Sergei Zherdev, formerly of Jenkintown, and Rosalind Holtzman of Elkins Park were recently featured by The Philadelphia Inquirer for Holtzman’s help in ushering Zherdev’s newfound love of the Eagles after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

According to the article, Zherdev arrived in Jenkintown in mid-January when the Eagles were making a Super Bowl run. With little English or understanding of American football, he became captivated by the excitement and has been a fan ever since.

Zherdev, who is 46, used an interpreter for his interview with The Inquirer.

“Now, I see the Eagles logos everywhere and I read things about them, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I know that. That’s my team,’” he said.

From the article:

Zherdev came to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine, an emergency immigration program that President Joe Biden’s administration implemented after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Under the initiative, more than 125,000 refugees have been relocated to the U.S., where they can remain for up to two years.

After Zherdev settled in Jenkintown, he received support from a “welcome circle” of six Philly-area residents who work with the refugee services organization HIAS. During Zherdev’s first six months in America, the group helped with covering his living expenses, securing housing and employment, and navigating the health care system.

Zherdev’s “welcome circle” included Holtzman, who served as his cultural ambassador and showed Zherdev his first Eagles games at her Elkins Park home.

“I didn’t really understand the game itself, but I understood the emotions,” Zherdev said. “I had never seen this kind of connection [to a team] before. People being so emotional and involved in something like a team was surprising and really great.”

He has since moved to an apartment in Center City.

“God willing, if there’s a [championship] parade on Broad Street, he doesn’t live too far from there, so he could actually go watch it,” Holtzman, who is also a member of Congregation Kol Ami in Elkins Park, said.

For the full story by The Inquirer, you can click here.

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Photos courtesy of The Inquirer via Rosalind Holtzman