Russian Speakers Arrive To Help Sandy Victims

By Seth Berkman November 16, 2012

A group of 15 Russian-speaking Israeli volunteers arrived in New York on November 15 to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

The Jewish Agency for Israel sought out Russian-speaking volunteers to help in the area’s Russian-Jewish communities, which they estimate at approximately 200,000 residents.

The delegation will remain in New York for 10 days and collaborate with efforts already underway led by UJA-Federation of New York. Similar to a convoy of Israeli volunteers that arrived last week from Mechina Ein Prat — The Leadership Academy, the Russian group will clean buildings and synagogues that suffered damage, distribute food to the elderly in homes that remain without power and provide social visits to families that have had no form of communication since the storm hit.

Alan Hoffman, Director General of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said in a statement: “The primary purpose of this delegation is to demonstrate solidarity with the Jews of the United States.”

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