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

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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.