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The Life of a Russian Jewish Immigrant
(June 1999)
Privyet! (if you don't speak Russian, Greetings!)
We are House of the Risen Son, a Russian-Jewish Messianic Fellowship
ministering to former Soviet immigrants in the Philadelphia area.
God has been teaching us that one way we can show
the love of Jesus to those different from us is to get to know them
and their community. So, what's it like being a Russian Jewish immigrant?
First off, usually you can immigrate to the U.S.
only if you are a winner in the annual "green card lottery" in Russia,
Ukraine, or whatever country. That's a pretty big if. But there's
more. Before you can even apply for the lottery, you need the signature
of a sponsor who will guarantee to provide for you if you become
destitute in the U.S. The sponsor is often another immigrant who
lives in the Russian neighborhood here, and who has already obtained
U.S. citizenship. (Maybe that's how all the Russian Jews in Philly
and NYC seem to know all the other Russian Jews!)
When you get here, you can find an apartment by
looking at ads in one of many Russian newspapers, available at a
dozen different Russian food stores. Then there are Russian Jewish
community organizations that help you learn about government programs
available to you, like for learning English at a certified ESL school.
If you won the green-card lottery, it means you're
entitled to start working immediately. Low paying jobs of all kinds
are available, including nail and beauty salons, taxi driving, factory
work and house cleaning. The employers are usually Russian speakers,
and only the most rudimentary English is required. For those who
enter the country (ahem) not quite legally, there supposedly are
under-the-table jobs. And, if you get into a legal trouble, the
local police precincts in Northeast Philly now have Russian translators
on staff.
In a future newsletter, we'll continue with our
story of Russian Jewish immigrant life. But I hope I've given you
at least a glimpse of the cross-cultural challenges that our outreach
team faces in reaching out to these immigrants with the gospel.
Please pray for myself and the handful of American Christians from
different churches in our area who are part of our team, that God
would help us to make friends with many more Russian Jewish people,
and give us opportunities to tell them the good news about Jesus!
With Glory to Our Risen Messiah!
Marko Malyj
Congregational Planter, New Life Northeast Presbyterian Church
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