Sholom-Aleichem is Still Remembered in Ukraine But

Sholom-Aleichem is Still Remembered in Ukraine But Soon There Will be No Yiddish-Speakers in His Native Town

In March the 145th birthday of famous Jewish writer Sholom-Aleichem was celebrated in Ukrainian towns where he lived and wrote his stories. Celebrations were held in Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, Boguslav, Zvenigorodka and other towns.

Celebrations agenda in all these towns was typical: laying flowers and wreaths to Sholom-Aleishem's monument or memorial plate, participation of local authorities in celebration ceremonies and amateur concerts.

The concerts included typical performances of Yiddish and Hebrew songs and dances, Sholom-Aleichem's poems readings and mini-plays on Sholom-Aleichem's novels from repertoire of Jewish theater companies. Participants sang songs in Yiddish, Russian and Ukrainian.

The Jewish dances were cheerfully executed by ensemble Nahes from Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky. "Sholom-Aleichem anniversary for me means pleasure, fun and dances. Our group is not Jewish, but thanks to us, people get more acquainted with the Jewish music and dances," said Natalia Belyankina, leader of the dancing group.

Jewish dances were also performed by a non-Jewish dance company of Bohuslav's regional House of Culture. "To be honest, I don't know the name of the Jewish dance we performed. Our dance company is not Jewish and we participate virtually in all events held in Bohuslav's House of Culture. Before each event we prepare a dance for performance," said Vitalina Khomenko, Ukrainian girl from the dance company. Most members of Jewish dance companies in Ukrainian shtetls are not Jews by their origin, which is a distinguishing feature of Jewish communities in small towns of Ukraine.

Special Yiddishkeit was created by Kleizmer band from Kanev represented by two musicians.

Unlike their counterparts in larger cities, Jewish leaders in small communities are multifunctional. Violetta Karpenko, chairperson of the Reform congregation in Zvenigorodka, took part at the mini-play on Jewish life in "Kasrilovka" on the motives of Sholom-Aleichem stories. She is also a good singer in Yiddish. Tsylya Gekhtman, chairwoman of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky's Jewish Culture Society, sang Jewish songs together with chorus.

Elena Mironova from Zvenigorodka, also took part at the concert. She leads Shabbats and holiday services at several communities in her region and works as a teacher of Jewish tradition. "Our Jewish festivals, exhibitions and concerts – all these are our Sholom-Aleichem. If you are a Jew, read Sholom-Aleichem and you will learn yourself better," said Elena.

As part of celebration in Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, a native town of the writer, guests from Kiev and Korsun-Shevchenkovsky visited the museum of Sholom-Aleichem. In recent years the items of religious cult – Torah scroll, kipah, tfilin and mezuzah have been exhibited in the museum. "Bell Kaufmann, Sholom-Aleichem's granddaughter, presented to museum 6 unique photos," said Nina Zakharchuk, director of the museum. At the same time in the autumn of 2002 the unknown stole a memorial plate which hang on the wall at the entrance to the museum. Close to museum there is a monument to Sholom-Aleichem by sculptor Altshuler. At the bottom of the monument there is a brief inscription in Yiddish which says: "Sholom Aleichem 1916-1859".

Another feature of celebrations was a number of small exhibitions dedicated to Sholom-Aleichem and his stories, organized in different towns. Exhibitions presented books and magazines in Yiddish. Some exhibits were organized by Inna Druz, Yiddish programs coordinator of Regional Association of Jewish Communities of Small Towns of Ukraine. She told that this program works in 12 communities of this association. "Contacts with Sholom-Aleichem's literary works in Yiddish are very important. He was first to encourage Yiddish as a literary language. It is we who are the characters of his novels. We are same in our souls as we used to be," said Druz.

After a century of decline, the last decade has seen a revival of Jewish shtetls in Ukraine. The revival of "Fiddler on the Roof" expands the world of Sholom-Aleichem which brings not only joy, but serves as a message to newer generations through Sholom-Aleichem's characters and visions.

Some Jewish activists spoke openly about the problems of their communities. Most of them mentioned the aging of the communities and the Jewish emigration as the most serious challenges. Indeed, the audience of the concerts were mainly elderly people, many of whom were non-Jews.

Vladimir Kapelevich, head of the Jewish Culture Society in the town of Boguslav, said, "There are about 90 members at our society both Jews and non-Jews. 48 among them have a right to repatriate to Israel. Unfortunately, there are no young Jews in our organization. Many people have emigrated. I don't see the prospects of our society development."

"Only 10-15 members visit our community center at a time. There are practically no Jews left in Boguslav. Elderly people are dying, and the youth has left for other countries," added Mikhail Brailovsky, Boguslav community member.

In the 19th century the majority of Pereyaslav's, Boguslav's and Zvenigorodka's population were Jews. Roman Sokur, mayor of Pereyaslav, told that the census held in 2001 revealed that only 17 Jews were left in the town. "There are only 7 Jewish children and 4 students at Pereyaslav's Jewish Culture Society," Tsylya Gehtman, chairwoman of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky Jewish Culture Society, said.

Religious community used to be the center of Jewish life in small towns. But today many communities have no religious programs at all. Some of the typical programs these communities run include Yiddish clubs, Jewish cooking circles, women's clubs and discussion/intellectual groups. Some of them have theatre studio and vocal or dancing groups.

Another peculiarity of present day Jewish life in small Ukrainian towns is a large percentage of mixed families, non-Jewish members of which are very active in community affaires. These people cooperate with Jewish movement and share traditions. "Our doors are open to anyone who shares Jewish traditions and works with us," said Klavdia Kolesnikova, the editor of the newspaper Nadezhda (Hope), published monthly in Korsun-Shevchenkovsky.

"We invite to the celebrations both Jews and non-Jews, and thereby we make vaccination against anti-Semitism," said Rashkovsky. "I have learnt more about the Jewish art and culture and our great fellow-townsman Sholom-Aleichem," said Katia, Ukrainian girl from Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky high school.

Jews freely expressed their attitude to the anniversary celebration, which in the Soviet times was mere formality organized by authorities. "Sholom-Aleichem is our star. In his novels he perfectly showed Jewish people and their spirit. We haven't forgotten him. Today we celebrate his anniversary by our own will," said Mikhail Dobrovitsky, a member of the Jewish Culture Society in Boguslav.

"This holiday is very beautiful. I sang Jewish songs in Yiddish and my husband played. He read Sholom-Aleichem's stories and liked them," said Ester Tivina, 89 years old, a member of Boguslav society. "Sholom-Aleichem associated for me with Yiddish and shtetl Jewish culture. I hope Yiddish will live. Unfortunately, many people are leaving Boguslav, but as long as there are at least two Jews in the town, Yiddish and Yiddishkeit will survive," said Roman Tivin, her son, who perfectly sang Jewish songs in Yiddish and Russian.