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Just arrived and need help? We’re here for you.
Our People was created by Leah Aharoni and Rabbi Pinchos Shwalb in the wake of the war in Ukraine and the need to rescue Jews from both Ukraine and Russia.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, our team has assisted over 1,500 Ukrainian and Russian Jewish families via our consulting line, absorption coordinators, airline ticket grants, food assistance, legal clinic, and educational programs.
As part of our Jewish identity program, Our People has been running annual overnight summer camps attened by 300-500 immigrant kids every summer, community day camps, and supplimentary ulpan programs. Our community center hosts a conversion program, shabbat meals, a full program of adult education.
Our People also runs an annual non-profit accelerator, guiding 15 Russian-Israeli nonprofits each year to improve and scale their activities. At the same time, our Latte meetups support new immigrant activists in launching new social initiatives.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, our team has assisted over 1,500 Ukrainian and Russian Jewish families via our consulting line, absorption coordinators, airline ticket grants, food assistance, legal clinic, and educational programs.
As part of our Jewish identity program, Our People has been running annual overnight summer camps attened by 300-500 immigrant kids every summer, community day camps, and supplimentary ulpan programs. Our community center hosts a conversion program, shabbat meals, a full program of adult education.
Our People also runs an annual non-profit accelerator, guiding 15 Russian-Israeli nonprofits each year to improve and scale their activities. At the same time, our Latte meetups support new immigrant activists in launching new social initiatives.
Since October 7, Our People has put its extensive experience working with refugees of war to help in the war effort. We have provided army units with thousands of pieces of tactical and medical equipment and tens of thousands of portions of hot food. Our cooperation with hospital rehab wards ensured that wounded soldiers received the equipment they need to get better. For evacuated families, we have installed washers/dryers throughout evacuee hotels, delivered 7,000+ food packages and 1,500+ grocery gift cards, and established the Shalom Bayit Café. We have also distributed 2,500+ gift sets to wives of soldiers.
Children are our priority, so we have distributed thousands of toys and board games, ran online workshops during periods of school closures, and ensured that hundreds of bar/bat mitzva kids got the party they deserved, despite the war, as part of our group bar/bat mitzva.
Children are our priority, so we have distributed thousands of toys and board games, ran online workshops during periods of school closures, and ensured that hundreds of bar/bat mitzva kids got the party they deserved, despite the war, as part of our group bar/bat mitzva.
Our story
Bar/bat mitzva coordinator
Sarah Caras
Sarah Caras is a mom of three. Originally from Teaneck, NJ, she made Aliyah 20 years ago.
An ardent lover of Israel and her people, Sarah puts her huge experience in event planning, problem-solving, cool-under-pressure attitude (developed through years of teaching yoga) to produce Our People's events and bar/bat mitzva parties for evacuees and IDF families.
An ardent lover of Israel and her people, Sarah puts her huge experience in event planning, problem-solving, cool-under-pressure attitude (developed through years of teaching yoga) to produce Our People's events and bar/bat mitzva parties for evacuees and IDF families.
Shabbat program coordinator
Chaim Markovetzkiy
Rabbi Chaim Markovetzkiy founded the Jewgram project to help students and young families connect to their Jewish identity.
Every week, a community of young Russian-speaking olim gathers around Rabbi Markovetzkiy for shabbat meals and conversations about our shared Jewish identity and values. With words of wisdom, music, and a warm smile, he makes everyone feel welcomed and at home.
Every week, a community of young Russian-speaking olim gathers around Rabbi Markovetzkiy for shabbat meals and conversations about our shared Jewish identity and values. With words of wisdom, music, and a warm smile, he makes everyone feel welcomed and at home.
Co-founder/Executive Director
Leah Aharoni
Born in the former Soviet Union, Leah Aharoni immigrated with her family to the USA at the age of 12. At 17, she felt pulled to Israel, and made aliyah on her own, adding Hebrew to her language repertoire, making her trilingual.
A business process and profitability consultant with degrees in Jewish Education and Organizational Psychology, Leah helps organization leaders identify their unique strengths and develop them to help improve organizational performance and efficiency.
A business process and profitability consultant with degrees in Jewish Education and Organizational Psychology, Leah helps organization leaders identify their unique strengths and develop them to help improve organizational performance and efficiency.
Our team
Eliezer Kudrin – CFO
Eliezer Kudrin
Born and raised in Russia, Eliezer became active in Jewish community life via the Jewish youth movement of the small community of Voronezh, Russia.
After holding a series of high level positions in the Federal Bank of Russia, Eliezer came to Israel at 31 with his family. Here he studied at Yeshivat Haran and Or Torah.
Eliezer holds a degree in Economics and Management, and utilizea his vast 20-year experience in finance, banking, and economics to ensure smooth and efficient use of all funds at Our People
After holding a series of high level positions in the Federal Bank of Russia, Eliezer came to Israel at 31 with his family. Here he studied at Yeshivat Haran and Or Torah.
Eliezer holds a degree in Economics and Management, and utilizea his vast 20-year experience in finance, banking, and economics to ensure smooth and efficient use of all funds at Our People
Community Center Coordinator
Sandra Brutman
Born in Moscow, Sandra came to Israel at the age of 3. With her perfect Russian, Hebrew, and English, she communicates smoothly with everyone who walks through Our People’s door.
Sandra holds a degree in Physical Education from The Wingate Institute and with her extensive experience as a sports coach, knows exactly how to lead people and programs to their goals. Her ardent love for Israel and enthusiasm for helping others motivate her to make lives better and brighter every single day .
Sandra holds a degree in Physical Education from The Wingate Institute and with her extensive experience as a sports coach, knows exactly how to lead people and programs to their goals. Her ardent love for Israel and enthusiasm for helping others motivate her to make lives better and brighter every single day .
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