Gary Shteyngart |
Irene
Nezhinski, former Russian
Division chair, presents Community
Leadership Award to Anna and
Gene Rachmansky |
UJA-Federation of New York executive
vice president and CEO John Ruskay
and wife Robin with author
Gary Shteyngart |
Rabbi
Aryeh Katzin recites the Motzi,
blessing over
the bread |
UJA-FEDERATION
Russian Young
Leadership
Honors Acclaimed Author
By Tim Boxer
 N
his native Leningrad Gary Shteyngart started writing fairy
tales at age four. Three years later he came to the U.S. and hasn’t
stopped writing, even while working for several agencies
affiliated with UJA-Federation of New York.
While working at the New York
Association for New Americans (NYANA) – an agency that helped
his family upon their arrival from the Soviet Union – Gary spent
nights working on his first book.
After five years he completed his
debut novel, which Riverhead/Penguin Putnam published as “The
Russian Debutante’s Handbook.”
For his accomplishment Gary, 30,
was guest of honor at the UJA-Federation of New York Russian
Division’s dinner last week at the Harmonie Club where attorney Alexander
Goldin served as young leadership co-chair.
Rabbi Aryeh Katzin, of
Sinai Academy in Brooklyn, told of the time he left Moscow with
other Jewish activists, then returned on a visit, only to have the
NKVD phone him.
“We want to talk to you,” the
officer said.
“Okay,” Katzin replied. “When
and where?”
“Right now. Come downstairs.”
Katzin met with the secret police
who said, “All activists will be jailed.”
“Why?” he asked.
“You occupied Arab territories.”
“But I’m in Moscow!” |
