Diana Kogan is named JDC's Ralph I. Goldman Fellow for 2004-05

"When my family left Odessa, we had to go through a transit station at Ladispoli, Italy. There the JDC cared for us until we immigrated to the United States," says Diana Kogan, who arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Ukraine at 9 years of age. "We were warmly welcomed by the Jewish community on our arrival. Everyone helped my family so much when we were in need that I want to continue the tradition of giving back to others."

Diana, 23, will have a unique medium through which to accomplish this goal; she has been named as JDC's Ralph I. Goldman Fellow for 2004-05.

The Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship in International Jewish Communal Service is awarded each year to one individual who has shown excellence and outstanding commitment in the area of Jewish communal service.

At first glance, Diana's invaluable contributions to the Jewish world belie her early history. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Diana knew very little about Judaism in her childhood. "My brother and I weren't even aware we were Jewish," she says. "Other than eating Matzah once a year without knowing why, our first formal introduction to Judaism came in the U.S."

When Diana's family arrived at the airport in Indianapolis, they were greeted by a swarm of people holding balloons and welcome signs for them. They were taken to a furnished apartment complete with a stocked refrigerator and toys for herself and her brother. The following day, a volunteer family came to the Kogans' new home and took them shopping for clothing, with a final stop at the Hebrew Academy of Indianapolis, the local Jewish day school where she and her brother were later enrolled. "We had to learn two languages – English and Hebrew – as well as Torah and about being Jewish all at once," says Diana.

But Diana took quickly and lovingly to her coursework. She went on to earn her BA with Honors in Judaic Studies and French at Indiana University, and is currently an MSW candidate at the University of Michigan's School of Social Work, where she is also receiving a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership from the Sol Drachler Program. As part of her Graduate studies, Diana has interned with the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County and Jewish Family Services, both in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She also teaches 8th grade Sunday school classes at Temple Beth Emeth.

For Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Jewish Family Services, Diana helped create and lead the first annual "Diversity Day" for Jewish children grades K-5. "We established this day as a time of learning and action in the Jewish community," says Diana. The event offered stations where children could learn interactively about the civil rights movement, as well as what it means to be "different" in today’s society. Topics included: living with physical handicaps; aging; coping with mental health issues; and appreciating cultural diversity. One of the event highlights was a performance given for over 80 kids by a children's Indian dance troupe. "It was a great meeting of cultures," observes Diana. "It was a day for acceptance that concluded with all of the children holding hands in a ring of peace and making a wish for the world."

Diana hopes to leverage her language skills – a mastery of English, French and Russian as well as proficiency in Hebrew – and love of working with kids to help youngsters find their Jewish identity through JDC-sponsored projects in the FSU and elsewhere. She is also eager to work with immigrants in Israel who are facing challenges in acculturating.

"It has been a dream of mine to work internationally, with JDC in particular, because it's the organization that uses the best principles of practice – building communities and then giving them the tools they need to succeed and thrive on their own," says Diana, regarding her selection as the 2004 Ralph I. Goldman Fellow. "I have always wanted to help Jewish communities abroad, and I feel amazingly fortunate for the chance to do that."

To apply for the Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship, or for more information, please click here.