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Misha Vilenchuk

Misha Vilenchuk

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Misha Vilenchuk is a true citizen of the world. He grew up in Moscow, Ashkelon (Israel) and the United States. Now, his work, education and life experiences are giving him the expertise to connect Jews around the globe.

At his day job as manager of KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad, Misha designs meaningful Jewish experiences and connections for young Jews, wherever their journey takes them; just this last Passover, he was part of the team that connected more than 1000 students to seders in 127 cities around the world . On his journey, he created the Coalition Against Anti-Semitism in Europe at Brandeis University and he also chaired the American Branch of the World Union of Jewish Students. He also volunteers around Chicago as a pro bono consultant to Jewish nonprofits and helps elderly Russian-speakers at events with JUF's Russian Jewish Division, where he sits on the board.

Last but not least, Misha is a United States Chess Federation-rated chess master who likes to spend Shabbat coaching young children in the game he loves.

AGE:
25

PRIMARY GIG:
Manager, Campus Operations and Development at KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad

ON THE SIDE:
I do search engine optimization work and teach chess.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS:
Taken

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME:
At one point in college, I thought I could stop global antisemitism and started two organizations to do so. We organized events at 19 campuses and on three different continents!

IF TIME AND MONEY WERE LIMITLESS, I WOULD:
With a third of it, I’d set up a fund that would help my parents retire and use it to support my family and donate to Jewish causes and causes that address inequities; With the second third, I’d invest in a lot of index funds; and with the last third, I’d travel the world and become a Talmudic scholar.

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