Dialogue with Judaism

Israeli immigrant children must cope with many dangers: violence and poverty receive the most attention, but equally disturbing to their wellbeing is an identity crisis.

Fully two-thirds of the 400,000 FSU immigrant youth identity as ethnic Russians, rather than as Israelis. While the Israel Defense Forces have recently revived Jewish and Zionist education, they admit that it’s too little too late.

Many youth are growing up in an alienated sub-culture, ignorant and scornful of the Jewish institutions which brought them to Israel.

Dialogue with Judaism is enabling children from six to ten years-old to learn about and experience Judaism in a welcoming, non-judgmental setting with their friends and families - often for the first time in their lives! IAIC is succeeding to promote their acculturation by increasing their familiarity with Jewish heritage and culture. To do so, IAIC is educating their teachers about how to integrate Jewish content into the classroom in creative ways, appropriate to the FSU community. Equally important in this process is engaging parents to see (nondenominational) Judaism and Israeli culture as their own heritage that can enrich their family lives.