Nadia Kasvin, settlement coordinator at Jewish Family Services, has helped the agency work with some 2,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union who have arrived in Columbus during the past 10 years. She cringes at being labeled Ukrainian, as most Americans view her. One reason she and other Jews fled the former U.S.S.R. was persecution by the dominant population. Adjusting to a new land is a challenge. They need to update skills and get licenses.
Some people have to choose a new career path.
Taste of diversity is easy to find Today's Columbus offers a plethora of ethnic stores, especially restaurants and groceries reflecting national or cultural identities. Shoppers can skip continents from the African Restaurant and Cafe on Cleveland Avenue to the Saigon Palace on Front Street. On the Northwest Side, Seoul Garden isn't too far from the Sitar of India. The North Market is a miniature melting pot of merchants such as Muhammed Jalaq, Luzmila Males and Raj Brar. Jalaq, a Palestinian, has steady work at his uncle's Firdous food stand at the market and hopes to save enough money to resume studies at Columbus State Community College.