President's Update
Spring 2001

National President Pepi Dunay

rebirth and renewal

as Jews return to their roots

as Jews, we celebrate Passover: the renewal and rebirth. We see it around us: barren trees bear bright green leaves, flowers begin to bloom, days grow longer. As Jews, we celebrate Passover, a holiday that celebrates the renewal of the Jewish people as we escaped slavery and began our journey toward Israel, free to develop our religious values. Nowhere have I seen the spirit of rebirth more dramatically demonstrated than during a trip to Ukraine last fall.

We sat in an old opera house, gilt faded, seats in disrepair, paint peeling. We were surrounded by hundreds of relatives and neighbors...the Jewish community of Dnepepetrovisk had come to see their children perform in a pageant sponsored by the Israeli cultural center in honor of the opening of the ORT Technology Center at their day school. The children, from age six to teenagers, wore costumes that reminded me of those worn by my daughters in their dance recitals. But these dancers were performing to the music of Israel. It was very moving. Then, the curtain closed, opening to reveal twenty men and women, all in their 70s and 80s. Many of the men wore medals from WWI and WWII, given to them under the Soviet regime. All were dressed in their very best. They began to sing....Yiddish songs!

That is what is happening to Jewish life in that part of the world: the coming together of generations to re-discover a long-forgotten heritage. ORT is a very important part of this effort.

Our mission took us to Kiev, where we dedicated an ORT school, already filled to capacity. In fact, the city of Kiev has given ORT another near-by building that will be renovated to become part of the school we dedicated. Thanks to generous WAO supporters Milton and Shirley Gralla this dream is a reality.

We also visited Zaporajah, a large city south of Kiev, to view space in a Jewish school where ORT will create a new technology center, thanks to the generosity of the Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan Family Foundation. Here too, children performed in thanks and celebration of our efforts.

Life in Ukraine is hard. The average teacher’s salary is $40 per month. Three generations live in small two-bedroom apartments built forty years ago and not maintained. Yet, there are positive developments. Stores are well stocked. There is much renovation of old and beautiful buildings, including synagogues. The people seem cautiously optimistic. Many Jews participate in communal activity, learning more about Israel. Some may choose to leave; others will remain to build Jewish community in Ukraine.

As we gather around our seder tables, we can be
assured that the students who participate in ORT programs around the world, are sitting at theirs. Even in Ukraine.

Read more about the mission to Ukraine.