RJC Monitor - 07.25.2003

 

The Russian Jewish Congress

JUVENILE CONFERENCE ON JUDAICS

The VIII International Juvenile Conference on Judaics was held in Moscow on July 14-16 in the Jewish national school number 1311. It was organized by the Centre of scientists and teachers of Judaics at high-school Sefer with a support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Russian Jewish Agency. About 200 students, postgraduates and young scientists from the former Soviet Union and Israel took part in the conference. The work was carried in 16 sections: “Bible studies and Semitology”, “Jews and Christians”, “Jewry in the Eastern Europe in XX century”, “Jewish arts”, “History and literature of ancient Jews”, “Judo-slavika”, “Holocaust and anti-Semitism”, “Sociology and social psychology”, “Jewish history in Middle Ages and New Times”, “Language and literature”, “History of Jews in the Russian Empire”, “Modern Israel”, “Jewish mind”, “Khazars, karaims, krymchaks”, Arab-Israeli conflict”

Tens of reports covered different topics: from Jewish exegetic system of Canticles to the contribution of Jewish women to medical development in Ukraine in the second half of the XX century; from motivation to emigrate to main tendencies in Russian historiography of Arab-Israeli conflict after the split of the USSR.

Conference organizers emphasized a steady growth of intellectual and professional level of participants of annual conferences. It was noted that the increased number of conference participants reflected the storm in Judaic studies in CIS-countries for the last years.

RUSSIAN JEWISH CONGRESS TO SEND OPEN LETTER TO KNESSET DEPUTIES

Israeli Parliament on July 16 discussed a question about local TV broadcasting and financial problems Israeli channels face. The initiative to eliminate advertising from foreign channels in Israel was proposed. This amendment can result Russian-speaking channels to stop broadcasting. Discussion about this question is to be continued in two weeks. Russian Jewish Congress appealed for Knesset deputies with an open letter to solve the problem.

Dear deputies!

Russian Jewish Congress applies to you for you have to discuss destiny of Russian TV channels in several days. We are deeply anxious about amendments designed to withdraw advertising time from foreign channels for it can result the end of Russian-speaking channels’ broadcasting in Israel.

We ask you to consider that therefore a huge Russian-speaking audience (approximately fifth of Jewish state population) will lose source of information and entertainment they get used to. Russian Jewish Congress presents Russian Jewish Community and can not stay indifferent to the problems of its former compatriots: virtually each Russian Jew has parents or children, close or distant relatives and friends in Israel. Russian-speaking channels mean for them stable relations with their previous country of living. It is a source of fresh information about life of their relatives and friends.

We understand very well that Israel today faces difficult economic conditions and we do not try to give you advices. We only apply to you asking to take into account described facts in your decision. We think the latest word is up to viewers in free business struggle. Viewers’ needs should not leave the framework of lawmaker’s decisions.

JUVENILE CONFERENCE ON JUDAICS

The VIII International Juvenile Conference on Judaics was held in Moscow on July 14-16 in the Jewish national school number 1311. It was organized by the Centre of scientists and teachers of Judaics at high-school Sefer with a support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Russian Jewish Agency. About 200 students, postgraduates and young scientists from the former Soviet Union and Israel took part in the conference. The work was carried in 16 sections: “Bible studies and Semitology”, “Jews and Christians”, “Jewry in the Eastern Europe in XX century”, “Jewish arts”, “History and literature of ancient Jews”, “Judo-slavika”, “Holocaust and anti-Semitism”, “Sociology and social psychology”, “Jewish history in Middle Ages and New Times”, “Language and literature”, “History of Jews in the Russian Empire”, “Modern Israel”, “Jewish mind”, “Khazars, karaims, krymchaks”, Arab-Israeli conflict”

Tens of reports covered different topics: from Jewish exegetic system of Canticles to the contribution of Jewish women to medical development in Ukraine in the second half of the XX century; from motivation to emigrate to main tendencies in Russian historiography of Arab-Israeli conflict after the split of the USSR.

Conference organizers emphasized a steady growth of intellectual and professional level of participants of annual conferences. It was noted that the increased number of conference participants reflected the storm in Judaic studies in CIS-countries for the last years.

KLEZFEST ON THE NEVA

Traditional summer KlezFest was closed on July 17 in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Jewish Communal Centre gathered musicians from all over the world at the seventh popular festival of Klezmer music and Yiddish song.

This year the diversity of participants was much wider then usual. There were Klezmers from the US, Germany, Italy, Holland, Estonia, Uzbekistan, and certainly Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia and Moldova.

The week of master-classes, rehearsals, lectures, concerts finished with grand gala-concert in elite Beloselsky-Belozerski Palace in the Nevsky avenue. The Klezmer Steamer became famous and span over St. Petersburg channels the whole night. Then the best Klezmers from the former USSR made an additional tour of concerts. They gave concerts in Moscow club “Project O.G.I” on July 18 and in Kishinev Russian Chekhov theatre of drama on July 19.

Traditional summer KlezFest was closed on July 17 in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Jewish Communal Centre gathered musicians from all over the world at the seventh popular festival of Klezmer music and Yiddish song.

This year the diversity of participants was much wider then usual. There were Klezmers from the US, Germany, Italy, Holland, Estonia, Uzbekistan, and certainly Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia and Moldova.

The week of master-classes, rehearsals, lectures, concerts finished with grand gala-concert in elite Beloselsky-Belozerski Palace in the Nevsky avenue. The Klezmer Steamer became famous and span over St. Petersburg channels the whole night. Then the best Klezmers from the former USSR made an additional tour of concerts. They gave concerts in Moscow club “Project O.G.I” on July 18 and in Kishinev Russian Chekhov theatre of drama on July 19.