I'm Aiton Weinstein.

And I'm Naor Menninger.

And you're listening to Two Nice Jewish Boys.

In the 1990s, the Iron Curtain finally came down, making it possible for approximately

1 million Russian-speaking Jews to flee and immigrate to Israel. It was the biggest single

immigration wave in Israel since the 1950s. But many things have changed since Israel began

accepting immigrants, or Olim, as they are called in Hebrew, in the golden years of the 1950s.

Then the concept of the melting pot embraced by Ben-Gurion in the

hope of creating one homogenous Israeli culture, kept the Israeli society from disintegrating into

secluded factions by enforcing severe pressure to erase the past completely and assimilate at any

cost. But that policy has dissipated over time.

The result was, and in many ways still is, a cultural chaos. Amidst this chaos, enters Alex Riff,

a daughter to Russian-speaking parents. Alex was raised as an Israeli, but realized that

something inside her longs for her ancestors' Russian culture.

She formed the group Generation 1.5 and the goal of bringing new life to the Russian-Israeli culture.

Alex joins us today to speak about her struggles, her hopes, and her initiatives.

This podcast is made in collaboration with the Jewish Journal.

What would you say is the most Russian thing about you?

Wow. I hope that's not like politically incorrect.

My most Russian thing.

Hmm. That's a tough question.

Well, actually, maybe the most Russian thing is I'm actually not Russian.

...