Following
is a report of a visit by the author to three Ukrainian cities (Kyiv,
Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv) and five Jewish summer camps in Ukraine
during the latter part of July 1997. The major purposes of the trip
were (1) to speak with rabbis and others in the cities visited,
and (2) to visit summer camps in Ukraine operated by Jewish religious
groups and by the Jewish Agency for Israel (Sochnut).
The first section of this report includes reports
on discussions in the three cities. Reflecting both the summer season
(when many people are traveling) and the focus on Jewish camps,
the agenda in the cities was less comprehensive than has been the
case during previous visits. The second section of the report concentrates
on summer camps.
1. Rabbi Yaakov
D. Bleich, Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine, was present in
Kyiv during my stay in the city. He had been out of the country
since March, returning only periodically for a few brief visits
since then. He is planning to return to the Ukrainian capital with
his family during the latter part of August.
2. The Ukrainian Jewish
Congress was a major focus of discussion with Rabbi Bleich
(and with others). In an attempt to emulate the Russian
Jewish Congress, the UJC had been established by Vadim
Rabinovich in April 1997 at an assembly hastily called in
Kyiv during the intermediate days of Pesach. Mr. Rabinovich had
emigrated to Israel some time earlier, but continues to spend much
of his time in Ukraine, where he is engaged in various business
ventures. A wealthy man, Mr. Rabinovich underwrote the costs of
the initial assembly and the attendance of many of its participants.
The assembly was poorly organized and concluded in confusion and
some rancor.
The Ukrainian Jewish Congress is widely perceived
as deriving its political support from Tsirei
Chabad (Young Chabad), the sponsor of Rabbi Moshe Asman,
the chief Chabad representative in Kyiv since 1996. The effective
operational base of Tsirei Chabad is in Israel; its political philosophy
is close to that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who
is said to endorse its activity in Ukraine. Rabbi Iosif Aronov of
Israel and Rabbi Yonah Prus, an American resident of England, are
closely associated with Tsirei Chabad. Relations of many Chabad
rabbis in Ukraine outside Kiev with Tsirei Chabad are tenuous.
Unlike organizers and leaders of the Russian Jewish
Congress, Mr. Rabinovich declines to pledge specific amounts of
personal funds to the Ukrainian Jewish Congress. He has suggested
that his deputies, i.e., other wealthy Ukrainian Jewish businessmen,
might contribute $50,000 annually to the UJC, whereas “second-tier”
donors to the Russian Jewish Congress contribute $500,000 annually.
Although the standards of wealth in Russia are higher than in Ukraine,
the discrepancy between proposed obligations of Russian and Ukrainian
Jewish benefactors to their respective national philanthropic organizations
is extraordinary.
Rabbi Bleich and others are encouraging Mr. Rabinovich
to endorse a second session of the Ukrainian Jewish Congress, to
be held in November, with a well-planned and public agenda, fully
legitimate delegates, and fair elections. Whether the Ukrainian
Jewish Congress can become an effective organization remains to
be seen. Nonetheless, the bold approach of Mr. Rabinovich, joined
with his own financial resources and those of his colleagues, cannot
be ignored.
3. The Ukrainian Jewish Congress is the third umbrella-type
national Jewish organization to appear in Ukraine. The first two
are: (1) the Association of Jewish Organizations
and Communities of Ukraine, also known as the Ukrainian Vaad,
which is associated with Rabbi Bleich and Iosif Zissels, and (2)
the Ukrainian Jewish Council,
associated with Ilya Levitas and Arkady Monastirsky. In 1996 and
1997, the leadership of the two organizations convened exploratory
discussions about a potential merger. However, in mid-1997, Mr.
Monastirsky broke from Mr. Levitas; the former has established a
fourth national Jewish organization, the Ukrainian
Jewish Fund.
4. The Jewish Pedagogical
Center of Ukraine, established in 1993 by the Ukrainian Vaad,
is undergoing a leadership transition. Professor
Marten Feller, the director of the Center, is retiring from
administrative responsibilities and will be replaced by Flora
Shevelenko. Professor Feller will continue to be associated
with the Center, but will focus on publications.1
Reflecting both budgetary pressures and management overload, the
Center is re-defining its mission.
5. Rabbi Bleich discussed several factors related
to enrollment at Ukrainian Jewish schools
in general and at the Kyiv day school (Gymnasium
298) sponsored by his movement, the Karliner-Stoliner hasidim.
In general, enrollment patterns reflect the considerable Jewish
emigration from Ukraine that has occurred in recent years. The number
of Jewish Sunday schools has decreased significantly.2
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