RSJ Engagement Program - 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

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.