LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending RAJE, the Russian American Jewish
Experience, upon the occasion of its Second Annual Banquet on February
9, 2010, and honoring Dmitriy Salita

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose
endeavors have a significant impact on the lives of those they serve;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
RAJE (Russian American Jewish Experience) of the Russian Division of
Gateways, upon the occasion of its Second Annual Banquet, to be held at
Sotheby's on February 9, 2010, and to honor Dmitriy Salita; and
WHEREAS, Since 1998, the Gateways Organization has dedicated itself to
education in values and ethical living, and to reconnecting people with
their Jewish heritage; and
WHEREAS, Nearly a million Jews from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) have
made their home in America, including thousands upon thousands in New
York City and New York State, and given the opportunities of our great
nation, many have flourished; and
WHEREAS, Yet the seeds of spiritual and communal destruction implanted
by the Soviet regime helped create a crisis of Jewish and communal iden-
tity which, if left unabated, could jeopardize the survival of this
important Russian American community; and
WHEREAS, To address this monumental challenge, the RAJE Leadership
Fellowship was created to train and inspire a new generation of communi-
ty leaders; and
WHEREAS, Dmitriy Salita will be honored at the dinner with the Pride
of Israel Award; and
WHEREAS, Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Dmitriy moved with his family to
Brooklyn at the age of nine; and
WHEREAS, He started boxing at the age of 13 at the Starrett City
Boxing Club and in 2001 won the Golden Gloves 139-pound open title at
the Theater at Madison Square Garden; the 3-2 decision won by Salita in
the Golden Gloves finals earned Salita the Sugar Ray Robinson Award as
the outstanding boxer in the tournament; and
WHEREAS, After he moved to Brooklyn, Dmitriy Salita was exposed to
Judaism and became an observant Jew; he strictly follows Jewish law - if
he has a fight on a Saturday, it must begin after sundown, the end of
the Sabbath; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend RAJE for its
purposeful endeavors and commitment to the preservation and enhancement
of the rich religious, ethnic, and cultural heritage of the Russian
American Jewish community which has become such a valued and integral
part of the community of the City and State of New York; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend RAJE upon the occasion of its Second Annual Banquet on February
9, 2010, and to honor Dmitriy Salita, recipient of the Pride of Israel
Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to RAJE and to Dmitriy Salita.