Newspaper Page Text
The name of the game
is cooperation, caring
Special lo t he Southern Israelite
Russian Jews were often
resourceful in coping with
communism. Freedom in America
is a whole new challenge as
freedom means responsibility for
decision making, which in a
totalitarian country was not an
option for the Russians. American
Jews have accepted the
responsibility of providing a first
step in helping the refugees make it
in our society.
Resettlement is a painful and
difficult process and sacrifices
often seem to exceed the gains in
the early months. The immigrant
often has training and educational
skills that are not exportable
Accrued seniority and privileges in
employment, financial stability,
friendships, family relationships
and familiar surroundings are
sacrificed. Ffope and fear
accompany the journey to
independence.
The Jewish Family and
Children’s Bureau (JFCB) in
Atlanta has historically been
involved in resettling immigrants
in our community. The Russian
Resettlement Program was
initiated in 1973 through service to
five Russian refugees In the last
10 months, JFCB has resettled
over 165 immigrants.
This is the story of how a
monumental task, fueled by the
knowledge of a handful of
professional workers, is being
accomplished through the efforts,
generosity and cooperation of the
entire Atlanta Jewish community.
The Atlanta Jewish Federation
provided $116,000 for the
program, and the JFCB rapidly
geared up to the job which
involved a tripling of the
resettlement caseload of 1978. In
March of 1978, the JFCB
Resettlement Unit was established.
Due to space limitations at the
JFCB, the Resettlement Unit is
housed in the ground floor level of
the Atlanta Jewish Community
Center, next to the Jewish
Vocational Service, with whom the
agency works closely. A staff of
six, three of whom up until
recently were part-time employees,
are in the program
Active lay and professional sub
committees have been formed and
function in a three-fold fashion
The JFCB Resettlement
Committee, which is responsible
for discussing general resettlement
issues and making formal policy
recommendations with regard to
the Resettlement Program; the
City-Wide Resettlement Task
Force; and the Inter-Agency
Resettlement Team.
A housing committee is
comprised of eight Jewish
apartment complex owners who
assist in obtaining housing prior to
the arrival of each family. Often
the agency is allowed to put
apartments on a “hold” basis for
emergency arrivals. Through the
health services committee, over
150 medical professionals
presently donate time and service
to clients referred by the agency.
The Volunteer Corps Commit
tee, a project of the National
Council of Jewish Women
(NCJW) coordinates furniture
collections and distribution to new
Russian households. This includes
setting up the new apartments with
dishes, silverware, linens, and the
first night's meal. They also have a
transportation pool for various
medical and social service
appointments. NCJW has referred
members to the JFCB Coordina
tor of Volunteer Services for
training and assignments on an
individual basis.
The Inter-Agency Resettlement
Team is a team of professionals
representing the Jewish Family
and Children’s Bureau, the Atlanta
Bureau of Jewish Education,
Jewish Vocational Service, the
Atlanta Jewish Community
Center, Atlanta Rabbinical
Association, Hebrew Academy,
the Epstein School, and Yeshiva
High School. The Jewish Family
and Children’s Bureau Resettle
ment Program serves as the
coordinating agency.
The Atlanta Bureau of Jewish
Education (ABJE), in cooperation
with the Atlanta Jewish
Community Center (AJCC), has
developed and implemented the
English as a Second Language
Program (ESL) for adults, two
evenings per week. Volunteer aides
also provide mid-week tutorials
for the ESL students. ESL
programs have been set up in the
Jewish day schools and the
AJECOMCE day camp, which are
attended by Russian children.
Transportation to the ESL classes
has been arranged by the AJCC,
which has also established an
activity program to assist Russian
families in their new roles as
Americans and as Jews,
The- Atlanta Rabbinical
Association (ARA) has appointed
a rabbi to the Inter-Agency
Resettlement Team. Each
congregation will appoint a liaison
to coordinate a program in each
synagogue to facilitate the
Russians' involvement in
congregational life. Additional
education in Judaism occurs
during a free hour with the ESL
program A Jewish education and
a general studies education is
provided for each Russian child
through the cooperative efforts of
the Hebrew Academy, the Epstein
School and the Yeshiva High
School.
With this type of community
effort, the patb is smoothed for
Russian immigrants to become
integrated into a rewarding life in
Atlanta.
PAY 7 - STAY 11
u n t mj rrifc-i
SUPER VALUE AT HARBOR ISLAND SPA
ROOM RATE INCLUDES 3 »up*rvl**d msafs J
dally ..A D A. dietician Golf (3 Mm#i waakly —
night).. Million dollar haalth spat lor man A
woman A M A P M. snacks Yoga and watar aicarclaa
classas Nightly Entartainmant . Dancing Showa
Bingo Movtas and MORE! main auiLDiMO batcs
31
W
AND
UP
CALL TOLL M»1 1^800-327-7310
LARRY PASKOWS
am
■b,
w
tin ct>LwH^jr>
personalized graphics by Sharon
framed name plaques • stationery • invitations
English or Hebrew
Sharon Hamelburg (404) 452-0086
(j&eargia JRehical, 15|3<C
3379 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 360
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
(404) 231-9734
WOMEN/MEN TRAINEES!!
GEORGIA MEDICAL offers MEDICAL TRAINING to those
who must work or need additional family income, an
OPPORTUNITY to choose a well paying job in
the medical field of MEDICAL ASSISTANT, MEDICAL
RECEPTIONIST, OPERATING ROOM TECH, CLINICAL
LAB, NURSE ASSISTANT Flexible schedule of morning &
evening classes, twice weekly
CALL 231-9734
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, JOB PLACEMENT
IV GINGER GIBBS
SAVE 10% of Enrollment Fee with thla edl
I
I
Youth Soccer
at the
Atlanta Jewish Community Center
Soccer leagues are now forming for
boys and girls, grades 1st thru 7th.
Registration fee is s 20°°.
The first meeting will be August 12th.
For more info, call Joe Katz - 875-7881
AJCC 1745 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Ca. 30309
Soccer Application
maleD IcmaleD
— Zip
Name
Address *
Grade Date of hirth School
Lather’s name Mother’s name —
Home phone Business —
Hebrew School Days: M_ I W I h I imes
I wish to he placed on a team that practices in the following area
Zahann PeachtreeD
Volunteer Coach: YesO NOD Assistant□
Ciame Volunteer^
PHILIP PHILIP MITCHELL ADVERTISING INC.
ADVERTISING SPECIALTIES • BUSINESS GIFTS • PREMIUMS
"CLIO CIRTIIICATl Of M IUi\l\U\T WINNIRS"
.c»i(Nohs .r shims •<»»"■ Burnt ns - award piaquis
. CHRISTMAS CAROS • «l» MGS . (MBKM JIWflRV * Gl "*
> PENS • PENCILS •BUTTONS B40C1S • MATCH! S • C0NVEN1I0N tRAOf
, CUPS • OfCAtS BUMPtS StlCKfBS • IIGHIUS SHOW 111 MS
FEATURING CROSS PENS PARKER SHEAFFER SCRIPT0 SMUCKERS. SWISS
pocket (404)261-4065
Peachtree Piedmont A1 Ml Z| PPV
Crossing Shopping Center Print Shop
3330 Piedmont Rd N l
IbrYair
Oil the
When it's a Bar Mitzvah, banquet,
reception or wedding party, only the finest will do
The catering professionals at Atlanta's Radisson Inn
specialize in the perfect combination of fine food,
superb service and luxurious surroundings to
make your event an occasion to enjoy and remember.
Call our Catering Department at
!■ 349-5000
llradisson inn atunta
1-285 at Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, Georgia 30341
Page 17 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE July 27, 1979