The promotion of Yiddish-language activities is a deterrent to developing an identification with Israel.51 If Yiddish is perceived as a viable language, it is more difficult to persuade people that Hebrew language skills are important -- and participation in Hebrew classes, especially ulpans, attracts people to Zionism and Israel. So estranged are some Jews from their Jewish heritage that they are unable to understand the concept of Israel as a Jewish homeland.

Mr. Wernik predicted that aliyah would remain stable or increase slightly during the next two to three years. The rate of departures for Israel depends on social conditions, including the extent to which Jews are affected by Ukrainian nationalism, and economic factors. An image of Israel as dangerous persists among many Jews. Mr. Wernik believes that visits of Israeli artists to the area would convince many local Jews that Israelis are cultured and would improve the perception of Israel. Visits by selected soldiers and officers would demonstrate that the Israeli army is different from the armed forces of other countries.

Mr. Wernik is now traveling to Jewish population centers in small towns in western Ukraine. Many of these Jews are so beaten down that they do not have the strength to emigrate. The high cost of gasoline as well as wear and tear on automobiles makes this sort of outreach very expensive.

Observing that the caliber of local educational institutions has declined since independence, Mr. Wernik said that young people should be able to find attractive educational opportunities in Israel. However, some are so assimilated that it may require an outreach ‘investment’ of three or four year to persuade them that Israel is a desirable destination.

78. The Sholom Aleichem Society is a local secular Jewish organization that sponsors various cultural programs and also teaches both Hebrew and Yiddish. It operates its own welfare service, which is funded in part by the Joint Distribution Committee. Several individuals commented that it is engaged in a ‘power struggle’ with those associated with Yad Yisroel endeavors, i.e., the synagogue, day school, and welfare service operating from the day school. Individuals connected with the latter institutions barely acknowledged the existence of the Sholom Aleichem Society, except to complain that JDC supports it and does not provide regular assistance to Yad Yisroel. The writer did not meet with Sholom Aleichem Society officials.

Lutsk

79. Lutsk is the administrative center of Volyn oblast, which is located in the northwest ‘corner’ of Ukraine; it shares a western border with Poland and a northern border with Belarus. The area was under Polish sovereignty for much of recent history. The population of Lutsk is 214,000.

80. Jews have lived in Lutsk since the tenth century. By 1939, the Jewish population of the city had reached about 20,000. Almost all were killed during the Holocaust, including as many as 17,000 at Polanka hill just outside the city during a four-day period in August 1942.

About 800 Jews are believed to live in Lutsk today. Another 700 Jews live elsewhere in Volyn oblast.

81. Accompanied by Meylakh Sheykhet, the writer visited Lutsk on a Sunday. A long holiday weekend had led to the cancellation of Sunday school classes, but 11 children and about 15 adults had gathered at the customary site of Sunday school classes to meet their visitors.

Thirteen children and adolescents between the ages of nine and 18 usually attend Sunday school instruction, which is held in a spacious room in a local public library. The teacher, who had completed a seminar in Jewish studies at the Steinsaltz Yeshiva in Moscow, taught a “sample” class to the 11 youngsters of mixed ages then in attendance; the lesson included a lecture on the approaching holiday of Shavuot and some very basic Hebrew language skills. The teaching approach was formal and frontal, and pupils entered notes in special notebooks. Learning materials were scarce, consisting of five copies of a Hebrew textbook (supplied by JDC), some maps and posters of Israel, and a portable chalkboard. Some of the youngsters had visited Kiev, where they had met Rabbi Bleich and participated in activities associated with Yad Yisroel.

82. After the lesson, Meylakh Sheykhet, who was known to the community, spoke to the pupils and adults. He invited the older youngsters to enroll at the Lvov Jewish school for the following academic year, explaining that supervised dormitory accommodations were available in the very same building as the school. He described the school curriculum. He also noted the possibility of enrolling in a Karliner-Stoliner school in Jerusalem that had been developed especially for youth from the post-Soviet successor states. Finally, he reminded those assembled about the Yad Yisroel summer camps, i.e., a boys camp near Khmelnitsky and a girls camp near Kiev. Many of the youngsters had already registered for these camps and were clearly excited about their forthcoming summer adventures. Mr. Sheykhet reminded the parents that all of these programs were provided free of charge.