Kazan Update - 08.03.2001

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Kazan Jewish Community Fights School Closing

WASHINGTON, DC

NCSJ has reported that the Council of Trustees of the Jewish Community of Kazan, Russia, is protesting a resolution issued by the Mayor of Kazan closing the only Jewish school in Kazan.

A fire of suspicious origin caused extensive damage to a Jewish school in Kazan on July 13. It started in a nearby wooded area and spread to the school. Nearly 400 Jewish children attend the school and the community is actively engaged in efforts to repair the building in time for the opening of school in September. Several international Jewish organizations as well as the Embassy of Israel are providing assistance. The Jewish Communities of Western Connecticut have a partnership with Kazan and are involved with assisting the Kazan community. While the fundraising and reconstruction were proceeding, the Mayor of Kazan issued the decree on July 18 disbanding the school.

According to Mikhail Abramovitch Skoblyonok, Chairman of the Kazan Jewish Community, Tatarstan President Mintimer Sharipovich Shamiev ordered Kazan Mayor Kamil Iskhakov to disband the school, and said, “A Jewish school does not belong in this historic Tatar neighborhood.” The Mayor has offered to place the 400 Jewish students in a few classes in a non-Jewish school.

The Jewish community has rejected this proposal and is appealing to the regional and national authorities to allow the repairs to continue. Despite the decree, the community is proceeding with plans to open the school in the fall.

NCSJ has been working closely with Russian Jewish organizations, including the Russian Jewish Congress. We are in contact with local community leaders and government officials and have called on Russian authorities to investigate the fire and ensure that repairs on the Jewish school are not further impeded.