Born in Ukraine, Katya made Aliyah with her family in 1998, when she was seven years old, settling in Afula in northern Israel. Shortly after moving to Israel, Katya got into fencing, ultimately winning multiple titles including the Israeli championship for fencing and became a member of the Israeli national fencing team. As a highly-ranked fencer, Katya had the opportunity to travel around the world competing and it was during those travels that she learned people didn’t know much about fencing or about Israel.
After completing her army service in Israel, where she was recruited to the Ordnance Corps and served in a special unit for athletes, Katya went on to get her fencing coach diploma from the Wingate institute and got a Bachelor’s in early childhood education from Beit Berl College. But after working as a preschool teacher for five years and coaching at Hapoel Kfar Saba Fencing Club, she wanted to experience something new and to experience for herself what life is like for American Jews – so Katya became a Jewish Agency Shlichah (Israeli emissary).
“I’m in my third and final year now of being a Shlichah in the Washington DC area and it’s amazing. My host community is so wonderful, welcoming and open-minded,” shared Katya. “Each emissary brings their own unique flavor and the community is so supportive. In fact, the sense of Jewish community here is stronger in some ways than in Israel, because it’s not taken for granted here.”
Before the Russia-Ukraine war started, Katya never felt her Ukraine identity was at the forefront of who she was. But now that’s changed. In fact, during Passover in April 2022, Katya traveled to Poland for 10 days through The Jewish Agency, with cooperation from other Jewish organizations, to volunteer to help Ukrainian refugees.
“It was a very meaningful experience to see how we as Jews come together in these types of situations, how we are there for each other and take care of one another…It really showed the power of the global Jewish community,” Katya reflected. “And it made me understand how my role as a Shlichah in America is bringing to life the idea that being Israeli is not one specific type of people — that there are different cultures and even languages — but that we are connected by our homeland and our heritage.”
As a Shlichah in DC, Katya plans Jewish and Israel-focused programs and activities and helps run Hebrew enrichment classes for young kids where they read Hebrew stories using puppets and art. In addition, she organizes electives with kids of all ages and works at a Jewish after-school program.
“I’m enjoying the work very much and feel like I’m making a difference, bringing my personal Israeli perspective and background together with my enthusiasm for Israel to the community, building and strengthening connections,” said Katya. “And I know when I return to Israel, I’ll bring back a deeper understanding of American Jewry – because they do a lot for Israel and Israelis don’t know about it enough – so I’ll continue to be an emissary back home too.”
