Candidates of the American Forum for the elections to the World Zionist Congress Alexander Goldin: “Without Israel we won’t survive”

Alexander Goldin is a lawyer, father of four sons, a long-term active participant in Jewish public initiatives, vice-president of the American Forum of the Russian-speaking Jewry.

My Universities

I am a lawyer, for the last 18 years a partner in my own firm Goldin & Rivin. We deal mainly with car accidents, accidents. But over the years of practice, I have gained experience in other areas of law, including real estate.
My family emigrated from Leningrad in 1977, when I was 6 years old. So all my education is American, with the exception of Russian, received in the family. Parents taught me Russian persistently and consistently, not giving indulgences to me or to myself. And in this I was very lucky. However, my parents succeeded not only in this. In America, they are fully implemented professionally. Father confirmed his medical degree and to this day works as a therapist. And her mother, a musician conductor, went into business, her latest hobby is tourism: 20 years ago, she opened her travel agency.
I was never attracted to medicine or the career of a musician. I was always more interested in history, politics ... I studied these subjects at New York University, from where I gradually moved to Lower Manhattan Law School - New York Law.
At the very beginning of my practice, victims in accidents reached out to me. Then I decided to specialize in the field of jurisprudence. At first my clients were entirely Russian-speaking, with time the contingent changed somewhat.

Saving rooting

I do not remember that sometime, even in childhood, I avoided the Russian community, as it often happened with my peers. Circumstances could push me to this: the Jewish school did not show proper hospitality to the boy who came from the Soviet Union. It was hard for me there at first. But I never tried to mimic - to adapt to the children around me, I did not run away from my family. My response to ridicule was, rather, hostility towards the world that does not accept me — the world of the Jewish school. However, this did not last long and left no trace in me: my ties with Jewry were very strong from my very childhood.
I studied at Yeshivah of Flatbush. I got there only thanks to my mother, she achieved that I, a boy from a poor (at that time) immigrant family, were accepted into an elite Jewish school. My first years of study were paid by a generous philanthropist.

In heder -
in the footsteps of great-grandfather

It was a natural way for our family: even though we came from Leningrad, we always remembered our Jewishness. My grandfather from my mother's side, who started his education in the cheder, spoke many languages, including Hebrew and Arabic, was an eminent agricultural professor. He, a Jew by the name of Yakubtsiner, was called the king of Russian wheat.
I do not know what kind of relationship my children will have with agronomy, but all four of my sons - 13, 10, 8 and 6 years - also began their education from the header. For my wife and I, this is so important that she takes children every day to a Jewish school in Brooklyn from Staten Island.
Our house is not kosher yet, but we are already observing Saturday. In addition, Saturday's wife prepares meals from glat kosher products. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, when I return from the synagogue, we sit down at the table with our whole family. I need to save the Jewishness of my children.
You go to the right ...
I am a big and sincere supporter of Israel, a patriot of the Jewish people. I am convinced that our people should grow spiritually, which means helping each other, always remembering the commandment: all Jews are responsible for each other. And all of us together should help our state. I firmly know that without Israel we will live much harder, if at all possible. Especially if you see what is happening in the world today. The level of assimilation is predetermined. The Internet carries a lot of temptations for young people, confuses it, deprives of clear guidelines, leads astray.
I myself always go where I can help, reach out to people who share my moods, close to me in spirit. So, besides the American Forum of the Russian-speaking Jewry, I work on the Board of Trustees of the American Jewish Committee, recently became an employee of AIPAC (American Israeli Political Action Committee). I had a chance to work on the board of directors of the Russian section of the UJA Federation, but that was a long time ago. I worked on a voluntary basis in all these organizations and structures - but I have a certain responsibility, I follow the protocol, I take this activity very seriously ...
I dream that Israel, the Jewish people, would think and move in the right direction. Both spiritually and politically. This, in my understanding, implies the preservation of the Jewish family order, traditions, development of Jewish education. I do not insist that every Jew be an ultra-Orthodox. For me, the synagogue is not just a place for prayers, not just an institution where our spirit is strengthened. This is the natural habitat of the family. In fulfilling the commandments, we grow spiritually as a people and enjoy the awareness of ourselves as Jews, the very membership of our people.
The American Forum is exactly the right movement that will certainly help ensure a secure future for our people. This road should move the Jewish youth. And I really hope to see my sons among her.
Interviewed by Naomi ZILBER