Russian Shabbaton & Birthright Israel Alumni Retreat:
“Mi Vmeste: Building a New Russian Jewish Community”

Program Description:
35 students from Milwaukee, Chicago, and Indiana participated in the first-ever Russian student retreat. This weekend retreat took place at a hotel, about forty-five minutes west of Chicago, removed from the city and other distractions. We created an environment where students connected with one another during the weekend by experiencing a community built through Shabbat experience, team building exercises, and minimal distractions. We created a relaxed environment where students can talk with one another, ask questions and have time for personal self-reflection. The majority of students who attended were not active in their respective Jewish communities prior to the program.

Program Date:
02/06/04- 02/08/04

Program Goals:
1. Inspire Russian-speaking students to build a new community in a Jewish framework.
2. Create Jewish opportunities and expressions for Russian speaking students to explore themselves in our new community through music, art and drama.
3. Experience Judaism Shabbat experience, text study and team-building activities.

Target Groups:
Russian speaking Jewish students from Milwaukee and Chicago.

Issues Addressed:
Israel, Shabbat

Frequency of Program:
This program was done once

Grants Received:
1. From Hillel's International Center: KSH Grant- $2000
2. From birthright israel alumni Commettee- $1500
3. From JCRC-$1000

People or organizations involved in planning the program:
Hillel Directors – Edda Post and Ammi Field (Hillels Around Chicago), JCSC Fellows – Felix Grudsky and Misha Zilbermint (Hillels Around Chicago), students.

Proposed Strategies for Success:
1. The use of Russian language and Russian speakers- the best connection between students and Judaism and between students themselves
2. Team-building activities will help students to use their abilities in a proper way while building a new community (team-building activities are a big part of Russian culture)
3. Create Jewish atmosphere inside the community throughout the weekend.
4. Cross-campus (and cross-state as well) Russian event will create strong relationships between students, because Russians mostly hang out with other Russians.

Number of students expected to participate in the program:
50

Number of students who actually participated in the program:
35

Planning Process:
1. Inviting speakers
2. Reserving resort
3. Program development

Budget:

Expenses 50 students
1. Living expenses $60/person $3000
2. Food $40/person $2000
3. Snack $350
4. Activity Supplies $400
5. Advertisement $300
6. Paper goods and decoration $325
7. Transportation $400
8. Gifts and prizes $200
9. Evening fun program $475
10. Miscellaneous expenses $300

Total $7900

Income
1. Kolker-Saxon-Hallock Family Foundation Engagement Grants $2000
2. Students $1500
3. birthright israel Alumni $1000
4. JUF of Metropolitan Chicago $1500
5. Milwaukee Jewish Federation $1500
6. Engagement budget of Milwaukee Hillel Foundation $200
7. HAC Engagement Budget $200

Total $7900

Publicity or Advertisement Used:
E-mails, flyers, phone calls, www.bomond.com, word of mouth.

Program Location:
Indian Lakes Resort, Bloomingdale, IL

Program Follow-up:
Students will find their place in building a new Russian Jewish Community. They will be able to follow up with programming and running events for Russian students on their campuses.

We will follow up by working with these students on creating more Jewish experiences for them. We will connect them to Jewish resources such as BCI and other national conferences (i.e. Leaders), local financial aid scholarships through Immigrant services and volunteer opportunities in the Russian community. The long-term impact of this program will be “planting the seeds” for Russian leadership in the organized Jewish community. Russian students feel that they have been given so much from the Jewish community and they would like to find opportunities to give back and we will help them channel that energy.

Suggestions for someone who plans a similar program in the future:
Start plan very far in advance.

Flyer: