61.
As noted elsewhere in this paper, a residential program for youngsters
from troubled homes is maintained by Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich. Another
facility for Jewish children is operated by Rabbi Moshe Asman of the
Brodsky synagogue. In general, the number of youngsters in these programs
throughout Ukraine has declined sharply in recent years, probably reflecting
the general Jewish population decline.
62.
International Solomon University, a private proprietary institution, opened
in Kyiv in 1991. Its predominantly Jewish management reached out to Jewish
individuals and organizations for acceptance and support; a large number of its
students during its first decade were Jewish young people, including many from
smaller towns in western Ukraine, whose inferior high school preparation precluded
admission into more traditional institutions in the Ukrainian capital.
The
writer spoke with Dr. Aleksandr Rosenfeld, rector of ISU. Dr.
Rosenfeld, who was curt and dismissive throughout the interview, said that
enrollment in ISU now is about 2,000, a number that many outside observers consider
exaggerated. He continued that the majority of students are from out-of-town,
and that many reside in ISU dormitories. ISU offers both bachelor’s and
master’s degrees, stated Dr. Rosenfeld. In response to a question, he said
that the major areas of concentration are computer science, biology, history,
sociology, law, finance, and marketing. Within the history department, he
continued, students may elect to specialize in Jewish history; the ISU Jewish
history program emphasizes Hasidism, Holocaust studies, and Zionism, he stated,
noting that each of these areas has strong roots in Ukraine.
When
the writer asked about the number of students enrolled in Jewish studies,
Dr. Rosenfeld responded that these courses are “not popular”. The writer then
asked if the lack of popularity stemmed from difficulties obtaining subsequent
employment in the field, Dr. Rosenfeld replied affirmatively. “Кому это нужно?” (“Who needs it?”), he responded, referring to
Jewish studies.
The
primary foreign languages taught at ISU are English and French, said Dr.
Rosenfeld. Hebrew would be taught if students were interested in learning it,
but students do not ask for Hebrew courses.
Other
individuals in Kyiv with whom the writer spoke said that ISU focuses on its law
and finance concentrations because these departments are profitable. Enrollment
at ISU may be as low as 500, stated a professional at a Kyiv Jewish
organization, observing that the ISU Jewish market had “evaporated” due to
Jewish population decline in the smaller cities and towns in central and
western Ukraine from which ISU draws its population. This professional doubted
that any identifying Jews remain at the institution. Poorly prepared students
of all ethnic backgrounds now had other choices due to the emergence of other
institutions since Ukrainian independence. ISU simply is not competitive in
any field, claimed several people. They also noted that many Jewish
professors, as well as qualified academics of other ethnic backgrounds, have
left the institution because its salaries are very low.
63.
Iosif Akselrud is the Director of Hillel CASE, the section of the
Hillel student organization that oversees Hillel operations in Ukraine,
Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. He is less concerned
with specific Hillel programs in Kyiv than with overall management issues, he
said. He described his responsibilities as fundraising, staff deployment and
training, and other large questions concerning the entire CASE area. Although
aware of Hillel operations in Kyiv, his role transcends local issues.
One of Mr. Akselrud’s major
accomplishments has been the establishment of a functional indigenous board
of directors for Hillel CASE. In 2010, its first year of existence, the
board raised $45,000; its goal for 2011 is $60,000, Mr. Akselrud said. Apart
from the board, Mr. Akselrud himself is one of the most successful indigenous
fundraisers in the post-Soviet states. His efforts yielded almost $400,000 in
2010, including the $45,000 from the board; other major contributors, stated
Mr. Akselrud are the Genesis Philanthropic Group of Moscow, the Hamama incubator
program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund,
and Vadym Rabynovych of Ukraine. The remainder of the CASE Hillel budget of
$1,134,000 is provided by Hillel International. CASE Hillel, noted Mr.
Akselrud, now submits to an annual independent audit, a measure that remains
rare among local non-profits.
Iosif
Akselrud, right, is one of the most successful Jewish fundraisers in the
post-Soviet states. His primary work is with Hillel, but he also is
influential in other groups.
Photo: the writer.
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.
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