(Editor's note: Olga Likhttsinder, a talented Russian Jewish believer in Yeshua, is on the Board Of Directors of the Russian Community Life Center. She serves as our Secretary/Treasurer and prepares the best minutes we have ever seen. She is also active in Hope Of Israel Congregation, where one of her tasks is to provide private, instantaneous interpretation from Russian to English. Olga has a master's degree and works as a programmer for a bank in Manhattan.)

Vanity In The Soviet Union

All my life, growing up in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), I saw myself as a Jew. In fact, my parents had first met as young people in a synagogue. We never observed Jewish traditions, except for attending the synagogue on special occasions – just to listen. But the government did everything it could to be sure I knew I was Jewish. I saw that I was not like others, and that I had a tag on me – Jew. I thought, "Since I am Jewish, let me be proud of it."

Reading a lot of Jewish history books, I learned about the crusades, the inquisition and similar movements. This led me to believe that Christians always persecuted Jews. There is also a strong tradition of anti-Semitism in the Russian Orthodox Church. And, if a Jew did join this church, he would be required to renounce his Jewishness.

But I was an atheist and a materialist anyway, and I was not searching for God. When I visited a synagogue or a church building, it was mainly to learn about culture. I did

not see God there. The Bible was a forbidden book, and very hard to get. But people like what is forbidden, so my parents and I always wanted to have a Bible. Then, at last, we got one and all began to read it at once. It seemed to be a very interesting, philosophical book. My favorite part was Ecclesiastes, perhaps because I could understand it a little better. How true it was that "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2b) It seemed that this was our life. When I read this, I thought, "How precisely it is said!"

When the Soviet system ended, we realized that we had been lied to for so many years in so many ways. So I thought that materialism must also be a lie. Then I remembered that our teacher at school had told us about Jesus, who never existed. She had quoted from the Gospel of Luke and said it was all a lie. So I began to think that like materialism, atheism was also a lie . It seemed, too, that whatever we had been taught about our heroes, like Stalin and Lenin, must also be lies.

Many things were now allowed that had been forbidden – such as religious services and books. I read Dostoevski, whose books considered God and faith. I thought this must be right, because whatever the government had been telling us was a lie. But I did not really begin to search for God until our family immigrated to the United States.

Vulnerability In The United States

We had left almost everything behind – all of our friends, practically our whole lives. We came to a totally new country with a different culture, language, tradition and mentality. As for all immigrants, it was very difficult. It is hard to imagine unless you have experienced how different Russia is from the rest of the world. We felt so helpless, and thought a lot about what is important in life. We were lost and started looking for something.

Back in Russia we had depended on our own ability. But in our new country we felt poor and weak with no one to support us. We thought we might find this support from God. But how were we going to look for Him? We decided that most people in America believe in God, and they go to churches or synagogues. In this country we wanted to belong and be like others. So we went to the synagogue a few times, but we felt somehow like lower-class people. Also, the traditions and rituals meant very little to us.

I was almost ready to give up on my spiritual quest when God brought us to Hope Of Israel Congregation. This was so different! The people at Hope Of Israel told me about the real, living God and how He could change my life. They were like me – Russian Jewish immigrants with all of the same struggles in the new country. Yet they had something I did not – love, peace, patience and understanding toward others. I thought, "I want this, too." I wanted to experience the living God.

Value In The Jewish Messiah

I came to Him gradually. I thought about what I was reading in the Bible. I thought about what I was hearing in the services and when people witnessed to me. Finally, at one of the services, I prayed for the very first time. God opened my heart, and I, who had always thought of myself as a Jew, prayed to Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah and the Savior of all people.

My parents both came to salvation, too, and we began to serve the Lord eagerly. My father has since gone to be with Him, and my mother and I continue to bring the Good News to Russian Jews who are still lost in the darkness.

I have learned that there is a big difference between faith and religion=. Jewish people who equate Christianity with the crusades or the inquisition do not realize that a true Christian by faith would not kill Jews. Jesus is Jewish! He is God, who died for our sins and rose again so that we can have eternal life. Yeshua fulfills the Biblical Jewish faith and opens it to all people.

Since trusting Him as Messiah, I feel more Jewish than ever! Because of His love, Yeshua suffered judgment for me under the law of Moses, and now enables me to live for Him. He is the One who brings meaning to life.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)