RJCF - Russian Jewish Community Foundation
Russian Jewish Community Foundation (RJCF) is a grassroots all-volunteer charitable organization.
The RJCF mission is to preserve and enhance Jewish identity among Russian speaking Jews and to support Israel.


RJCF Exclusive Post-Ball Interview
Posted on December 7, 2008


David Harris - Executive Director of American Jewish Committee
What were your impressions from the 4th Annual Charity Ball?
I admire the RJCF for its efforts to organize the annual ball and to do important charitable work for Israel and the Jewish people. These efforts should serve as a model for other cities across the United States. I hope one day they will.

What is your message to the Russian Jewish Community?
My message is the same, whether to Russian Jews or other Jews. We should be proud of who we are. We are the heirs and trustees of an age-old civilization that is at once ennobling and enriching. And we must remember that what unites us as Jews should always outweigh whatever denominational, political, organizational or cultural differences may exist. We are one people, and we should act accordingly.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
Internally, it is to help educate, inspire and motivate young Jews to embrace their identity, however they may choose to express it, and make it an important part of their lives. Externally, it is to help meet the daunting challenges facing Israel in its quest for peace and security.

Dr. Sam Kliger- Director, Russian Division, American Jewish Committee
Community Leadership Award Recipient 2008
What were your impressions from the 4th Annual Charity Ball?
I have attend all four of the charity balls, and every year I am more and more impressed. This is a unique event, because it is an institution of Russian-speaking individuals fundraising for themselves. There are other Russian Jewish groups that fundraise but it is on behalf of some other Jewish community center or school. The RJCF has formed a committee, and they distribute the money to the causes they find most important. To me, this is the most significant achievement. This year, there were so many young faces at the ball, and the number of overall participants from ball to ball is growing. It is also wonderful to see an event run so professionally. The professionalism of the ball goes up every year. They begin planning the ball a year in advance. All of this combined, made me very proud of this group.

What is your message to the Russian Jewish Community?
My desire is to extend this spectacular event, and to make it even bigger. There should be attendees from all over the United States. This should become a national event, possibly even international, with Boston being the center of it all. This will unite the community. My message is that we should broaden our horizons and minds.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
The Russian Division of the AJC is planning a leadership training program in New York for the next generation. I'd be glad to work closer with the the Boston community.



Mark B. Levin – Executive Director, National Conference on Soviet Jewry

Soviet Jewry Freedom Award Recipient 2008
What were your impressions from the 4th Annual Charity Ball?
It was a very special experience for me and for my family to see so many people who have become a community, and have accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. It was an honor to be there, and it was a great feeling to see so many young people involved and being honored for their commitment to Jews in Israel and their community.

What is your message to the Russian Jewish Community?
In it's short time this organization has accomplished so much, and I felt that at the ball, people made a commitment to help Jews whether in Israel or in Boston.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
As I mentioned in my speech, this year we're going to be dealing with the global financial crisis and how it affects Jews of the former Soviet Union. Many times, Jews tend to be scapegoats in these situations and we have to work on preventing and resolving these issues.



Masha Bresner – Counselor in  Children of Sderot  Summer Camp

Young Leadership Award Recipient 2008
What were your impressions from the 4th Annual Charity Ball?
The atmosphere at the ball was beyond anything we'd expected. It was a multi-generational celebration of all the good our community has done this past year. Not only a celebration of what we had done, but what we will continue to do.

What is your message to the Russian Jewish Community?
First of all--thank you! Thank you to all those who donated that night. All the gifts, from 10 dollars to plane tickets to Israel, are going towards the good we will continue to do. Second of all, don't let it end here. There is still so much to be done! This summer there will be another camp, and with your help it will be able to accommodate even more than the 50 children we are taking out of Sderot for Winter Camp this December. We are still building bomb shelters in Sderot and continuing with after school activities for the children in their everyday lives. Don't let your support and generosity end with one beautiful night, make it a beautiful lifetime for the children and for yourselves.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?
As I said, we plan to continue improving the camp in Israel. We are sending seven counselors from the US this winter, and hopefully again this summer. The children become different people in just two weeks, and we want to give as many of the children of Sderot that chance as we possibly can. We are also continuing with after-school educational activities to enrich their lives in Sderot as well as building bomb shelters for the children. The commitment we as a community made to the community in Sderot is lasting. They are depending on us. We can't let them down now.