups. These began with discus- sions on topics like Jewish history, the philosophy of the Jewish religion, Jewish life cycle traditions and Jewish commu- nal organizations. They have since evolv- ed into more intensive talks including Middle Eastern politics. "It was very interesting to hear what the group had been officially told about Israel in the USSR," says Gayle Zahler, director of emigre services for the San Francisco Jewish Family and Children's Services. A translator is present for those with weak English skills, and the groups are increasing in number. Faced with an overflow of immigrants, some relatively small Jewish com- munities have resorted to unconventional acculturation strategies. In Jacksonville, Fla., this means farm- ing out basic services, such as shelter and jobs, to the Lutheran Social Services Agency. As a result, the Jewish commun- ity can better concentrate on accultura- tion, with the aid of a full-time staff member who coordinates volunteers and implements programs. In Atlanta, acculturation is viewed as only one part of the resettlement process. "I give us a B on acculturation," says Steve Gelfand, assistant executive direc- tor of the Atlanta Jewish Federation. "There are just other priorities right now." In Phoenix, the local Jewish day school offers free tuition for one year to Soviet "Their idea of religion is different from ours. By upbringing, they are not joiners, so it's enough to get them to join a shul." Zvi Gitelman Jewish youngsters. About half of last year's newcomers are expected to return to the school. Seema Liston of the Jewish Family Ser- vice notes that the original wave of Soviet Jews who came to Phoenix "never really connected to the Jewish community," to the extent that many people were sur- prised the Soviets were still in town when they came forward to volunteer to help with the new immigrants. She says she is "a little optimistic" that the newcomers will become a part of the Jewish community. Ms. Liston believes a correlation exists between material success and an interest in things Jewish. Next year, she says, efforts will be made to encourage bar and bat mitzvahs.