Oxana Pasternak

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

Oxana Pasternak

Program Coordinator, PJ Library in Montreal, Russian Language Program

oxana.pasternak@federationcja.org

Oxana was born in Kiev, lived in Israel, and then immigrated to Canada with her family in 2007, where she earned a degree at McGill University. A Jewish community professional and volunteer for over five years, she is very passionate about the Russian speaking Jewish community. From the beginning, she realized that this community was not disinterested in Jewish life; they were simply searching for something that resonated with, and honoured, their unique cultural identity and interests. With this in mind, she started the PJ Library project for Russian Speaking Jewish (RSJ) families. From its humble beginnings, RSJ has expanded to include cultural, educational and social activities. Oxana was part of RSJ’s Centennial Committee, initiated RSJ parents’ involvement in the community, created a partnership between the Russian PJ Library Story time and the Cote St. Luc Eleanor London Public Library and developed an RSJ engagement grant in collaboration with Camp B’nai Brith. In the four short years since Oxana initiated the program, the RSJ community has forged a strong network amongst themselves and the larger Montreal community and she is confident that generations to come will reap the reward a strong, vibrant, connected, Russian Jewish community.

Organization

Federation CJA

https://www.federationcja.org/

Mission: To preserve and strengthen the quality of Jewish life and engagement in Montreal, Israel and the world