A strategy of development of the Russian Jewish Community
Our Vision • Diverse and pluralistic Jewish communities throughout Russia with the infrastructure required to support a host of activities in the areas of human services and Jewish education/culture. • These communities will attract enthusiastic young people who are identified with their Jewish heritage, who actively reestablish the proud traditions of their ancestors, and who are engaged with Jews from around the world. • We envision a Jewish Russia that is capable of providing for its own needs – and one that is capable of helping to support Israel and any other Jewish community in need. Principal Goals • To strengthen the infrastructure of the Russian Jewish community;
• To strengthen ties between the Russian Jewish community and the State of Israel;
• To strengthen ties between the Russian Jewish community and other world Jewish diasporas, with a special emphasis on Russian-speaking Jewry outside of Russia. Conceptual Framework The following factors underline the conceptual framework on which the RJC relies both in its current activities and in its strategic planning: • The Russian Jewish community is the former Soviet Union largest Jewish community. Though exact figures are unavailable (estimates vary from several hundred thousand to three million people), liberal criteria – which are generally accepted in Russia – suggest that the minimum size of our community is between 1 and 1.5 million people. • About half of Jews in Russia reside in Moscow – which represents the largest concentration of financial, political, and intellectual resources in our community. Between one quarter and one third of Russia’s Jews live in St. Petersburg, with the other two-thirds distributed among large industrial centers in the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia. These communities continue to grow as emigres from less stable regions of Russia – and from other countries of the former Soviet Union – join these more stable communities (Moscow is also seeing an increase as emigres to Israel, the United States, and Germany return “home”). • Jewish identity in Russia is national or ethnic, not religious. The absolute majority lead secular lives; Judaism is a part of their national heritage, but not part of an every day life style. Russian Jews live in a post-assimilation period, with the children of mixed marriages becoming an integral part of the Jewish community. At the same time, our traditional institutions and our daily lives are under considerable and constant pressure (including political pressure) from certain Orthodox movements abroad (the shlichim from Chabad). • During the Soviet period, state-sponsored anti-Semitism and anti-Zionist rhetoric ultimately served to motivate Russian Jewry; aliyah, immigration, and community-building projects were all part of this phenomenon. By the 2020s or 30s, this “resource” will have expired. Therefore, alternative resources – i.e. a Jewish communal infrastructure – must be completed well before that time. 2002-2007: Objectives by Service Area Planning
In 1989, when the Soviet Union collapsed, the Jewish world outside gained access to the Newly Independent States. Over the next ten years, international Jewish organizations such as the JDC, JAFI, ORT, and Chabad engaged in much-needed tactical planning – often independently of one another – to meet the urgent and immediate needs of Russian Jewry. Now, in 2002, the Russian Jewish Congress seeks to involve each of these institutions – along with other local, national, and international organizations – in a strategic planning process to ensure the future of Russia’s Jewish communities. We must continue to meet short-term needs, but we must also create long-term solutions. Objectives:
• To conduct a Russian and Ukrainian Jewish population study. Professor Vladimir Shapiro and his team at the Jewish Research Center will obtain a demographic and sociological picture of Jewish personal and communal life in 60 cities throughout Russia and Ukraine.
• To conduct a conference (December 2002) on “Strategies for Development of the Jewish Community in Russia”. Leaders of Jewish organizations and communities will be invited to present and discuss major trends and developments; conclusions will be presented for approval to the four congresses of RJC in May 2003. Creating Communal Infrastructure
In 1989, a surprisingly unified Jewish community emerged in Russia, based primarily on the groundwork laid by the Soviet and then Russian VAADs. Since then, several competing organizations – both local and foreign; both religious and secular – have begun work on the ground in Russia. The tremendous financial edge of foreign organizations often results in the demise of local programs in favor of those proposed by individual or organizational sponsors overseas. This poses a real danger that the very existence of Russia’s Jewish communities may become contingent upon funding from abroad. Objectives:
• To develop a system of local, U.S. style, Jewish federations throughout Russia – with local programs to be funded by local donors and through local community building and fundraising efforts.
• To create in 2002-2003 a common information field for the benefit of Russia’s Jewish community. To develop Internet-based projects related to the Virtual Community of Russian-speaking Jews (VERO).
• To attract foreign charities and agencies working in Russia for co-funding of projects proposed and supported by local communities.
• To unveil before 2007 the capital projects in Moscow (the campus of the Jewish University and the Na Gorke JCC and the Maccabe children and youth sports center). And to build community centers in provincial cities based on the Kazan model, with the synagogue as part of a JCC. Social Services
Social and human service delivery in Russia is currently being carried out by several local and international organizations – including the JDC, RJC, local philanthropists, and local/international religious groups. While each group, theoretically, delivers much-needed services, the lack of coordination between groups leads to duplication of some services at the expense of others. Objectives:
• To complete, by 2004, an all-Russia system of welfare service delivery by consolidating similar programs currently operating under several different auspices.
• To develop local boards of trustees for the consolidated programs – in order to ensure continued local funding. The Holocaust and World War II: Memorial and Education
In 1997-9, the Russian Jewish Congress financed construction of the FSU’s first and only Holocaust memorial museum. RJC also initiated a “Lessons of the Holocaust program” (secondary school) and has supported the Kovcheg Association’s efforts to publish some of the 300 million documents of the Third Reich that are archived in Russia. RJC provides ongoing support to Righteous Gentiles living in Russia – as well as to several Jewish WWII veterans’ association and The Organization of Jewish Victims of the Holocaust. Objectives:
• To maintain support for the Memorial Museum of the Holocaust in Moscow, the “Lessons of the Holocaust programs” in secondary schools, Jewish war veterans associations, and outreach to Righteous Gentiles.
• To complete, by 2007, the building of memorials at every site in Russia where more than 100,000 Jews were executed during the Holocaust.
• To complete and publish The Encyclopedia of the Holocaust.
• To develop other efforts, jointly with the Claims Conference and other international agencies, to promote Holocaust remembrance and tolerance curricula in Russia. Preschool Education
Jewish pre-school education is operated almost exclusively by religious communities in Russia. RJC’s objectives in this area are designed to create opportunity for non-denominational and cross-denominational Jewish pre-school education. Objectives:
• To develop a system of high-quality, secular Jewish nursery schools in major cities.
• To support research in the area of Jewish pre-school education at the Jewish University in Moscow, the St. Petersburg Institute of Jewish Studies, and other institutions of higher learning. Secondary Schools
Jewish secondary schools are generally unpopular in Russia – primarily due to lower educational standards (with the exception of ORT) “imported” from abroad. The majority of Jewish children study at specialized public schools – similar to magnet schools in the U.S. – where educational standards are highest. Objectives:
• To develop a system of high-quality, secular Jewish schools in large Jewish communities, based upon the ORT model.
• To develop a system of teaching Jewish studies at top-level public schools, where a high percentage of the students are Jewish.
• To establish, by 2005, a program for teacher-training and program development for Jewish secondary schools. Higher Education and Research
RJC has developed a system of secular Jewish higher education in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan – with the help of Western philanthropists and foundations, as well as local sponsors and a close working relationship with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Higher education represents a very top priority for the Russian Jewish Congress – as today’s young people are our future human infrastructure. Objectives:
• To provide the means for the Jewish University in Moscow to become a world-class center for secular Jewish education and research – bringing together 1000 students and 300 faculty in a range of activities to develop the human resource infrastructure required for implementation of this entire plan.
• Continued development of higher educational programming in St. Petersburg and Kazan – and development of additional programs in southern Russia, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Youth Programs
Youth programs are – alongside higher education – our primary instrument for reaching the next generation of Jewish leadership. Like the Jewish secondary school system in Russia, current youth programming (student clubs) is often perceived as weak – and restricted access poses a problem for our highly integrated, post-assimilation community. Objectives:
• To create a network of youth clubs throughout Russia – targeted particularly toward the intellectual elite – in order to ensure the next generation of Jewish communal leadership.
• To reorganize the work of Hillel by placing them at specific university campuses, based upon the U.S. model.
• Facilitate the physical infrastructure and programming for Maccabe youth sports clubs. Media and Public Relations
We currently rely on the local, non-Jewish press or the Western Jewish press for news and opinions on a variety of topics. At the same time, news about the Russian Jewish community has no regular means of making it to the West – as our Jewish “news services” are primarily more like newsletters targeted for the elderly. Objectives:
• To begin, in 2002, the publication of a high-quality, secular and popular Jewish newspaper targeted toward Russia’s intellectual, business and political elite.
• To develop Jewish electronic media to provide better, more accurate and timely information to local, national, and international audiences.
• To establish a closer working relationship with the non-Jewish press and media in Russia.
• To establish a journalism program at one or more of the Jewish universities. Anti-defamation
Skinheads and Nazis of various stripes are active in Russia – distributing racist/anti-Semitic literature (openly), among other things. While state-sponsored anti-Semitism is now history, our law enforcement agencies have been lax in opposing its manifestation in every day life. Objectives:
• To extend security arrangements currently used at high-risk facilities only.
• To develop tolerance courses in secondary schools and universities.
• To collaborate with the Russian Orthodox church, other Christian faiths, Muslim organizations and Buddhists in an interfaith struggle against xenophobia.
• To continue our work with law enforcement agencies and the national media – to expose racist and anti-Semitic activities. Culture
Russian Jews respond to cultural activities first and foremost – including theatrical productions, concerts, exhibits, and publications. Objectives:
• To create, by 2007, a Jewish Museum in Moscow.
• To secure funding for an extensive number of Russian-language books on Jewish topics.
• To provide professional training for Jewish theater and musical groups.
• To start production, by 2005, of a TV program devoted to Jewish history, culture, and modern Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora. Religious Life
Some 60 rabbis and graduates of Orthodox yeshivas are working in Russia today. Over 30 of them are affiliated with the Chabad movement (primarily through FEOR), 20 are orthodox (KEROOR), and two are Reformed (OROSIR). The absolute majority of them are foreigners – with only two exceptions in Moscow (Chief Rabbi of Russia, Adolf Shayevich and the Rabbi of Darchei Shalom Jewish Center, Dovid Karpov). While the reformed, orthodox, and some Chabad rabbis have cooperated closely, the FEOR-affiliated rabbis have pursued an aggressive policy against pluralism and against other communities – while relying on governmental authorities and the national media to help advance their agenda. Objectives:
• To promote religious pluralism in Jewish communities throughout Russia.
• To provide, by 2007, high-quality rabbinical training within Russia.
• To eliminate any group’s ability to use government to advance the interests of one Jewish religious movement against all others. Government Relations
RJC’s relationship with governmental authorities has progressed from active opposition (from underground during the Soviet period) to constructive cooperation. Objectives:
• To complete, by the end 2002, development of clear channels of communication and cooperation with national and regional authorities.
• To advocate for governmental support for programs benefiting education, social, research, cultural, and recreational institutions.
• To support the integration of Russia into the world economic and political community. Ties with Israel
Given the enormous Aliyah from Russia over the past fifteen years, nearly every single Jew in Russia has relatives living in Israel. Relations with Israel, then, are a top priority for our community. Objectives:
• To organize regular acts of solidarity with the people and State of Israel.
• To intensify our lobbying efforts on behalf of Israeli interests.
• To set up “Russian Friends of” organizations for universities, cultural institutions, medical centers, etc.
• To create partnerships between Russian and Israeli regional communities, modeled on Partnership 2000 in Israel and the U.S. Ties with the Diaspora
Prior to 1996 (i.e. prior to establishment of the Russian Jewish Congress), the relationship between Russian Jews and Western Jews was that of the client to the patron. Today, we operate as partners. Objectives:
• To use the Internet to reach Russian-speaking Jews worldwide – and to set in motion other mechanisms for exchanging information and coordination activities.
• To work with our colleagues in Berlin to establish (by 2005) a Jewish University in Berlin modeled on the Jewish University in Moscow and to be part of the partnership currently underway with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
• To prepare, by 2003-2004, the blueprint for an international Russian-Jewish school – with the basic curriculum to include Russian, English, and Hebrew. The school system will straddle the former Soviet Union, North America, and Germany.
• To find co-funding opportunities on a one-to-one match basis with our Western counterparts.
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