Fact:

Source: Kilger, Sam; Russian-Jewish Immigrants in the U.S.:

Social Portrait, Challenges, and AJC Involvement

The number of Russian-speaking Jews living in this country is

unknown but is generally estimated at about 700,000.
Came to America in two waves: 30% before 1990, and the other
70% after.
American Jewish community emphasizes communal religious
practice, connection to a house of worship and denomination.
Russian Jewish community faith has more to do with personal
feelings and thoughts rather than public actions.
For Russian Jews, Jewish identity is not a matter of choice or
religious practice, but rather a sociological fact, prescribed at
birth and known to the individual and his or her family. A Russian
Jew may know he or she is Jewish, may be proud of it, may feel,
think or even believe as a Jew, but rarely will act as one.

Source: Singer, Audrey and Wilson, Jill; Refugee

Resettlement in Metropolitan America

During the time of the Refugee Act in 1980 to the dissolution of

the Soviet Union in 1991, large numbers of refugees fleeing
communism were welcomed; the largest source of refugees was
the USSR (154,630)
The U.S. refugee program aims to disperse refugees throughout
the country so as to not place a burden on specific localities or
agencies.
The largest contemporary immigrant gateways, New York and
Los Angeles have resettled the greatest number of refugees.
Among the 186,522 refugees who were placed in New York from
1983-2004, the majority was from the former Soviet Union.
More than half of the refugees from the USSR were settled in five
metropolitan areas, New York having one-third, three West Coast
metro areas and Chicago receiving another 22%.

Source: Lazin, Fred; Refugee and Resettlement and

Freedom of Choice: The Case of Soviet Jewry

1989 Mikhail Gorbachev allowed free emigration for Soviet Jews

and over 90% preferred to come to the United States.

Source: Sindelar, Daisy; Remembering When Right Was

Right and Left Was Wrong

Stigma widespread in USSR; trends stressed qualities like

conformity, discipline, and uniform penmanship.

Source: Sheskin, Ira and Dashefsky, Arnold; Jewish

Population in the United States, 2014

In 2014 the total in Utah was 5, 650 and the total in the United
States was 6,768,855.

Source: Jebens, Caitlin; Russian Cultural Values

Russia, located far from the West avoided meshing cultures a

part of the outside world.
Due to history of occupation, expansion, and repressive empires
and governments, the Russian culture can seem divided,
conflicted, closely guarded, and mysterious.

Source: Gohener, Duane and Richmond, Yale;

Russian/American Cultural Contrasts

Russia has lived for centuries in harsh cold climate explaining

their strength, ability to endure extreme hardship, and their
bleak outlook on life.

Source: Harvard.edu; Russian and Eastern Europeans in

America:

1990 U.S. Census 44% in the Northeast, 16% in the Midwest,

18% in the South and 22% in the West Areas
Waves of immigration
o First wave: freedom of religious persecution (1786)
o Second wave: escape from revolution (1917)
o Third wave: the promise of America (1940)
o Fourth wave: second Exodus
55.7% of immigrants in 1990s described themselves as
academics, scientists, professional or technical workers.

Definition:
Source: Kilger, Sam: Russian-Jewish Immigrants in the U.S.:
Social Portrait, Challenges, and AJC Involvement

Lautenberg Amendment classified Soviet Jews and certain other

religious communities as persecuted groups, automatically
qualifying them for refugee status.

Source: Singer, Audrey and Wilson, Jill; Refugee

Resettlement in Metropolitan America

Refugees: Unlike asylum seekers who apply for protection after

arriving on U.S. soil, refugees are granted permission to
immigrate while they are still abroad.

Source: 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of

Refugees:

A person who owning to a well-founded fear of being persecuted

for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a

particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country

of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country

Source: Lazin, Fred; Refugee and Resettlement and the

Freedom of Choice: The Case of Soviet Jewry

Freedom of Choice The right of Soviet Jewish migrs to choose

their country of resettlement.

Source: Sindelar, Daisy; Remembering When Right Was

Right and Left Was Wrong

In many languages the word right signifies correctness; the

world left often connotes something fake or of poor quality.

Source: Jebens, Caitlin; Russian Cultural Values

Pravda Translated as truth, representing what is just and far

serves as a moral guideline.

Source: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias/Wikipedia

Matrilineality the view that people born of a Jewish mother are

themselves Jewish.
Halakha the collective body of Jewish religious laws derived
from the written and oral Torah.
Law of Return 1948 originally enacted to give any Jew the right
to immigrate to Israel and become a citizen. The Law extended
the categories of person who are entitled to immigration and
citizenship to the children and grandchildren of Jews, regardless
of their present religious affiliation and their spouses. It does not
define the Jewish status of a person, instead deals with those
who have a right of immigration to Israel.
Perestroika a political movement for reformation within the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union associated largely with
Gorbachev. The literal meaning of the word is restructuring
referring to the restructuring of the Soviet political and economic
system.
Law on State Enterprise state enterprises were free to
determine output levels based on demand from consumers and
other enterprises. Enterprises became self-financing; they had to
cover expenses through revenue.

Source: Perry, Jeffery

Lautenberg Amendment: Allows groups covered by the

legislation to prove they are eligible for refugee status with
credible fear of persecution

Quality:
Source: Kilger, Sam; Russian-Jewish Immigrants in the U.S.:
Social Portrait, Challenges, and AJC Involvement

Soviet hostility towards Jews followed by the collapse of the

Soviet Union in 1991 led to millions of Soviet Jews leaving to seek
refuge elsewhere.
The leadership of the American Jewish community upheld the
principle of freedom of choice.
Immigrants of 1990s primarily left home because of economic
collapse, fear of possible pogroms, and disintegration of the
state. This wave was less prepared for integration into American
life.
Russian Jews are less likely than American Jews to identify Jewish
due to hostility, or on the basis of separation from other nations.

Source: Sindelar, Daisy; Remembering When Right Was

Right and Left Was Wrong

Simply lack of knowledge that played a role, it was simpler

when a child writes with his right hand. Thats how it was in the
Soviet Union
Children had a hard time being left-handed, usually being the
only one in their class had a negative connotation.

Source: Singer, Audrey and Wilson, Jill; Refugee

Resettlement in Metropolitan
America

The U.S. refugee program aims to disperse refugees throughout

the country so as to not place a burden on specific localities or
agencies.
Voluntary agencies often specialize in placing refugees from
specific backgrounds, creating a chain migration within a
community.

Source: Lazin, Fred; Refugee and Resettlement and the

Freedom of Choice: The Case of Soviet Jewry

Between 1968 and 1973 almost all Soviet Jewish migrs

resettled in Israel but by 1975-1976 the majority favored
resettlement in the United States.

Source: Jebens, Caitlin; Russian Cultural Values

Among older generations the Soviet past continues to resonate.

Claim it is a truth, and there is no other truth.
Formed through the utter loss of control Russians had of their
everyday lives during Soviet times.
Russians work to live not for joy.

Source: Gohener, Duane and Richmond, Yale;

Russian/American Cultural Contrasts

In a collective society, everybodys business is also everyone

elses.

Policy:
Source: Harvard.edu; Russian and Eastern Europeans in
America

Fourth wave: immigration caused by widespread anti-Semitism,

government control of citizens, difficult economic situation,
violation of basic rights.

Source: Singer, Audrey and Wilson, Jill: Refugee

Resettlement in Metropolitan America

Refugees rely upon organizations to assist them with basic needs

like housing, workforce readiness, and English-language learning.
This makes them more visible in smaller metropolitan areas and
can represent the publics primary encounter with immigration.

Source: Lazin, Fred; Refugee and Resettlement and the

Freedom of Choice: The Case of Soviet Jewry

Freedom of choice found support in traditional American liberal

and civil libertarian positions.

Source: Jebens, Caitlin; Russian Cultural Values

With differing opinions, Russians will claim these were incorrect

and hers were the truth.
While it may appear detached or uncaring, the true Russian
culture is unique.
Lack of work love for job and lack of priority creates frustration
and anger when dealing with Russians and work.

Source: Aron, Leon:

Gorbachevs economic reform created a shortage of food and

food rationing which allotted per person/per household