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Nadler, Schumer Join Tribute to Leaders, COJECO at UJA-Fed Russian Ball

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Global Leadership Award recipient Felix Komarov (center) received congratulations from Congressman Jerrold Nadler (left) and Senator Charles Schumer.
Global Leadership Award recipient Felix Komarov (center) received congratulations from Congressman Jerrold Nadler (left) and Senator Charles Schumer.
Prominent government officials – including Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Senator Charles Schumer – joined a capacity crowd of 200 communal activists at Manhattan’s Harmonie Club on June 2 for the Annual Charity Ball of the UJA-Federation of New York’s Russian Division, which paid tribute to several individuals for their outstanding philanthropic and leadership efforts on behalf of the Russian-Jewish community. The evening also spotlighted the work of Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations (COJECO), the New York Russian-Jewish community’s central coordinating body.

Making an appearance at the pre-dinner reception, Senator Schumer spoke about the important role the Russian-Jewish immigrants have played in strengthening the wider Jewish community over the past couple of decades. The senator also noted his efforts to help Russian Jews become settled and acculturated after moving to the New York area from the former Soviet Union.

Introducing the evening’s main program, Dinner Chair Galina Pincow praised the attendees for their dedicated support of UJA-Federation’s diverse range of programs. “You help four-and-a-half million people around the world,” Pincow enthused, “who are struggling with problems that include unemployment, poverty and aging, just to name a few. Your support enables them to endure and ultimately thrive.” Citing one specific recent example of the organization’s successful response to a communal crisis, Pincow described how within one week after the tri-state area was hit by Hurricane Sandy, the UJA mobilized a comprehensive relief effort to aid members of the Jewish community who had been adversely affected.

Congressman Nadler utilized his speaking slot to provide an overview of current world events that relate to Israel’s well-being. Emphasizing that the Jewish state continues to be a key strategic ally of the United States in the Middle East, Nadler decried the fact that Iran has publicly called for the elimination of Israel. “This threat must be taken seriously,” the congressman insisted, “and Iran must be prevented from reaching its goals.” Noting that the Islamic Republic provides significant support to terrorist groups around the globe, Nadler warned about the danger of nuclear weapons getting into the hands of terrorist groups whose leaders are “religious fanatics” with suicidal tendencies. “Iran cannot be permitted to have a nuclear weapon, period,” the congressman declared.

Nadler then presented the Global Leadership Award to Felix Komarov, a member of UJA-Federation’s Russian Division for over 15 years. Lauding Komarov for his leadership and dedication to helping those in need in the Russian-speaking community, Nadler explained to the audience how – as a philanthropist, patron of the arts, and fine art collector – the honoree has sponsored numerous arts projects and exhibits, including ballet companies and arts festivals of Russian filmmakers in New York. The congressman further described how, as an entrepreneur, Komarov built Russian World, a multimillion-dollar art and jewelry business, out of a Fifth Avenue gallery; founded a weekly Russian-language newspaper in New York; and started a Rolls-Royce dealership in Moscow. Addressing the crowd in Russian through a translator, Komarov praised UJA-Federation as an organization that “helps those in need irrespective of geography and religion.”

Following a video presentation that vividly highlighted the wide range of socially beneficial programs – from child care to senior centers to overseas relief efforts to Jewish lifecycle events – offered on a year-round basis by UJA-Federation, executive vice president & CEO John Ruskay spoke about the importance of the organization’s activities. Ruskay vividly outlined how UJA-funded programming has enabled 8,000 children – many of whom are of Russian heritage – to attend a Jewish summer camp, where they experience Shabbat for the first time. He explained that many of these youngsters often go on to become strongly identified with Israel through such UJA-funded programs as Birthright and MASA, spurring them on to become more fully involved with Jewish life.

Asserting that UJA-Federation “accepts responsibility for the entire Jewish people in sixty countries,” Ruskay emphasized the crucial value of Jews uniting to sustain vital communal projects. The UJA leader then offered an impromptu tribute to Lilly Wajnberg, the founder of the organization’s Russian division 25 years ago. In her acceptance of the accolades, Wajnberg expressed the joyous feelings that the many Russian-Jewish activists in attendance harbor regarding their ability to live freely in the United States, in contrast with their former life in the USSR. “I am eternally grateful to UJA-Federation for holding my family’s hand as we went out from Russia to Israel and then New York,” she declared.

Speaking exclusively with the Jewish Voice, Wajnberg vividly described how UJA-funded agencies provided her and her family with unprecedented critical assistance over an extended period when they were in the process of emigrating from Eastern Europe. “When we were traveling by train through Poland to get to Italy, I was amazed to see people on the train stations giving us food and supply packages,” Wajnberg stated. “It turned out that they were from the UJA-funded Joint Distribution Committee. And when we finally arrived in Israel, the UJA-funded Jewish Agency supplied us with packages of basic items at night.” Wajnberg further disclosed that she was able to “give back” to her benefactors years later, first by making a major donation to UJA-Federation and then by becoming an active participant in its ongoing programming.

An award was then presented to Michael Zurakhinsky, who has served on UJA-Federation’s Task Force and Russian Leadership’s executive committee since 2011. A Wexner fellow who has been active in COJECO and the UJA-funded Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Zurakhinsky was honored for his commitment to the mission of UJA-Federation and the Russian Leadership Division, working to strengthen the Russian-Jewish community.

Following a gala meal, Brooklyn Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny addressed the crowd, calling UJA-Federation a “major force” and “legend” within the Jewish community. Brook-Krasny touched on his own personal odyssey, wherein he had to spend time waiting in Vienna and Rome while the American Consulate deliberated over his application to enter the United States. “The UJA helped me and so many other Russian Jews get into the U.S.,” the Assemblyman said. He then presented the event’s final award to COJECO – represented by executive director Roman Shmulenson – which was formed in 2001 to facilitate the successful integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the mainstream Jewish community and the greater American society. At present, COJECO supports 33 member organizations, represents the community and advocates for its needs, runs Jewish education programs, and works with American Jewish institutions to help them develop culturally relevant programs for the Russian speaking Jewish community.

In his acceptance of the award, Shmulenson dramatically noted that there are still thousands of Russian Jews who are not living meaningful Jewish lives. “We have a window of opportunity over the next five to seven years to remedy this situation,” he stated.

UJA-Federation of New York’s Russian Division was founded in 1988 to give back to the Jewish community. Its mission is to build for the future, express Jewish values, develop leadership, and share the talents, energy, and vibrancy of the Russian-speaking Jewish community with all New Yorkers and Jews around the world. Over the years, thousands of successful, Russian-speaking Jews have been involved with the Russian Division.

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