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

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46 however, she continued, it is possible that some will become volunteers in some capacity. On the other hand, she noted, it is obvious that some children in these family camps admire the madrichim [leaders, especially of youth programs, many of whom are Hillel activists], so it is possible that some of the youngsters will assume activist roles. 47 Speaking about the economy, Ms. Katz said that the private sector is much more developed in Dnipropetrovsk than in other Ukrainian cities, but, nonetheless, the local economy remains very problematic. Officially, unemployment is 8.7 percent, she said, but actual unemployment is much higher and is increasing. Huge industrial plants close, she continued, and throw thousands of people out of work. Technically, some or all people remain on the payroll, but they are not receiving salaries; because they remain on an official payroll list, no unemployment insurance is activated. Some factories, she continued, supplied nearby markets in neighboring Russia, but lost these markets when the Soviet Union collapsed. Ms Katz observed that eastern Ukraine has many “monogorods” [моногород], single-industry towns in which the local economy falls apart when a large factory closes. Further, added Ms. Katz, new taxes are “killing” the emerging middle class and destroying small businesses. The taxes have been introduced incrementally, destroying some businesses in December of 2010 and others in January and April of 2011. Another increase scheduled for December 2011 will drive even more businesses into bankruptcy, she said. In response to a question about the greatest needs of Joint in Dnipropetrovsk, Ms. Katz identified two priorities. First, she said, JDC needs to provide more services for elderly Jews who are ineligible for welfare services provided through Holocaust restitution funds; if an individual was not in an area occupied by Nazi forces during World War II, he or she is ineligible for services provided through the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany or other Holocaust-related support organizations. Such elderly, who include all evacuees as well as younger seniors born after World War II, receive fewer essential services than Holocaust survivors or wartime armed forces veterans. Second, said Ms. Katz, JDC needs resources for employment services, including computer training. Even relatively young adults lack computer skills vital to the contemporary labor market. 47 The programs at JDC family camps usually include a mix of resort recreational activities, informal Jewish education, and structured discussion groups. Some programs are planned for family units, and some are directed toward separate groups of adults and children. Although the writer did not ask Ms. Katz about the level of family participation in all activities, other JDC personnel have acknowledged that some individuals avoid the Jewish education components and spend the majority of their time in various recreational pursuits. In general, JDC has found it very difficult to recruit indigenous Jews to leadership positions in local heseds. In addition to the Jewish identity issues addressed by Ms. Katz, local Jews have told the writer (and others) that they view JDC as an alien organization controlled by foreigners in Jerusalem and New York. They have no desire to become nominal authority figures (or stooges, as several people have said) when other individuals outside the country are exercising real control.
47 Ms. Katz confirmed that Hesed Menachem and the small Jewish community center program 48 will move into the new Menorah Center upon its completion. The Jewish community center will need to coordinate its activities with other programs operated in the Menorah Center, such as an independently-operated fitness center. The JCC will focus on children’s programs, particularly on afterschool activities and expanded offerings for special needs groups. JDC general offices will remain in their current premises, a small office building. In answer to a question about the probable fate of the current hesed building, Ms. Katz said that no decision had yet been made about its disposition after hesed services are moved to the Menorah Center. The current structure, a former school, is in poor physical condition, but the property on which it stands is in a good location. Asked about collaborative efforts with World Jewish Relief, a British organization, Ms. Katz responded that WJR supports various activities related to children’s welfare, including the Mothers for a Better Future program. Mothers for a Better Future targets young single mothers, offering them childcare skills, vocational assistance (to make them more competitive in the marketplace), legal advice, and psychological services. WJR also supports programs for special needs groups and humanitarian aid for families in economic distress. 27. One of the groups that uses the Israel Culture Center premises for some of its meetings is Project Kesher, a local Jewish women’s group associated with the larger umbrella organization of the same name. The Dnipropetrovsk Project Kesher representation is one of more than 150 similar Jewish women’s groups throughout the post-Soviet states. As is true in most Project Kesher groups, said Ella Sidorenko, a Project Kesher leader in Dnipropetrovsk, the local Project Kesher association is divided into several separate interest sub-groups. Ella Sidorenko, right, is a long-time activist in Jewish women’s activities in Dnipropetrovsk and is a leader in Project Kesher in that city. Photo: the writer. According to Ms. Sidorenko, the Dnipropetrovsk Project Kesher group includes a total of about 50 activists as well as additional women who participate in activities on an occasional basis. The largest cohort, perhaps 20 to 25 women, is the Beit Binah group, which focuses on Jewish education. Another group of about 15 women meets at the Special Needs Resource Center at Beit Chana; all of these women are mothers of 48 The latter currently occupies three activity rooms in the office building attached to the Golden Rose Choral Synagogue.
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 and 16: 15 boys’ home (a former synagogue
Page 17 and 18: 17 The overwhelming majority of lit
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: 45 The consul noted that the ICC wi
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
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 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
Page 129:
129 accommodates modernity and thei
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(Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Krivoi Rog, Donetsk, and Kyiv) Report of a ...

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