IsraelCast Episode 82

This week on IsraelCast, Steven Shalowitz has a conversation on survival, strength, and resilience with former Soviet Refusenik, Marina Furman. In this sit down, Marina speaks on her ten year struggle with the Soviet government and the “hell” she went through to immigrate to Israel. Listen to Marina elaborate on the importance of fighting for what you believe in and why Israel has a special place in her heart.

Marina Furman is a refusenik, activist, distinguished speaker, and the former Executive Director for Jewish National Fund’s Eastern PA and Southern NJ regions. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Marina spent ten years fighting the Soviet government for the right to immigrate to Israel. Finally, in 1988, Marina, her husband Lev, one of the most prominent underground Hebrew teachers in the former Soviet Union, and their daughter Aliyah made aliyah to Israel. Their second daughter, Michal, was born in Ra'anana in 1994 and became the first sabra in the family. While in Israel, Marina worked for Ze’ev Bielski, the Mayor of Ra'anana, as Director of Resettlement, and conducted more than fifty speaking tours around the world. In 1998, Marina was appointed the Executive Community schlicha (emissary) in Philadelphia, and she and her family moved to the U.S. In 2002, Marina joined Jewish National Fund, combining her professional life and passion for supporting Israel.