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UKRAINE (continued from page 1) JFCS plans for likely refugees

Half of Jewish Family and Child Service’s
Tkachuk, whose mother is Ukrainian That email brought enough children’s Holocaust Survivor clients are from Ukraine,
and father Russian, immigrated to the clothing, diapers, blankets and other so the Portland agency is paying very close
U.S. with her family in 2004. The two supplies to fill four pickup loads. attention to the ongoing war and President Joe
friends had stayed in touch, and when “I just wrote a compelling email and Biden’s recent announcement that the United
Russia invaded Ukraine the connection it just took off,” says Dr. Kahn, who States may accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian
deepened. moved to Portland in 2015 with her refugees. Some may be resettled in Portland.
“She has been checking in with me husband, Yoni. “It was something that Anticipating the Ukrainian refugees’ arrival
since war broke out,” says Tkachuk. seemed doable for families. I am proud sparks a number of questions, key among them,
Initially Dr. Kahn donated a few of our community for mobilizing to “What can JFCS do for Jewish Ukrainian ref-
bags of children’s clothes to the Slav- help.” ugees?”
ic church in Fairview, where Tkachuk “Rebecca is amazing and our commu- JFCS actively resettled Soviet Jews in the
is a member. Sulamita Church has nity really stepped up,” says Willson. 1970s into the 1990s. Community Warehouse
been collecting and shipping supplies Volunteers from the church picked up grew out of that successful effort, and in the
for refugees. Then Dr. Kahn spoke to the donations and sorted supplies at a early ‘90s became refugees’ go-to for resettle-
Foundation School Director Cory Will- church member’s warehouse. The first ment materials and assistance. Today, JFCS is
son about hosting a collection drive at shipping container with medicine and partnering with three Oregon community orga-
the preschool at Neveh Shalom, which first aid supplies was sent by airplane. nizations that are contracted to provide refugee
her two children attend. “It was very expensive,” says resettlement services – Catholic Charities of
“Yulia is an angel,” says Dr. Kahn. “I Tkachuk. “The rest will go via ship. It Oregon, Lutheran Community Services North-
knew she has family in Ukraine, and will take about three weeks to trans- west and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
I reached out to see if her family was port them to the border of Poland and These agencies will refer refugees to us where
OK and if there was anything I could Ukraine, where teams in churches will their needs intersect with our expertise in our
do to help. I’m the daughter of a Roma- distribute to people.” four program areas: Counseling, Disability
nian refugee, and I really empathized “I am very grateful to every single Support Services, Holocaust Survivor Services
and felt other Jewish families felt the family (who donated),” she says. “We and Emergency Aid.
same.” didn’t expect such a response. We are To learn about possible ways to help, email
Tkachuk says, “I just shared what is in very grateful. Thinking of families JFCS Deputy Director Susan Greenberg at
my heart with Dr. Kahn, and she shared shopping with their kids for people in sgreenberg@jfcs-portland.org.
in an email.” need is wonderful.”
Ukrainian relief drive continues as needs increase

Portlanders have donated generously to
the nationwide Jewish Federation effort
that has raised more than $43.4 million to
distribute to partner organizations.
Jewish Federations have allocated some
$40 million of the $43.4 million we have
raised to 35 NGOs operating on the ground
in Ukraine and neighboring countries to
support refugees and Jewish communities.
These partners include Jewish Agency for
Israel (JAFI), The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee (JDC), World
ORT, United Hatzalah, Hillel International,
Nefesh B’ Nefesh, HIAS, the Israel Trauma
Coalition, Hadassah Medical Organization,
Moishe House, Chabad and Shema Yisrael.
The needs are real and continue. Donate at
jewishportland.org/ukraine-crisis. Ukrainian refugees in Romania. Photo by Max Dinshtein for the Jewish Agency for Israel.
RUSSIAN-SPEAKERS' TRIP (continued from previous page)

I particularly cherished an activity to welcome in a Jewish space. Every person in time in San Francisco with JDC Entwine.
study different quotes about identity and the room had had an experience where they Thanks to the subsidization from Genesis
discuss how we connected to them. felt like they weren’t Jewish enough, Rus- Philanthropy Group, I spent almost nothing
As RSJs, we have a much different Jewish sian enough or American enough. These out of pocket and received a beautiful gift
upbringing than our peers, and it was a re- four days together solidified the unspoken of new friends, deeper Jewish knowledge
markable experience to be in a room filled need we have for a community that under- and memories from amazing new places.
with people who shared that experience. stands us to our cores. Explore JDC Entwine at jdcentwine.org.
Few RSJs participate in Jewish organiza- Now I know that I don’t have to travel If you are interested in creating a Portland-
tional life, and we often require special pro- far to have a transformative cultural expe- area RSJ young adult community, reach out
grams run by and for us to ensure we feel rience. I’m so immensely grateful for my to me at nadinemenashe@gmail.com.
Jewish Review April 13, 2022 11