CENTRAL
KENTUCKY

J EWI SH
FEDERATION

 

April 1992

 

AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE OF THE SLEPAK FAMILY

On April 26, 1991, we put our first
steps on American land. Almost a year
has passed since that time and now we
would like to share our impressions as
new Americans. From the very
beginning we felt as if we were at
home. We will never forget the exciting
meeting at Lexington’s airport: flowers,
smiles, greetings, embraces and songs.
Our first shy English words were
understood and perceived benevolently
and we immediately realized that we
were surrounded by friends. Our
arrival was carefully prepared by
CKJF. Even in our most courageous
dreams we could never have imagined
the beautiful apartment which was
rented and furnished for us by CKJF.
Every small detail in our apartment
was set up with a great sense of taste
and care and the refrigerator was full
of food. We are very grateful to all
Lexington’s Jewish Community. But we
would like to address special words of
thankfulness to our new American
friends who spent a lot of time helping
us with our first steps in America.
These nice people took care of every

small detail of our life. They taught us
English, helped us to make our
resumes and to get oriented in looking
for a job; they helped us with grocery
shopping and with cooking traditional
American and Jewish dishes. They
invited us for dinners and picnics and
showed us places of interest in
Lexington and in Kentucky. How
important for us was their kind
attitude and their permanent
willingness to give us some advice or
simply to share our problems.

Our first months in America
were very successful. Both of us got
jobs at the University of Kentucky
within our fields, which have given us
an opportunity to utilize our knowledge
and energy.

For the first time in our lives, we
got involved in Jewish life. We are glad
we found here the opportunity for
learning Jewish culture and Jewish
heritage. What did it mean to be
Jewish in Russia? It meant nothing but
to have a special record on our internal
passports. We were not allowed to be
Jewish in our social and cultural lives.

con‘t. on pg. 2