On September 16, 2015, the grand opening of the Community Center in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi took place. This event became a landmark not only for the people of Kamianets-Podilskyi, but also for all members of the Jewish community, as it is an indicator of the dynamic development of Jewish life in our region. The Community Center will significantly expand the range and improve the quality of services provided by the Foundation's representative office, as it is equipped in accordance with the needs of people. This event was prepared for a long and thorough time, and the result should pleasantly surprise everyone who has not yet visited the Center.
Related links:
New Community Center opened Official website of the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council
In Kamianets-Podilskyi, a Jewish charitable foundation celebrated its birthday and New Year
The reconstruction of the premises of the Hesed Besht Foundation representative office on Chervonoarmiiskaya Street began last year. For more than a decade, cultural and social programs have been operating here, led by the unchanging director, Margarita Aronivna Shopnik. But new times require new solutions, and it was simply impossible for an organization that makes a huge contribution to the life of the city and surrounding areas to remain in one place. That is why, partly at its own peril and risk, but more with faith in the nobility of the work begun, it was decided to begin the reconstruction of the premises. The idea was supported by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee "Joint" and the mission of "Stichting Ruhama". Considerable support was provided by caring community members and benefactors.
Kamianets-Podilskyi is the fourth city where the project to create a Community Center is being implemented. So far, similar institutions have been created in Khmelnytskyi, Starokostyantyniv, and Ternopil. The planning of premises in such centers is carried out in accordance with the needs of its visitors and must necessarily include a large hall for meetings, a kitchen, a room for official receptions and holding round tables or creative workshops. Mandatory elements of the cultural and educational process are a library, a resource computer room, and a museum room.
All these premises concisely fit into the concept of the Community Center in Kamianets-Podilskyi, which gave the institution great functionality and, at the same time, home comfort. The design of the museum part became charming and fascinating. Visitors find themselves in a room frozen in time, where items of Jewish life and objects of worship are preserved, mannequins in traditional clothing stand, and above their heads - a starry sky spreads out, as a memory of millions of souls who left this world against their will in the Holocaust.
The spacious hall serves as both a meeting place and a computer class, where literacy courses on handling modern electronic machines are held. The world organization "ORT-Keshernet" took part in the creation of the class, with the assistance of which powerful modern computers were purchased. Also in the hall there is a special exhibition of the Jewish chronology and calendars that help to navigate Jewish dates.
Midrash-cafe "Beteavon" is the most favorite place of real housewives. The Community Center was assisted in equipping the kitchen by the charitable organization "WJR", Great Britain. Here you can not only have a good time with a cup of tea, but also learn to cook (or teach others) traditional Jewish dishes, for which the people of Kamianets-Podilskyi are famous far beyond the borders of Ukraine.
“It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times” – says an old saying, and this is not an exaggeration at all. Anyone can visit the Community Center. We hope that this place will become a must-visit in the city, because it concentrates the entire Jewish history of the city and region, and also stores a real Torah scroll. The ancient city has received another attraction for tourists, which has no historical significance, but is destined to go down in history as the heart of the Jewish community and an example of a successful combination of socio-cultural organization of a new model.
The opening was attended by representatives of local authorities and the Jewish community of Kamianets-Podilskyi. The festive ribbon at the entrance to the premises was cut by Deputy Mayor Dmytro Vasylyanov and a member of the Jewish community, city council member and philanthropist Mykola Rozbam. The mezuzah on the door of the new Community Center was fixed by the Director of the Hesed Besht Charitable Foundation, Honored Social Worker of Ukraine Ihor Ratushny. After the opening, a symbolic tour of the premises was held for all those present and a discussion of the strategy of cooperation with various government and non-governmental structures.
At 2:00 PM, clients and friends of the Foundation visited the Community Center. People brought flowers and small gifts for their new Jewish home. The festive program of this day had an exceptionally good ending: at 5:00 PM, a solemn part and a concert of the musical group "Hesed Band" took place in the premises of the District House of Culture "Rozmay". For the creation of good deeds, special medals of the Foundation were awarded to the mayor Mykhailo Simashkevych and deputy Mykola Rozbam. And the concert of live music with the performance of songs in Ukrainian, Yiddish and Polish will be remembered for a long time by all visitors.
