The lobby in the synagogue is modern and light. Various alcoves show sacred texts and list donors. The doorway to the right in this photo leads to the street. The entrance to the sanctuary is to the left, under the semicircular in-dentation; the indentation houses the Golden Rose sculpture shown in a photo on the following page.

(Photo: Yan Sidelkovsky)

A representation of golden roses, designed and fabricated by the Israeli artist Frank Meisler and set against a background of Jerusalem stone, stands above the main entrance into the sanctuary. Mr. Meisler’s work is very popular in Ukraine .

(Photos to left and immediately below: the author)

A small rotunda between the lobby and sanctuary features the first phrase of the most important prayer in Judaism. The first word of the Sh’ma Yisroel prayer is in Hebrew at left. The first word of the same prayer in Russian is at right. The two versions continue around the rotunda until the last words in Russian and Hebrew meet on the opposite side.

A photo taken from the women’s gallery after the visit of Mr. Kuchma and the dedication of the synagogue shows the modern design of the synagogue interior. The sanctuary seats a total of 340 individuals.

(Photo: Yan Sidelkovsky)

The doors to the Aron kodesh, the Holy Ark in which the Torahs are stored, bear a replication of the Ten Commandments. The doors were designed and fabricated by Frank Meisler.

After formal presentations by Rabbi Kaminezki and President Kuchma, Rabbi Kaminezki joined the President in listening to a brief musical performance by the local Jewish boys’ choir. Several of Rabbi Kaminezki’s children were with the Presidential entourage. Here, five-year old Risha Kaminezki sits on the President’s lap next to her father.

4. A four-storey Jewish community center was nearing completion in back of the synagogue. The community Philanthropic Fund, the Joint Distribution Committee, and individual contributors are supporting its construction. Its premises will include a kitchen and dining room, library, computer center with Judaica software resources, media center, Rabbi Kaminezki’s office, other community offices, several meeting and conference rooms, classrooms, and activity rooms for children, adolescents, and the Hillel student group.

5. Tkuma (Возрождение or Renaissance) began operations on March 1 of 2000 as the first Holocaust scientific-educational center in Ukraine. Also funded by the community Philanthropic Fund, JDC, and individual contributions, Tekumah currently is housed in a five-room apartment. It will move into premises close to the synagogue when the latter are available. Although the space has been secured, plans for its renovation are not yet complete.

The writer spoke with Anatoly Podolsky, the Director of Tkuma. Dr. Podolsky is a native of Kyiv and highly respected in that city and elsewhere for his expertise on the Holocaust. In addition to completing his doctorate in Kyiv, Dr. Podolsky studied at Bar-Ilan University in Israel for one year, concentrating on history of the Jewish people in the twentieth century. He was referred to Tkumah through JDC and Yad Vashem.

Joining Dr. Podolsky in his work are three research associates, an administrator, a secretary, and a driver. Their temporary quarters are well-supplied with four computers, a scanner, two printers (black and white, and color), a television monitor, VCR, several recorders, cameras, and other equipment.

According to Dr. Podolsky and literature distributed by the Center, Tkumah is focusing its work in three specific areas. First, a research sector is engaging in continuing study on the Holocaust in Ukraine. [7]  In response to a question, Dr. Podolsky said that the Center concentrates on the Katastrofa, as the Holocaust is often termed by Russian-speakers, or Shoah (Hebrew) in eastern Ukraine, but pursues some work throughout the country. It participates in various research projects; conducts archival work; prepares and edits documents, collections, and memoirs; publishes a research bulletin, Tkumah; analyzes other publications on the Holocaust, including those that appear on the Internet; and exchanges information with scholars in universities, scientific centers, and museums throughout the world. In cooperation with the Stephen Spielberg documen-tation project, Tekumah has conducted numerous inter-views with survivors.

Dr. Anatoly Podolsky, second from left, appears with the three research associates at Tkumah in Dnipropetrovsk.