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

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54 The major attraction of the Akademia program to young women, acknowledged Ms. Kolnak, is that tuition costs are fully paid – 80 percent by Beit Chana in Dnipropetrovsk and 20 percent by the Kharkiv Chabad community. Additionally, participants receive small stipends for the duration of their studies. Most young women in the program are from poor families, Ms. Kolnak stated, and probably would be unable to attend university or another post-secondary school program without external financial assistance. Participants serve as assistants in the Chabad preschool, school, and machon during the school year and also work as counselors in the local Chabad summer camp. Of the 10 current Akademia students, said Ms. Kolnak, eight are from Kharkiv and commute between their homes, the synagogue, and their places of study. Some of these young women are graduates of School #170, but others attended other schools. The two remaining students are from Chernigov; along with a Chernigov girl in the machon, they live in an apartment that Chabad has rented for them. 34. Lycée Sha’alavim is a struggling Jewish day school started in 1994 and then abandoned in 2009 by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU; New York). Throughout the writer’s visit in Ukraine, rumors circulated that the school would soon close; however, Yevgeny Persky, its principal, assured the writer that it would remain open for the foreseeable future. From a peak enrollment of 220 in 2000-2001, its current census is 96 youngsters in grades 1-10, and 12 children in a kindergarten. Recounting history of recent financial support of the lycée (a private school that receives some state funding, but less than general public schools), Mr. Persky said that the Orthodox Union told him initially that financial support would be reduced incrementally over a three year period, beginning with the 2009-2010 school year and ending entirely at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year. However, the OU subsequently informed him in September 2010 that funding would be terminated immediately. Yevgeny Persky, principal of Lycée Sha’alavim in Kharkiv, is eager to find a reliable funding base for the Lycée after its original American sponsor terminated support. Photo: the writer. Upon hearing of the OU decision, Mr. Persky began contacting various potential sources of support, both in Ukraine and abroad. A sponsoring organization is necessary, said Mr. Persky, if only because Ukrainian law
55 requires that all private schools be responsible to a charitable organization; it is not permissible to be truly independent. He has used his own resources and borrowed money from friends to keep the school going. The Lycée received a small grant and then a larger contribution from World Jewish Relief, the British organization. 53 Parents who could afford to pay tuition have been asked to do so. The pre-school charges fees, as do most pre-schools in Ukraine. Many teachers agreed to work without pay. The Joint Distribution Committee has made a grant, and Mr. Persky has identified other sources of support that may enable the school to continue operations for the near future. However, in addition to conventional operating funds, the school building requires substantial renovation. As Orthodox Union support began to look shaky in 2010, Mr. Persky implemented less restrictive enrollment qualifications, changing requirements from halachic Jewish background (matrilineal descent) imposed by the OU to Jewish identity according to the Israel Law of Return (one Jewish grandparent), thus greatly expanding the potential enrollment pool. The loss of OU affiliation also entailed the loss of licensed OU Israeli teachers of Hebrew and other Jewish subjects who were paid by the Israeli Ministry of Education. Mr. Persky has turned to Midreshet Yerushalayim, the Russian-language division of the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, 54 for methodological assistance in preparing local teachers to assume roles as Jewish studies teachers. Most of the local teachers of Jewish studies are graduates of the Lycée, but lack both university-level education in Jewish studies and professional training in the teaching of Hebrew or other Jewish subjects. Midreshet Yerushalayim also is providing some financial assistance for Lycée pupils to attend the movement’s summer camp, Ramah Yachad, in western Ukraine. However, Midreshet Yerushalayim is unable to provide the substantive operating subsidy that the school requires to ensure financial stability. Mr. Persky is hopeful that the transformation of the Lycée from an Orthodox school to a more liberal Masorti school would enhance its enrollment prospects, believing that a more inclusive environment would appeal to more families. However, the long-term financial outlook for the school remains uncertain; equally, the school must overcome local rumors of its imminent closure. 53 The World Jewish Relief grants have been designated for integration of special needs youngsters into the Sha’alavim program. See a WJR video presentation about Sha’alavim on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J9k6h85e_0. The second grant was received just before Chanukah, leading Mr. Persky to refer to it as a modern-day Chanukah miracle (чудо). 54 The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies is associated with the Conservative/Masorti movement.
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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 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: 53 are the daughters of local rabbi
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
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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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