The Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto celebrates Russian culture every spring by sponsoring a week of cultural entertainment and educational events. Throughtout the week the Jewish Community Center organizes evening events such as performances of traditional Russian dancers, talks given by famous Russian people or people who have great knowledge about the Russian community as well as culture, such as Thomas Keneally, author of Schindler's List. In addition, they organize a Russian Film Festival, which attempts to explore Jewish life in Post-Soviet Ukraine and other Soviet states.
Other events include concerts given by distinguished Russian musicians such as Emelia Serebrennikova who is a well-known pianist, and exhibits which display contemporary Russian art. To close the Russian Festival, the Jewish Community Center organizes an unforgetable Russian Fair entertainment and educational events. They have over thirty booths of arts and crafts as well as Moscow circus clowns, Russian acrobats, gymnasts, carnival games, chess tournaments, puppet theather, outdoor music concerts, and of course, Russian food and pasteries.
The Russian Festival is a celebration to which everyone is invited. The only requirement is to have the Russian spirit to celebrate and be willing to learn about the Russian culture.
"Moscow on the Peninsula: Russian Fair is set to Begin," San Jose Mercury News, Saturday, 23 April 1994, Morning Final Edition, Sec. Religion and Ethics p.10c
"San Jose Area," San Jose Mercury News, Friday, 23 April 1993, Morning Final Edition, Sec. Eye p.30
Dora Arredondo