Board of Governors Meeting - 06.07.2004

 

Featured Speakers: 

Rabbi Yakov Bleich Chief Rabbi of Ukraine	Amir Shaviv Assistant Executive Vice President American Jewish Joint  Distribution Committee	Rep. Robert Wexler Ranking Member,  U.S. House International Relations Subcommittee on Europe

Luncheon: 

Lynn Pascoe Deputy Assistant Secretary of State  (Caucasus and Central Asia,  Southeast Europe)	Steven Pifer  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State  (Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus)

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	NCSJ Chairman Robert J. Meth opened the Spring 2004 NCSJ Board of Governors meeting, highlighting NCSJ’s positive relationship with religious and secular Jewish organizations, and reporting on recent meetings with top-level government officials and ambassadors of the United States, Georgia, Russia and Israel.
	NCSJ President Joel M. Schindler greeted diplomats in the audience representing 13 different countries, including Ambassadors of Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia. He then introduced Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, who discussed the role of NCSJ in establishing links between American Jewish communities and communities in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU), as well as with Israel. She cited specific examples, including the partnership of the Baltimore Jewish Community Council with its counterpart in Odessa, and work done in conjunction with the U.S. State Department, USAID, and Hillel.
	Amir Shaviv, the Assistant Executive Vice President for Special Operations of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) spoke about the JDC’s efforts to rebuild the Jewish communities in the FSU; he discussed the achievements of the 13 years since the breakup of the Soviet Union, and outlined JDC’s strategy and goals for the region and globally. The JDC provides social and religious services to the elderly members of the community while reconnecting younger Jews with their heritage. Emphasizing JDC’s non-political status, he praised the advocacy work of NCSJ as the necessary complement to JDC’s work.
	Shai Franklin, NCSJ Director of Governmental Relations, reviewed the recently concluded OSCE Berlin Conference on Anti-Semitism, and hailed this meeting as a success. The conference emphasized the importance of human rights, while concurrently acknowledging that anti-Semitism is a unique issue, and must be dealt with separately. He discussed the Berlin Declaration, which contains implementable commitments designed to hold governments accountable for combating anti-Semitism, a step that establishes a precedent in the OSCE process. He also discussed NCSJ’s support for the graduation of Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Act of 1974.
	Representative Robert Wexler (D-Florida) framed the successful outcome of the Berlin Conference as the result of the dedicated strategy by Jewish groups in the wake of the virulently anti-Semitic tone of the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. He discussed his own participation in the Berlin Conference, and at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, as well as his latest visit to France. He also advocated working with Muslim groups, when possible, to combat anti-Semitism and address broader social problems. The Congressman evaluated the situation in France, citing the French government’s lack of support for Muslim integration into French society as a key cause of anti-Semitic sentiment. He called for continuing education on the problem of anti-Semitism.
	Rabbi Yakov Bleich, Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, discussed the renaissance of Jewish life since the fall of the Soviet Union, and possible challenges for the Jewish community as Ukraine approaches presidential elections this October. He cautioned Jewish leaders to stay out of Ukrainian politics, and expressed a fear that parties might drag the community into the political fights. The Chief Rabbi discussed recent anti-Semitic events, including the publication of anti-Semitic articles in the newspaper Silski Visti, and the desecration of a Kyiv cemetery, and commended the quick and positive government response in both cases. He warned that Russia may be reverting to repression and authoritarianism, recreating “Jews of silence,” communities which fear to openly express their views. He called on organizations such as NCSJ to “strengthen their interest” and remain on guard against further regression.
	NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin moderated the luncheon panel with Deputy Assistant Secretaries of State Steven Pifer and Lynn Pascoe on U.S. policy toward the Soviet successor states. Ambassador Pifer emphasized the importance of developing relations with each country individually, and seizing the opportunity for partnership with each state, particularly Russia, in working toward international goals. Ambassador Pascoe noted that the nations in the Caucasus regions are in the process of moving toward European structures. Ambassadors Pifer and Pascoe discussed the significant role of Russia in the region. As they argued, Russia must recognize that involvement in the area is no longer a zero-sum game, and that the United States and Russia can work together toward goals that are in both nations’ interests. They also responded to questions about U.S. policy post-9/11, stressing that human rights issues have hardly been set aside. They characterized U.S. involvement in Central Asia as part of an ideological struggle, as well as a security concern, and therefore a long-term strategy. They spoke of an effort to transform how people view religion, emphasizing that this region proves it is possible for Jews and Muslims to live together.
	Dr. Meth concluded the program, thanking everyone for their participation.

- Summary prepared by NCSJ Intern Nina Besser and NCSJ Program Assistant David Shulman, with notes from NCSJ Program Assistant Judy Turkeltaub

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See highlights from past Board of Governors Meetings:

 

October 2003 May 2003 December 2002 October 2001 April 2001

December 2000 November 1999 June 1999 March 1999 October 1998