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Fair Blending holiday cuisine with camaraderie
Celebrating Thanksgiving with the JCC’s Russian Division and Rockaway residents
For some people, the best part of Thanksgiving is the food. For others, it’s gathering with loved ones. The Cedarhurst-based Marion &Aaron Gural JCC hosted four sessions of a holiday dinner for its Russian Division at North Woodmere Park’s Recreational Building on Nov. 22 and 23 to combine cuisine and camaraderie.
The 30-year-old Russian Division of the JCC, which includes many Far Rockaway residents, is very active, Stacey Feldman, assistant executive director of the JCC said. “This is one of the highlights of their year because they all come together,” Feldman said, “and they are so thankful for the wonderful life they have here in America.”
Irina Likhitskaya, of Ukraine, has lived in Far Rockaway for 24 years and said she has been attending the Thanksgiving dinner for the last 15. “Very good, very nice, all beautiful,” she said of celebrating this all-American holiday with the Russian Division.
Upward of 120 people attended the Thanksgiving dinners, Feldman said. The event has been held for 23 years. The celebration included the singing of the U.S. national anthem, a brief history lesson on the holiday’s evolution, socializing and, of course, eating and drinking.
“I’m grateful for the United States,” Vladimir Lagviyer, from Russia and now living in Far Rockaway for the past 26 years, said, “Now it’s my country.”
“I’m very thankful that I was liberated by American soldiers,” he said, “America is the best.” A Far Rockaway resident, he has taken part in Russian Division programs for 21 years, and said he appreciates the staff at the JCC for organizing programs such as the Thanksgiving celebration.
Engelman’s wife died 13 year ago, but he said that six years ago he met his best friend through the Russian Division. Her name is Emma Kasparova, an English teacher from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where she taught marines between 1955 and 1988. “I was the happiest teacher,” she said of her years with the marines.
The guests enjoyed listening to Russian music as traditional Thanksgiving trimmings were served, along with pumpkin pie for dessert. The Inwood Charities Fund of the Inwood Country Club has supported the event for more than 10 years, Feldman said. A local caterer provided the food.
“They love it every year,” Diana Zelmanovich, the Russian Division’s case manager, said about how Russian Division members feel about the Thanksgiving dinner.
