Synagogue-Related Programs
72. Rabbi
Yaakov Dov Bleich, a native of Brooklyn
and a Karlin-Stolin hasid, is the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine. He
arrived in the country in 1989 and presides over the Great Choral Synagogue in the Podil district of Kyiv, an
area of significant Jewish population prior to World War II. In the more than
20 years that he has served in Kyiv, Rabbi Bleich has developed a number of
Jewish community institutions, including the Orach Chaim day school, homes for
Jewish children from unstable families, a Jewish summer camp, an assisted living
residential center for elderly Jews, a matza factory, the Jewish Confederation
of Ukraine, the Union of Jewish Religious Organizations of Ukraine, and the
Kyiv Jewish Religious Community. However, as described elsewhere in this
report, a number of these programs are now jeopardized due to economic stress,
Jewish demographic decline, and a lack of receptivity among local Jews to
hasidic Judaism.
Rabbi Bleich's native American
English and familiarity with American culture have facilitated easy access to American
representations in the Ukrainian capital. He also represents Ukrainian Jewry
in several international Jewish organizations. He remains respected among
Ukrainian officials. Yet he is increasingly an outsider, absent from the
country for weeks at a time while attending to family matters, fundraising, and
participating in international Jewish events. Further, he is a
Karlin-Stolin hasid in a country in which Jewish religious life is dominated by
Chabad. Rabbi Bleich was out of the country during the writer's visit to Kyiv
in April 2014; in his absence, she spoke with Yevgeny Ziskind, the long
time administrator of the synagogue.
Rabbi
Yaakov Dov Bleich was photographed at a Ukrainian conference in Illinois in
March 2014.
Photo: http://ucef.org/news/3728/. Retrieved
October 2, 2014.
In a discussion of the current
political-economic crisis in Ukraine, Mr. Ziskind stated that he is
"very afraid" about the economic well-being of Ukraine and the
synagogue complex. Prices have increased substantially already, he said, and
the cost of heating will increase 100 percent in the near future. Further, a
major source of income for the synagogue, that is, the sale of matza from the
synagogue's own bakery, has decreased substantially in recent years.
Purchasers are reducing their orders due to the economic crisis. For example,
the Joint Distribution Committee purchased 155 tons of matza in 2013 and is
buying only 125 tons this year. Chabad, another large institutional customer,
also cut its order. Additionally, in order to establish a baking schedule, the
orders were submitted in January according to January prices; to reflect
inflationary pressures since then, the prices should be higher now, but the
contracts are firm and cannot be changed.
The
hotel that is part of the synagogue complex was "almost empty"
in January and February, said Mr. Ziskind. March was somewhat better, in large
part because the Jewish Agency held several seminars in it. The previous
operators of the ground floor dairy café in the hotel walked out without fulfilling
all of the conditions of their lease. A new operator has installed a grill and
intends to open a "more serious" kosher meat restaurant in the space,
but doubts exist about the viability of such a venture in the current economic
situation. Many conventional restaurants have closed. "No one can make
money in this environment," said Mr. Ziskind.
Yevgeny
Ziskind is contemplating a troubled economic future for the Schekavitskaya street
synagogue.
Photo: the writer.
When queried about local fundraising,
Mr. Ziskind admonished the writer, "Don't ask."
Continuing to speak about finances,
Mr. Ziskind said that many supporters are experiencing financial crises
themselves. The uncertainty about the situation is devast-ating; no one knows
what to do, people are just waiting for "something" to happen. Rabbi
Bleich is trying to raise money abroad; in a time of serious inflation here [in
Ukraine], the U.S. dollar stretches much further.
In response to a question about antisemitism,
Mr. Ziskind said that four attacks against Jewish individuals or Jewish
property occurred in Kyiv in December/January, leading to "panic"
among Kyiv Jews. These and subsequent antisemitic actions now are seen as
"provocations," instigated by people aligned with former President
Yanukhovych or Russian President Putin, both of whom want to "prove"
that rightwing political parties in Ukraine are assaulting ethnic minorities. The
provocateurs want to impugn Ukraine and "justify" Russian intervention.
The attackers probably were common thugs paid off by people associated with
then President Viktor Yanukhovych. Now [early April], Mr. Ziskind said, it is
assumed that President Putin of Russia is behind antisemitic actions in
Ukraine. A police response to these attacks is unlikely because the police
force "disintegrated" after Maidan; the police were associated with
Yanukhovych and, therefore, vilified by protestors. In response, many police went
into hiding. The remaining police force is severely undermanned and
coordination between police districts is almost non-existent.
73. The writer was unable to speak with Rabbi
Moshe Asman, who presides over the famed Brodsky Synagogue (the Main
Choral Synagogue), because he was in Israel during the time of the writer's
visit to Kyiv.
74. Rabbi Yonatan Markovich operates
a three-story synagogue with a total area of 4000 square meters (13,123 square
feet) that is part of a larger multi-use building near the central bus station.
However, he and his wife Ina probably are better known for the two schools that
they operate in Kyiv, a private Jewish day school and a separate school for
autistic children.

Rabbi
Yonatan and Mrs. Ina Markovich are natives of the Soviet Union, each of them
having emigrated to Israel as children with their parents. Rabbi Markovich is
a graduate of the Technion in Haifa and served 14 years as a computer specialist
in the Israel Defense Forces. Mrs. Markovich graduated from an Israeli
teachers' college.
Photo: the writer.
Speaking of the general economic situation,
Rabbi Markovich said that inflation is very serious. Prices are rising
every day. Businesses of all types are suffering. Even food markets are
losing money, notwithstanding the reality that people must eat. Restaurants
and clubs are closing. A well-known hotel fired 102 people in a single day,
continued Rabbi Markovich. Foreign trade has plummeted.
Protests on the Maidan drew a wide range of
participants, including boys from a small yeshiva that he supervises, Rabbi
Markovich said. The yeshiva boys even lit a large menorah and sang Chanukah
songs on the Kreschatik, continued Rabbi and Mrs. Markovich, and many onlookers
approved of the ceremony with cries of "Молодец!"
(Well done!). They have seen no evidence of Ukrainian antisemitism;
Russian agents have tried to foment antisemitism and have planted false charges
of anti-semitism; however, upon investigation, Rabbi Markovich stated, Russian
agents were unmasked, certain purported antisemitic incidents never happened,
or incidents occurred for other reasons. Don't cry wolf when no wolf exists,
he warned. Russian propaganda is massive, he said.
However, Rabbi Markovich continued, fear
was widespread throughout the city on February 20-21, the peak of the
Maidan crisis, when shooting occurred. Police closed the Metro so that people
would find travel difficult; gas stations also closed, both to deter driving
and to prevent people from obtaining gasoline that could be used for incendiary
devices.
Many police "ran away" from
their positions or took sick leave during this period, leading to increased
crime in the city, Rabbi Markovich stated. Robberies and vandalism increased.
The police had taken the side of Yanukhovych, explained Rabbi Markovich, and had
abused their authority. They feared the wrath of ordinary people who, after
Yanukhovych's departure, felt empowered to take revenge.
75. Re-energized by the acquisition of more spacious
premises in Kyiv in September 2013, the Masorti (Conservative) movement
continues to grow in Ukraine. The program is led by Rabbi Reuven Stamov,
a native of Crimea, and his wife Lena, who was born in Rovno, a city well-known
in Jewish history, in western Ukraine. The Stamovs met and married in
Jerusalem while Rabbi Stamov was studying for the rabbinate at the Schechter
Rabbinical Seminary. Mrs. Stamov has a strong background in education.
Both
natives of Ukraine, Rabbi Reuven and Lena Stamov have three young daughters.
Photo: the writer.
The new Masorti quarters remain very modest
in comparison to the Great Choral Synagogue of Rabbi Bleich, located nearby in
the Podil area of the city, and even with the new space of the Progressive
movement (see below), also located in Podil. Nonetheless, the new premises,
acquired in September 2013, are a major improvement over the previous space.
As
was the case with the older Masorti site, the new property is in a
basement, easily accessible from the street. The quarters include three large
rooms, all of which can be used for multiple purposes, but each of which has a
specific designation as well: a synagogue, a room for children and teenagers,
and a classroom. The premises also include a kosher kitchen and a lavatory. Much
of the necessary renovation was done by Masorti community members, some of whom
have specific skills and others who just wanted to help. Although few people
are financially comfortable, individuals contributed their own money for
supplies. Masorti is a real community, said Mrs. Stamov; people feel at home
with the Stamovs and each other, they have taken ownership of community, she
continued. When the Stamovs went to Israel on vacation, several people asked
for keys to the property and came in on their own to do work on the premises.
The center is наша
гордость (our pride),
she said.
One
room, shown at left, has been designated for children and teenagers in the Kyiv
Masorti center.
Photo: the writer.
On an average Friday evening, the
Stamovs said, about 45 people come for Shabbat services and a dinner
that follows. Ten women from the community cook and organize the meal. A
smaller group gathers on Saturday; the Shabbat observance includes lessons for
adults both before and after havdala (the end of Shabbat). The number
of Friday evening attendees dropped to about 25 people during the worst period
of the Maidan revolution, they acknowledged. About 80 people participated in Rosh
Hashanah services, creating conditions that were somewhat crowded.
The Center offers three ulpan classes,
which are operated independently of the Jewish Agency, the Israel Culture
Center, or any other group. On Fridays, Mrs. Stamov leads a weekly Torah
portion class for children just before Shabbat services begin, and Masorti
operates a day-long Sunday school for children and teenagers, featuring lessons
in Jewish tradition, Hebrew, English, and Jewish music. Once monthly, with the
help of the Jewish Agency, the Sunday school becomes a family day that includes
programs for adults and families.
A public hall was rented for a Purim
celebration, attracting approximately 100 people. Two Pesach seders
held in the Center drew 100 people in all. Additionally, said Mrs. Stamov,
Masorti organized a family program for the last day of Pesach.
Continuing a tradition of several years, the
Masorti community organized a Chanukah Shabbaton of 3½ days in Berdychiv,
a storied Jewish town southwest of Kyiv. Thirty-five members of Kyiv Masorti,
all of whom paid at least a portion of their expenses, joined members of the
small Berdychiv Masorti community in celebration, learning and practice of
Jewish tradition, and relaxation.
The conduct of children's programs at
the Center has been greatly enhanced by a volunteer who has moved to Kyiv from
Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the Stamovs said. This woman had been a teacher in
the Chabad school there and has brought valuable experience to Masorti. A student
group, which consists mainly of Camp Ramah veterans, is planning a
Shabbaton.
The Stamovs feel buoyed by increased financial
support from international Masorti fundraising efforts. Additionally,
someone in their local community pays the cost of utilities in the Center, and
another local donor provides office supplies. Nonetheless, funding remains
very tight for Camp Ramah Yachad, the Masorti summer camp, and other
programming.
Responding to a query about the Masorti
program in Odesa, the Stamovs said that it has grown in the last year. The
effort is being led by Leonid Kantor, a trained Masorti professional,
who has been joined by Volodya Vachsman, a new local leader who has
obtained premises for the group. Possession of physical space has enabled them
to operate more programs than when they were moving from one rental café to
another for their activities.
The Great Choral Synagogue on
Schekavitskaya street in the Podil district of Kyiv should not be confused with
the Main Choral Synagogue in the same city. The latter, better known as
the Brodsky synagogue, is larger and more centrally located. Built with funds
contributed by Lazar Brodsky of the wealthy sugar industry family at about the
same time as the Schekavitskaya street synagogue, the Brodsky synagogue was
confiscated by Soviet authorities in 1926 and converted into a workers’ club.
It later became a variety theater and a children’s puppet theater. After
substantial international pressure, the Brodsky synagogue was returned to the
Jewish community in the 1990’s and restored. Rabbi Moshe Reuven Asman, an
independent Chabad rabbi, presides over the Brodsky synagogue.
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