Bernice Kazis has lived in the Boston area for most of her life. She worked as a teacher and later a social worker. She also aided her husband who served as the rabbi at Mishkan Tefilah for many years. Her involvement in the movement for Soviet Jewry began as a work assignment. She was employed by Jewish Family Services of the North Shore to resettle Soviet Jewish emigres. She organized English classes and helped the newcomers find housing and jobs. She and her husband also introduced them to Jewish customs and traditions. Now in her nineties, Kazis lives in Newton, Massachusetts, where she takes classes at Lasell College and does volunteer work.