Today Vladimir Pogrebinsky helps other immigrants from the former Soviet Union map their way through “the system” and secure interest-free loans through the Hebrew Free Loan Association (HFLA).
“I didn’t know we were qualified for a Hebrew Free Loan. I didn’t know how to fill out the application. We didn’t understand much. We didn’t think we were qualified so we didn’t apply,” said Vladimir, an engineer living in Campbell.
His experience isn’t unique.
In hopes of assisting recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union and empowering newcomers like Pogrebinsky by involving them in the organized Jewish community, HFLA recently established the Russian Advisory Council in the South Bay.
The council is composed of 20 members who have overcome language and education barriers and have proven themselves economically and socially successful by all conventional standards. For its members — most have lived in the Bay Area about eight years — the council is both a way of helping others and of giving back.
“There are so many people who just don’t understand what they can and cannot do. I want to help them better understand the kind of help they can get,” Pogrebinsky said. “We’ve seen cases where applications are filled out but not properly, and when they got to the central office they were tossed aside. We’re talking to these people. Often, they’re qualified.”
Rachel Jacobs, a St. Petersburg native and HFLA outreach coordinator to the Russian community, said the council serves two purposes. It assists emigres in loan applications, but also “involves the Russian community and makes them an integral partner. Conceptually, this is really important.
“We’ve been successful in attracting people who were never involved in the Jewish community before.”
The advisory council is divided into committees with labels like “business loan” and “first-time home buyer.” Every Tuesday one committee interviews prospective loan clients from 7 to 9 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El in San Jose.
Pogrebinsky, president of the council, commits about three or four hours of his time each week. He interviews recent immigrants, who comprise about 52 percent of HFLA’s clientele, and assists with loan applications, which are now available in Russian. He then makes recommendations to the HFLA board of directors.
Jacobs said the program works because, as immigrants, “we’ve been on the other side of the table.
“The council is all former immigrants. They know what these people need and don’t need — for a car, for school, for camp.”
The council’s mission is clear: to interview potential clients, make referrals and assist with loans. But council members have taken on added responsibilities.
For instance, once a month the entire council meets for a Shabbat dinner. It also spearheaded a letter-writing campaign asking members of Congress to consider welfare reform’s impact on Russians.
Also, a Russian cable television program and newsletter have been developed in conjunction with the advisory council.
“The council members are now the leaders of the Russian community,” Jacobs said, adding that for the first time a Russian emigre is a member of the HFLA board.
Pogrebinsky agreed, adding, “It seemed that the Jewish community only remembered [emigres] when we needed money. But we’d like to participate more. Be more equal partners in the Jewish world.”