Over 50,000 Jews have returned to this city from the interior of the Soviet Union to which they were evacuated when the Nazis overran the Ukraine, and the Jewish community organization has been revived. Before the German invasion, more than 150,000 Jews lived here.
Upon their return to kiev religious Jews found that all synagogues were in ruins and not a single Sefer Torah or prayer book could be found in the city. Everything had been destroyed by hte Germans. With the assistance of the central government’s Committee on Religion, six Torahs and a number of religious books were obtained from the Moscow Jewish community.
Last Rosh Hashonah there was still no synagogue available and services were held by about 15 ” minyans” scattered in private homes throughout the city. In March of this year, however, a large two story synagogue was placed at the disposal of the community by the Soviet authorities. After extensive repairs it was ready for use in April, and services are being held there daily.
At the same time, the Jewish religious community was officially reconstituted and elections for officers held. Lazar Schwartzman was named chairman and Itshok Shekhman was re-elected Rabbi of Kiev. The community council decided that another synagogue was required and work has begun on one with material supplied by the authorities.
Two Jewish cemeteries which were desecrated by the Nazis, who wrecked the tombstones and converted part of one into a vegetable garden, have been cleared of debris and repaired.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
