[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REOPENING OF THE GOLDEN ROSE CHORAL SYNAGOGUE IN UKRAINE

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                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 5, 2000

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
extend my sincere congratulations to the Jewish community of Ukraine, 
and particularly to Rabbi Kaminezki, as they celebrate the reopening of 
one of Ukraine's most important symbols of Jewish culture--the Golden 
Rose Choral Synagogue in the city of Dnepropetrovsk.
  This important event, which took place on September 20, symbolizes 
the rebirth of the Jewish community in Ukraine since the collapse of 
the Soviet Union. Now, as a result of a great deal of hard work and 
perseverance, the Jewish community in Ukraine can be described as one 
of the most vibrant Jewish communities in all of the countries 
comprising the former Soviet Union.
  Today in Dnepropetrovsk, for example, the town where the Golden Rose 
Synagogue is located, Jewish orphanages, schools, food centers, 
community centers, medical centers, centers that provide care for the 
elderly, and centers for Holocaust survivors and victims of communism, 
are all thriving.
  What I find even more promising, is that similar positive 
developments can be seen in many cities and towns across Ukraine. 
Today, there are more than 260 Jewish public organizations functioning 
in Ukraine--organizations that are successfully working on a daily 
basis to promote and consolidate national self-identity and revive 
important cultural and religious customs and traditions for all 
Ukrainian Jews.
  I am pleased that the Ukrainian Government is committed to continue 
working together with Jewish community leaders across Ukraine toward 
resolving the complex issue of the restitution of objects that used to 
be Jewish community property. In this regard, it is important to stress 
that more than 33 synagogues, including the one known as Brodsky's 
Synagogue in Kiev, have already been returned to the country's 
religious communities.
  I hope that in coming weeks and months all Ukrainians will continue 
working together to promote religious tolerance and freedom. Ukraine's 
progress in this area so far should stand as a positive example for 
other countries in the region to follow as they seek to create 
environments in which no person is subject to persecution solely on the 
basis of his or her religious or ethnic background.

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