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BELARUS

Jewish Museums
Planned For Kiev

Gil Sheffer
Jerusalem Post

Kiev, Ukraine

I

f everything goes according to plan,
construction of not one, but two
major Jewish museums will begin in
Kiev this time next year, Jewish leaders in
Ukraine said last week, although skeptics
have their doubts.
The first, which according to its back-
ers is set to break ground in less than 12
months, will be the first comprehensive
museum depicting the history of Jews in
this country which dates back to medieval
times.
"We have just received an offer from the
city for land:' said Ukrainian lawmaker
and businessman Oleksandr Feldman,
who is helming the project. "We would like
to find an architect and start construction
next September and the mayor of Kiev is
supportive of the museum:'

There are already several Jewish
museums in the East European country.
In Odessa, the local Jewish museum
tells the story of the city's fabled Jewish
past while the childhood home of
Sholem Aleichem in Pereiaslav displays
an exhibit on the life and times of the
Jewish humorist. Still, the country that
was once home to a large portion of
world Jewry and where an estimated
100,000 Jews remain does not have an
official Jewish museum, something
Feldman wants to change.
"I plan to invest my money in it and
call others to join me," the Jewish busi-
nessman said at a gathering battling
anti-Semitism that he organized in Kiev.
Germany, one of the potential funders
of such a project, has expressed an
interest in the idea.
"We stand behind the idea to build
this museum and support it," said
German lawmaker Petra Pau, who was
among those invited by Feldman to

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planned in Kiev
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is slated to be
built near Babi
Yar, the ravine
"They are out of favor with the current
where 33,000 Jews were murdered by the government," said a participant at the
Nazis 70 years ago.
gathering.
"It will be like the Ukrainian Yad
Indeed, one can be forgiven for hav-
Vashem and focus on the Holocaust,"
ing doubts that either project will begin
said Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, a sup- on time. Plans to build either a Jewish
porter of the initiative. "It will tell the
museum or community center in or near
story of the Jews who were murdered by
Babi Yar have been hopelessly stalled for
the Nazis."
at least a decade.
The rabbi who is one of three claim-
"We hope next October to start build-
ants to the title of Chief Rabbi of
ing but I can only pray that will happen:'
Ukraine said two of the wealthiest men
Azman said. "Every time there was an
in the country, Jewish businessmen Igor
objection from the state or the munici-
Kolomoisky and Vadim Rabinovich, have pality but this time we've bought the
shown an interest in the project. But
land to prevent any kind of opposition.
this may be a liability as much as it is a
We have to push hard but nothing worth-
benefit.
while comes easy." I I

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78

September 29 a 2011

Obituaries