Sunday morning's bus bombing on a busy intersection in Jerusalem was a powerful reminder of the commitment behind an event that day half-a-world away: the duty for Jews around the globe to reach out to each other.

Of course, the organizers of the Russian community's "Fundraiser for the Victims of Terror in Israel," which had been in the works for months, could not have known that the latest in a series of attacks on Israeli civilians would come that same morning they -- through music and art -- raise money for the families of the victims.

As they sold the works of 28 professional artists - among them painters, sculptors, photographers and graphic artists -- 25 percent of the proceeds collected was earmarked for victims' families. For the concert of contemporary Russian folk music, which attracted more than 1,000, a full 100 percent of the ticket costs went to the families, as more than a dozen musicians donated their services and Combined Jewish Philanthropies underwrote the expenses. The total raised during the day for these families from both art sales and concert tickets was $14,000.

"It's an incredible example of the synergy between CJP and the Russian community, a seamless merging," says Irene Belozersky, the CJP senior planning associate who coordinates programs for the Russian Jewish community. "The idea came from the community's leaders and activists and we worked together to make it happen."

CJP also arranged to include six artists who were born in the former Soviet Union who were in from the Haifa area to show and sell their work at that event. "By adding these artists, we completed the circle of connection with our Boston-Haifa Connection," says Bolozersky.

In addition to CJP, other event sponsors included the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Agency for Israel, Russian-American Jews for Israel, American Association of Jews from the Former Soviet Union and Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.

Visitors purchased Russian-flavored treats: sandwiches of herring, tuna, salmon and a spicy melange of eggplant, red and hot peppers and oil called baklejan, then wandered among the art works.

"The Jewish people should be together, wherever we are from," painter Michael Kogan said through an interpreter. Born in Leningrad, he now lives and works in Haifa. "In 1990, Israel took me in and gave me a home. The only way I can pay Israel back is through my art."

Daniel Perlove, also a native of FSU, was introducing visitors to his wife Stella Perlove's pastels of Jerusalem street scenes. After spending 20 years in Israel, the family now lives in Framingham. Why are they supporting Israeli victims of terror this way? "Why help your family?" he answered simply. "That's all it is."

The musicians also shared this commitment. Singer Anna Pashkova said, "It was a great honor to participate in such a meaningful event." And composer/guitarist/singer Valery Berman is actively involved in the fundraising for Israel in his adopted home of Philadelphia where he helped organize a similar event and where, inspired by the success of Boston's Russian Jewish community, he's busy raising money for an ambulance for Israel.

It was important not only for the money collected for a good cause but for people here, in Boston, to feel 'togetherness,' especially being so far from Israel, "said Olga Goldberger, who was among the 1,000 in the audience.

That distance was also bridged as Haifa artist Eugene Abeshaus translated - to Russian - a Hebrew quote on one of his paintings to a Russian-speaking art lover living in Boston.

"I learned Hebrew in an underground ulpan (class) when it was illegal in Russia," said Abeshaus. "And I used it on my paintings as an act of protest. I moved to Israel to live as a Jew among Jews and now I'm here to help the people hurt by terror in Israel. We need this connection, to meet other Jews, to work together."

Which is the kind of connection, Aron Futer had in mind. One of the day's organizers, Futer, who's been 10 years in the U.S., said he and friends had been searching for a way to help. "We knew we wanted our money to go directly to the families of the victims and, working with Irene, we were also able to bring in the Israeli artists and really bring home the Israeli connection."

Belozersky was touched by the many visitors who paid far more than the asking price for the art and the concert tickets to give extra funds to the victims' families. "We were thanked so many times for making this happen," she said. "It was an incredible manifestation of community spirit and a reminder of what is possible when we work together to help our people who need us."

For more information on programs in the Russian Jewish community, contact Irene Belozersky at 617-457-8582 or ireneb@cjp.org .

Adar 5764 - March 2004