NCSJ - 07.16.2002

 

Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs

Russia Trip Report: June 2-10, 2002

Moscow, Tula and Voronezh

NCSJ’s Lesley Weiss at a meeting of Voronezh “Kolot” leadership.  Rita Drozdinskaya, Head of the Voronezh Jewish Community Center (far left); Lesley Weiss (second from right); Lena Makhrina, KEROOR representative (far right)

The purpose of my trip to Russia was to assess the impact of the State Department-funded domestic violence project “Kolot” (Women’s Voices) in Tula and Voronezh, and to discuss anti-Semitism, community-building and other issues of concern with Jewish community leadership

“Kolot” is a partnership between NCSJ, Jewish Women International (JWI), Project Kesher, and the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC).  In addition to providing support for domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives in Tula and Voronezh, the project included site visits to the communities by the U.S. partners.  A delegation of Jewish leaders from Voronezh and Tula then visited the United States for training under the grant.  The domestic violence project has reached the end of its 18-month grant and my visit followed two community-wide conferences held on this theme.

Moscow

Before traveling to the two cities, I met with Svetlana Yakimenko, NIS Director of Project Kesher.  We discussed her impressions of the domestic violence seminars in Tula and Voronezh and ideas for future programs.  I introduced Svetlana to Yevgeny Satanovsky, RJC President, and Sergei Gitman, RJC Vice-President for International Relations.  We reviewed the project and the role of Project Kesher in the community. Satanovsky also discussed his recent meetings with President Bush and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

At the American Embassy, I met with David Firestein, Second Secretary, Political Section, where we discussed recent anti-Semitic incidents in Moscow, including booby-trapped anti-Semitic signs and skinhead attacks on Jews.  Firestein spoke about President Bush’s recent trip to Moscow and his meetings with the Jewish community.  I provided him with an update about the domestic violence project

In meetings with Anatoly Pinsky, Executive Vice-President of Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations in Russia (KEROOR), Zinovy Kogan, Chairman of KEROOR, and Lena Makhrina, Assistant, we spoke about the problems of assimilation, the need for stronger Jewish education in Russia, the rising influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in state schools, and KEROOR interest in partnering with NCSJ and member agencies.

I met with Jenya Mikhaleva, Director of Moscow Hillel Center, for a reception recognizing a recent issue of the Russian historical magazine “Rodina” (Homeland) that was devoted to the Russian Jewish community.  Afterwards, we discussed Moscow Hillel, anti-Semitic incidents, the future of the Moscow-Texas student advocacy program, and other issues affecting the Jewish community of Moscow.

In a meeting with Alexander Axelrod, Director of ADL in Moscow, I reviewed my plans for Tula and Voronezh, President Bush’s trip to Russia, recent anti-Semitic incidents, Axelrod’s work in fighting anti-Semitism, Jewish intra-communal relations in Moscow, and the application in Russian schools of programs to combat prejudice.

I was accompanied to Tula and Voronezh by Lena Makhrina from KEROOR, whose responsibilities include supervising religious communities in Russia.

“Kolot”-Tula

In Tula, the “Kolot” working team reported on the May 15^th conference, “Ways of Preventing Domestic Violence”.  Held at the Hesed Center, the conference was attended by 54 people, including representatives from law enforcement, religious groups, the city administration, legal services, human rights groups, women’s organizations and municipal social services.  Tatiana Lisenko, the Tula administration Director of the Committee on Women, Family and Demography opened the conference.

At the “Kolot” conference in Tula. (l.-r.):Lyudmila Danilov, Director of the Tula “Kolot” project; Tatiana Lisenko, Director of the Tula Regional Committee on Women, Family and Demography; Faina Sanevich, Director of the Tula Hesed “Neshama”; Lena Makhrina.	Tula police representatives and project leadership discuss police response to family violence

The plenary session was followed by presentations in which local police reported on their collaboration with the “Kolot” project. A member of the Lawyer’s Association of the Tula region spoke about legal assistance to victims of domestic violence.  Other sessions focused on elderly abuse and conflict-resolution within the family.  Local clergy, including the Tula Rabbi, a Russian Orthodox priest, and representatives from the Church of Seventh Day Adventists spoke about the role of religion in providing help to victims of violence. Psychologists addressed methods and forms of psychological assistance to victims

“Kolot”-Voronezh

In Voronezh, the conference was held May 20 at the Voronezh Parliamentary Center.  100 representatives of the local police, non-governmental agencies, city administration, ethnic communities and the city crisis center attended “Preventing Home Violence”.  Rita Drozdinskaya, Director of the Jewish Community Center of Voronezh, opened the conference.  This conference was the first public discussion of a social issue between the local government, the police and the Jewish community, and the first ever formal public discussion of domestic violence.

Rita Drozdinskaya addresses the Voronezh conference. To her right and left are Voronezh municipal officials.	At the Voronezh conference:  Tula “Kolot” representative Evelina Shubinskaya, also a member of Project Kesher, addresses participants.

Speakers included the Oblast Duma Deputy Chairman in charge of social issues; the City Duma Deputy; and representatives from the Department of the Interior; the Russian Association of Crisis Centers; the Association of Justices; the Federal Court; and a representative from the Tula Domestic Violence Project.

In both conferences, the Jewish community led efforts to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence.  Throughout the grant, they reached out to different segments of society, worked as a team, and planned the conferences together.  The Jewish community developed professional and personal relationships with police, clergy and local administration officials.  Community members responded positively to the Jewish community’s efforts and participated in a serious and enthusiastic manner.

The media attended both conferences.  In Tula, articles appeared in the city newspaper and the Jewish newspaper.  The director of the Tula project appeared on a local radio show to discuss the project and the conference.  In Voronezh, the local newspaper wrote about the conference and the Director of the Jewish Community Center was invited to serve on a state Duma Committee on International Relations.  The access to local officials available to the Jewish community was unprecedented.  A year ago when I asked to meet with the local police, the Tula Jewish community responded incredulously at the request.  On this visit, the Jewish community, which now feels comfortable meeting with all levels of the Tula police department, arranged a meeting for me with the Assistant Chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Tula region.

Lesley Weiss with Kolot leadership in Tula and the Assistant Chief of the Tula region Interior Ministry (second from right).

In Voronezh, I attended a meeting of human rights activists including the local representative of the Union of Rightist Forces, the director of the regional small business association, the director of Devos, a women’s group that focuses on sexual harassment and trafficking of women, and the Deputy Editor of the Voronezh Gazette.  Also participating were the Director of the Jewish Community Center, the Director of the Hesed Center, and representatives of KEROOR and the RJC. Discussion focused on human rights abuses and corruption, and the recent development of a community parliament, which gives NGOs access to the local government and helps the government cooperate with civil society.  I spoke about the role of NCSJ and its work with federal authorities in the United States and in Russia.  We also spoke about the role of the media in promoting democratic reforms.

At a meeting of NGO representatives in Voronezh: (clockwise) Irina Karpova  Director of the Voronezh Hesed; Boris Usherenko, Russian Jewish Congress representative; Anna Garmonova, Director of Demos; a representative from the Voronezh Gazette. (Right, clockwise): Lesley Weiss; Lena Makhrina; Rita Drozdinskaya

Community Building in Tula

I met with the leadership of the Tula Jewish community about their plans to build a community center/synagogue complex.  The community submitted plans to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to build the Tula Jewish Community Home to accommodate the Jewish community (estimated at 6000).  In addition to a center and synagogue, it would house the Hesed, kindergarten, Sunday school, and provide services to children, youth and elderly in one location.  Tula already has its own rabbi, a musical ensemble, a theater, and many educational and social welfare services. The Hesed provides kosher food and medical aid.  The community center will provide space for all of these services.

In Tula: Lena Makhrina (left), Lesley Weiss (center), Faina Sanevich (right).  Architectural plans are displayed on wall

 

The Community Board approached Tula municipal authorities about building on property in the city center.  A building permit was granted, and having relocated the tenants, the Jewish community is ready to begin construction.  They discussed their plans and upcoming meetings with JDC.  They are hopeful that, combined with the money already raised by the local Jewish community, they will receive the necessary funds to realize their dream of having all of Tula’s Jewish organizations and services under one roof.

Jewish Community Concerns in Voronezh

(l.-r.): Lesley Weiss with Rita Drozdinskaya, Lena Makhrina, and Rabbi Nosson Vershubsky and son in Voronezh.

I had extensive discussions with Rabbi Nosson Vershubsky, the Rabbi in Voronezh, and Zinovy Rosenberg, Chairman of the Voronezh Board of Jewish Organizations, about anti-Semitism and rebuilding the Voronezh Jewish community.  The Voronezh administration recently returned a 100-year-old synagogue to the community. During World War II the roof of the synagogue was bombed, and rain destroyed the walls and foundation.  As current repairs were underway, planners discovered that the damage was more serious than they had anticipated.  The community needs additional funds to finish the renovation.  [Earlier plans to build an adjoining community center have been postponed as the community concentrates on the immediate need to finish the building repairs.]

The synagogue in its current condition is unsafe and unusable. There are an estimated 3000-5000 Jews in Voronezh and at least 60 children have been identified who would attend a Jewish kindergarten if repairs were completed.

Voronezh synagogue

Mr. Rosenberg explained that, when the synagogue was first returned, vandalism was a constant problem.  Windows were broken with bricks, and dead cats and dogs were regularly thrown through the shattered windows.  Two years ago, Mr. Rosenberg contacted the local police and government and the situation improved.  The police conducted a special raid around the building and detained neighboring residents.  They detained anyone who lived nearby or had access to the synagogue at the police station for a day for questioning.  The police began patrolling the property and the incidents stopped.

In response to questions about the recent appearance of anti-Semitic signs in Voronezh, apparent copycat versions of the sign in Moscow, Mr. Rosenberg provided the following overview of extremist activity in Voronezh.

”When the Mayor of Moscow threw out extremists two years ago, the extremist leaders made Voronezh their new center of activity. Skilled and organized, these extremists disseminated newspapers and leaflets throughout the city.  They created a network of extremists, complete with bodyguards.  They tried to demonstrate their strength by wearing black uniforms with swastikas and often stood at attention in the main street in the city.

Although they hoped to provoke a public response from the Jewish community, the Jews chose instead to contact the police.  The Jewish community paid the police and a unique action was organized.  The police invited the extremists to a city park for a meeting.  When they arrived, the police arrested a number of these young men for escaping from jail and the rest for helping them escape.  The leader of the group was thrown out of Voronezh.

A few extremists still are in town and they are nostalgic for previous times.  They are not as organized as before and not a strong force in the city.  The anti-Semitic signs are an inexpensive way to attract attention.  The way to fight it is not by drawing attention to it, but by quietly enlisting police help. 

Rosenberg indicated that the police contacted him the day the first sign appeared and “the job is being done.”  NTV contacted Rosenberg for a statement but his policy is not to speak to the press about extremist activity.

A discussion followed about methods to deal with anti-Semitism, negotiating with the police, and the value of informing Jewish organizations outside of Voronezh about incidents.  One incident discussed, which Rosenberg had not heard about, was the recent assault on musicians playing Jewish music at the May 9 Victory Day celebration in the center of town.  According to Rabbi Vershubsky, when the musicians, who had been invited by the city administration, began to play ”Hava Nagila”, a group of youths told them to stop.  When the musicians continued to play, the youths attacked them.  The audience did not react.  The police said that the attackers were young, it was “hooliganism” -- and no charges were filed.

Later, a television talk show discussed the incident. Viewers called in to answer the question, “Is extremism a good or bad thing?”  47% of the callers said it was a good thing.  While the term “extremism” may have been understood as “nationalism”, nonetheless the response is disturbing.

SUMMARY

My visit to the three cities revealed the success and importance of the “Kolot” project for these Jewish communities.  The goal of the project was to engage the religious and ethnic communities in the work of addressing domestic violence.  The project succeeded in this area and engendered collaboration from many different sectors of society, i.e. police, academia, media, women’s groups, human rights organizations and city and regional government.  Through city-wide surveys, student and community training, university courses, media interviews and consultations with police, the issue of domestic violence and the Jewish communities’ leadership role has received tremendous visibility.  The community used every opportunity to showcase and raise awareness about the problem of domestic violence.  The seminars provided an opportunity to analyze the problem and provide practical solutions.

The Jewish communities of Tula and Voronezh are entering the next level of community development.  Both communities have established leadership and Rabbis, and are in the midst of building substantial Jewish communal institutions.  Their involvement in the domestic violence project helped to develop new relationships with the general community, which, one hopes, will have positive ramifications in the years to come.  Strong partnerships based on trust and friendship were solidified with NCSJ, JWI, Project Kesher, and the RJC.