The St. Petersburg and Kiev Mezuzot Project

The St. Petersburg and Kiev Mezuzot Project is the first step towards ORT's goal of affixing mezuzot to the doors of all the classrooms and laboratories in ORT schools and centers throughout Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. The Jewish tradition of affixing a mezuzah to the doorframe of a building originates from the Biblical verse repeated twice in the Book of Deuteronomy: "And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your houses and upon your gates." The mezuzah signifies the sanctity of and God's blessing upon a Jewish building and those who occupy it. Throughout the generations, where circumstances have permitted them to do so, Jewish people have been meticulous in observing this mitzvah (Jewish commandment). Unique among Jewish symbols, it enables the occupants of a building to openly affirm their attachment to their heritage and religion.

Many young Jewish people grew up in the former Soviet Union without ever seeing a mezuzah, knowing what it is, or understanding its significance. Some older members of the community could only recollect seeing them in their grandparents' homes. The ability to affix a mezuzah in a public place was denied to Jews under the Communist regime, and even to do so in a private home could lead to great difficulty and danger in those times. Today, they can proudly point to the mezuzot, on the doorframes of Jewish schools and community buildings, as a symbol of both their identity as Jews and their freedom from political and religious oppression.

ORT is enlisting your support in this essential religious and cultural endeavor. The cost of sponsoring one mezuzah at either the ORT de Gunzburg School and Technology Center in St. Petersburg, or the ORT Technology Lyceum in Kiev is $5,000 and donors who contribute will have their names inscribed on plaque placed next to that contributor's mezuzah. For more information or to contribute to this project, please contact our Fund Development office at 1-800-51-WAORT.

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