Writing in the Forward, our own Alena Akselrod, Senior Program Director at Leading Edge, shares her experience of living through this moment as an American Jew who was born in Arkhangelsk, Russia.
“If anyone asks, you’re not Russian. You’re Moldovan.” That’s what my mother-in-law advised me a few days ago, as the world reacted with justified horror to the Russian military invading Ukraine. She wants to protect me. Originally from Moldova herself (as is my husband), she’s relieved to be able to tell people truthfully that she’s not from Russia. She wants me to bend the truth by a thousand miles or so and use her line of defense, too. But I shouldn’t need a defense. I shouldn’t need to lie about where I was born to feel safer in New York, where I live. I was born in Arkhangelsk, Russia. And I am not your enemy.
In the article, Alena shares her experiences coming of age as part of the community of Jews from the Former Soviet Union—a group comprising approximately a tenth of the North American Jewish community. She also challenges Jewish institutions and Jewish leadership to reflect on how they can show up for that community during this difficult time:
The Jewish community is centrally important to me. Will I, and the approximately 10% of that community that speaks Russian, be treated as if we are important to it? Will Jewish organizations and leaders stand up to proactively and explicitly make sure that support for Ukraine doesn’t turn into demonization of Russian people or Russian speakers everywhere? We know we belong here, and belonging entails solidarity; will Jewish institutions treat us as if we truly belong?
About the Author
Alena Akselrod is Senior Director of Data Strategy at Leading Edge.
