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

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16 Although Chabad has struggled for years with the rather unappealing premises occupied by the boys, no serious further renovation is planned for the former synagogue, said Rabbi Glick. However, he continued, the roof area of the girls’ home is being enclosed and will become a full apartment for the supervising family in residence. It will include a full bathroom and kitchen, said Rabbi Glick, unlike the current arrangements that force the family to share bathroom and kitchen facilities with the girls. With such private accommodations, the program should be able to attract a residential family on a long-term basis. In response to a question concerning the future plans of youngsters after they complete the yeshiva katana or machon, Rabbi Glick said that providing direction to further education for these young people after they complete high school was the “biggest problem” that he faced. Many of the girls, he observed, go on to a Chabad women’s college in Moscow or join relatives in Israel. The boys, stated Rabbi Glick, attend yeshivas in New York or France or go to Israel on their own. Commenting about the general situation in Dnipropetrovsk, Rabbi Glick said that the “shock” of the economic crisis of the last few years seems to have given way to “cynicism” and “desperation”. People are consumed with worry about such basic needs as food and medicine, he continued. Antisemitism has increased, he added, boosted by antisemitic sites online and by antisemitic responses to general Internet postings. 7. A Jewish big brother/big sister program was started in Dnipropetrovsk ten years ago with the active encouragement and assistance of the Jewish Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Boston, a constituent agency of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, the Boston Jewish federation. According to its executive director, Tatiana Kaplunskaya, the Dnipropetrovsk program now includes 57 pairs of older/younger siblings. Additional children are on a waiting list for big brothers or big sisters, said Ms. Kaplunskaya. Some former big brothers/sisters have withdrawn from the program as they have married or even have left Dnipropetrovsk, most going to Israel. Tatiana Kaplunskaya, left, heads the Jewish Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Dnipropetrovsk, assisted by Anya Abakunova. Ms. Abakunova is a graduate of School #144 and a current big sister in the program. Photo: the writer.
17 The overwhelming majority of little brothers/sisters enroll in JBB/BS through School #144, said Ms. Kaplunskaya. The remainder register through the local hesed. Some older siblings are enlisted through Hillel, others through friends, and an increasing number were younger siblings themselves in previous years. Diminished resources forced the program to suspend the provision of small monthly stipends to big siblings that enabled them to pay entrance fees into amusement parks or other venues, purchase light meals or snacks, and arrange transportation for themselves and their younger brothers/sisters. Instead, said Ms. Kaplunskaya, she now arranges monthly events for the entire group (such as ice skating parties, bowling, or visits to amusement parks) that include transportation, food, and, in some instances, prizes. On other occasions, activities are arranged for smaller groups, such as age cohorts. Groups always are accompanied by a psychologist, who observes youngsters and follows up when behavioral patterns suggest that some professional intervention is desirable. Group activities also facilitate the maintenance of kashrut, which often was ignored when pairs engaged in activities on their own, Ms. Kaplunskaya added. Notwithstanding the focus on group activities, continued Ms. Kaplunskaya, some big brothers/big sisters still remain able to meet individually with their younger siblings, sometimes taking them on walks or engaging in other low-key activities. Her dream, said Ms. Kaplunskaya, is to marshal sufficient resources to organize a Shabbaton, an event that would start on a Friday and conclude on a Sunday. The Jewish big brother/big sister program receives an annual subsidy from Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, the Boston Jewish federation. Ms. Kaplunskaya has visited the offices of the JBB/BS Association of Greater Boston and marvels at its infrastructure. 8. Iosif Masakovsky, a local former computer technology teacher, manages a continuum of Chabad Jewish education courses in which halachically Jewish students and other young adults are compensated for their attendance. The program begins with the STARS (Student Torah Alliance for Russian Speakers) course in which students are paid $45 monthly for participating in weekly gender-segregated classes; participants then move on to Stars Plus and other programs that pay $100 weekly for attendance at three weekly classes. Classes are held in the synagogue so that young people become accustomed to synagogue attendance. Coeducational celebrations of holidays are held, and some instructors invite small mixed groups of students to their homes for Shabbat. Iosif Masakovsky is a local individual, largely self-taught in Judaism. He manages an extensive program of Jewish education courses in which halachically Jewish participants are remunerated for attendance. Photo: the writer.
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: 15 boys’ home (a former synagogue
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
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Jewish Education and Culture 69 44.
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71 46. It is common in Ukraine and
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73 purchase new clothing. Donetsk,
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75 The fitness hall is a gift from
Page 77 and 78:
77 National and International Jewis
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79 drain”, but she doesn’t yet
Page 81 and 82:
Jewish Education and Culture 81 52.
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83 Surrounding the prayer hall are
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85 the program is very expensive to
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87 preschools. Authorities could fo
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89 in its generally poor neighborho
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91 connected to the Internet; howev
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93 60. Rabbi Yonatan and Mrs. Ina M
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95 accounting procedures require th
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97 Other individuals in Kyiv with w
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99 64. An organization bearing the
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101 group, but the young women them
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103 worked in Jewish schools and ca
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105 Lo Tishkach arranges all travel
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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
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129 accommodates modernity and thei
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