EMERGENCY APPEAL! MOBILIZING ISRAELI RUSSIAN SPEAKERS TO INTEGRATE THE NEW YOUNG IMMIGRANTS FROM UKRAINE, RUSSIA & BELARUS
by Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli
In light of an influx of tens of thousands of new Russian-speaking Olim over the next few months- Shishi Shabbat Y’Israeli has the largest Israel based database of young adult Russian speakers ready to mobilize and become a companion 1:1 to a new young adult immigrant. With GGC Members support Shishi Shabbat will launch a NEW PROGRAM that will help around 1,000 young new immigrants feel a home in Israel and cope with the multiple hardships a new immigrant faces in addition to overcoming isolation.
Our volunteers are trained to be a companion to the new immigrants and provide a sense of a home in a foreign place, through culture, language and empowerment of their own experience, they provide the strength and knowledge needed to create a positive life in Israel. The volunteers help within the communities with sorting donations, assisting Olim at their hotels, and greeting them at the airport after helping them with complex documents, transfers over the border and flights, moving into integration matters and building a life in Eretz Israel directly with each new young immigrant. Most importantly, the Shishi Shabbat volunteers are a companion available to help with every matter and invite to their first Shabbat dinner in Israel.
Program Components
The plan is to focus on their practical and cultural absorption, through the following strategies:
(1) Most urgent – Hiring two full- time volunteer coordinators, one for the South and one for the North of Israel, who will work with the Ministry of Absorption and the Municipalities throughout Israel to receive real-time information on the needs of Olim as they arrive and match them to our national database of Russian-speaking and other volunteers to fill in voids to help the immigrants build a new life.
(2) Upgrading and managing a national volunteer database, of thousands of volunteers, which includes information about what types of skills and assistance volunteers can offer and in what languages.
(3) Launch our One-Table Shabbat model Host project, where our young Russian-speaking members in cities throughout Israel will welcome new Olim to their Shabbat and holiday tables, forming new, supportive mini-communities of veteran and newer Olim, and sharing the joy and values of Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
*We are limited to raising funds to commence with 1-3
4) Implementing a Friday Shabbat Retreat in the North or South of Israel for the new Olim from Ukraine and Russia in their 20’s and 30’s – and help them explore Israel, meet high quality peers, experience Shabbat in a family atmosphere and enjoy informal workshops and lectures that will help them acclimate and deepen their knowledge of Israel, Jewish history and culture.
Projected Budget
| Projected Expenses | $ | Details |
| Two Full- time National Volunteer Coordinator | 36,000 | including benefits and employer costs |
| Recruitment | 28,000 | Shabbat Host national Coordinator and Shabbat Host Social Media development (sign up for meals, resources, photos and feedback from participants) |
| Hosts of Shabbat meals- stipends | 19,000 | 120 hosted Shabbat/holiday meals for 5-7 Olim guests – (including food stipends, resources) & distribution of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli Russian-language Songbooks/ Shabbat guides |
| First Friday Shabbat Retreat | 12,000 | For 60 participants weekend activity |
| General Operations & Admin | 9,500 | 10% |
| Contingency | 5,500 | |
| Total projected Expenses | 110,000 |
Until recently, Russian-speaking Jews comprise 20% of Israel’s population. Each month, around 1,500 Russian-speaking Olim were arriving in Israel, over 50% of them under the age of 40. A majority of these young Olim find themselves alone, without friends, close family, or a community to support them, feeling estranged from Israeli culture: “there [FSU] I was Jewish, here [Israel] I am Russian.” Many often consider whether to stay in Israel or emigrate to countries where they can earn higher salaries with their schooling, work ethic and skills. In fact, during the 1990’s and following decade, Russian-speaking olim under the age of 40 comprised 60% of emigrating Israelis.
Project Impact
A database of 10,000 young Russian speaking volunteers will be managed and upgraded
Over 8,000 volunteer hours will be performed by thousands of Russian speaking volunteers to create to help feel voids and challenges of the new young immigrants.
Over 1,000 Young immigrants will be assisted in various forms
Over 900 Russian speaking volunteers will participate in some form of assistance
Many immigrants will be able to cope in a much stronger manner with various challenges and difficulties and have new friends and an island of sanity.
** GGC made a small correction to objectives on June 16, 2022 due to an internal understanding to # of hours projected annually and number of volunteers to be involved.
Anastasia, from Bat Yam, one of the Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli volunteers dealt with all the paperwork to help the Ukrainian Jewish family get on a flight through Warsaw and join their relatives in Israel and is now in touch weekly to assist with any additional needs.
Organization Mission
To create a vibrant, nationwide network of young Russian-speaking Israelis excited about Jewish tradition and culture, deepen their exposure and connection to Jewish history and Peoplehood, promote activism, build a supportive community and develop young leaders for Israeli society and the Jewish People.
Ten Years of highlights (video)
What’s So Special About Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli
Direct costs | ISRAEL | Immigrant Communities | Immigrants Olim | Jerusalem Israel Young Adults | Jewish Identity | New Model | New Model | Project Targeted | Russian | Russian Jewry | Zionsim
Tags
ISRAEL | ISRAEL REBUILD & RECOVERY | Immigrant Communities | Immigrants Olim | Project Targeted | Russian | Russian Jewry | Seed Funding
Leadership
Linda Pardes Friedburg
Founder and Executive Director
Linda is a Russian-speaking informal Jewish educator with over 30 years of experience managing philanthropic projects and high-level missions in Israel and abroad, including positions in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Pratt Foundation of Melbourne. Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is the realization of her dream to make Israel more welcoming and supportive for young Russian-speaking Olim, and ensure their personal and professional success in their new homeland, to Israel’s great benefit. Linda made Aliyah to Israel in 1990 after completing degrees in Economics and International Business.
Ariel Zlatkin
Chairperson
Ariel is the Director of Community and Partnership Development at JDC-FSU, having previously served as a rabbi and shaliach in Montevideo, Uruguay, and as the Founding Director of the “Supportive Communities Project” of Machanaim Russian Jewish Educational Network in Jerusalem. Born in Kharkov, Ukraine, Ariel made Aliyah at the age of 16. He served as a paratrooper in the IDF and is fluent in Hebrew, Russian, English and Spanish. Ariel holds a B.A. in Education and Contemporary Jewish History and M.A. in Jewish Education and Social Entrepreneurship from the Hebrew University.
Asya Fix, Director
Argaman Jewish Cultural Project
Asya is a professional Tour Guide and the Director of Argaman program, helping new immigrants explore their connecting links to Jewish Israeli culture and history. Asya grew up in Moscow during the great Jewish renaissance of the 1990’s, in the new atmosphere of creative and religious freedom, after 70 years of Communist oppression. Asya came to Israeli at the age of 20, impressed by the freedom and warm Middle Eastern mentality, but terribly lonely. “I had no one to help me make connections with Israeli society and felt I could not fit in with no roots or childhood friends here. Then I discovered Israeli Weekend, which see as its mission the need to reach out to people like me, who already love Israel, but do not know how to express this love and give it back.”
Ilya Lipetsker
Director of Operations, Media and Jerusalem Programs
Ilya has been part of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli since its inception in 2010. He has been integral in the development and management of programs for Russian-speaking Olim in Jerusalem and across Israel, and is credited with the organization’s PR and reputation on the “Russian Street” in Israel and around the world, and the ongoing successful recruitment of new participants for the Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli retreat. Ilya made Aliyah from St. Petersburg on the Naaleh program in 1999, after years of Jewish activism and community-building in Russia. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the Hebrew University.
About Organization
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli is a non-profit, grassroots initiative established in 2010 to ensure FSU Olim feel a sense of belonging, community, and support in Israel. Since its establishment, Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli has been at the forefront of absorbing over 10,000 talented young Russian-speaking Olim in their 20’s and 30’s culturally, personally and professionally; correspondingly, the rate of emigration of young FSU olim has decreased in recent years. Three separate external evaluations demonstrated that Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli communities have played a significant role in our participants’ sense of belonging in Israel.
Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli has been nominated numerous times for the Minister of Absorption Prize and the Bonei Zion Prize, and is often invited to share its “best practices” regarding Jewish cultural absorption of FSU Olim at panels and conferences throughout the country.
The founder of Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli, Linda Pardes Friedburg, made Aliyah from New Jersey in 1990, after studying Russian and years of activism on behalf of Soviet Jewry. She regards every Russian-Jew who makes Aliyah as part of an ongoing miracle of Jewish history. Her dream, and that of her Russian-speaking Olim staff and Board, is that every young Russian-speaking immigrant will feel appreciated and accepted for who they are, and that their Judaism will be a source of joy, enrichment and connectedness.
Impact statements
We have helped over 10,000 young Russian-speaking Olim feel at home, succeed personally and professionally, and grow Jewishly in Israel.
Our activities provide experience and employment to 300 young Olim educators, artists, guides, and professionals annually.
Close to 50 young couples have met and married through Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli and are raising the next generation of rooted young Israeli families.
Annual Organizational Budgets (total, with In-kind)
Year 2024 (actual, fiscal) $600,000
Year 2025 (projected) $660,000
Year 2026 (projected) $660,000
Contact us
-
Email:
lpardes@012.net.il -
Phone:
972-547673718 -
Website:
https://www.en.shishi.co.il/ -
Organization Number:
580549236 ISRAEL ISRAEL
Details
-
Employees 7
-
Volunteers 600
-
Year Founded 2011
-
Board Members 4
-
Annual Board Meetings 4
-
General Assembly 7
- Audit Committee
- External Auditor
Budgets
Projected Budget, 2023, $520,000
Recommendations
GGC Vetting Committee had no reservations
GGC on site visit performed
Israel
Certificate of Good Standing (Nihul Takin)
Certificate of Financial Accounting (Ishur Nihul Pinkasei Chesbonot)
Certificate of tax-deductibility at source (Ishur Nikui Mas;Makor)
46A Certificate – approved for tax refunds in Israel
Classification as non-profit organization (Sivug Malcar)
Non-standard articles of incorporation (Takanon Meuchad ; Bylaws equivalent)
Organization has a projected budget and work plan
Reference & Quality assurance
Large Institutional / Mega Donors
GGC Performed online research
Leadership background positive
Organization: considered one of best in class
Considered Efficient
Considered Impactful
Provided clear accountability
Outcomes: cost effective and high feasibility
* GGC is discussing the organizations need for increase and diversity of Board Members.
Donation Info
GIVING GROUP COMMUNITY is a fiscally sponsored project of The Giving Back Fund, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 04-3367888).
Link for Credit Card Donations in the USA
Address for submitting Checks:
Attn: Giving Group Community (Shishi)
The Giving Back Fund
500 Commercial Street/Suite 4R
Boston, MA 02109, USA
Please email for Wire Instructions to info@givingroupcommunity.org
Link to Australia tax deductible donations
Link to Canada tax deductible donations
Reach out for Tax deductible information in Israel and the U.K.
Contact GGC for more details on this project
Comments (1)
My wife Dina and I visited with this wonderful organization during our recent trip to Israel. While their primary mission is to help Ukrainian and Russian Olim adapt to Israel, we discovered that an important part of their mission is also to bring Yiddishkeit to a population that has had limited exposure to Judaism. The CEO of the organization is a highly-professional American woman who made Aliyah many years ago. She is a pleasure to talk with to get an on-the-ground view of the present situation regarding immigration and absorption.