Bukharian Choikhona Lunch - COJECO

Our programs:

Roots Research Project

Project Roots enables Russian-speaking Jewish families conduct genealogical research and explore their family roots by accessing archives and materials in the US, Eastern Europe and former FSU with the assistance of a professional researcher.

BluePrint Fellowship

The program empowers RSJ change makers to create their own community-building initiatives, with the support of a network of peers, educational workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and mini-grants for project implementation.

B'nai Mitzvah RSJ Family Journey

A customized, year-long family program for Russian-speaking Jewish parents and their children leading up to Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

RSJ Symposium 2019

Convening of professionals building a strong, Jewishly connected RSJ Community across North America. Following two highly successful convenings, the COJECO RSJ Symposium 2019: The Power of Connection will gather participants to share learning and build networks. We will tap into our collective intelligence to address questions shaping the future of the RSJ community as part of the larger Jewish community.

RJKrug

Interested in a unique Jewish learning program co-created by Russian-speaking Jewish families and leading Jewish educators? RJKrug, Innovative Jewish Learning Program For Children and Parents opens its registration for 2019-2020 program year.

Germany Close Up

Bringing Russian-speaking Jewish young adults on 8-day educational trips to Germany to explore the past and present of Jewish life in Germany, and to experience modern Germany first hand.

COJECO New Jersey

We have launched a successful program for adults, children, teens, and families in Northern New Jersey, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Ukraine: Refugee Resources & Ways to Help

As the war in Ukraine rages on, our community is welcoming more refugees from Ukraine every day. COJECO has been working tirelessly to help people impacted by the War in Ukraine to resettle in New York and New Jersey. Read more about our efforts and Join!

COJECO 20th Anniversary Gala

Join COJECO in celebrating 20 yrs of strengthening the RSJ Community Honoring Val Mandel, Esq, COJECO Founding Board Member, Recognizing RSJ community leaders of Ukraine Emergency Response initiatives and Fashion collection presentation by designer and editorial stylist, COJECO BluePrint Fellow Leonid Gurevich

Ruben Shimonov

Director of Cross-Community Engagement and Education at Queens College Hillel

ruben@qchillel.org

Ruben was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Upon graduating the University of Washington with College Honors, he received a Bachelor of Arts in three majors: International Studies, Near Eastern Studies, and Jewish Studies. As a Bukharian Jew, belonging to the indigenous Jewish population of Central Asia, Ruben's Jewish identity is simultaneously Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Russian-speaking. Given his own multilayered Jewish background, Ruben has been fascinated by the colorful and intricate mosaic that comprises the global Jewish people. He brings this passion for Jewish diversity both to his professional work as the Director of Cross-Community Engagement and Education at Queens College Hillel and his lay leadership work with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Sephardic Federation, American Jewish Committee, Moishe House, and Young Bukharian Leadership Institute.

Organization

Queens College Hillel

qchillel.org

Mission: Queens College Hillel seeks to create meaningful Jewish experiences that encourage Jewish students to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.