Mishmash Group

The campaign to free Soviet Jewry is a major event in Jewish history. By 1992, one and a half million Jews had left the Soviet Union to live in freedom as a direct result of what was likely the most successful human rights campaign of all times.

“Refusenik” is the first retrospective documentary to chronicle the thirty-year movement to free Soviet Jews. It shows how a small grassroots effort bold enough to take on a Cold War superpower blossomed into an international human rights campaign that engaged the disempowered and world leaders alike. Told through the eyes of activists on both sides of the Iron Curtain - many of whom survived punishment in Soviet Gulag labor camps.
This documentary is an example of well-crafted storymaking at its finest. Original interviews with key leaders of the movement are fascinating, as are the archival photographs and film footage — some of it made and smuggled out of the Soviet Union by activists who had traveled to Russia on tourist visas.

What: Screening of “Refusenik” followed by discussion led by Boris Vladimirsky
When: Thursday, April 23rd at 7:30pm
Where: JCC Palo Alto, Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Room H1, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
Who: Russian speaking young adults
Cost: $5

Mishmash group invites you to take part in a special artistic-style event. This time in San Francisco!

The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, which officially opened the doors to its new building on June 8, 2008, is a unique architectural vision that offers a wide range of dynamic exhibitions.

We are happy to invite you to visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco and to take a free guided tour of the Dateline 09 exhibition that presents the works of two leading Israeli artists: Adi Nes, who works in photography, and Yael Bartana, who works in film and video.

Adi Nes: Biblical Stories is a modern-day retelling of familiar stories from the Hebrew Bible. Using cinematic techniques and referencing iconic works in the history of painting and photography, Nes re-imagines biblical scenes in contemporary settings.

Yael Bartana: Short Memory showcases several of artisit’s groundbreaking films that address social and political issues in contemporary Israel.

What: The guided tour of Dateline 09 exhibition in the Contemporary Jewish Museum
When: Sunday, March 1st at 3pm
Where: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission Street, San Francisco
Language: English (with informal conversations in Russian before and after the tour)
Cost: Free with RSVP

Places are limited and will be reserved on first come first serve basis.
Please RSVP to info@mishmashgroup.org, otherwise we won’t be able to reserve a place for you in the guided tour.

We are happy to announce the next Mishmash meeting, which will be dedicated to a fascinating theme: Jews in Soviet Film, presented by an outstanding speaker and cinema expert, Boris Vladimirsky (Ph.D in Performing Arts)

Some of you already had an opportunity to hear Boris’s presentation about Jews in Soviet film during 30’s and 40’s, which took place at the Mitbachon retreat in San Rafael. Due to numerous demands, we are happy to present this workshop to the whole Mishmash community. This time, we will watch and discuss the Soviet movies related to the “thaw” period (50’s and 60’s).

Our meetings run in informal social atmosphere. There is always a little something to drink and a little something to nosh. Please come and bring your friends!

What: Jews in Soviet Film. Jews as movie makers and as movie characters: The Thaw, 1953-1967, presented by Boris Vladimirsky
When: Thursday, February 5th at 7:30pm
Where: JCC Palo Alto, Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Building R, Palo Alto, CA, 94303 (see this map)

For additional information please contact us at info@mishmashgroup.org

MishMash—the group that brings together Russian Jewish young adults of the San Francisco Bay Area—invites you to a celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday of lights!

Come join us and other young Russian-Jewish young adults in lighting the first candle of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday of lights!

Enjoy the sufganiyot and the unique Hanukkah bar, take part in the dreidel gambling, play Hanukkah games and win great prizes in the raffle!

Bring your friends and smiling faces to the celebration on Sunday, December 21st, 5pm at the Cubberley Community Center, Room H6 (4000 Middlefield rd., Palo Alto)

Entrance fee (including 2 complimentary drinks):
$5 with RSVP by December 20th 5pm to info@mishmashgroup.org
$10 at the door

Happy Holidays!