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

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20. Vyecheslav “Slavik” or “Zelig” Brez is the Executive Director (Исполнительный
директор) of the Philanthropic Fund of the Dnipropetrovsk Jewish Community
(Благотворительный фонд Днепропетровского еврейского общины), which
supports Chabad interests in the city. The 2010-2011 budget for the community is
$4.8 million, a modest increase over the 2009-2010 budget of $4.5 million. 33 However,
said Mr. Brez, as of March 30 [the date of the interview], the Philanthropic Fund had
only $4.2 million in cash and good pledges. He was very concerned about Chabad
ability to support its summer camps and certain facility renovations scheduled for the
summer months, he continued. Implementation of some new programs in adult Jewish
education has been delayed. However, notwithstanding the uncertainty of the Chabad
financial situation, the Philanthropic Fund had increased its allocations for care of the
sick by 30 percent, most of which was designated for surgical procedures and medications.
It was imperative to assist ill members of the local Jewish community, Mr. Brez
said; the cost of medical care had risen substantially, far beyond the means of many
families.
The Board of the Philanthropic Fund includes 85 members, each of whom contributes a
minimum of $500 monthly to the Fund, responded Mr. Brez to a question. If a Board
member falls behind in his payments, Mr. Brez continued, he may be retained on the
Board for six to 12 months. A few individuals who had been removed from the Board
for non-payment had recently re-joined the Board after paying all missed assessments.
The Chabad community was anticipating continuing cutbacks in the allocation from
Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, the Jewish federation in Dnipropetrovsk’s
sister-city. From a high of $200,000, the Boston allocation was expected to
dip to $120,000 in the current fiscal year. Boston funds support designated program
areas, such as Beit Baruch, the hip replacement program, food at School #144, and the
Big Brother/Big Sister program. 34
Board members serve on certain functional committees, such as Jewish education,
welfare, culture, media, and regional operations outside the city. However, said Mr.
Brez, it is difficult to find individuals who are willing to chair these committees.
Opportunity for leadership responsibility generally does not attract people to the
Board, he continued. 35
Consistent with its decision to allocate additional funds in support of medical care, the
Chabad community was proceeding with its plans to open a community medical clinic
on the ground floor of Beit Baruch, the assisted living center. A lay oversight
33 The Dnipropetrovsk Chabad fiscal year coincides with the Jewish calendar year. The projected budget
for 2008-2009 was $5.5 million, but this amount was slashed substantially in late 2008 after the onset of
the international economic crisis.
34 Allocations from the Boston Jewish community also support certain secular projects in Dnipropetrovsk,
such as a women’s gynecology center at a local hospital and a pediatric care center at another hospital.
35 The chairman of the Board of the Philanthropic Fund of the [Chabad] Dnipropetrovsk Jewish
Community and its largest donor is banking magnate Hennadiy Boholubov. Mr. Boholubov has held this
position since inception of the Fund.