The Progressive Judaism is Attractive to the Jews

The Progressive Judaism is Attractive to the Jews of Ukraine, but the Leaders of the Movement did not Manage to Involve Broad Masses of the Jewish Intelligencia yet

by Vladimir Matveyev

The Progressive Judaism came to Ukraine at the beginning of the 19th century together with the ideas of Haskalah and construction of the Reform Synagogues. First congregations were established in Lvov and Odessa, two Ukrainian cities with large concentration of Jewish population. After seventy years of decline of Jewish life in Soviet times, Progressive Judaism began to revive in independent Ukraine. Many Jews connect the way in Judaism to liberal stream, as the most acceptable form for the Jews who have survived the tragedy of Holocaust and period of Soviet state anti-Semitism, when the majority of Jews were assimilated.

"For me the orthodox Judaism is an authoritarian way in Judaism. This is how we lived more than seventy years. The Progressive Judaism is a house where the windows and doors are open," said Rabbi Alex Dukhovny, Chief Rabbi of Progressive Jewish Congregations in Ukraine. After graduation from the rabbinical seminary Leo Back College in London in 1999, he became the first rabbi of Progressive Movement who is a citizen of Ukraine. While his grandfather was the last Hasidic spiritual leader of Ruzhin Jewish community (Vinnitsa region) he is first rabbi of Progressive movement in Ukraine. For the time being, he is also the only reform rabbi in the country: there are currently eight Reform rabbinical assistants and five Ukrainians studying abroad to become Reform rabbis.

All the congregations are dedicated to religious observance; hence Kabbalat Shabbat, Torah reading and celebration of Jewish holidays and observation of life-cycle events, etc. For the members of the congregations and their children congregations have Bar/Bat Mitzvah and ceremonies for receiving Jewish names, Huppa and other.

Congregations run typical programs: music and dance groups, women's clubs, and Sunday Family Schools and other projects that cater to the different interests of the members of the congregation.

There are 3 kindergartens in two of the Progressive congregations for children. Netzer program is run in 18 congregations for teens. Clubs for young adults exist in 14 congregations and 10 run Sunday Family Jewish Schools for children and their parents. Every 6 months the Association organizes educational seminars for the leaders and members. During the summer there are camps for children and young adults in picturesque recreational areas.

There are about 30 Progressive congregations in Ukraine. All of them are members of the Association for Progressive Jewish Congregation's of Ukraine. Recently Reform congregations have won back synagogues in Simferopol, Evpatoria, Kerch, Lutsk and Zvenigorodka.

"ha-Tikvah" congregation or Hope, - such is the name of the first and the largest progressive congregation in Ukraine, based in Kiev. It is the congregation which is associated among the Jewish intelligencia of Ukraine with the revival of Jewish life in general, and Progressive Movement, in particular. "Progressive Judaism attracts me with its liberalism. However, ha-Tikvah congregation is rather closed," said Avigdor Freidlis.

As stated by Rabbi Dukhovny, ha-Tikva Congregation includes 1,000 members together with the members of their families. However, the number of those who regularly participate in religious and other programs of the congregation is much smaller. "Membership fees are regularly paid by 20-30 people and Kabbalat Shabbat is regularly attended by 20-30 people," said Maya Nikolayeva, member of ha-Tikva's Executive Board. In general the number of those who regularly participate in religious and other programs of the Association’s congregations is smaller than it declared.

The clubs Netzer in Ukraine differ from similar clubs of distant foreign countries - they function as clubs only at Progressive congregations.

Progressive movement in Ukraine develops with the support of the World Union of Progressive Judaism in partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and has as a whole positive image.

The Ukrainian state does not hinder the development of the Progressive Movement in Ukraine, but it doesn't help it either. "The deep injustice and the misunderstanding on the part of the State Committee of Ukraine on religions consists that Rabbi Duchovny, despite of our references, is not still elected the member of Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Therefore I stake under doubt the equal attitude to various religious streams," said famous Ukrainian composer Aleksandr Zlotnik, President of Progressive Movement in Ukraine.

Together with the achievements Progressive movement in Ukraine has problems.

Reduction of financial support from sponsor organizations has become a serious challenge for the leaders of the Movement in Ukraine. The Progressive Movement has not managed to involve the local sponsors, which could promote the further engaging of the new members or maintaining of the community programs up to the mark. The movement has not managed to involve wide mass of intelligencia.

"The Association of Progressive Jewish Congregations of Crimea badly need money for the further development of the programs. And it is a problem for the majority of congregations in Ukraine," noted Anatoly Gendin, chairman of the Board of Association for the Jewish organizations and communities of Crimea.

"Kerch one of the biggest Progressive Jewish congregation in Ukraine. However, we get no support from the Association of Progressive Jewish Congregations. There are two drawbacks, which have led to such a situation in the Progressive Movement in Ukraine: poor management and lack of fundraising in Ukraine," said Boris Kapustin, chairman of the Progressive Jewish Congregation in Kerch, Crimea.

"Progressive Judaism is very attractive to young people in Ukraine. However, the structure of the Association of Progressive Jewish Congregations is not quite appropriate fulfill the aims of the Movement. There are many insignificant congregations in small towns. So, it is important to establish associate centers. Reform leaders should better communicate with people and promote Movement in Ukraine," said Osik Akselrud, who operates as a director of Hillel in six former Soviet countries.

Ukraine is a native land of Chassidic Movement Chabad-Lyubavich, which earlier traditionally dominated on the territory of Ukraine. Many Ukrainian Jews attended Ultra-Orthodox, rather then Reform not only because of rather strong Orthodox presence in Ukraine, but because rather poor Reform found-raising and management. Orthodox synagogues also offer free meals or medical care, providing an additional attraction for people to attend Orthodox services.

Chabad is a serious competitor of Progressive movement in Ukraine. A significant part of money collected by Progressive congregations in USA goes on financing of Chabad communities. The Ultra-Orthodox movement has a lion's share of international funding for Jewish cases in Ukraine, including donations of American Reform Jews distributed through American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The movement Chabad is very active in Ukraine, whereas the leaders of Progressive movement have not developed an aggressive strategy for its development. "Why we lose to the orthodox? It is necessary to develop more aggressive ideology," said Siva Fainerman, the spiritual leader of the Lvov Progressive congregation, Western Ukraine.

At the same time, in synagogue in Western Ukraine city Lutzk there is unique experience of dialogue between representatives of Progressive Judaism and Chabad. "In one synagogue pray together reformists and Chabad representatives. The Torah consolidates all Jews, irrespective of their belonging to any stream in Judaism," said Aleksandr Gaidar, who has headed the Association as an Executive Director since February 2004.

In the present situation some of the congregations moved under umbrella of Orthodox (Zhmerinka). "The Association has not helped me and I kept one in struggle for a building synagogue and congregation," said Joseph Savinov, the former chairman of the Progressive congregation in a small Ukrainian town Zhmerinka before he died in March.

For the first time in the last years the leaders of the Movement were openly criticized at the annual Progressive Jewish congregations’ conference, 2004. The activists said the leaders of Movement should be more active. "We need more active and influential leaders of Progressive Movement in Ukraine. It is necessary to change the forms and methods of work. If we will do not become more active, the doors for the Movement in the future will be closed," said Igor Kulyavtzev, the chairman of Regional Association for Progressive Jewish Congregations of Vinnitsa region, Central Ukraine.

Many leaders openly spoke about problems - absence of rabbis and paraprofessional workers, and also aging of communities and emigration. That is why many leaders of small Jewish congregations wear many hats.

"Our congregation grows old. The youth emigrated, and the birth rate sharply declined. We can’t organize club "Netzer". Ensemble Tfile already has broken up," said Yefim Diskin, one of the veterans of the Movement in Ukraine, chairman of a Progressive Congregation in Korsun-Shevchenkovsky, Central Ukraine.

"Under effect of a general demographic situation the congregation has grown old. We have not youth programs, as practically there is no Jewish youth. However, we try to return to Judaism non-Halahic Jews," said Polina Korenblyum, chairman of Progressive Congregation in Chernovtzy, Western Ukraine.

Young Jews in Ukraine may not be sticking around. Many seek to emigrate, and it is easier for them to find work abroad and acclimate to a new country than their elders. "I would like my children to graduate from school and we emigrate from Ukraine. I can't believe in better life in Ukraine in the nearest 20-25 years," said Elena Blinder, a member of Zvenigorodka Progressive congregation, Central Ukraine.

In Ukraine there are a lot of mixed marriages and a lot of non-Halahic Jews, the ways for which in other streams of Judaism are closed. So, the Progressive Movement is a good sweep-net for them and opportunity to become a Jew. Today many non-Halahic Jews and people of other nationalities participate in the congregations' life. They cooperate with the Progressive Movement and share its ideas. When there aren't enough Jews to fill all the programs, Jewish activists open their doors to non-Jewish interested in the Jewish ceremonies and life. Klavdia Kolesnikova (Korsun-Shevchenkovsky), the editor of the monthly Jewish publication Nadezhda or Hope, comments: "Where can we find today Halahic Jews? So, we admit to the Jewish community all people who share Jewish traditions and work with us."

"The establishment of such network of congregations in Ukraine with engaging small financial assets shows that the people are interested in Reform Judaism and share its principles," said Rabbi Gregory Kotlyar, Chief Rabbi of Moscow and Russia for Progressive Jewish Congregations.

Twinning contacts are very important for further development of Progressive Movement in Ukraine. The twinning congregations are engaged in development of the joint programs, rendering them moral and financial support. "Our twinning congregation Alyth Garden in London giving us spiritual and financial support. These contacts and visits of the delegations are very important for us," said Boris Kapustin.

The majority of the Jews poorly understand various directions in Judaism. During the Soviet period destroyed devotions, Hebrew, but it was impossible to destroy understanding by the Jew that "I am Jew."

The base of Progressive Judaism is already created in Ukraine. The today's stage is connected to struggle for the more independence with engaging the local sponsors, Maecenas to develop the Jewish life in the country. "Despite of available difficulties, our Movement has good prospects for the further development in Ukraine. Today it is important to recollect experience, when before Jewish community decided all problems, including financial, themselves," said Aleksandr Gaidar.

Former Executive director of the Association Boris Kutik who recently retired is very pessimistic. "The foreign Jewish organizations are not interested in development of Progressive movement in Ukraine. I don't believe in its development," said he.

At the same time, the leaders of Movement show optimism. "It is important, that the movement exists in Ukraine. The people today have a possibility to choose stream in Judaism," said Aleksandr Zlotnik. He is echoed with Rabbi Dukhovny: "In connection with inadequate financing some programs are turned off, therefore it is necessary more actively to involve local patrons and sponsors. Despite of temporary difficulties, the movement of Progressive Judaism in Ukraine will develop."

2004