RSJ Engagement Program - COJECO

Our programs:

Adult B'nai Mitzvah Journey

COJECO is excited to launch its Adult B’nai Mitzvah Journey, a program for Russian-speaking Jewish adults in New York! This unique experience encourages and enables the participants to join meaningful Jewish learning, celebrate their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and bring the joy of Jewish living to their families.

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.

COJECO Virtual Academy of Jewish Heritage

The Virtual Academy of Jewish Heritage offers a series of top-notch Jewish and Israel-related educational sessions in English and Russian. Learn more on how to attend these free virtual lectures and help support the academy!

Celebrate Israel Parade!

We invite you to join COJECO and the Russian-speaking Jewish community of New York and New Jersey as we proudly march on NYC’s 5th Avenue in support of Israel. We welcome all RSJ community organizations and individuals to join and march together as one strong community.

Germany Close Up

Bringing Russian-speaking Jewish young adults on a 9-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 Anniversary Gala

Join COJECO in celebrating its annual gala honoring the RSJ Community. Stay tuned for details about the 2025 annual gala!

Samantha Shokin

RSJ Project Coordinator at JDC Entwine

samantha.shokin@jdcny.org

Samantha is Entwine's Russian Speaking Jewish Project Coordinator, planning and staffing a series of overseas trips and educational events for young RSJ's from throughout North America. Born in New York, Samantha's family hails from Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus. She graduated New York University Gallatin in 2012 with an individualized degree in Literary Journalism, and has been published in a variety of publications and blogs, including VICE and Tablet Magazine. In addition to her love of wordsmithing, Samantha loves to sing and play guitar. In 2014, as part of her COJECO Blueprint Fellowship, she composed an album of original music inspired by Soviet avtorskaya pesnya (author song). She currently resides in Berkeley, California but is a Brooklynite at heart.

Organization

JDC Entwine

jdcentwine.org

Mission: JDC Entwine is a one-of-a-kind movement for young Jewish leaders seeking to make a meaningful impact on global Jewish needs & international humanitarian issues. Entwine is an initiative of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). JDC is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. JDC works in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters.