Soviets face barriers
on the path to the
American dream.
JVS employees are not
happy when they can only
place Soviets in jobs that are
low-paying — between $4.50
and $7-an-hour. J VS gets
many job orders for baby
sitters, yet officials say
they'd like to field more job
orders in the professional
fields.
"We are trying to open
doors of community
employers where we can
place our professional people
within their fields," Mrs.
Drits says.
To Mr. Benson of Ameri-
can Bulk Foods, providing
opportunities for Soviets to
learn the language and at
the same time, earn money,
is partly a tribute to his own
Russian heritage.
Unable to find work when
he came to the United States
in 1913, Mr. Benson's grand-
father, Herschel Balinsky,
went door-to-door collecting
junk.
Seven years later, he found
profits in the scrap metal
business and sent to Russia
for his wife and four chil-
dren.
"I thought of my grand-
father going up and down
those alleys getting junk to
sell and it destroys me," Mr.
Benson says. "So when my
son, Mitch, opened this West
Bloomfield store, we thought
it would be a good idea to put
Russians to work here.
"If they can't com-
municate and can't make
money, they can't survive,"
Mr. Benson says.
Now working behind the
counter of American Bulk
Foods are four recent immi-
grants. Among them is
Lubov Latinsky, 45, who
was a bookkeeper for 25
years in the Soviet Union.
Two months ago, she land-
ed a behind-the-counter job
for Mr. Benson with hopes of
moving up into the accoun-
Marty BenSon,
Mitch Benson and
Lubov Latinsky
check inventory at
American Bulk
Foods.
ting division. She hadn't
spoken any English before
arriving in the United
States a year ago, and she
was afraid to communicate
in the new language.
Mrs. Latinsky could
handle the bookkeeping. "I
was a manager for 25 years.
Bookkeeping I know. I am
only scared about English."
She agrees that working
has helped her overcome the
language dilemma.
In the past few weeks, Mrs.
Latinsky started a new job
with American Bulk Foods.
She is helping the company
audit invoices, and she is
writing bills — using the
skills she learned in her 25-
y e ar career. Her ner-
vousness is gone.
"I am still taking English
classes and I practice with
the customers," Mrs. Latin-
sky says. "I speak every day
and I am getting better and
better. Sure, I am happier. I
have a job."
Yuriy Klyuzner, 30, is a
commercial artist. In Detroit
since December, he has a
strong command of the Eng-
lish language, something he
attributes to many years of
listening to the Beatles.
Mr. Klyuzner isn't work-
ing yet. He just completed
his workshops at JVS. He'd
like to be an inventor — or
something mechanical. He
isn't ready to make a deci-
sion. It is the first time he's
ever had options.
"I'd like to choose-
whatever I do for myself.
Here, I have an opportunity.
I'm looking for a job as an
artist. But maybe I'll be an
inventor."
For eight years in the
Soviet Union, Mr. Klyuzner
worked as a yardman,
cleaning and gardening.
Also for eight years, he tried
to enroll in college. He says
he was never accepted be-
cause he is a Jew. He's tired
now. And he wants to relax
and unwind.
"I came here from Moscow
ta
-
m
_C)
cn
Ct.
with my mother and my
mind has been busy with the
idea that we really did it,"
he says. "It is just sinking in
that I must become suc-
cessful here. I'm confused.
"If I can't get a job as a
commercial artist, I'd take a
job selling pizza. It's still
better here."
Leonid Givental, 38, has
been in Michigan for 10
months. An electronics en-
gineer, he landed a job six
months ago fixing computer
monitors and screens with
Ibec Corp. in Novi.
His wife, Tatyana, 36, who
holds a degree in economics,
just finished Dorsey Busi-
ness School and landed a job
as a bookkeeper.
Their two sons, Misha, 9,
and Eger, 14, have taken
American names. Misha
goes by Mike and Eger chose
the name Gary.
In the Soviet Union, Mr.
Givental was a chief engi-
neer. Here, he doesn't yet
feel comfortable enough
with the language to apply
for such a job.
"We did this especially for
our kids," Mrs. Givental
says. "They can do every-
thing here. They can have
good education. They can
find good jobs. They will
have freedom.
"Our children had no
future in Russia," Mrs.
Givental says.
For now, Mr. Givental is
content with his job. Yet he
is qualified to do more. He
can develop electronic
musical instruments.
"This is okay for now," Mr.
Givental says. "Education
will give me the possibility
to work in a different field —
when my language gets
better."
Lubov Latinsky is
enjoying her job
at American Bulk
Foods.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
49