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Purim at the YESOD Center Inspires Roman's Jewish Spirit
A few years ago, if Roman were to be asked about his Jewish heritage, he would have answered with a blank stare, a kind smile and a subtle shrug of his shoulders. A 30-year-old marketing director, Roman's focus has been on his blossoming career and young family; he is married and has a two-year-old son. Raised in Viborg, a small town outside of Saint Petersburg, Roman has always been culturally curious and active. But like so many of his peers and the generation before him who were raised in a "secular" environment, he has never been religiously affiliated—until now.
"I don't have much free time, but I'm planning to participate more actively in YESOD life," says the young professional. "It is an important step for me." Inaugurated last Purim by JDC in partnership with the local Jewish community, YESOD is the modern, groundbreaking Jewish Community Home of St. Petersburg. For this community of some 100,000 Jews, YESOD marks an important shift in thinking toward engaging and serving the greatest possible number of Jews in a "one-stop" environment. For the first time, Jewish organizations focusing on all ages and interests are being housed under the same roof. Included in the mix are JDC-sponsored programs such as the Hesed Avraham Social Welfare Center, which addresses the physical and spiritual needs of the city's elderly Jews; St. Petersburg's chapter of Hillel for Jewish young adults and emerging leaders; the Adain Lo Family Center, which runs two of its six kindergartens in the building; and Sha'arei Shalom Progressive Community, who will be housed in YESOD until the end of the year while their permanent facilities are being completed. The state-of-the-art building of 75,000 square feet, four stories high and drenched with natural light, has earned important accolades in the architecture community and is becoming a source of great pride for the Jewish Community, as well. This is no small feat in the former Soviet Union where, under seven decades of Nazism and Communism, affiliating as a Jew was a negative and dangerous, if uncommon, endeavor. Roman first visited YESOD in September 2006 and then attended its popular "Chanukah VIP Night Party," designed to draw the city's emerging, young middle-class professionals into the Jewish community. "I found the event to be exciting and was impressed by the unique atmosphere of friendship and creativity," offered Roman. "I have visited many different places in St. Petersburg and can say that very few can be compared with YESOD." It was another local Jewish businessman, Alexei, who first encouraged Roman to get involved in the community. Today, Alexei works as YESOD's first Art Director and Roman advises on how best to market YESOD to the community. Like so many others who are celebrating Purim and the one-year anniversary of YESOD, Roman is taking advantage of the extensive programming being offered. "Of course I know that Purim is a holiday of joy, so I am sure that I will find new friends and continue to have a great time at YESOD." Among the children's activities are festive celebrations with clowns; a play depicting Megilat Esther, the story of Purim; arts and crafts studios, run by museum professionals from around St. Petersburg; and a "dream town" in YESOD's state-of-the-art gymnasium. At the same time, the Hillel theater club will entertain their peers with a typical spoof on the Purim tale, known as a Purimspiel; and a number of music, theater, and band performances by renowned entertainers will be on the agenda for various age groups. Inna, a 22-year-old St. Petersburg native, will play the part of Queen Esther in Hillel's Purimspiel. With the charisma, determination and leadership skills of a modern-day "Queen Esther," Inna has created a journalism project and plans to develop a youth supplement to the Jewish community newspaper, as well as to organize the first Jewish theater in the city. "I have a lot of ideas and big plans for the future!" exclaims the young woman. She will graduate this year with a Masters Degree in Public Relations. Like Roman, Inna became affiliated with the Jewish community only recently. She visited Hillel four years ago, at her mother's request, when she was 18. "I was nervous and even a little bit scared, but I soon understood that Jewish life was very interesting." The young leader has become even more involved since YESOD was founded. "YESOD has become a home for many Jewish organizations. We communicate, take part in different events, come to concerts and interesting lectures—and this is a perfect challenge for us all!" Inna said, exuding her enthusiasm for this important phase of Jewish renaissance in her city and in the vast region of the former Soviet Union. Over the past year, she coordinated several holiday programs, including the hallmark annual Hillel Pesach Project, through which Jewish youngsters from the FSU lead seders for their local community alongside their peers from North America and Israel. "Now I am sure that I would not be able to live without Hillel and the Jewish community," said Inna, illustrating the hopeful trend in St. Petersburg's emerging leaders. Five years ago, Inna may not even have identified as a Jew; today, her Jewishness is paramount. March 2007 |
