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

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98 Other than persistent funding problems, Mr. Akselrud said that one of the most significant issues facing Hillel at this point is a clear loss of interest among Hillel students in Jewish educational programs. When Hillel was first organized in the early 1990’s, he continued, students seemed to have an almost limitless appetite for Jewish education – Jewish tradition, Jewish ritual, Jewish music, Jewish history, and almost every other aspect of Jewish education. Some current students, he acknowledged, are veterans of Jewish camps and other educational programs, which certainly was not the case 15 years ago. Perhaps they already know as much as they want to know, although not all students have not had these formative experiences. He also believes that new recreational opportunities, such as bowling and student-oriented nightclubs, are competing for student time. He has organized a committee of education experts, many from the Jewish Agency and the Joint Distribution Committee, to study this issue and advise Hillel on new Jewish education programs that will be appealing to contemporary Jewish young people. Mr. Akselrud noted that he is trying to work closely with JAFI, JDC, and Nativ (formerly, the Liaison Bureau), overcoming past rivalries and animosities. However, the relationship with JDC now is much different than it used to be; JDC no longer is the financial agent for Hillel, a separation that has facilitated new partnerships with others who might not have wanted to work with JDC or a JDC affiliate. Another issue, continued Mr. Akselrud, is that the Taglit program, as valuable as it is, sometimes seems to be taking over Hillel. Hillel CASE organized 10 Taglit trips in 2010 from its region, he said, and Hillel has become a travel agency in doing the necessary planning for these journeys. On the other hand, he lamented, Hillel lacks funding to do appropriate follow-up programming with Taglit participants upon their return to Ukraine. He fears that some of the benefits accruing to Taglit dissipate due to lack of follow-up with tour members. Mr. Akslerud observed that he also is struggling with several personnel issues, including replacing a Hillel director in a major city. Political infighting among Hillel staff members was a problem in some areas, he added. In response to a question, Mr. Akselrud said that Ukrainian Hillel students enjoy working with counterpart Hillel students from the United States and other countries and are pleased to host such groups when they come to Ukraine. Both New York and Israeli Hillel students visited Hillel groups in Kyiv and Odesa in 2010-2011, and the New York groups were guests of Lviv Hillel as well. CASE and Russian Hillel students were eligible for a new selective-entry Holocaust- related program this year, stated Mr. Akselrud. Those who had shown particular interest in the Holocaust were invited to participate in a special Holocaust seminar in Lithuania, he said. The seminar required pre-seminar orientation sessions and was funded by the Genesis Philanthropic Group and led by Yad Vashem.
99 64. An organization bearing the name of Aish Hatorah, the international Orthodox Jewish outreach organization, owns a small three-story building in an outlying district of Kyiv in which it conducts various Jewish educational programs. Igor Karasik, its director stated that the Aish Hatorah central office in Jerusalem ceased funding its Kyiv operations about five years ago, but Mr. Karasik decided to retain the name anyway. His programs continue under the general supervision of Rabbi Mordechai Raichenstein, a former Aish Hatorah rabbi in Kyiv. Rabbi Raichenstein now works in Mogilev and Gomel (both in Belarus) under the auspices of a different organization; he offers some guidance, but no funding to the Kyiv operation. JDC previously provided a small subsidy, and several different individuals and organizations support specific programs. Two families who live on the upper floors of the building pay rent. Igor Karasik, right, studied Judaism in Aish Hatorah programs in Kyiv. However, after Aish Hatorah withdrew from the city, Mr. Karasik retained control of the Aish Hatorah building and tries to operate various Jewish education and welfare ventures from its premises. Photo: the writer. Their newest program, said Mr. Karasik, is training Jewish-interest tour guides, a project that is funded mainly by the Hamama incubator venture of the Jewish Agency, but also will receive a subsidy from JDC. The tour guide program, which was scheduled to begin in the near future, had selected 15 young men and women for an intensive three-month course that would include Jewish history, Jewish tradition, Hebrew, and English. Upon completion of the course, individuals would be available for institutional or commercial employment to assist Israeli, American, and other scholars, researchers, heritage seekers, and tourists. Most of the instruction would be based in Mr. Karasik’s building, but, obviously, some training also would occur in the field. Mr. Karasik himself leads Jewish-interest tour groups in central and western Ukraine. He also arranges logistics for other groups that wish to do their own touring. Additionally, he teaches in and handles logistics for other short-term programs, including Shabbatonim, for various organizations. Among his other services, continued Mr. Karasik, is kashrut supervision for the Jewish Agency, JDC, and Midreshet Yerushalayim (Conservative movement). Most instructors and other professional staff at Aish Hatorah have other jobs that, in fact, are their primary sources of income, said Mr. Karasik. They work as teachers in Jewish day schools, staff members at JDC, or staff at other Jewish organizations. Mr. Karasik himself also works in the matza factory operated by Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich. Almost everyone needs a second income in order to survive, said Mr. Karasik.
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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
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39 Jewish community. Another 120 in
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41 Natalia Rier, who directs the lo
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43 speakers are fluent in English a
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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 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: 97 Other individuals in Kyiv with w
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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