KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — The Ukrainian government cited several Jews for their "extraordinary" contributions to society.
They were among a group of Ukrainians to receive national honors Wednesday from President Victor Yuschenko on National Reunion Day in the town of Baturyn.
Among the Jews recognized were Yevgeny Chervonenko, the first deputy mayor of Kiev and a prominent Jewish leader; Yliya Levitas, the president of the Jewish Council of Ukraine and the Council of National Associations of Ukraine; and Aleksandr Feldman, the director general of the Industrial and Scientific Center Trubostal and vice president of the Jewish Council of Ukraine.
Yuschenko’s decree, dated Jan.16, said the honorees were honored for their “extraordinary contribution to consolidation of Ukrainian society, establishment and development of the democratic, social and law state on the occasion of National Reunion Day.”
Chervonenko was presented with the Order of Yaroslav the Wise, fifth degree; Levitas received the Order for Merit, first degree; Feldman received the Order for Merit, the second degree; singer Tatyana Liberman, also known as Tina Karol, received Honored Artist of Ukraine; Semyon Tzydelkovsky, director of the Chernovtzy House of Aesthetics, received the Honored Worker of Art; and Yuriy Vaysberg, a head physician of the Zhytomyr Regional Medical Center, was given the Order for Merit, third degree.
Speaking at the celebration, Yuschenko noted the contributions of the recipients.
"Each of you made in your own sphere what we can call now a unique contribution into the establishment and development of the Ukrainian independence, the strengthening of democracy and law, the development of science, culture, spirituality, strengthening of economy," he said.
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