Cherkassy, as I enjoyed researching it and writing about it.

See ft 5. p. 3

2

3

I heard about Cherkassy when I was a little girl, for my Maternal Grandmother came from

Cherkassy was mentioned in some of his books. I was always interested in Cherkassy, and a few

times when I was quite young thought of trying to find people who came from there and

remembered the family. After reasoning with myself that I would not really discover anything

new, I decided not to do anything about it. However, upon visits to Yad VeShem (Holocaust

Remembrance Museum, Jerusalem) or The Diaspora Museum (Ramat Gan), I did look up

Cherkassy and read whatever information I could.

When Russian Jewry began to arrive in this country, I always asked the ones I met and was

able to speak to where they were from, in hope of meeting someone from Cherkassy. I felt good

the few times that I did meet someone who knew of the city, though I never had the luck of

actually speaking to someone from there.

A few years ago, I received the name of the city Rezneke in Latvia that my Paternal

Grandmother came from, from a cousin of my Father. Since I did not know anything about the

city, I went looking for information about it. This was not an easy task, but in the end I gathered

(Israel). I happened to write my Maternal Cousins in America aboutwhaat I had done. One wrote

interested in reading what I wrote. This remark was probably what caused me to begin this article.

I tried to get information for this article in many ways. I found Cherkassy listed on the

contacted a friend of ours, Professor Jerry Ferman of Ofakim for I thought that he might know

someone from Cherkassy, because of this connection between Cherkassy and Ofakim. He gave me

the telephone number of a person in Ofakim, who in turn gave me the fax and address of a person

in Cherkassy. I found the names and addresses of the Jewish community in Cherkassy and the area

on the Internet, and wrote them. I contacted Chabad and asked for their help. They were very nice

and helpful, and gave me the names and addresses of their Rabbis and representatives in the

Cherkassy area. I wrote to Israeli politicians of Russian origin, asking them if they could help me

find more information. I contacted the Jewish Agency and received a phone number from them.

Unfortunately many of these leads turned into dead -ends. I believe there may be material in The

European Archives, but I had a problem since it is in a general file for Cherkassy, which is not in

categories, and is all written in the in Russian language.

I did find information from the library of Yad Veshem, Jerusalem, the Zionist Archives, the

University and National Library, Jerusalem, and the Diaspora Museum. I want to especially thank

Ilana Guri of Yad Veshem for her help.

As I have already written, I found information on the Internet about the connection between

and decided to try it. I was very lucky, for the next day I received a phone call from the Israeli

office. This opened up new links and leads for me. I got a bit more information for them, which

partner@ org.il

4

helped me very much for this way I received actual information about Cherkassy today. What was

even more important to me, was that I received the phone number of someone who was actually

Cherkassy , and now an Israeli!

Upon looking for information about the similarity of the name Cherkassy, with the name of

the Cherkassian people, I had the luck of speaking to quite a few Cherkassians. I thank them all for

being so helpful and friendly. Special thanks to Shuki Chur, the curator of the Cherkassian

Museum. This has opened up a new field of interest for me.

Here is all the information that I have found:

5

has many connections to all parts of Ukraine. There are many highways in the area, most of which

This region was first settled about 40 thousand years ago, during the Paleolithic period.

There have been archeological discoveries showing the way of life in this period. The mighty

feudal state of Kievan Rus originated here. Christianity was introduced in the year 988, by prince

Vladimir. The Orthodox Church rapidly gained power and influence. The city of Cherkassy was

surprise attacks by the Tartars, and in 1532 withstood a 30-day siege by the Crimean armies, of

caused the appearance of Cossacks. The first Cossack settlement appeared here in the fifteenth

Vyshnevsky. EU, p. 416. JA, p. 76

lawlessness. IP, p. 1

6

century. The Glory Hill Castle was then erected, by the Tartars, for reasons of defense and is still

then about 1000 Cossacks lived in the area. Therefore it played an important part in the Cossack

Chmielnicki led this uprising, and the result was the unification of the Ukraine with

The decision of reuniting Russia with Ukraine was made on January 8, 1654 at the

Pereyaslav Rada (Council). Cherkassy was a regimental city in the district of Kiev, until 1686.

In the second half of the 19-century, industry began developing in Cherkassy, This was

especially true after the construction of the railroad. Capitalism developed rapidly in the area,

because of the Bourgeois Reform of 1861. In 1854, a sugar factory was established and in 1878, a

factories and plants were established. In the beginning of the 20-century, capitalism also developed

in agriculture. The struggle against czarism in the 1870's strove to raise the peasantry to capture

the land and become free. Then Marx’s teachings and revolutionary activity began to spread in the

Cherkassy became a center of industry and trade in the beginning of the 20-century.

Financial aid came with the founding of the Committee for Savings and Loans, which was founded

flags, a map of military actions of the people during the uprising, and a copy of the first letter (dated 6/8/1648)) written

by Khmelnitsky, which was sent from Cherkassy to the tsar Alexei Mikhilovitch, requesting the reunification of

Ukraine with Russia. There is a bust of Khmelnitsky in the center of the hall. IP, p. 1

Russia had to adjust to the fact of having a Jewish element within its borders. Most inhabitants of Russia (merchants,

townsmen, serfs, Jews) were deprived of freedom of movement and confined to places of residence. EJ, V. 13, pps.

and portraits of the town council, in the Cherkassy Local Lore Museum. IP, p. 1. See ft 32

7

in 1907 and had seventy stockholders. By the beginning of January 1909, there were 857

stockholders, and a fund of 8676 rubles. Loans were issued to merchants, tradesman, clerks and

independent workers

The workers of the sugar factory in Cherkassy went on strike in the summer of 1905. The

Bolshevik activity in the area became very intensive in the summer of 1917. This is also referred to

industry prospered. Industry and especially the food industry and light industry were expanded

Many new schools, on all levels, were opened.

In 1941, residents proudly became proudly soldiers of the Red Army. Battles in this area

began in July 1941. The area was captured in August- September 1941, and a regime of terror and

of people were murdered. Partisans, secret Party district committees, and patriotic groups

Cherkassy was the official name used for the Ukrainian Cossacks and the Ukrainian

population in general, in the laws and state documents of Moscow, in the second half of the 16 and

the 17 centuries. The two theories about the origin of the name are as follows:

1) It is derived from the town of Cherkassy, for in this vicinity there were many

Cossack settlements in the given period

2) It is derived from the Caucasian Cherkess peoples, which means that the

This name is quite similar to the name of the Circassians (also Cerkaas,Cherkessians). This

is a name given to one of the Caucasian peoples, by their neighbors. They called themselves

"Agida". During the Middle-Ages, the Russians called the them Cossacks. It is interesting that

some of them settled in northern Israel in the end of the nineteenth century and founded the

According to the Cherkess peoples: their ancestors past through southern Ukraine and

Crimea; however finally settled permanently in Kavkaz. They ruled, formed colonies and settled in

the Ukraine from the fourth century B.C. through the eighth century A.D. Their name was given to

a few of these settlements, and remained the name of the settlement. This way, their name was left

8

1487-8, and from 1500. These were merchants of peddlers. Jewish wine merchants were beaten

the local population murdered the Jews and the Poles. After this, no Jews lived in the city until the

farmer and paid taxes. He paid 10,000 florins for general taxes and 400 florins for the saltpeter

forces captured the city in the second half of May 1768. They killed many of the Jews, and

expelled the rest of them. This caused a huge drop in the Jewish population. The Jews did own

The city's constitution was authorized by Poniatovesky, on November 10, 1791. This stated

that Jews were forbidden to live in the city, to work as merchants or in a trade, or to own real estate

there. It stands to reason that this was not carried out, for soon after Cherkassy was annexed by

were 783 Jews. Then there were 33 Jewish merchants in Cherkassy, in 1802, as opposed to 23

Christian ones.

originated from the Turkish word haida, which means move on. The movement was mainly the outcome of social

ferment which had developed in the Ukraine during the 16 century, and reached a peak in 1648, in the Cossack

uprising led by Chemielnicki. These attacks took the form of robbery and murder of individuals, and later on

massacres of communities. Poles also suffered. Their memory lingered in Ukrainian lore and literature, and became a

legacy in the Ukrainian national movement. The Ukrainian partisan bands that caused the pogroms of 1919-20 and

sided with the Nazis in the Holocaust (1941-44) were referred to, as Haidamacks. EJ, V. 7, pp. 1132-3

9

with ten beds, a home for the aged, and a soup kitchen. A charity fund was founded in 1865. A bit

made a living in the following ways: - artisans 52% (sewing, porters and wagoners, tobacco, day

workers, carpentry, metal work, crafts from natural materials); merchants and traders- 29%

(agricultural products, building materials, clothing, cloth, furs and skins; free occupations- 19%

tobacco factory in 1878, and Greenblatt's six floor, steam operated flour mill in 1885. There were

70 Jewish artisans, in 1852, as opposed to 182 Christian ones. At the end of the nineteenth century

the Jews made up 20% of the artisans in the Kiev district. Then, according to the census of 1897

women slightly outnumbered the men (5608: 5341). There were seven fairs yearly, and a weekly

Since Cherkassy was a port city on the Dneiper River, there was much trade in agricultural

products. The railroad between Kiev and Odessa, which had a station in Cherkassy, was started in

the second half of the nineteenth century. With both a port and a railroad, Cherkassy became quite

As far as the religious organization of the Jewish community goes, there were one

one chief rabbi, two slaughterers, and one mohel (one who does the religious rite of circumcision),

The development of the Jewish community of Cherkassy, and primarily of the middle class

was similar to the other Jewish communities in Ukraine, due to the social and cultural structure of

regime. FY, p. 3

prayer book, the Bible, and Talmud). No secular studies were taught. This was privately run. EJ, V. 8, p. 241

couldn’t afford to send them to a Cheder. EJ, V. 6, p. 413. When the Talmud Torah was run by Rabbi Kaminer, the

representative of the government, there was an official visit from Kiev, the visitors were very impressed by the level of

the secular studies. HM

it lost its connotation and became a description of a way of life. This movement was founded by the Vilna Gaon (my

Father [the late Oscar Herschman] was one of his descendents.) He lived in Vilna, Lithuainia1720-1797. The main

differences are in the prayer book that is used, and that the Mitnagdim stressed study, while the Hassidim stressed

emotional Judaism. EJ, V.12, p. 161

10

Ben Zion Shem Tov succeeded in organizing a Yeshiva, for students to study Gemora all

From 1905 and until 1917 Jewish life began to flourish in Ukraine. In 1914, Jews played an

which developed in the second half of the 18 century. It began in southern Poland. The distinguishing socioreligious

marks are: ecstasy, group cohesion and charismatic leadership; EJ, V. 7, p. 1390-1432. It’s charismatic founder and

first leader was the Ba’al Shem Tov (c. 1700-1760); EJ, V.9, pp. 1049-1058

to the Synagogue. Then the Hassidim of our neighborhood (Crown Heights) were walking down the street on their

way to their Synagogues, in their Sabbath dress. Then she said to me that this was what Cherkassy looked like on a

Shabbat morning.

Rabbi Mordechai of Chernovil. He was born in Chernovil, in 1794. He was the son -in-law of Rabbi David Ber of

Lubavitch. He was the Admor (chief rabbi) of Hornistipol until he moved to Cherkassy. His book Emek Hatefilla (The

Depth of Prayer), was published by his grandson, who was the inheritor of this post, Rabbi Mordechai of Hornistipol.

www.forevryjew.com/child, p. ; HGG, p. 117. His decisions were honored by the community. HM

Levenson). He was born in 1819. He was the son of Rabbi Jeheil Michael from Kuriman and the son-in-law of Rabbi

Jacob Israel of Cherkassy and of Rabbi Haim of Kosov. He served as the chief judge in Talomanch until his death in

1882. He published the book Torah Extracts, which was written by Rabbi Mordechai of Chernovil. HGG, p.67

the son of Rabbi Meshullam of Talomanch. He was the son-in-law of Rabbi Haim of Zanz. He grew up in the house of

Twersky; because of him being his disciple. He became the Admor of Hornistipol, where he was known for his

greatness in his knowledge of the Torah and its laws. He wrote the treatises: The Deepness of Question, and A

Composition on Pureness (on the ritual hand washing), The Golden Column (on Loans and Interest), and The Depth of

the Benediction and The Wonders of Joseph (on the Torah). He also edited his Grandfathers book Emek Hatefilla. He

died in 1863.Ibid, p.149

was also the chairman of the General Zionist Committee. He was a lawyer by profession, and also a judge. R3, p. 438;

Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Nezon and the son-in-law of Rabbi Isaac of Shtavau (Berdetchev). He was called

Twersky because his mother's father came from Cherkassy. He was Rabbi of Vartizshon, and then Chief Rabbi of

Tomashpil. He died in1920. HGG, p. 163

Joel and the son-in-law of Rabbi Samuel Abraham Abba Koritz of Solavita. In 1902 he was forced to flee to Podolilve,

Romania. He wrote the book Chen Aharon (Aaron’sCharm). His son was Rabbi Joseph who was the chief judge of

Ahpali; whose father-in-law was Rabbi Jacob Israel of Cherkassy. He died in 1872. IBID, p. 173

11

were tailor shops), about 22 factories( 1 for nails, 1 for paints, 2 for bricks, 4 for tobacco, 2 for

cigarettes, and 13 for soap, beer, chocolate and candy), 5 flour mills, 7 print shops, 1 lumber mill,

The cultural level rose, and there was an increase in the amount of Jewish newspapers and

literature that was printed. Yiddish was the mother tongue. Approximately 60% of the men knew

school classes. There were also five kindergartens consisting of 315 pupils. There then was an

Teacher’s Seminary, the Jewish section was shut down. In 1924, Jewish schools had 1349 pupils,

as compared to 1550 pupils in non-Jewish schools. The number of pupils in the two Jewish

There were a few Jewish libraries. The Culture League ran them. They operated from 1918

In 1918, a committee, under Soviet rule, issued the first official expression, of the

According to a questionnaire of the year 1923, which received answers from 2118 families,

12

The tobacco factory was re-established in 1923, and three hundred out of the five hundred

workers there were Jews. Then approximately 45% percent of the 2,000 factory workers of the

city, were Jews. A Jewish society for artisans was established, with a savings plan. Afterwards,

there were also Jewish cooperatives for millenaries, tailors, and tobacco workers that had saving

were without work, therefore they were sent to work in various places, where workers were

needed. This is how another 210 Jews began to work in the sugar refinery.

Three agricultural collectives (kolkhoz) were set up in the area, in 1924. The first one:

(land workers) consisted of 246 members (46 families). The third one consisted of 116 people (20

A Jewish newspaper appeared, by the name of Das Communista Vort (Speaker of the

There were three large-scale pogroms in Cherkassy. Each one surpassed the preceding one

The first pogrom occurred between the years 1881 and 1884. It took place after the

assassination of Czar Alexander II. A rumor was spread in anti-Jewish circles, that the Jews were

guilty of his assassination, and that the government authorized attacks on them. He was

assassinated by the revolutionary organization Narodnaya Volya. At first, this pogrom wa

supported by revolutionary circles. This pogrom occurred mainly in the geographical area of

southeastern Ukraine. Here there was a combination of aggravating circumstances: traditional

rebelliousness among the masses, the tradition of Jewish hatred and persecutions perpetrated by

Chmielnicki and the Haidemacks, and the extremist revolutionary movement. The Jews were

I remember one Pesach seder, when my grandmother told about a Pesach in her home in

Cherkassy, when she was a very little girl. What she actually was saying was that they had no

Jews. EJ, V. 2, pp. 827-832

rape. It was perpetrated by one sector of the population against another. In modern history, it is an international term

that describes the attacks against the Jews of Russia. There were also pogroms against other nations (Armenians,

Tartars) EJ, V. 13, pp. 694- 701

13

seders and no feeling of a holiday. The only feeling she had was that she had to hide, and wanted

to be near her father. The windows and shutters were all closed and there was no light, and they all

The second pogrom occurred between the years 1903 and 1906. There was a connection

movement, gave the reactionary press a free hand in anti Jewish incitement. This was an attempt to

was organized in the city, with the help of the municipality, in 1905. As a reaction to this, there

socialist parties, and the Bund. These self-defense movements were well praised by the Jewish

community.

The third pogrom occurred between the years 1917-1921. There was a connection between

these outbreaks and the revolutions and the civil war, which then took place in Eastern Europe.

Many Jews were rallied to the Red army and the Soviet regime, and the Zionist movement was

the government, and it being transferred from hand to hand (Communists, White Russians,

Ukraine), the organization of the local underworld, the weakness of the local police were among

the causes for the need for a local defense movement. The Petleyor government agreed to this

organization, which was composed of Jews as well as non-Jews. The groups were organized

according to neighborhoods. Since Jews mostly populated the center of the city, they were in

charge of this area, in which many riots took place. The Jews learned that they could only depend

organization of Jewish soldiers who were serving in the local auxiliary into a band of Jewish

This pogrom can be divided into three, as far as Cherkassy is concerned.

democratic freedom. The Ukrainians had a problem in accepting this. In the Ukraine, many Jews suffered badly from

this pogrom. Hundreds were killed in the riots, and much property was ruined. The Jews that were able of leaving the

the local government was transferred from hand to hand [communists, White Russia, Ukraine] a few times), and even

afterwards. Many of the participants were members of the Zeiriei Zion movement.BW, p. 141

14

organization, which contained 150 Jews, was sent to the area of the sugar factory to ward

them off. The Christian members of the unit suddenly teamed up with the soldiers, and the

Jews were caught in a difficult situation. Thus the pogrom began. After the pogrom was

killed only men, and left the women and children unharmed. In this case however, the

hid in the kindergarten, but they were found and murdered. Among them were Rabbi M.

part of the pogrom was carried out by the units of Simon Petlyuras Ukrainian National

after a short while the non-Jewish members of these units turned against the Jewish

Some Jews were hidden in the houses of non- Jewish friends. It is known that these people

soldiers were overcome by the Communists and left the city.

The communists knew that the Jews were loyal citizens and needed a self- defense unit. They

also used this unit for their own good, as was their policy whenever and wherever they came into

Jewish self defense unit developed. It began to gather funds for getting ammunition from the

government and from the Jews, and did so in illegal ways. At first the ammunition was hidden, but

pogroms against the Jews, among other things. He himself was not responsible for these pogroms but did not intervene

in order to stop them. HE, V. 12, pp. 884-5

15

then it was decided to show it off. This was done on Sabbaths and Holidays and gave the Jews a

feeling of safety. The heads of the organization, as many of its members were also members of the

Zionist organization, in particular of Zeirei Zion. The government defense committee, and the

government defense headquarters sponsored the organization of the unit at first. There were

similar organizations in the area of Cherkassy, and therefore one aided the other in the time of

need. This made an impression on pursuers. An order was issued by the Bolsheviks to disperse

As far as Zionist activities go, there were already active members of Chovevei Zion, in the

1880's.

Various Zionist groups began to meet in the 1890's. In the beginning of the twentieth

groups influenced the Jews, and especially the youth. They were the Zionists, The Bund, and the

Synagogue; Yavzerov gave the eulogy. This new synagogue was used secretly for Zionist

meetings, which usually took place after the evening prayers. This way, it appeared as if the

service was still in progress. There was an opening in the floor, which led to the sexton’s

apartment. This was a way to escape, if the need to do so occurred. This apartment was also a

center for organizing Zionist activity: advertising stock of the Colonial Zionist bank, selling Zion

"Jewish National Fund stamps, and the Hebrew (in Hebrew) school (which developed and had

many pupils, and thereby caused the popular knowledge of the language).

There was a children’s group "Zionist Children". The children also felt for Zionism and

helped sell stamps for the Jewish National Fund. Correspondingly, the Bund also had a children’s

underground. The Zionist activities however increased, and in the meanwhile the youngsters grew

up, and became an actual part of the Zionist activities.

After the revolution of 1917, the Zionist organization, as did other political groups, came

The centers of the Zionist organization of Ukraine were in Kiev and Charkov.

Representatives of the centers went to all the local branches to aid the local leaders. There were

associated with devotion to Yiddish, autonomic and secular Jewish nationalism, and the envisioning of a good Jewish

life, similar to the life in Eastern Europe. It was sharply opposed to Zionism and other conceptions of a worldembracing

Jewish national identity. EJ, V. 4, pp. 1497-1507

Organization. EJ, V. 8, pp. 407-421

were representatives of the government no longer existed. BW, p. 138

16

also connections with Moscow. Of course there were also complaints that these connections

weren’t strong enough. The pamphlet of Zeiri Zion, New Leadership was published in Hebrew,

Zeiri Zion opened up a sub-organization called Hechalutz (Pioneer organization), which

sponsored the idea of agricultural education in most of Ukraine in 1917. Its' development was

agricultural settlement, in the respective area. There, there was practical training in agriculture:

wheat, vegetables, gardening, tobacco, vineyard, beets, irrigation, bees, chickens, etc. Hehalutz

This is how this group of Hechalutz members definitely decided that they wanted a future in

agriculture. The two organizations planned Aliyah to the land of Israel with the goal of working

There was an Odessa Area Committee Meeting in August 1920, with 33 delegates from 17

groups in the respective area. A Directorate Center of the area was formed, and consisted of people

from Cherkassy. Michael Winsky, was elected secretary and Kitigordsky was one of the members.

They were the ones that carried out most of the tasks of the directorate, which consisted of

organizing contacts between all of the branches, and the forwarding of material. An effort was

made to send out a newsletter, with information about what was planned to go on in the Centers,

such as lessons in Hebrew, and the reading of letters from the Halutzim, who were already in the

land of Israel. A local office was opened in Cherkassy. Actual information and aid in planning

Aliyah was given on such offices. It was also possible to go to the consulate to receive economic

information. The communication between branches was a problem; but this is understandable

because of the problems in forwarding mail and transportation by railroad. Most information was

therefore passed on by word of mouth. There was to be another Odessa Area Committee Meeting

in March, but it was cancelled due to the transportation problems. Then there were about 200

Hehalutz groups in Ukraine. In 1921, members of Hehalutz, who had thorough agricultural

training in their particular specialty, army training, and knowledge of the Hebrew language and of

the Land of Israel were permitted to go on Aliyah. At this time there were over 50 members in

The government permitted the existence of the Hehalutz for it corresponded with

apartment that was also used for meetings. Therefore they were also able to continue Zionist

cultural activities.

In the early 1920's the Zionist organization Maccabi was founded. The feeling of well

being in the Zionist organizations didn’t last too long, because of the Boshevik (reactionaries)

revolution. Zionists felt an anti Zionist reaction from the Yeveskzia. This reached a height with the

arrest of many of them, in 1922. Then about 100 were arrested, and this included the Zionist

against them. All Jewish activities were again in the underground. Even so, Zionist activities were

quite strong, especially those of Zeirei Zion. Meetings were held, but always in different places,

and sometimes the place of meeting even changed in the middle of a meeting. The Jewish library

17

was divided up between different people. Economic activities took place in public, for there was

no way of telling that these were affiliated with a particular party. They were sponsored by the

Zeiri Zion and the General Zionists.

Because of the economic problems, and problems of hunger, an economic

cooperative, of a few thousand people, was established. The board of directors was made up of

Zionists. This was also a way for exchanging news and opinions. Most of the news about the Land

of Israel, during the war and afterwards, came from the Odessa based weekly newspaper, which of

course took time to arrive.

The conditions, and Zionist education caused a strong desire to come on Aliyah to the Land

of Israel. Young people were willing to face the problems of the journey and settling; but this

caused a serious problem for families. The cooperative for Aliyah to the Land of Israel

"Hatchiyah" was formed. Then there were 130 members; all of them were heads of families.

World War 2 finished off what the revolution had begun, and by 1945 the once prosperous

Cherkassy was captured by the Germans on August 22, 1941. The Jews were ordered to

list themselves by October 2, and to wear armbands on their right arm. Those of them, who were

between the ages of 15 to 65, were ordered to appear for work every day; and to vote for a

committee of three, which would be responsible for the work of the Jews. The Ukrainian Police of

This ghetto consisted of only three streets. The Jews were warned that for every official local

worker that would be killed, fifty Jews and ten communists would be killed; and for every house

that would be burned, one hundred Jews and twenty communists would be killed. During

November 1941, more than 300 Jews were shot to death. In late November, almost 900 Jews were

1942 .It seems that after the winter of 1942 the "actions" were continued and the Jewish

There were many homeless children in Cherkassy. A Ukrainian woman, Alexandra Shulezhko,

with the help of a friend organized a Children's Home. In the end of 1942, there were about 100

children there, many of which were Jews. She changed the names and nationalities of the children

Jerusalem for this. She knew that she was in great danger for what she did.

Holocaust and Cherkassy. They give more information about the Holocaust in Cherkassy. They

18

are written in Russian or Ukrainian. We are fortunate to have them for they give the proof of what

types of industry are: the chemical complex, founded in 1964; a synthetic fibers and thread factory,

founded in 1958; a chemical reagents plant; a light industry silk complex, founded in 1965;

factories producing knitted fabric, clothing, hygroscopic cotton wool and fine leather products; the

machine building industry, which includes equipment for the food industry and an auto repair

plant; the food industry, which includes a sugar refinery, dairy products, a brewery and

industry, which includes reinforced concrete bricks, silicate bricks, and housing construction;

As an educational center, Cherkassy is the home of the following institutes: a Pedagogical

Institute; the General Technical Faculty of the Kiev Civil Engineering Institute; of technical

colleges specializing in electronics, agriculture, economics, trade, management, business training

and others.

As a cultural center, Cherkassy is the home of a philharmonic orchestra, a drama theater, a

1918. The oblast newspaper CHERKASSY PRAVDA, is published in Cherkassy. The poet V.

Cherkassy is a modern and well-planned city. It was built according to several

comprehensive plans. These were carried out in 1932, 1950, and 1962-65 by the Kiev Dnipromisto

As far as architecture goes, the finer public buildings in the city, which were erected

between 1959-1971, are the House of Soviets, the Music and Drama Theater, the Turyst Hotel, the

railway station and the covered farm market. The Sosnivka health resort for treating tuberculosis of

the lungs and bones is located in a pine forest south of the city, on the Dnieper River.

Cherkassy became the capital of the Cherkassy oblast in 1954. A rapid growth in the

The Cherkassy oblast lies on both banks of the Dnieper River. This is an agrarian-industrial

region. Agricultural specialization is in grain, sugar beets, meat and dairy cattle. There are many

collective and state farms. Industry specialization is in food, machinery, metal work, chemicals and

19

and possibilities for connections. Tourism is an important industry because of the picturesque right

The current Jewish population is comprised of Jews who were evacuated during World

War 2 and have since returned, as well as those who arrived from other regions following the war.

About 50% are elderly pensioners, and most of these are in need of social services. The average

There are quite a few Memorial Books about which tell about Jewish communities that

Between 1945 and 1990 Jewish religious activity was forbidden in the Soviet Union. In

Cherkassy, as in the entire USSR, anyone suspected of such activity was sent to prison. There was

a Jewish Cultural Center but it was neutral as far as religion was concerned. But then, on official

very favorable. It was difficult for Jews to get accepted to the universities. During this period the

homes and family in some cases, and surely caused by the attitude of the Soviet regime to Jews.

Jewish families, who had come to Cherkassy from places where the Soviet regime was not

extremely powerful, had more of a possibility of absorbing more of a Jewish tradition from their

home and family. Native families of Cherkassy did not have this luxury.

In 1990 the Jewish population was about 4000; then there was a large Aliyah from

Cherkassy, as there also was in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Since then the number of people coming on

Aliyah is less. Jews also have left Cherkassy for USA, Australia and Germany.

During the year of 1990-1, a group of Jew got together with the aim of celebrating Jewish

Holidays. However their knowledge of how to celebrate each holiday was nil. For example, on

Rosh Hashanah, they all lifted up glasses of vodka and said "Happy New Year" to each other; and

the plan for celebrating Pesach was to have a banquet of pork, salami, bread and vodka. Therefore

Peter Textell, whose family came to Cherkassy from Bessarabia after WW2, took on himself the

chairmanship of this Jewish organization. For the Passover celebration, he gathered 500 Jews and

rented the largest hall in Cherkassy. He placed one table on top of another so that everyone could

se, and read from a Haggadah. Afterwards he told everyone to go home and do what he did, and

tell what he told. They did so! They wanted this!

Now there are about 2000 Jews left in Cherkasy. Jews are accepted to the universities, as

sunflower seeds, not to eat but to plant. She said it was part of her memory of her childhood. She went to a neighbor, a

Russian Christian, who had a garden, and asked him in Russian if she could use part of his garden. This took a lot of

courage on her part for she said he was a Russian and an anti-Semite. She didn't allow me to go into this garden with

her, but only to look from outside the gate. She was so happy with the four or five flowers that she succeeded in

growing.

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When there is a major activity everyone comes. Many of the members of the philharmonic are

Jews. The late director of the theater was a Jew. The director of the School of Music is a Jew.

The Jewish community is financially independent. The head of the community is also head

of the newly founded trade organizations. This aids in the sponsoring of Jewish summer camps for

children and teenagers. There is a connection between the Jewish community of Cherkassy, and

the smaller Jewish communities of Smela, Shefula, Zevigorodok, and others. This unification is

economic, social, and Jewish cultural ways. Since an actual connection with Jewish culture, and

surely a connection tradition was forbidden for decades this is not an easy task. The JDC has

combined the Hesed Welfare Center and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) as an address for

the Harrison estate and the United Jewish Federation of Metrowest, New Jersey. The connection

between Cherkassy and Metrowest was started six years ago, through the JDC. The projects are

aim was to provide welfare services for the elderly. A building was purchased which houses

offices, meeting and activity rooms, a dining room, and a kitchen. Welfare services range from

food packages, communal dining rooms, meals-on-wheels, home care and medical assistance.

These services are administered by volunteers and paid professions, who also offer social contact

to the elderly. It is also a community center with activities such as programs for the elderly,

computers, and Jewish and general activities for children and youth.

subjects. About 80 children participate in the summer vacation programs A Hebrew class

for adults is being organized. This way parents will be able to study Hebrew while their

children are participating in programs.

English, on Saturdays

children (aged 3-6) and a discussion group for 18 parents.

and folksongs.

has been born, and arranges for these young families to be adopted by older childless

couples.

The Metrowest Jewish community is trying to help strengthen the Cherkassy Jewish

community by supporting this communi