Communitir
Cross-cultural exposure
Russian couple gain insight on Jewish community.
MARION POLIAKOFF SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Svetlana and Nick Busygin, two 23-year-olds from Saratov, Russia, got an in-depUi view of the Lower Mainland Jewish community recently, courtesy of the National Council of Jewish Women.
Tlio young couple is active in Tshuva, an umbrella organization that is trying to revive an imderstand-ing and appreciation of the heritage of the 6,000 Jews who live in the city of about one million on the Volga River.
From their arrival Vancouver Nov.
in
11, to their departure Nov. 19, they participated in a variety of Jewish activities, including visits to many organizations in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC), services at Temple Sholom and Beth Israel synagogues and an adult education lecture at Har-El congregation.
Their non-stop exposure to Jewish life here included visits to classrooms at Vancouver Talmud Torah, Beth Israel and Temple Sholom, where students asked many questions about Jewish life in Russia. Tlie Busy-gins, who help edit the only secular Jewish magazine in Russia, also spoke at meetings of three different NCJW groups. NCJ^V Vancouver section "adopted" the Jewish community of Saratov several years ago and continues to collect funds for Tshuva's educational projects.
"Tliey were most appreciative of this opportunity to learn how a Canadiim Jewish community functions, as well as to speak with people of all ages," said Rita Weintraub, the world Jewry chair for both the local and national NCJW. "We were pleased to learn first hand from this dedicated young couple that our dollars, which we accumulate in pushkas (donation boxes) at all our meetings, really make a diflbrence."
The Busygins also met many of their former countrymen when they attended a song recital by
Nick and Svetlana Busygin present a Russian ceramic gift to tlie National Council of Jewish Women, Vancouver section, In appreciation of their successful visit to Canada.
Svetlana Portnyansky at the Norman Rotlistein Tlieatre. Tlioy got a different cultural exposure when they visited an inter-generational workshop at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Overcoming generational differences is a major challenge in Saratov's Jewish community, the Busygins said. Tliey ex-plained tliat many young people are eager to explore their Jewish roots and participate in organizational activities. But their parents, who grew up in an atmosphere where Jewish interests were suppressed and even dangerous, arc reluctant to become involved. Tshuva holds inter-generational workshops and seminars to educate adults and build Jewish bridges between parents and their children.
\Vlicn asked what impressed them most about their visit, the Busygins said it was the JCC, which is able to house such an abundance of Jewish activities, as well as tlie freedom for groups of all ages to participate. About 1,000 of Saratov's 6,000 Jews are active in Jewish programs, but there i^no central place in whicli to hold them. A Sunday school, communal Passover seders, various adult education programs and food distribution to needy families are some of tlic activities held in various rental spaces. □
Marion Poliakoff is a freelance writer and NCJW volunteer.
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