Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050575
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Shapiro family, formerly of Kiev, and the Zelikovich family, formerly of Minsk, flew in to Roanoke and were whisked to their new, furnished apartments after being greeted in Russian and English by their American sponsors.
The families had spent most of the day in the air, beginning in Italy, where they have spent the past six months awaiting permission to emigrate to the United States. Their plane touched down at Roanoke Regional Airport after 11 p.m. Monday.
Agnes Heller of the Roanoke Jewish Community Council memorized three phrases in Russian to greet the families. On behalf of the council, which helped place the families, co-chairwoman Heller welcomed the emigres and pledged that the council would do its best to make the families comfortable in their new homes.
In an earlier interview, Heller said she wanted to "stress that the community has been incredibly responsive to our needs."
Through a combination of business and individual support, the two families are moving into two-bedroom Grandin Village apartments, replete with an array of household furnishings and food.
Heller said the community council had hoped to have a somewhat more elaborate greeting ceremony but decided to change plans to allow the new arrivals to get to bed quickly, considering they would be arriving late and probably would be exhausted.
There were still a great many unknowns about the new residents Monday. Their names, ages and Soviet occupational categories were about the only concrete pieces of information available.
Dementy Shapiro, 30, is a photographer. His wife, Viktoriya, 26, is a dressmaker. They have a 4 1/2-year-old son, Vadim.
Stanislav Zelikovich, 40, is a bookkeeper. His wife, Lyubov, 37, is an industrial economist. They have two children: Mikhail, 13, and Margarita, 9.
Heller said the members of the community council, accompanied by one of a half-dozen or so volunteer interpreters, were to meet with the families today to discuss their immediate needs.
The sponsors have prepared a booklet to tell the families what the community has done for them so far, what they can expect from the community and what it will expect from them. The sponsors have also prepared a list of contact people for specific needs.
Jewish Community Council spokeswoman Ann Penn said at least 14 people have received training from the Roanoke Refugee Resettlement office to assist the new residents. About 20 health professionals have agreed to provide initial medical screenings.
Having services donated is important because the Shapiros and Zelikoviches will not be eligible for government assistance, such as Medicaid or food stamps, for a year.
The United States agreed to allow the resettlement of 40,000 Soviet Jews this year, but only 32,000 will be eligible for government aid. The others, who do not have friends or relatives in the United States, had to obtain sponsors who would agree to provide for them. The Jewish council will be responsible for providing whatever assistance is needed for the two families.
After a year, the immigrants may apply for resident alien status and will be eligible for government social services.
by CNB