Publications on Jewish-Ukrainian relations and Jewish life in Ukraine
February 2009
We would like to direct your attention to five publications about Jewish-Ukrainian relations and recent Jewish life in Ukraine. These publications are expanded final reports based on research conducted between 1999 and 2006 under grants and fellowships from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as upon research for numerous journal and newspaper articles of analysis and commentary. The language of the publication is in parenthesis.
1. The Russian-language research study “Jews and Ukrainians, 1986-2006: History and Analysis of Jewish-Ukrainian Relations” describes and analyzes Jewish-Ukrainian relations during the tenure of three presidential administrations in an independent, post-Soviet Ukraine. This research study uses an extensive collection of printed materials that spans the 20-year period from Gorbachev’s perestroika in the mid 1980s to the post-Orange Revolution crisis of spring 2007. Particular attention was focused on the parallel developments of Jewish and Ukrainian consciousness during this period, including such elements as the influence on Jewish-Ukrainian relations of Jewish and Ukrainian diasporas. The litmus test in Jewish-Ukrainian relations is anti-Semitism and the attitude of society overall and of Ukrainian and Jewish elites in particular to the manifestations of anti-Semitism during this 20-year period are an integral part of this analysis. No other body of research or publication exists in any language that comprehensively and accurately describes and evaluates the evolving nature of the official and unofficial status of Jews during this period in modern Ukraine. This study was the basis of a presentation made at the 13th Annual ASN World Conference at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University in New York City on April 10-12, 2008 on the topic “Ukrainian and Russian Jews.”
2. The Russian-language research study “Rebirth of Jewish Community Organizations and Periodic Publications in Ukraine between 1985 and 2000: History and Analysis” uses Jewish, Ukrainian and Russian periodic publications available in Ukraine during this period - almanacs, anthologies, bulletins, journals, government and international reports, resolutions, laws, newsletters, newspapers, select scholarly publications. Included as well are select publications printed in Canada, Israel, Russia and the United States. Included are 34 pages of B/W images of newspaper mastheads, front pages of community bulletins, photos of Jewish community leaders with captions. Extensive tables of publications identified by type, region, duration of publication. This research was presented in a lecture at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in November 1999.
3. The Russian-language publication “Woven Hopes: Jews, Ukraine, Reflections of an ‘Inorodtsya’ ” is a collection of the author’s commentary about the period of the collapse of the Soviet Union, a time during which hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Jews had to make a decision whether to stay or freely emigrate. This book is divided into two sections. The first part “1987-1992: Ukraine” describes the life of Jews In Ukraine on the cusp of the Soviet Union’s collapse and was serialized in the literary journal “Kiev” from January-December 1997. The second part “Ten Years After: America” was serialized in two Russian-language newspapers in the U.S. in 2002 and 2003.
4. The Ukrainian-language research study “History of the Nationalities Council of RUKH, the Popular Movement of Ukraine: 1989-1993” investigates the history of the Nationalities Council of RUKH from the period of its inception in 1989 after the First Congress of RUKH through the council’s dissolution in April 1993, after which RUKH was transformed into a political party. The study reviews and explains the participation of various national communities of Ukraine in disseminating information about RUKH among their populations, in particular, in achieving support for Ukraine’s independence. The processes of inter-national relationships among the general population, as well as within RUKH, that took place before and after the declaration of independence, the approach and attitude of the Nationalities Council of RUKH these changes, as well as the positions of separate nationality-based community organizations is reviewed.
5. The Ukrainian-language research report “The Council of Nationalities, Popular Movement of Ukraine, RUKH (1989-1993): A Collection of Documents: Research Report No. 54” compiles all the major statements, speeches, reports and letters issued by the Nationalities Council regarding the rights of minorities, the independence of Ukraine and pending legislation.
If the publications cannot be purchased, one copy of each one of the publications can be sent as a gift/donation. However, postage must be paid for each donated book. The shipping cost per book is $5.00 (US) or $12.00 (international).
For ordering, please contact Dr. Aleksandr Burakovskiy at aleksbur@gmail.com or by phone: 917.836.1846.
About Dr. Burakovskiy
Dr. Burakovskiy received his PhD in telecommunications engineering in 1972; in 1999, he received a Kandidat Nauk (Masters of Science) in political studies from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. From 1988 until 1993, Dr. Burakovskiy was actively involved in the political changes in the former Soviet Union. In 1989 he was elected to the leadership of RUKH the Popular Movement of Ukraine, and from 1990-1993, was chairman of its Nationalities Council and one of the organization¹s deputy chairmen. He was a member of the board of directors of the VAAD-USSR. In 1991-1993, he was editor-in-chief of the journal "Ukraine-Israel.² From 1994, he has lived in the United States. He was Visiting Research Fellow at YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (1999-2001); in 1999 and 2005, he received fellowship grants from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture to research the development of Jewish organizations and periodic press in Ukraine. Dr. Burakovskiy is a former member of the Writers Unions of the USSR and of Ukraine. He is currently an instructor at BramsonORT College in New York City.