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

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90 synagogue and to integrate into the Simcha community. Some older men attend lessons at the synagogue in return for small payments, Rabbi Levenhartz said. In response to a question, Rabbi Levenhartz said that most Simcha graduates remain in Kyiv, attending local universities and colleges. Some also go to Israel, usually joining one or another Jewish Agency program. 58. The ORT school was established in 2000 as a lyceum, an elite secondary school with a competitive admissions policy. In common with the Simcha school (see above), the ORT lyceum occupies two separate small buildings. It is located on the east, or less prosperous, side of the Dnipr River in a generally unattractive area. Yuri Kinkov, the veteran principal of the lyceum, opened a discussion with the writer by declaring that conditions at the school are הככ -הככ, using the Hebrew expression for “so-so”. The lyceum has existed for ten years, he continued, and just completed a serious re-accreditation process. No major academic problems exist. Most teachers remain at the school from year to year. World ORT continues to support the lyceum and, through the Israeli government Heftzibah program, the lyceum has found an excellent new Israeli director of Hebrew and Jewish studies to replace the former Heftzibah teacher who returned to Israel after five years at the school. The new Heftzibah teacher, he noted, is a native of Odesa. Principal Yuri Kinkov, left, surprised the writer by using a few words of Hebrew during an interview. Photo: the writer. The lyceum currently enrolls 258 youngsters in grades five through 11, 83 a decrease of 20 from the previous academic year. The families of 241 of these pupils have documentation proving that their children are eligible for emigration to Israel under the Israeli Law of Return, that is, that these youngsters have at least one Jewish grandparent; the remaining pupils, said Mr. Kinkov, may also be Jewish, but their families lack documentation of Jewish heritage. 84 Mr. Kinkov stated that the reputation of the lyceum is such that many non-Jewish families would like to enroll their children in the school. All pupils at the lyceum are from middle or lower class families, Mr. Kinkov said. Wealthy families send their children elsewhere. In response to a question, Mr. Kinkov stated that about 95 percent of school families have computers at home and most are 83 Schools with lyceum status are not permitted to enroll youngsters in grades one through four. 84 ORT schools frequently enroll some non-Jewish youngsters, especially from families in the school neighborhood, for reasons of public/community relations.
91 connected to the Internet; however, he continued, there is real concern among parents about unsuitable material on the Internet to which their children might be exposed. Parents want to know how to control what their children see and hear on their computers. Some parents now are providing some support to the lyceum, Mr. Kinkov said. For example, they have provided funds for security measures and for certain repairs to the school buildings. Several have purchased computer technology accessories, complementing the equipment made available by ORT. The Jewish Agency for Israel, he stated, has provided madrichim (leaders) for certain holiday celebrations at the school. The Jewish Agency also organized a shorashim (roots) trip to the Carpathian Mountains for 19 tenth graders and two teachers. The Israel Culture Center sends madrichim for Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day). Avi Chai awarded the lyceum a grant for three Shabbatonim, but it took so long for the funds to traverse the JDC bureaucracy that the school lacked time to plan for the Shabbatonim and thus these events were not held. Mr. Kinkov also noted that the Brodsky synagogue now has a mobile matzot factory, which came to the lyceum to enable pupils to make their own matzot for Pesach. Mr. Kinkov stated that he also participated in this activity alongside the youngsters; it was very enjoyable, he acknowledged. Pupils in grades 8 through 11 have daily classes in Jewish studies, responded Mr. Kinkov to a question. Three periods weekly are in Hebrew-language instruction, one in Jewish tradition, and one in Jewish history. Youngsters in grades 5 through 7 have two additional class periods in Jewish studies - one in Jewish music and another in Jewish art. Also, continued Mr. Kinkov, Jewish studies are integrated into the secular curriculum in several areas of study. For example, he said, pupils read Ukrainian or Russian Jewish literature as part of their coursework in Ukrainian or Russian literature and Jewish history is studied as part of world history. Older pupils create Jewish art on computers. The lyceum received an award from Microsoft in the form of a new computer curriculum that includes software and lesson plans. Mr. Kinkov was flown to Capetown, South Africa, to receive the award personally, he said; he was the only person from Ukraine at this event. He enjoyed the trip very much, but acknowledged that he did not understand everything that was presented in the accompanying computer workshop; however, faculty at the lyceum are able to implement the new program. In response to a question about a potential new building for the lyceum that he had discussed last year, Mr. Kinkov said that talks for another facility are in abeyance. The district education official with whom he had previously discussed acquisition of a more modern building is no longer employed in the same capacity; Mr. Kinkov would like to give the new person more time to settle in to his position before raising the issue again.
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OBSERVATIONS ON JEWISH COMMUNITY LI
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3 begin to pay taxes that they had
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5 Dnipropetrovsk Founded in 1778 on
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7 The major entrance to the Menorah
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9 The preschool is operating “at
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11 pupils (503) and the number of y
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13 families whose relationship to C
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15 boys’ home (a former synagogue
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17 The overwhelming majority of lit
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19 homes, sometimes bringing them s
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21 program in Kharkiv come to Beit
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23 return for the teaching done by
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25 started as more funds become ava
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27 Holocaust, and rebirth of Jewish
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29 manufacturer inevitably will ent
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31 Two newcomers were expected to j
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33 individual needs, providing food
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35 managing. He has heard of very f
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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
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: 89 in its generally poor neighborho
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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