|
|
December 24, 2004/Tevet 12 5765, Vol. 57, No. 17
Ukrainian Jews prepare to vote again
VLADIMIR MATVEYEV
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
KHARKOV, Ukraine - Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz sees firsthand the political divisions of Jews in Eastern Ukraine in the run-up to the country's new presidential vote.
"We have no monolithic opinion in our community," said Moskowitz, a U.S.-born Chabad rabbi who is chief rabbi of the city of Kharkov. People who disagree about who should be president, he noted, often can be found sitting "on the same bench in our shul."
As Ukraine prepares to end its protracted presidential campaign with a revote Dec. 26, Jews - like other voters in this former Soviet republic - continue to be divided between Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, whose victory in last month's election was declared invalid because of fraud, and the opposition candidate, Viktor Yuschenko.
The division was visible Dec. 17 when the two candidates' campaign routes intersected in Kharkov, the second largest city in Ukraine, a country of 48 million people.
In the capital of Kiev or in cities in Western Ukraine, Yuschenko is more popular, but Yanukovich drew much larger crowds in Kharkov. Yuschenko spoke to a smaller audience and spent the day meeting with the business and intellectual communities.
Yanukovich won a significantly larger share of the vote in last month's balloting in Kharkov and across Eastern Ukraine, while Kiev and the Western part of the country overwhelmingly supported Yuschenko.
There are an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 Ukrainian Jews. Members of the community split their support in last month's vote, and are likely to do so again Dec. 26.
Many observers here say ethnicity and faith have little effect on the way people vote - unlike education, age, social status or the level of attachment to Russian culture and language, which are seen as decisive factors.
Many of those who value stability - as represented by Yanukovich - are older voters and those whose financial security lies in the hands of the state, such as pensioners and government workers.
"Our clients are clearly afraid of any changes," said an employee of the local Hesed charity center, part of a network that provides services to thousands of elderly and needy Jews across the former Soviet Union.
But the prospect of change is precisely what attracts many younger Jews to the challenger and his pro-democracy platform.
"Many young Jews want to change their life here for the better; that is why many of us support Yuschenko," said Kira Karlina.
In what is generally seen as a maturation of Ukrainian society, Jewish life is likely to remain unharmed no matter which candidate wins the run-off, Jewish leaders say.
In another sign of that maturation, at least one candidate appears to be courting the Jewish vote.
Last week the mayor of Kharkov, Vladimir Shumilkin - an outspoken Yuschenko supporter - visited Moskowitz's synagogue to light Chanukah candles. Yuschenko lit Chanukah candles in Kiev.
Yanukovich backers emphasize their fear of the Ukrainian nationalism associated with Yuschenko and their affiliation with the Russian culture and language that Yanukovich seems to represent.
While the meetings and rallies the two presidential candidates held in Kharkov last week stimulated Jews to discuss the issues, most of those who spoke to JTA appeared to be fed up with the campaign.
"People don't have much trust left" in any of the leaders, Rabbi Moskowitz said. "They are simply tired."
|
|
