Our "twin” congregation,
Ha Tikvah, of Kiev, Ukraine
Ha Tikvah, of Kiev, Ukraine
Those who attended the brunch were treated to a moving account of the history and current plight of Jews in Kiev in particular, and all of the former Soviet Union generally. Some of the highlights of the information shared by Rabbi Dukhovny were:
Reform Judaism (now called “Progressive Judaism” in Ukraine) started in Ukraine in 1826, but no Reform congregations existing before the Communist revolution survived the Communist era.
Starting with one congregation in Kiev (Ha Tikvah) with twenty members in 1991, there are now 47 Progressive congregations scattered throughout Ukraine serving approximately 12,000 to 13,000 Jews.
It is estimated there are 500,000 to 1,000,000 Jews still living in Ukraine.
Examples of the Rabbi’s own misunderstanding of Judaism prior to 1991 (representative of the loss for all Jews caused by Communist repression).
Explanations of difficulties in reestablishing Jewish institutions of learning and support—e.g. a Russian language Tanach costs approximately $30 in a nation where a senior’s pension is, on average, about $25 per month.
Rabbi Dukhovny also spent additional time meeting Rabbi Fass, Cantor Schwartz, Gail Nalven and members of our Twinning Committee. Numerous ways of connecting our members and youth with the members and youth of Ha Tikvah were discussed. The results of those discussions will become apparent to you in the future.
The attendees at the brunch were also given the opportunity to voice support for Ha Tikvah by becoming either Honorary or Honorary Sustaining Members of Ha Tikvah. It was gratifying to see the outpouring of such support expressed that morning.
If you want to similarly support or become involved in our effort to “twin” with Ha Tikvah, we certainly want to encourage you. Please feel free to call me at 638-9682.
Leonard Sklerov
ARZA /WORLD UNION
Chairperson