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

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110 rooms, and offices. The premises also serve as a base for World Union of Progressive Judaism activities in Ukraine. Hatikvah Congregation operates a family Sunday school, said Rabbi Dukhovny, which includes English-language instruction, art, and drama. About 25 teens are active in a Netzer youth club. The congregation also sponsors Jewish activities in two municipal preschools in Kyiv that enroll a total of 65 children. Parents of some of the children in these kindergartens are active in Hatikvah. The World Union for Progressive Judaism currently is raising funds for new Hatikvah premises, Rabbi Dukhovny stated. The desired property will be between 300 and 500 square meters, which will accommodate existing Hatikvah/WUPJ programs in the Ukrainian capital (excluding the preschools) and allow room for expansion. The likely site, continued Rabbi Dukhovny, is a floor or significant portion of a floor in a modern commercial building near public transportation. He is confident that more attractive premises will bring new members to Hatikvah. Rabbi Alexander Dukhovny stands in front of the ark in the Kyiv Hatikvah Congregation, joined by Alexandra Haydar, President of Hatikvah. Photo: the writer. Forty-nine WUPJ congregations exist in Ukraine, all of which are appropriately registered with relevant state authorities. Twenty-eight of these operate a full range of activities, said Rabbi Dukhovny, and the remainder offer selected programs. WUPJ subsidizes only two of these congregations, Hatikvah in Kyiv and the Progressive congregation in Yevpatoriya. 100 Seven congregations have their own physical premises, usually pre-war synagogues that were restored to the Jewish community after being used for other purposes in past decades. Rabbi Dukhovny observed that possession of physical premises often brings Jewish businessmen into the community because they see an actual structure that they can develop and maintain. Congregational twinning programs with congregations in the West usually are key components in the success of various local congregations, noted Rabbi Dukhovny. The additional funds that these relationships generate often enable local groups to offer programs that they could not otherwise support. About 20 WUPJ congregations in western countries assist Ukrainian congregations in this manner, Rabbi Dukhovny said; however, some such relationships are more active than others. 100 Yevpatoriya hosts one of three WUPJ congregations in Crimea. Collectively, these congregations are served by Rabbi Mikhail Kapustin, the only other WUPJ rabbi in Ukraine.
111 Odesa, said Rabbi Dukhovny, probably will be the next WUPJ congregation to be assigned a rabbi. The Odesa WUPJ congregation is very active, led by a five-person board, four of whose members are returnees from Israel. In response to a question, Rabbi Dukhovny stated that three Russian-speaking Reform/Progressive rabbinical students are enrolled at the Abraham Geiger College in Potsdam and one is studying at Leo Baeck Rabbinic Training Seminary in London. 101 Notwithstanding continuing efforts by some Orthodox rabbis to delegitimize Progressive/Reform Judaism, Rabbi Dukhovny believes that liberal Judaism is increasingly accepted as an authentic expression of the Jewish faith. He noted that he has been asked to lead community services at Babi Yar, lead Jewish education programs for employees of the Joint Distribution Committee, and teach in Limmud. 102 The JDC connection is evident, Rabbi Dukhovny continued, in the growing activism of a number of hesed directors across Ukraine in local WUPJ congregations. In fact, said Rabbi Dukhovny, five hesed directors are chairmen of Progressive congregations. In some cases, Rabbi Dukhovny noted, WUPJ congregations with foreign sponsors are able to recruit these supporters to contribute to hesed welfare programs as well. In response to a question, Rabbi Dukhovny said that WUPJ in Ukraine will hold a twosession summer camp in Crimea, each encampment enrolling about 100 youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17 for a session of eight to ten days. Both sessions have waiting lists, stated Rabbi Dukhovny. A significant operating subsidy is provided by the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund (Joods Humanitair Fonds), 103 but families are asked to pay $62 per camper per session. Rabbi Dukhovny noted that efforts are made to develop leadership among the older campers and, indeed, some youngsters between the ages of 15 and 17 actually lead services at camp and in their home congregations. Rabby Dukhovny stated that he is pleased with the accomplishments of the Reform/Progressive movement in Ukraine. At age 60, he continued, he is beginning to think about retirement, but has not yet determined his plans for the future. 72. The Masorti/Conservative movement maintains a center within the premises of the Ukrainian Vaad in Kyiv. Although no rabbi currently is in residence at the center, that situation is expected to change in early 2012 when a Russian-speaking student currently completing studies at the Israeli Masorti seminary in Jerusalem is ordained as 101 Because the government of the Federal Republic of Germany pays for training of clergy, WUPJ now is directing most of its rabbinic students outside English-speaking countries or Israel to the Potsdam program. 102 Rabbi Dukhovny expressed anger about an interview with Rabbi Bleich that appeared in a Ukrainian magazine in which the latter said that Reform Judaism is not authentic Judaism. See “Янки с украинскими корнями,” Weekly UA, #12 (April 2010). 103 See footnote 87.
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OBSERVATIONS ON JEWISH COMMUNITY LI
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3 begin to pay taxes that they had
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5 Dnipropetrovsk Founded in 1778 on
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7 The major entrance to the Menorah
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9 The preschool is operating “at
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11 pupils (503) and the number of y
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13 families whose relationship to C
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15 boys’ home (a former synagogue
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17 The overwhelming majority of lit
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19 homes, sometimes bringing them s
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21 program in Kharkiv come to Beit
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23 return for the teaching done by
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25 started as more funds become ava
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27 Holocaust, and rebirth of Jewish
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29 manufacturer inevitably will ent
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31 Two newcomers were expected to j
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33 individual needs, providing food
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35 managing. He has heard of very f
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37 committee for the clinic was est
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39 Jewish community. Another 120 in
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41 Natalia Rier, who directs the lo
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43 speakers are fluent in English a
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45 The consul noted that the ICC wi
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47 Ms. Katz confirmed that Hesed Me
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49 Dnipropetrovsk. The relationship
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51 It is very difficult to raise mo
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53 are the daughters of local rabbi
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55 requires that all private school
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57 Vkontakte, to recruit students a
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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 and 102: 101 group, but the young women them
Page 103 and 104: 103 worked in Jewish schools and ca
Page 105 and 106: 105 Lo Tishkach arranges all travel
Page 107 and 108: 107 Ukraine in this period. They cl
Page 109: 109 kashrut, and/or work in secular
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
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