Natalya was born in Khmelnitsky, Ukraine, and moved to the United States with her family in 1993. She graduated with BA in Management and Certification in Project Management and works in the public health industry. In addition, Natalya is a Certified Russian language translator and interpreter.
Natalya resides with her husband and three children, ages 23, 16 and 3, in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
Natalya has been a founding member of iMishpacha, a grassroots Russian speaking Jewish community organization and has been leading RSJ Women’s Club for over nine years.

I am a jewish man who is looking to enrich my education

Yelena Bozo is a JPA alumni from the Brooklyn 2019 cohort. She could not stay away from another opportunity to learn with JPA and meet new people in our community! She grew up in Kishinev, Moldova and moved to the United States in 1991. Yelena currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children: 17 and 20 years old who is away at college :(
She graduated from New York University School of Education with M.A. in Speech and Language Pathology. Yelena works with students with special needs in a Charter School. In addition, Yelena is learning to become a Personal Trainer and a Pilates Instructor. Her hobbies include ballroom dancing, tennis and golf. She often wishes there were more hours in a day to get to do all of the things she loves!

My name is Alla Gavrilov. I was born in Baku, Azerbaijan and moved to the States shortly after turning 11. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and my two kids (22 and 17). I have a BA in English Literature and MS in Early Childhood Education. I teach 1st/2nd grade. Joining JPA in 2017 was the first step of an amazing journey to a life guided by Jewish values, commitments to Jewish causes, and activism for our beloved homeland.

I was born in Kiev and moved to US with my family during big exodus of the early 90s.
We have embraced Brooklyn with all its hipsters and everchanging landscape of immigrants.

I have 2 beautiful kids and a loving outdoorsy husband, who makes sure that hiking, skiing is forever part of our plans.

As I was growing up, it seemed that being Jewish was not something to showcase and preferably to hide. As I got older and learned of the myriad contributions made by our people to the world, it filled me with pride.
I'd like my kids to feel the same pride and have a sense of belonging and not feel the need to hide their identity.

I'm excited to join JPA given organisation's focus on Jewish learning, community and advocacy.

Jewish identity has always been an important part of my life. Raising my kids with Jewish values and identity is my goal. As a JPA alumni i hope to continue my Jewish identy learning and discovery so that I can extend it to my community and network. Aside from Zionism and Jewish identity, I have a multitude of hobbies including skiing, traveling, hosting various events and spending time with my family and friends!

I was born in Moscow, Russia. Immigrated to New York, Brooklyn in 1994 with my family. First went to yeshiva then transferred to FDR HS. After went to Baruch College and graduated with CIS and Finance degree in 2001. Currently workinga as Account Manager/Consulting for Billing Company.
I'm married and we have three wonderful kids, daughter 17 years old, son 15 years old and my youngest daughter 6 years old.
Looking forward to joining JPA and build new connections with jewish parents.

Elman was born in Baku, Azerbaijan (former Soviet Union) and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1998. His involvement in Jewish community was sparked after his Birthright trip to Israel in 2006. After graduating college, Elman was selected for the Israeli Government Fellows, a leadership program endorsed by the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel. During his year in Israel, Elman worked for the Israeli Ministry of Defense, met leading figures in Israeli political and public life, and studied Judaism and Jewish history. He was part of organizing committee and co-chair of Limmud FSU (annual Jewish learning conference) since 2014. Elman graduated from Baruch College with a BBA degree in Finance and Investments and works for a Technology and Management Consulting firm. During his leisure time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids, playing soccer, and running on the beach.

Alan was born in Odessa, Ukraine and immigrated to the United States in 1993. Having grown up in Brooklyn, Alan is a true New Yorker at heart. With a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a CPA, Alan has been working in the Financial Services industry for the past 15 years. In his current role, Alan is the Head of Operational Risk Management, Americas at Instinet Incorporated. Outside of his professional career, Alan enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Sonya, and their three children, Ava, Kai and Farrah. Together, the family loves traveling, exploring new places, and finding the next perfect meal.

I’m special education teacher, working with little kids and love my job. Im married with two beautiful kids. My daughter is grown up and has her own family and my son is thirteen and preparing for his bar mitzvah. I use to leave in Israel in the past for 10 years. I speak Hebrew. I am very interested in Jewish history, philosophy, wisdom and culture.

I was born in Kishinev, Moldova. I'm an architect turned jewelry designer with a store of 30 years in the heart of NYC.
I'm passionate about art, theater, opera, travel & Jewish history. My family goes back to the time of British mandate in the land of Palestine. Both my grandmother and her brother moved there in 1920 to fight Brits & help establish Israel.
I live in Mill Basin, BK with my husband Alex & two kids, Sarah Rebecca 21, a pre-med student & Jonathan Noah 17 who is going to college next year for Quantitative Mathematics.
I'm very exited to join the JPA program to meet like minded fellow Russian-American Jews and interested to learn about Jewish history & much more.

Natalie was introduced to Judaism and developed interest in Jewish religion, history and culture when she attended Sinai Academy High School for Jewish studies and Prospect Park Yeshivah High School for secular studies. She emigrated from Kiev, Ukraine at the age of 15. It was her dream to enroll her children into a Jewish Day School. Four of Natalie’s children are currently students at Jewish Schools (Mazel Day School and Ramaz Upper School).

Natalie is a chief legal officer of Moonbeam Capital Investments, LLC, a family owned legal and real estate business. Prior to this position, she practiced law and accounting in major law and accounting firms. Natalie also teaches taxation as an adjunct professor at the City University of New York. Natalie earned an L.L.M. from the New York University Law School, a J.D. (the Order of Coif, cum laude) from the Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School, and a Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) from the New York University Stern School of Business. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the New York University Stern School of Business Center for Real Estate Finance Research. Natalie is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mazel Day School.

Natalie and her husband Steven are big supporters of Jewish causes, and donate their time and money to multiple synagogues and Jewish organizations.

Zionist, Israeli ( born in Moldova) who loves life, people, nature an everything mentioned 3 have to offer. I believe in eight Jewish social values:
TIKKUN OLAM
TZEDAKAH
CHESED
THE INFINITE WORTH OF EACH HUMAN LIFE
EQUALITY
UNIQUENESS
BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE WORDS WE SPEAK
CARING FOR THE STRANGER
Being Jewish is understanding the importance of our culture, traditions and embracing every part of it. And today , more than ever I feel this way!

My name is Korina and am excited to join JPA. Briefly about myself: I immigrated to NY in 1991 from Kishinev, Moldova. I am a pharmacist, licensed in NY and NJ but work for a major pharmaceutical company. I've obtained my Bachelor's (in 2000) and Master's Degrees (2002) from Pace University prior to completing Pharm.D. in 2007 at Long Island University. I currently reside in Brooklyn, NY with my two daughters.

Maryana was born in Kiev and grew up hiding her Jewish identity outside of the family circle, all while listening to her great-grandmother speak Yiddish at home on the phone with her friends. Maryana immigrated to New York with her parents and grandparents in 1992 and slowly started to immerse herself in Judaism, first by attending Hebrew Sunday school during her high school years, and then joining the events at Chabad after getting married. Maryana holds a BA in Economics-Mathematics, and an MA in Statistics from Columbia University, and now enjoys teaching mathematics in a Jewish high school. While living in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, raising their two kids with strong Jewish identity and values has been of utmost importance to her through the years.

Leon was born in Minsk, Belarus, and moved to Israel in 1990 around age 4. He moved to the US in 1998, settling in the Boston Area. Years later, Leon received his BS in Materials Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, followed by an MS from the Ohio State University. After living all over the country, Leon settled in NYC in 2013, where he met his wife Marina (also a JPA member). Leon has worked in several industries including aerospace, manufacturing, and technology, through roles in engineering, supply chain, and product management. Leon and Marina have 2 boys, Ari (4) and Eli (2). Leon did not grow up with many Jewish friends in the US, so he's looking forward to building Jewish / Israeli connections through JPA, and strengthen his and his family's bond to their shared heritage.

Marina was born in Donetsk, Ukraine, and immigrated to Jerusalem, Israel, when she was 4 years old. She immigrated to the United States at age 15. She met her husband Leon in her twenties, despite living parallel lives. They got married in Israel and now live in Brooklyn, NY, with their two sons, Ari (4) and Eli (2). Marina earned a doctorate in Nursing Practice from NYU and works as a primary care provider, adjunct professor, and an aesthetic injector.

Spending her teenage years in Israel contributed greatly to who Marina is today. She has always had a great love and attachment to Israel, especially now after the devastating events of 10/7. Marina hopes to raise her sons in a Jewish Israeli community, teaching them about Judaism and the love she has for Israel. She hopes that when she looks back, she can say that she gave her sons every opportunity to be strong defenders of Judaism and proud American-Israelis.

I joined JPA during its first cohort and right away was inspired to learn, get involved in community building and understood the importance of philanthropy.
I am a wife, a mother of 3 wonderful children and a medical professional. I am always looking for ways to grow spiritually, always trying to know more about our history. I find knowledge is power and "Great things happen to those who don't stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful. never stop learning."
JPA has empowered me in the past to stand strong and proud by giving me the knowledge and tools to be an example to my family. I am looking forward to this new cohort of 2024 and becoming stronger in these trying times.

I am originally from Moscow, Russia. I immigrated to U.S. with my parents and younger sister in 1994. I attended the Moscow National Jewish School #1311, Yeshiva of Flatbush High School in Brooklyn, and Arlington High School in Lagrangeville, NY. I hold a BS and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.

I currently work as a forensic accountant for a private equity firm. I enjoy running and one day hope to run the full marathon. I currently live in Brooklyn with my wife and two kids.