ENERATI • N
Photos by Glenn Triest
Michael Shpigel and Slava Valetchikov walk around the Northgate Apartments complex.
ing," she said. That gets a
laugh from the two other
couples sitting in an Oak
Park apartment as they talk
about their new lives in
Detroit.
Michael Shpigel, 44,
knows firsthand about
economic difficulties. Three
months after he, his wife
Nellie, 42, and their son
Alexander, 16, arrived in
Detroit in August 1989 from
their hometown of Zaporojie,
he started working at Wisne.
But late last year, when the
economy took a downward
spin, he was laid off for two -
months. The family lived off
Mrs. Shpigel's wages from
working in the Sinai
Hospital kitchen.
When conditions improved
slightly, he was the first
called back to work. "I was
surprised they called me
back. That made me feel
good," he said. But he'll
never forget those two fran-
tic months.
Irina and Dmitry Zager,
who came to Detroit a year
ago from Gormel, a small
town near Leningrad, are
also worried about their
economic future. Mrs. Zager,
37, taught English and
French in the Soviet Union.
In Detroit, she started out
working for Arby's restau-
rants, but now is a clerk at
Moss Associates. Her hus-
band is a lab technician at
BASF.
"At least we are all work-
ing," said Mr. Valetchikov,
sounding optimistic. "Our
case is not so bad."
"We are trying to save
what we can. The money is
getting a little bit better,"
Mrs. Valetchikov said. "We
are trying to save our dollars
to pay for an apartment. We
cannot afford a house."
In the meantime, the
Shpigels, Zagers and Valet-
chikovs seek a place for their
families within the commun-
ity.
"My son is growing up in
this country. I see how he
changes every day. He's
becoming an American," said
Mr. Shpigel. Alexander
Shpigel attends Berkley High
School.
"I want to give a good edu-
cation to my children," Mr.
Zager said. Part of that edu-
cation includes learning
about Judaism.
They all have ties to area
synagogues, although only
the Zagers have actually af-
filiated — with Temple Beth
El. Both the Shpigels and
Valetchikovs are occasional
visitors to Congregation
Beth Shalom. Their children
have also taken afternoon
Hebrew classes.
Being Jewish is important
to all three families. "I came
here to be Jewish. We never
had the knowledge," Mrs.
Zager said. So when Temple
Beth El clergy offered Soviet
couples a chance to renew
their wedding vows under a
chuppah, the Zagers were
among those who did so.
They are also thankful for
the resettlement and ac-
culturation services provid-
ed by the Jewish commun-
ity.
"I can say that they helped
out," said Mr. Shpigel, who,
like most Soviet immi-
grants, turned to Jewish
Vocational Service and Jew-
ish Resettlement Service.
Mr. Shpigel found his JVS
caseworker helpful, espe-
cially when he was laid off.
Although she was unable to
find him a new job, he took
her suggestion and enrolled
in computer classes to in-
crease his marketable skills.
Learning about American
life is still a major concern,
Mr. Shpigel said. It's a fact
he sometimes thinks Jewish
acculturation groups forget.
"I think this goal to make
me a Jewish person, not just
an American, is great," he
said. "But everyday life is so
difficult. There are so many
things that I don't under-
stand."
It's not that he doesn't
want to learn about
Judaism. "But it's just my
feeling, maybe I'm wrong,
maybe they try too hard. We
need to know how to cope
with everyday life. When I
first came here, I didn't
know how to pay a tip at a
restaurant. No one told us. I
want to know these things."
While adjusting to Ameri-
can life has its ups and
downs, these Soviet immi-
grants are taking it in
stride.
"I can't say life is very
"I think
this goal to
make me a
Jewish
person, not
just an
A merican,
is great."
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
85