Celebrating Patriotism
The Jewish Community Center
throws a party for new Americans.
LONNY GOLDSMITH
StaffWriter
s
ince 1996, more than 200
Russian immigrants in the
Detroit area have become
American citizens. Most of
them celebrated their accomplishment
at a party on June 10.
"It's an exciting moment for them
because it gives them recognition," said
Rivka Latinskaya, who works for the
Russian Acculturation
Department at the
Jimmy Prentis Morris
branch of the Jewish
Community Center
of Metropolitan
Detroit.
The event, at the
JPM, was a collabora-
tive effort between
the JCC, Jewish
Family Service and
the Jewish Federation
Apartments.
"I've lived here for
6 1/2 years, and it
hasn't hit me yet that
I'm an American,"
said Anatoliy
Tsyplykov, who
passed the oral exami-
nation earlier that day
and will be sworn in
as a citizen next
month. "Right now,
I'm not sure of what I'm feeling."
Tsyplykov's wife Genya was sworn
in three months ago, and he will be
the last of his family to gain citizen-
ship. "It's a great hon .& to the family
that he's a citizen," said Genya. "The
main feeling is that we are now part of
the country."
In another welcoming ceremony for
new Americans, Congregation B'nai
Moshe held its second annual event,
also co-sponsored by JFS, last Sunday.
The 35 new Americans spent nearly
two hours at the synagogue, where
they saw a video about Israel and were
given a Torah lesson by Rabbi Elliot
Pachter. ❑
Right: Hayim Rozental, head of the JCC Yiddish
Culture Club, smiles during the celebration.
Below left: Three generations of new citizens:
Maria Mochuhky with her daughter and
grandson, Estir and Ilya Nozhnik.
Bottom: New Americans recite
the Pledge of Allegiance.
A C'n
A g m "'
<v.
Above: Russian war veteran Leonid Erlikh and wife
Egeniya Pekhar celebrate becoming Americans.
**"
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rs four oti.
exercise class a g.
through Thursday: the Chess
Club, -which meets at 2 p.m.
Monday and Thursday; an
Intergenerational Choir, which
rehearses at 3:30 p.m. Monday
and Friday; and the Family
Independence Agency, a program
run, by a social worker that meets
with new Americans on the sec-
ond and third Wednesday of every
month at 5:45 p.m. For more
information, call (248) 967-4030.
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6/19
1998
15