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

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In response to a question, Dr. Schupak said that antisemitism is increasing in
Ukraine. He attributed its growth to several factors. First, he said, is the influence of
several rightwing politicians, particularly Oleh Tyahnibok of the nationalist All-Ukrainian
Union Freedom Party. Through inflammatory rhetoric, Mr. Tyahnibok arouses “radical
tendencies” just below the surface in many Ukrainians, stated Dr. Schupak. Second,
continued Dr. Schupak, soccer hooliganism and similar mob action often includes
antisemitic rhetoric. Third, he declared, the ease of using the Internet has provided a
new vehicle for expression of anti-Jewish bigotry in general; in particular, he said, news
stories about the financial successes of certain Jewish oligarchs spawn antisemitic
commentary not only about the specific oligarch, but also about the Jewish people and
about Israel. Another medium for the expression of antisemitism, commented Dr.
Schupak, is vandalism in Jewish cemeteries; headstones may be toppled or defaced
with swastikas.
Welfare
15. Hesed Menachem, the JDC-sponsored welfare center, is centrally located in a
large building constructed originally as a preschool. In the absence of Hesed Director
Anatoliy Pleskachevsky, who was in Israel during the writer’s visit, several other hesed
professionals were consulted. 24 Some anxiety among staff was palpable as the hesed
faces declining financial resources from year to year. JDC has terminated or sharply
reduced some services to Jewish elderly, usually by tightening eligibility requirements
so that fewer seniors qualify for specific benefits. In the meantime, the current building
continues to deteriorate as the hesed is among the community institutions slated to
move to the new Menorah Center as soon as it is completed. 25 Obviously, it makes little
sense to renovate a building that soon will be abandoned.
The hesed maintains limited support services (such as issuing discount grocery cards)
to about 7,000 elderly clients in Dnipropetrovsk and is a base for services to about
1,000 additional Jewish aged who live in nearby cities, such as Pavlograd and
Dniprodzerzhinsk. Additionally, about 500 Jewish families receive welfare and other
assistance to deal with poverty, psychological issues, vocational needs, legal problems,
and childcare skills. About 120 special needs children rotate through the hesed in
disability-related groups for recreational and socializing purposes. 26
A distribution center at the hesed continues to loan medical equipment, such as
wheelchairs and walkers, free of charge to those who need it. However, said staff
members, a local factory that manufactures many such items recently declared
bankruptcy and has closed. Replacing this local source of supply with another
24 See pages 45-47 for an interview with Esther Katz, JDC director for the region.
25 Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki believes that all local Jews, including the infirm and elderly, should be
comfortable in the new Menorah Center and has insisted that the hesed be located there.
26
The approach of the Special Needs Educational Resource Center at Beit Chana is geared more
toward education than toward recreation.