Olga Zelzburg,

Director of Congregational Education and Programming

 Abraham left his home in Ur of the Chaldeans and followed the call. Ulysses had a long voyage back home to Ithaca, Nabokov left Russia for the freedom of art and wrote Lolita, while teaching Russian at Cornell. I am by no means Abraham Avinu, Ulysses, or Vladimir Nabokov, but the call brought me to Ithaca as well.

The journey began practically 27 years ago in Bryansk, where I was born to a family of two teachers. Bryansk is a relatively large industrial city on the border of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

When I was ten, two important events happened:  I started learning English and my brother made aliya. At that time he was 16. We all thought he would be away for a year, but 17 years later he is still living in Israel. Before his departure our “Jewishness” consisted of some Jewish names in the family (Grandpa David, Grandma Rebecca), matza in spring and several curse words in Yiddish. My parents, being diligent learners, immediately immersed themselves in the culture of their son’s new found motherland. I followed them.

When I was 15 I traveled to London for an Israeli dance seminar. After I came back I became colleagues with my father at our local Hebrew school – teaching dance, Torah and traditions. Along with other Jews, my parents and I experienced the renaissance of Jewish life in Russia. My father started working at a Jewish Center, my mother created family program, I was involved with a youth group and Hillel. In my years in Bryansk I never experienced anti-Semitism. Judaism was always such a natural part of me.

At the age of 16, I was selected for a foreign exchange year in the United States. I lived in Kentucky and studied at a high school there. I learned to be open-minded, to accept others and have strong beliefs of my own. It was a wonderful year.

During my last year of high school in Russia, I met my husband.  At that time I decided to pursue Jewish studies in the university. Then there were years of study, travel, camps, jobs, new friendships, hardships, sorrow of loss, and joy of my wedding. I studied at Moscow State University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and St Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies. I taught for Hillel, and the Jewish Agency. I knew I could learn more, so I enrolled in the Hebrew Union College School of Education. After one year in Israel and two years in New York, I received my diploma at Temple Emanu-El, surrounded by people I love – my husband, my parents and my in-laws. It was a high peak in my journey.

During my life I have been blessed. I feel there is a difference between being lucky and being blessed. I have been able to meet my challenges. I have met kind people. I have been successful.

Now in the summer of 2010, my journey has a new turn. I sit at my desk at Temple Beth-El. This is where I will make your and my dreams about Jewish education come true. What do I have in mind? I want our Hebrew school to be more structured. I want students to inspire their parents with the beauty of Judaism. I want parents to be role models. I want teenagers to be our leaders.  I want adults to be able to continue with their Jewish journeys. It will not happen overnight, but it will happen. We’ll focus on school and youth this year, and progress from there.

Where will my journey take me next? I don’t know. But I do know that it will be surprising, fun, and worthy. Just like Yehoshua ben Perachia said in Avot 1:6, I will make myself a Rav (a teacher), I will acquire a friend (or two) and I will try to judge every person favorably.