(Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Krivoi Rog, Donetsk, and Kyiv) Report of a ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

102 aspects of Jewish life, she said, but she believes that Israel is a “ghetto” and she has no interest in that country. 90 67. JAFARI (Jewish safari) is an organization that creates Jewish cultural and educational programs for the Kyiv Jewish population. Its primary event is a mobile Jewish scavenger hunt that operates every other week with a hiatus during the coldest winter months. Leaders Masha Putskova and Marina Lisak explained that five or more people participate as a team in a vehicle. The hunt begins several hours after the end of Shabbat and usually continues for four hours, although a separate version can be arranged for two hours. The late hours of competition, said the two women, assures that traffic will be relatively light. Up to 20 cars compete in each hunt, seven of them regularly and the others on an occasional basis. Most individuals are young adults, said Ms. Putskova and Ms. Lisak, but family groups also participate. Young couples with small children are welcome if the youngsters are seated in appropriate child seats. Participants pay a small entry fee to cover expenses. Information about the hunts is transmitted through social networking Internet sites and by word of mouth. Most competitions are structured around a specific theme, such as a particular Jewish historic figure or event. Participants are given a set of 10 envelopes to be opened in a numbered sequence; each envelope contains a clue, often written in a humorous or ironic style, about a specific building or monument related to the theme. Upon reaching the building or monument, participants call or text information to the organizers that verifies identification of the target. The organizer may ask for certain details about the site. Those responding correctly are authorized to open the next envelope and proceed in the search. Occasionally, said the two women, colleagues are posted at a specific site to check that the cars did indeed reach the intended target. At a certain time after midnight, all competitors gather at the Aroma café for coffee, a presentation on the significance of the theme that was being pursued that evening, and a summary of competition results. 91 In response to a question, the two women said that police and many ordinary citizens are familiar with such urban safaris and are not troubled by groups of cars showing up at a specific site for a few minutes and then driving off to other sites. Ms. Putskova and Ms. Lisak also own a company called Купи слона (Buy an Elephant, a reference to well-known Russian children’s literature), which carries the tagline an agency of positive emotions. This firm creates and manages events for children, including parties, tours, and even Hebrew-language instruction. They have 90 The young woman in question was raised in a city south of Kyiv in which Bundism retains some adherents. 91 Aroma café in Kyiv is one of a number of international cafés modeled on, and owned by, the popular Aroma cafés in Israel.
103 worked in Jewish schools and camps and also in city-wide Purim celebrations. They also have developed special Jewish safaris for particular organizations. Additionally, they lead Hebrew-language tours of Kyiv for visiting Israelis. Outside the Jewish communal infrastructure, they have created secular events for large international companies, such as McDonald’s and Procter & Gamble. Masha Putskova, left, was a philosophy major in university and now teaches Hebrew and is active in various aspects of Jewish culture. Marina Lisak, right, is an investment manager. The two women studied Hebrew in JAFI ulpans and now create and manage popular Jewish cultural events. Photo: the writer. 68. The Lo Tiskach Foundation – European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative was established in 2006 with the goal of gathering and organizing all known data on European Jewish burial grounds so that it is readily accessible to all interested individuals. 92 A critical component of the program is engagement of young European Jews in this task so that they learn about the burial grounds and pre-Holocaust Jewish life and culture in surrounding communities. Lo Tishkach participants are expected to undertake practical work in the preservation and protection of these cemeteries and mass graves. Lo Tishkach was founded by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany and the Conference of European Rabbis. Its Ukraine representation was initiated in 2009 with financial support from the Genesis Philanthropic Group (Moscow) and both financial and logistical support from the Ukrainian Vaad (Association of Jewish Organizations of Ukraine). 93 The writer met with Yana Yanover, coordinator of the Lo Tishkach Ukraine office, which is located within Vaad premises in Kyiv. Ms. Yanover said that the Lo Tishkach program in Ukraine expands upon work previously done under the supervision of Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, Chief Rabi of Kyiv and Ukraine, and the United States Commission for Preservation of the American 92 Lo Tishkach (Heb., חכשת אל) is translated as Do not Forget. In addition to creating a data base of all European Jewish burial grounds, information is gathered about local laws and practices affecting their protection and preservation. Data thus assembled facilitates advocacy for maintenance of these sites. The headquarters of Lo Tishkach are located in Brussels. See their website at www.lo-tishkach.org. 93 See pages 114-116 for further information about the Vaad.
Page 1 and 2:
OBSERVATIONS ON JEWISH COMMUNITY LI
Page 3 and 4:
3 begin to pay taxes that they had
Page 5 and 6:
5 Dnipropetrovsk Founded in 1778 on
Page 7 and 8:
7 The major entrance to the Menorah
Page 9 and 10:
9 The preschool is operating “at
Page 11 and 12:
11 pupils (503) and the number of y
Page 13 and 14:
13 families whose relationship to C
Page 15 and 16:
15 boys’ home (a former synagogue
Page 17 and 18:
17 The overwhelming majority of lit
Page 19 and 20:
19 homes, sometimes bringing them s
Page 21 and 22:
21 program in Kharkiv come to Beit
Page 23 and 24:
23 return for the teaching done by
Page 25 and 26:
25 started as more funds become ava
Page 27 and 28:
27 Holocaust, and rebirth of Jewish
Page 29 and 30:
29 manufacturer inevitably will ent
Page 31 and 32:
31 Two newcomers were expected to j
Page 33 and 34:
33 individual needs, providing food
Page 35 and 36:
35 managing. He has heard of very f
Page 37 and 38:
37 committee for the clinic was est
Page 39 and 40:
39 Jewish community. Another 120 in
Page 41 and 42:
41 Natalia Rier, who directs the lo
Page 43 and 44:
43 speakers are fluent in English a
Page 45 and 46:
45 The consul noted that the ICC wi
Page 47 and 48:
47 Ms. Katz confirmed that Hesed Me
Page 49 and 50:
49 Dnipropetrovsk. The relationship
Page 51 and 52: 51 It is very difficult to raise mo
Page 53 and 54: 53 are the daughters of local rabbi
Page 55 and 56: 55 requires that all private school
Page 57 and 58: 57 Vkontakte, to recruit students a
Page 59 and 60: 59 seniors purchase in order to rec
Page 61 and 62: 61 Rabbi Moskovitz noted, a busines
Page 63 and 64: 63 writer met with George Faingold,
Page 65 and 66: 65 males if they would willingly se
Page 67 and 68: 67 utilities, petrol, transportatio
Page 69 and 70: Jewish Education and Culture 69 44.
Page 71 and 72: 71 46. It is common in Ukraine and
Page 73 and 74: 73 purchase new clothing. Donetsk,
Page 75 and 76: 75 The fitness hall is a gift from
Page 77 and 78: 77 National and International Jewis
Page 79 and 80: 79 drain”, but she doesn’t yet
Page 81 and 82: Jewish Education and Culture 81 52.
Page 83 and 84: 83 Surrounding the prayer hall are
Page 85 and 86: 85 the program is very expensive to
Page 87 and 88: 87 preschools. Authorities could fo
Page 89 and 90: 89 in its generally poor neighborho
Page 91 and 92: 91 connected to the Internet; howev
Page 93 and 94: 93 60. Rabbi Yonatan and Mrs. Ina M
Page 95 and 96: 95 accounting procedures require th
Page 97 and 98: 97 Other individuals in Kyiv with w
Page 99 and 100: 99 64. An organization bearing the
Page 101: 101 group, but the young women them
Page 105 and 106: 105 Lo Tishkach arranges all travel
Page 107 and 108: 107 Ukraine in this period. They cl
Page 109 and 110: 109 kashrut, and/or work in secular
Page 111 and 112: 111 Odesa, said Rabbi Dukhovny, pro
Page 113 and 114: The writer observed 12 to 15 univer
Page 115 and 116: 115 and funds simply do not exist,
Page 117 and 118: 117 rightwing antisemites, i.e., ne
Page 119 and 120: 119 songs, the Holocaust, Jewish he
Page 121 and 122: 121 countries are eligible for aliy
Page 123 and 124: 123 The JDC welfare caseload in the
Page 125 and 126: 125 In response to a question, both
Page 127 and 128: 127 Commentary 84. The Jewish popul
Page 129: 129 accommodates modernity and thei
show all

(Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Krivoi Rog, Donetsk, and Kyiv) Report of a ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?