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Taking The Oath,
Celebrating Citizenship
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
M
PHOTOS BY GLENN TRIEST
ichael Raygorodsky, 87,
is no longer stateless.
Mr. Raygorodsky, who
spent most of his life in
the Ukraine and the last eight
years in Southfield, was not a cit-
izen of either country until Sun-
day when he joined 110 other
immigrants in achieving U.S. cit-
izenship.
"This is a great day," said Mr.
IJ
This man's pin sums up his sentiments.
Raygorodsky, who lost his Sovi-
et citizenship as soon as he
crossed over the Ukrainian bor-
der in 1988. "Now I am a real cit-
izen."
During the hour-long ceremo-
ny, the newly naturalized citizens
stood before Federal Judges Paul
D. Borman and Avern Cohn at
Congregation Beth Achim hi
Southfield to take their Oath of
Allegiance.
As the oath was recited,
onlookers operated video and
still cameras to capture the
moment. Others clutched
flowers for their friends and
family. Later, patriotic songs
were led by the Jewish Com-
munity Center's Intergener-
ational Choir, a group of
age-diverse singers from the
former Soviet Union. They
brought tears to the eyes of
a few participants and on-
lookers.
Tamara Berezovsky,
whose family came to the
she and her children had no fu-
ture there.
"I appreciate the freedom to
speak, the right to work and the
right to have religious freedom,"
she said of her new life outside
Russia.
Immigrants from the former
Soviet Union were a few of the
new Americans who hailed from
places as diverse as Ireland,
Bangladesh, Lebanon, El
Salvador and Hong Kong.
The ceremony came in the
midst of a 10-day celebration
of citizenship sponsored by a
handful of community agen-
cies including Jewish Fami-
ly Service's Resettlement
Service.
The event's organizers
hoped to shed a positive light
on immigration, which isn't
always viewed favorably by
some native-born Ameri-
cans.
"Many of you come from
discrimination," said Judge
Borman. "I hope you've
found a country that en-
courages you to live in what-
ever way you want to live.
This a country that's
stronger because of its di-
versity and you represent an
infusion of fresh ideas to the
United States."
Right after the ceremony, Mr.
Raygorodsky picked up a copy of
the form he needs to become a
registered voter. He and his son
Alex were beaming with pride.
"Go ahead, ask him any ques-
tion about American history. He
will be able to answer it," Alex
Raygorodsky said of his
father. ❑
ceremony to share in her joy
of citizenship, said her loved
ones planned a special din-
ner in her honor.
A Southfield resident who
is one month shy of her six-
year anniversary in the Unit-
ed States, Ms. Berezovsky Michael Raygorodsky's first few moments as a
said she left Kiev because naturalized citizen.
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