RAJMN: RUSSIAN AMERICAN JEWISH IN MINNESOTA

RAJMN is the only Jewish-Russian program for young families in Minnesota, working to connect them to the larger Jewish community in Twin Cities and provide a deeper understanding of Judaism and Russian-Jewish roots and culture since 2003. We also serve as a bridge to other Jewish organizations, connecting Russian-American Jews to synagogues, Jewish schools, programs in Israel, Jewish summer camps and other programs as needed.

 

Our Mission

  • Deepen the connection of the Russian Jewish community in Minnesota to the larger Jewish community in our state.

  • Foster understanding and a general curiosity about Judaism and Russian Jewish roots and culture among young Russian-speaking Jews.

  • Strengthen connections between young families in Minnesota’s Russian-Speaking Jewish(RSJ) community.

  • Teach RSJ teens and young families leadership skills that can be used to develop a stronger voice in the greater Jewish community.

  • Strengthen the Jewish identity of Russian-Jewish teens and young families in Minnesota.

  • RAJMN is committed to support and launch projects and new initiatives for RSJ community and helping secure additional resources for their initiatives.

 

RAJMN History

RAJMN is the only Jewish-Russian program for young families in Minnesota, working to connect them to the larger Jewish community in Twin Cities and provide a deeper understanding of Judaism and Russian-Jewish roots and culture since 2003. We also serve as a bridge to other Jewish organizations, connecting Russian-American Jews to synagogues, Jewish schools, programs in Israel, Jewish summer camps and other programs as needed.

 

Ilana Volodarsky arrived in St. Paul from the former Soviet Union in 1989. She holds a dual degree from the University of Minnesota in Business Management and Sales Marketing.  Ilana is the Founder and Executive Director of the Russian American Jews of Minnesota (RAJMN) organization, which initiated in 2003. RAJMN is the only Jewish-Russian program for young families, young adults, and teens in Minnesota, working to connect them to the larger Jewish community and providing a deeper understanding of Russian-Jewish roots and culture. RAJMN programs and events held throughout the year to celebrate Jewish and Russian culture, and also serves as a bridge to other Jewish organizations, connecting Russian-American Jews to synagogues, Jewish schools, programs in Israel, Jewish summer camps and other programs as needed. RAJMN works in partnership with all local Jewish Agencies in creating programs to integrate RSJ in Jewish life and provides international educational opportunities and scholarship funding for RAJMN teen and adult program participants. Over the past 18 years, RAJMN has organized more than 400 events. Ilana is fully responsible for financing and program development of RAJMN. In 2016, Ilana created the RAJMN Teen Fellowship to serve as a year-long initiative with the main goal to connect RSJ generations, pass on history, traditions and culture from generation to generation. Teen participants have monthly guest speakers covering various Jewish topics such as Israel, Holocaust, Jewish History, art, music, and have the opportunity to attend various Jewish conferences. Ilana mentors various communities in the US and is a consultant for new projects/programs for the RSJ population in addition to providing educational sessions and seminars on Russian Jewish Culture. Ilana is a graduate of “Centropa Summer Academy” in Berlin and also served on the Host Committee for JDC Global Symposium for the Midwest Region. Ilana was a part of the organizing committee for Limmud FSU East and West Coast Conferences.

 

If you are a Jewish, Russian young adult or young family (born in the former Soviet Union or the United States), or know someone who is, e-mail Ilana Volodarsky or call 651-255-4742 for more information about this program. You can also visit us at our website RAJMN.org.

 

Today, RAJMN is supported by St. Paul Jewish Federation and generous funding from the Genesis Philanthropy Group and the Jewish Federations of North America.
 


CURRENT UPDATES

 

RAJMN Teen Fellowship 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAJMN is entering its seventh year with the Teen Fellowship Program. The RAJMN Teen Fellowship Program is a school-year-long program for High School students which starts in September and runs for ten months. Participants will explore and expand their understanding of who they are, who they want to be, and how they want to make a mark on the world. Monthly guest speakers will cover various Jewish topics (Israel, Holocaust, Antisemitism, Jewish History, art, music, etc.). Participants will be challenged to define their strengths, challenges, and personal leadership goals. RAJMN will provide the tools, feedback, and mentoring they need to experiment, collaborate, and learn from their experiences. Teens will have leadership opportunities in fundraising, event planning, marketing, recruitment, and volunteering in the RAJMN community. Fellowship participants can also attend Jewish conferences in the US and worldwide, which RAJMN will provide stipends.

2021 Teen Fellowship

2019 Teen Fellowship

L'DOR VADOR: LIFE JOURNEY OF GENERATIONS FROM FSU

Stories of the Journey's of our Community Members from the FSU

RAJMN will create a group for local RSJ community members to share their immigration and moving to the US stories. The stories will include photos of the members and their families, where they are from and why they decided to immigrate. People will share the stories of the parents and grandparents about WWII and Holocaust. The idea is to collect all these stories and pass them down to our kids and younger generation. The goal is to collect enough stories to publish them as a book.