I LOCAL NEWS Affording the best is not the questionwfinding the best is. fiTiM o a a Apancinerrn Mng [In a SW ad NuAng Fac[i[lNy For Une decrdrardnating parson rrequiHng an Meg-s[rA enwrivonmeM Bortz Health Care Family owned and operated for over 33 years Medicare approved 363.4121 See the Flanders Mansion located in a beautiful residential neighborhood overlooking Green Lake. 6470 Alden Drive, Orchard Lake NIBBLES & NUTS OUR HATS ARE OFF TO DADS * & GRADS *Father's Day is June 16th GIFT BASKETS & TRAYS FOR ALL OCCASIONS OUR SPECIALTY 73 711088 i Outside Of Michigan IMOW 1-800.752-2133 '1.1"" Special Candy & Sugarfree Available 20 FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1991 * On Selected Models Through 5/31/91 • Best Selection For All Price Ranges 33020 NORTHWESTERN MostetCarci SAVE Up To $200 Plus FREE DELIVERY' Local & Nationwide Delivery '7'€ well Vlasfta41 & 7, Soldier Sito Mon.-Sat. 10-5 • Friday 10-8 3947 W. 12 Mile Rd. • Berkley 543 • 3115 Soviet Jews Continued from Page 1 course and to Rockford, Ill., to inspect transmission parts. He was as surprised to see familiar Detroit faces in Chicago as were the three- member Detroit delegation who attended the con- ference. Sue Stettner, associate di- rector of Jewish Experiences For Families, and Sandra Hyman, director of Reset- tlement Service, were the first to spot Mr. Mor- dukhovich in the lobby of the North Shore Hilton. Luba Berton of West Bloom- field, who publishes a mon- thly Russian newsletter, also attended the conference. "We like to think of Greg as one of our success stories," Mrs. Stettner said. "No new American is the same and everyone settles in at a different rate. But Greg is an example of someone who is determined to succeed and who tries as best he can to attend Jewish community events." But it always wasn't like that for Mr. Mordukhovich, who came to Detroit with his mother. "My story is much like other Soviet stories," Mr. Mordukhovich, who taught himself English, said. "When we got here, every- thing was confusing and overwhelming. "Everyone tells us the rights we have and the rights we don't have. We're in a smoke screen trying to handle the psychological loss of being cut off from every- thing we had before and starting over from zero." Like most Jewish com- munities, Detroit's Jewish agencies try to make the process as painless as possi- ble. When they first arrived almost two years ago, Mr. Mordukhovich and his mother were assigned a Rus- sian-speaking case manager who helped them under- stand the American transportation, banking, in- surance and postage systems. Through the Jewish Fami- ly Service, the two received a total of $2,600 — enough money to put down a securi- . ty deposit on an apartment and pay the first month's rent. A grant from the Heb- rew Free Loan Association enabled Mr. Mordukhovich to buy a car. The Jewish Vocational Service showed him how to interview and conduct a job search. Detroit's Jewish Experi- ences For Families program encouraged Mr. Mor- dukhovich to participate in Shalom Sundays, a program at the Jimmy Prentis Morris Jewish Community Center that combines Judaic studies with recreational and cultural activities. In addi- tion, JFS matched the Mor- dukhoviches with a local family through the Family to Family program. It all sounded good to Mr. Mordukhovich, but it was a bit too much to absorb in the beginning. "Sometimes, I feel like we're treated like children," he said. "Every moment is programmed. Everyone wants us to jump into the American system and learn something about Judaism at the same time. "We try because we are so grateful for all the help and because we feel guilty -if we don't go along. But all we really want is to find an apartment and money to pay rent with. Then we worry about where the next meal is coming from." Mr. Mordukhovich is typical of most new Ameri- cans, according to Dr. Elaine Morris, director of Special Services for the Council of "We're in a smoke screen trying to handle the psychological loss of being cut off from everything we had before and starting over from zero." — Gregory Mordukhovich Jewish Federations in New York. "We realize we bom- bard them with every alien concept imaginable," Dr. Morris said. "We naively expect them to trust us implicitly. Unfortunately, it's necessary. And that's why we're here this week to forge a better understanding between our two cultures." CJF has already begun working with professionals in the field of resettlement and integration. Other con- ference co-sponsors, like the JCCs, the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), the Association of Jewish Family and Chil- dren's Agencies and the Na- tional Foundation for Jewish Culture research and publish inventories of ex- isting programs. They also present networking and training opportunities for professionals and lay people. Mrs. Stettner and Mrs. Hyman want to see federa- tion agencies working closer together in the future.