RJC Monitor - 02.28.2003

 

The Russian Jewish Congress

RJC PRESIDENT MEETS WITH AMERICAN JEWISH LEADERS

Russian Jewish Congress President Yevgeny Satanovsky visited the United States February 14 through 24. While in the U.S., he met with senior officials of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the World Jewish Congress (WJC), as well as with leaders of the local Russian-speaking Jewish community and representatives of the Russian-language media.

The discussions centered around RJC cooperation with American Jewish organizations in Russia; the looming U.S. military action in the Gulf and its possible repercussions on Israel; options for trilateral U.S.-Russo-Israeli cooperation in the fight against terrorism; and prospects for the removal of the Clinton Administration's restrictions on energy and military technological transactions between Russia and Israel. 

One other prominent issue on the agenda was the Russian Jewish community's collaboration with the WJC and the Claims Conference in paving the way for Holocaust survivors' wartime compensation claims against Romania. Russian, Ukrainian, Belarussian, and Moldovan surviving victims of the Holocaust—as well as their German and Austrian counterparts—implicate the pro-Nazi Romanian government in occupying Jewish lands and slaying hundreds of thousands of Jews during World War II. 

Until recently, major Jewish organizations have paid little attention to Romania, focusing instead on Germany, Austria, and the Swiss banks. However, unlike Germany, whose denazification was completed decades ago, the modern-day Romania continues to glorify the fascist Antonescu regime. 

U.S. FUNDRAISERS SHARING EXPERTISE WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS 

Russian Jewish Congress fundraisers from Moscow and St. Petersburg have been invited for a ten-day upgrading course by the Jewish Federation of West Palm Beach, Fla., one of the most influential and prosperous Jewish communities in the United States. This course is part of a project launched under the auspices of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the United Jewish Communities. All appropriate training facilities are provided by the Jewish community of West Palm Beach, which, along with Cleveland's, patronizes programs in St. Petersburg.

The development of full-scale infrastructure for the Russian Jewish community requires much more donor money than what is presently available. The RJC is hopeful that the unique American expertise will help its own fundraisers attract larger contributions for the purpose. 

RJC, JDC DISCUSS MOSCOW COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT 

On February 24, a delegation of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) had talks with senior Russian Jewish Congress officials. The American delegation was led by Asher Ostrin, in charge of JDC operations in Russia. The Russian side was represented by President Yevgeny Satanovsky, Vice Presidents Sergei Gitman and Yuri Raskin, and Moscow Jewish Community Vice President Pavel Feldblum. 

The RJC-JDC talks were devoted to various collaborative projects, specifically the Moscow Jewish community center known as Na Gorke. 

PRESIDENTIAL BRANCH SEEKING COMMUNAL LEADERS' HELP IN MAINTAINING SOCIETAL STABILITY

Georgy Poltavchenko, presidential envoy to Russia's Central Federal District, met February 26 with leaders of ethnic and religious communities in the area under his jurisdiction. 

The Jewish delegation included Yevgeny Satanovsky, President of the Russian Jewish Congress; Adolph Schaewitz, Chief Rabbi of Russia; Zinovy Kogan, Chairman of the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations in Russia (KEROOR); and Pavel Feldblum, Executive Vice President of the Moscow Jewish Community. Chief Mufti Talgat Tajutdin and leaders of Transcaucasia communities (such as Azeri and Lezghin) represented the Moslems. The meeting was also attended by Boris Ignatyev, an advisor in the Russian presidential department administering Cossacks' affairs.

The meeting participants discussed possible collaboration in maintaining societal stability ahead of a new parliamentary election.

BOOK OF HOLOCAUST MEMOIRS COMES OUT IN MOSCOW 

The newly released book "Last Witnesses" is a third one in the Kovcheg Foundation's Holocaust Anatomy series. It has been compiled by Moscow's Holocaust Survivors Association on the basis of 64 first-hand accounts. Only thirteen of the contributing witnesses were above 16 years of age when World War II broke out while the rest were teenagers or children at that time. Several of them died while the book was still in press. 

Among the contributors there are a few people of letters, such as the playwright and essayist Alexander Gelman, novelist Maria Rolnikaite, and linguist Anna Weisman. But most are amateur writers, who have penned their wartime experiences at the editorial board's request. 

With the testimonies so much alike in terms of factual information, this collective diary reveals the appalling magnitude of the Shoah. 

To mark the book release, Holocaust survivors associations of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova held a soiree in Moscow February 26. Among those who spoke at the soiree were Association President Yefim Gologorsky, editor Zinovy Zuckerman, and Yakov Etinger, one of the "Last Witnesses." The men highlighted the importance of Holocaust victims' accounts for future generations and said they wished that the book had been available in more copies. 

The meeting was attended by officials from the Israeli Embassy, the Russian Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Moscow Human Rights Office. 

NEW ISRAELI AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO RJC BOARD 

Cooperation between the Russian Jewish community and the State of Israel was high on the agenda of the RJC Board's February 27 session, attended by the newly-appointed Israeli Ambassador, Arkady Milman. The diplomat spoke of Israel's current economic situation and its standing in the international arena. He also outlined his vision for cooperation between the Israeli Embassy and the Russian Jewish community. 

Executive Vice President Yuri Raskin summed up the work done by the RJC last year. President Yevgeny Satanovsky then made a brief preview of the organization's plans for this year. 

Ilya Pestrikov, Director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's Volga and Central Russia Bureau, revealed JDC plans for interaction with Russian Jewish organizations this year.