HIAS Chicago Commemorates Victory Day

The Day We Must Remember
by Maya Gumirov

More than 27 million Soviet Union residents perished during World War II. Victory Day commemorates the victory over fascism and remembers the sacrifice and bravery of those who made this victory possible at the cost of their life. Most of the Russian-speaking people who live in Greater Chicago speak about these times in personal terms: “my grandfather was killed in the battle for Stalingrad”, “my mother and I suffered through the Leningrad siege”, “while my dad was fighting the Nazis at the front line, my father’s village was burned and my family went to the ghetto”...

On May 10th at Temple Judea Mispah in Skokie a special program was held to pay tribute to the family members who some of us never knew because of this war, and to those others who survived and gave us life…

This commemoration was a program sponsored by Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS), EZRA, CJE Senior Life, HIAS Chicago, and Holocaust Community Services of JCFS, supported by the Peter Polsky Freedom Fund and the Bright Future International Fund.

…When I think about World War II, I’m thinking about my Grandpas – both of them, Grandpa Zachary and Grandpa Moisey, fought on the same front lines all war long. They called it though differently: for my grandparents as for all Russian Jews who heeded the call of duty to protect their country it was a Great Patriotic War.

When Nazis swept through the Soviet Union in 1941, some half a million Jewish men and women donned Red Army uniform and learned how to use guns and heavy artillery to throw themselves at the Nazi war machine. Yet, the Soviet propaganda was good at stereotypes: they said Jewish don’t fight on front lines, in best case scenario -propaganda called Jewish soldiers Soviet soldiers.
By the end of war more than 200,000 young Jewish service men and women had given their lives fighting for the Soviet motherland.

My grandfathers were fortunate to survive the war and live to Victory day in 1945. They come back home only to learn about the devastation of the Holocaust that affected every Jewish family and took a toll on my family as well.

I never saw my Grandpa Moisey; he died shortly after the war from a head contusion and other wounds he got on the front line. To preserve a legacy of Moisey my parents named me Maya after him. Just one letter in our names is the same, but I was told he had a soul of a caregiver, and so do I.

Grandpa Zachary lived long enough to share some stories with me and his other 15 grandchildren. Grandpa Zachary did not like to talk about the war; he was always saying that kids should not know what horror he went through, and that’s why he always made his stories humorous, or lighthearted, so we would not be scared. Grandpa died on Victory Day, May 9 of 1987, so for my family it is really a day of celebration of the Victory day over Nazi and commemoration of my Grandpas.

My kids come from school these days telling me about the World War II they learned about in school, and I understand they know so very little. They also don’t know what experiences during the war their family had…what devastation that war caused to people in Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Therefore, today it’s important for me to speak up on behalf of those 36,000 refugees and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union wh,o for the last 30 years, have been resettled in Chicago. Of this community, one third were directly involved in the war and two thirds were affected by it.

The 67-th Anniversary of Victory Day gathered together about 200 people from the Former Soviet Union. They paid a special tribute to the brave Soviet Jewish soldiers and their families who fought and sacrificed their lives in World War II. These heroes still live among us; they are our grandparents and great grandparents who fought not only for their freedom from Nazis, but also for our chance to be born and continue a Circle of Life. May their lives be honored and cherished.

Resettlement in the United States

We assist newcomers in the United States to:

• Understand U.S. immigration policies, laws and procedures
• Adjust their immigration status to lawful permanent residency
• Apply for political asylum
• Seek restitution for hardships endured during World War II
• Locate long lost friends and family members

Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Residence

HIAS Chicago strongly urges clients to adjust their status to permanent resident (green card holder) as soon as they are eligible to do so. Obtaining a “green card” or lawful permanent residency is the crucial first step that a refugee, parolee or asylee must take to ensure their rights and protection under U.S. law. The green card is a very important immigration document that is used in the workplace and other institutions as proof of eligibility for employment, education, healthcare and access to public benefits. Lawful permanent residency is a mandatory prerequisite to U.S. citizenship. 

HIAS Chicago staff will assist you in determining whether you meet the eligibility criteria and, if you do so, will assist you in completing the permanent residence application, translate all related documents and file your application in compliance with standards set forth by the Immigration Service.

For Refugees: After being physically present in the U.S. for one year, a refugee can apply for “lawful permanent residency” (LPR). The processing period with the Immigration Service for a green card for refugees may take up to six months or more.

For Parolees: According to current U.S. law, individuals from the former Soviet Union who were paroled in the public interest into the U.S. after denial of refugee status, are eligible to apply for permanent residence (green card) one year after arrival in the U.S. The processing period for a green card with the Immigration Service for parolees may take up to six months or more. We encourage parolees to call HIAS Chicago so that we may assist you in applying for permanent residence.

For Asylees: An asylee is eligible to apply for permanent residence (green card) after being physically present in the U.S. for one year following the grant of Asylum. Asylees are encouraged to apply for adjustment of status at the earliest opportunity. The processing period for asylees may take up to six months or more.

DV Lottery—Diversity Visa Lottery

For each of the past several years, the United States government has awarded legal permanent residence (“Green Cards”) to 50,000 eligible winners and their families who are chosen randomly from those who send applications to the U.S. State Department’s annual “Diversity Visa Lottery.”
The information required on a Lottery application, and the method of submitting one has changed over the years, but HIAS Chicago staff is kept informed of all these changes and are qualified to assist those who wish to make an application to the lottery for themselves, family, or friends.