New Heritage Center Opens Russian
Jewish emigres get assistance on Balboa St.

Photo: Maureen McGettigan
Rabbi Shimon Margolin stands in front of the new Russian Jewish Center for Emigres on Balboa Street.

 

by Dmitry Kiper

"Religion is the opium for the masses," says Rabbi Shimon Margolin, quoting Karl Marx. "There is not one Soviet citizen that does not know this phrase."

Margolin is the executive director of the Jewish Heritage Center for Emigres, which serves the Russian Jewish community. The rabbi is all too familiar with the stereotypes many Russians hold toward religion - which is why he decided not to call the center a synagogue.

"We wanted to be a place where the Russian (Jewish) community could reconnect with their heritage," Margolin said, in his Russian accent. "It's been taken away from them by the Soviet government and we try to help them reclaim it."

The ruling Politburo of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) banned religious practices until the early 1990s, when the collective collapsed.

"The center is a unique concept because most of the congregations provide services only to their members, but we also reach out to non-members," said the 33-year-old red-bearded rabbi.

The center, located on the corner of Balboa Street and 19th Avenue, offers a number of free services to Russian Jewish families, including open-door Sabbath prayer services on Friday evenings and Saturdays.

"We make people feel welcome," the rabbi said. "One of the biggest obstacles for Russian Jews is they feel very uncomfortable (during religious prayer services) because they don't know what to do."

Crash courses for adults, consisting of five lessons, are offered in Jewish spirituality, Jewish history and the Jewish life cycle. Classes are offered weekly in Hebrew, the Torah, Talmud and kabbalah.

"Kabbalah is an esoteric interpretation of the Hebrew Bible," Margolin explained. Because kabbalah has made its way to Hollywood, with devotees like Madonna, the rabbi pointed out that he teaches authentic kabbalah and not "pop" kabbalah.

The center also caters to children's educational needs, offering classes in Jewish tradition, Hebrew and bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah preparations. A day camp, for which there is a modest fee, is run every spring, summer and winter break. (Spaces for the August session are still available.)

Margolin has recently taken a group of young adults, ages 18 to 26, on a free trip to Israel. He plans to start a Jewish teen club for educational and social purposes.

"The biggest challenge is children and young adults," the rabbi said.

"Teens have the hardest time with their identity. We'd like them to have a very strong Jewish identity," he said. "I'd rather they be connected with something Jewish and spiritual and not get into any trouble."

In addition, the rabbi has plans to start a speed-dating service for Russian Jews between the ages of 28 to 38 and 38 to 50, who are interested in a serious relationship or marriage. This is not a traditional approach to dating and it is not conducted in a traditional way. Certain topics will be encouraged - ideal marriage role models and number of children desired - and certain topics will be discouraged - the person's socioeconomic status, car and level of education.

The rabbi also hosts a television program every Friday evening at 6 p.m. on the city-operated Channel 29, where he discusses Judaism and current issues. He also runs a kosher consulting business.

The staff at the center is made up of almost a dozen volunteers.

"Our budget cannot allow us to have any paid staff," Margolin said.

Despite his secular upbringing in Ukraine, Margolin said he was made to feel different because he was Jewish, both by the government and by his family.

One day as a child, he joined his class in skipping school. But when he got home his parents told him he could not do that because he was Jewish.

"What's so different about being Jewish?" he wondered.

With the fall of the Soviet empire approaching, Margolin went to Moscow to study Judaism. After a year, in 1990, he decided to become a rabbi.

He left his family, which was also becoming more religious, for New Jersey and then Los Angeles, where he continued his rabbinical education and eventually met his wife. The couple moved to San Francisco's Richmond District eight years ago and now have three children.

Margolin has been serving the Jewish community in the City for the past six years and has been looking for a location for his center for the past two. The center opened in April and is already outgrowing itself.

"We need more room for our programs," he said. "It would most likely be in the Richmond District. I wouldn't imagine it anywhere else."

Although no funds are currently available for the center to move to a bigger location, the rabbi remains hopeful.

"I'm a religious person," he said, smiling. "I believe in God. And I believe in miracles."

The Jewish Heritage Center for Emigres is located on Balboa Street and 19th Avenue. For more information, call (415) 221-5280.