Дамы и господа!

15 мая 2016 под патронатом Почетного консульства Государства Израиль состоится День еврейской культуры.

Я приглашаю киевлян и гостей столицы познакомиться с традициями современного Израиля!

В программе мероприятия: встреча с Аллой Гербер, президентом фонда «Холокост», выставка Альберта Фельдмана и арт-перфоманс «Дети за мир во всем мире». Хочу сказать несколько слов о людях, которых вы сможете увидеть.

Алла Гербер – легендарная личность: президент фонда «Холокост», писательница, кинокритик, журналист с 50-тилетним стажем, лауреат премии Федерации еврейских общин и Человек года, член Союза писателей, а также Союза журналистов и кинематографистов, один из лидеров антифашистского движения.

Алла Гербер родилась в Москве в 1932 году. Она испытала на себе действие советской тоталитарной машины: ее отец был репрессирован, цензура не раз запрещала ей говорить, она не понаслышке знакома с понятием «пятая графа». С 1992 года госпожа Гербер принимает активное участие в деятельности Фонда «Холокост».

Что лучше - цензура или вседозволенность, что такое свобода прессы и в чем суть профессии журналиста - на эти вопросы попробует ответить Алла Гербер с высоты своего опыта. На встрече также можно будет познакомиться с ее книгой «Когда-то и сейчас».

Альберт Фельдман - украинский психолог, врач, художник и публицист. В начале военных действий на Донбассе он создал реабилитационный центр изотерапии для воинов АТО, который уже два года помогает им восстанавливать здоровье. На встрече можно будет познакомиться с уникальной художественной выставкой Альберта Фельдмана «Еврейские образы».

Проект «Дети за мир во всем мире» - это послание от детей Украины детям других государств с пожеланиями мира и добра. Во время перфоманса дети создадут карту Израиля с помощью бумажных голубей. На мероприятие приглашены дипломаты и политики, депутаты ВР, представители еврейских общественных организаций и фондов, журналисты из ведущих масс медиа Украины и Израиля.



День еврейской культуры состоится 15 мая с 15.00 до 18 00 по адресу: г. Киев, ул. Урицкого 1а, ресторан «Оазис» (ТЦ «Ультрамарин» 3й, этаж).

Today is Mother's Day – the day of the dearest and closest person for each of us. Mother's Day is an international holiday.

In Ukraine, it is celebrated in May, in Israel – in February, but this holiday is equally important and dear everywhere. The word “mother” sounds with the same warmth and love in all languages of the world.

Mother is the beginning of a new life, the first word; those are happy who are kept by mother's love and prayer.

I want to congratulate all mothers with the warmest words and thank them for given life, infinite patience and care for their families! You are not only our support, you are the ones who brighten our life and give it meaning. I wholeheartedly thank Ukrainian mothers who could raise real defenders. I wish that your children are able to return home soon.

Be healthy and happy, moms! I wish you long life and peaceful sky over your head!

Today is Victory Day!

Friends, I want all of us to forget about any differences and simply thank the heroes who with their lives and their own blood won a great Victory over the enemy! This day is in order to pay tribute to the fallen victims and recall their feat.
During the terrible war the soldiers of the world united to fight the common enemy. And it does not matter under what banner they have been fighting: they have been defending their homeland. Only because of the courage and heroism of millions of victims and survivors, we walk the Earth. They sacrificed the dearest thing – their own life for us.
Today, both Ukrainian and Israeli soldiers, heroes’ great-grandchildren and grandchildren, defend their land from the enemy. We have managed to win then – we will win now.

I encourage everyone to remember the great feat of victory and surround with the warmth and care of the few veterans who are still alive. Nowadays they often are in very difficult financial situation: minimal pensions don’t allow purchasing even the most essential products like food and medicine. It is sorry to see how their act of bravery is forgotten. Let’s remember this heroes not only on 9th of May, but help them all the time as far as our possibilities go. We bow to you, the defenders!


Happy Victory Day!

Dear friends, how many of you know, that Hebrew - the language of Israel - until the end of the 19th century was used exclusively in the synagogues or philosophical treatises?

This means that for almost 2 thousand years it was literary dead language. And now Hebrew is used by millions of Jews not only in Israel but around the world. It became one of the key factors of Jewish renaissance.

Hebrew was stopped being used at the end of 2nd century b.c., it was basically going round with traditions and customs. As Jewish nation itself, language assimilated. For a long time, it was using the same role as Latin for Christian. If any European nation had not only its language but a territory, for Jews Hebrew was their country. Final shift to local languages would destroy Jewish nation, that’s why it is not a surprise for Hebrew renaissance to became the base of Israel renaissance.

First Eretz Yisrael settlers thought that nation will be reborn only after they all will talk one language. They put all the effort to resurrect it: they were talking Hebrew, learnt it, written it, communicated in Hebrew. Special attention to Hebrew was in schools, as there it had hard competition with English, French and German, due to lack of education materials and teachers. But Jews knew, if child starts talking Hebrew, first his house, and then all his street will. And that happened.

If religious texts could count only 8 thousand of unique words, modern language reaches 120 thousand. Israel even has Hebrew academy, that works on enriching Hebrew: they provide scientific research and fill vocabulary with new words in the spheres of art and culture.

Now everyone in Israel talks, writes, and thinks in Hebrew. Hebrew is now connected not only to holly writings but to Israel itself.

My fellow Ukrainians, let me get to the point. Ukraine destiny will not be clear until Ukrainians will start talking, writing and thinking in Ukrainian. Language is an indispensable condition for the existence of nation and the state. And there is little options here.

In my posts, I often say that Israel has been living in a state of war from its origin.

Today I would like to speak about one of these periods, which was called “Six-Day War”.

In spring 1967, after the escalation of the situation in the Middle East, appeared calls to destroy Israel completely. The neighbors openly intended to destroy all the Jews living there. Against the small State of Israel acted the coalition of Arab countries: Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, which were superior in armed forces, armament quality and number of soldiers. There were 240 thousand people only in the Egyptian army, 50 thousand – in the Syrian army, 70 thousand – in the Iraqi army. In addition, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab countries were ready to join the conflict. Also I will remind you that the bulk of the weaponry, which was used then against Israel, was supplied by the Soviet Union.

Israel, like Ukraine two years ago, hoped to get the support of the guarantors - the US, Britain and France. On May 23, US President Lyndon Johnson criticized the Middle East conflict, saying that the blockade is an illegal act and that the United States “is determined to guarantee the territorial integrity of all countries in the Middle East.” England placed on instant alert its warships in the Mediterranean Sea. But the matter was not father than statement of extreme concern and condemnation of the conflict. Israel could only rely on its own strength.

Then, the Israeli government decided to strike on the Egyptian army in the Sinai Peninsula. The unique operation was carried out: on June 3, 3000 Israeli soldiers got leave to make an Israeli strike unexpected for an enemy. Photos of Israeli soldiers relaxing on the beaches appeared in the press around the world. And on June 5, the Israeli Air Force attacked Egyptian military airfields at low level. It took Israelis 57 minutes for the operation, including the return, refueling and inspection of the aircraft, while the Egyptians needed two hours to do that. Israeli aircraft made several passes over the target, trying to get a precision strike. During the first hours of the war the Egyptian Air Force as a serious fighting force, which was able to support ground troops, ceased to exist. By the end of the second day of the war the Egyptian Air Force lost 309 aircraft and helicopters, including all 30 long-range bombers Tu-16.

In response, Syrian and Jordanian aircraft attacked Israeli airfields: united aircraft destroyed several decoys of Israeli aircraft and one transporter. In response, the Israelis, because of accurate and coordinated actions, destroyed 60 Syrian aircraft, 40 Jordanian and 50 Egyptian MiGs ... Thanks to this brilliant strategy, outcome of the war was almost foregone. Next was a ground operation, as a result of which Israel did not lose, but gained new territories.

Despite the loses, joined forces announces of operation success in Israel. For positive picture, it was supposed. The most hostile position to Israel, apart from Arabic countries, was taken by Soviet Union. On the first day of war Soviet mass media accused Israel of aggression against Egypt, and Soviet government declared that they “reserve the right to take any action that the situation may require”. Despite that Soviet Union promised not to interfere in Arab-Israel conflict if USA will not interfere too. Familiar reasoning. But on 10thof June USSR severed diplomatic relations with Israel. From the beginning of the conflict Egypt, Syria, and Iraq were flooded with Soviet armaments.

Not so long ago it became clear, that war might end in a different way. In 1967 USSR was ready to lunch strike on Nuclear Reactor in Dimon, in Negev desert. As a result of that attack, all map of Middle East region would be rearranged, as the history itself. On 10th of June the order was given to lunch bomb strikes on nuclear reactor in Dimon and a number of other targets on Israel territory. For this mission it was meant to use 30 strategic TU-16 bombers, that had to cross through Turkish territory as Egypt aviation. At the last moment Turkey didn’t give clearance to enter its airspace for Soviet aircraft.

During the Six-Day War Israel got one of the brightest victories not only in its history, but in the history of world. Armies of three Arabic countries were crushed, that lost more than 15 thousand victims, and around 6 thousand of soldier and officer as hostages. Israel lost 777 man. Such great victory became possible due to excellent training, high morale and correct strategy of the leadership. Israel was ready. As a result of Six-Day War united Jerusalem became the capital of Israel. Israel annexed Golan Heights, that has great strategic importance. Sinai and West Bank of Jordan river fall under Israel control.

On my opinion Ukraine is now at very similar situation. And today its future depends on the correct tactics, because Ukrainian soldiers are full of morale and motivation already. History shows a lesson that independence can be protected even with small force. So why don’t we use Israel experience, who succeeded in this?

Friends, today Jews all over the world commemorate a special day - Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.

I would like Ukrainians to learn more about this day. Today we commemorate six million Jews killed by the Nazis, and remember the heroes who fought for their lives and the existence of the Jewish people.

During the years of the Holocaust one-third of all Jews, who lived on the planet, was destroyed. For many years, the world did not want to notice how people were humiliated and killed because of their origin. In the center of Europe the ghettos and concentration camps were created, hundreds of thousands of women and men, children and the elderly, those who wore the Star of David on their clothes were killed. The international community preferred “not to see” the details. Only when Europe itself appeared to be in flames, when the truth became impossible to hide, people finally believed in the genocide against Jews.

When on this day in Israel we talk about the heroism, we commemorate the citizens of the Warsaw Ghetto, who, being in actual custody, having lost everything, being on the verge of life and death, managed to find the strength to resist the Nazis. In April 1943, Jews, who lived in the Warsaw ghetto, headed by Mordechai Anielewicz revolted. The uprising lasted for a month and ended with the actual destruction of the ghetto.

Of course, one and a half thousand people - exhausted, hungry, without weapons, in fact, - could neither win nor break through the barriers of the Nazis. But this uprising was a turning point in the minds of Jews: they believed that even a small force, supported by faith, can do the impossible. It was then that Jews realized that they could and had to defend themselves, they could only rely on their own strength. Mordechai Anielewicz wrote about this event the following: “The fact that we had experienced, exceeded our wildest expectations ... The main thing is that the dream of my life came true, I lived to see the day when the Jews of the ghetto rose to their defense and led the struggle in all its greatness and glory.”

Lviv ghetto was the third biggest ghetto after Warsaw and Lodz, whose Jews were killed in Yanovky concentration camp. There were no gas chambers or crematoria on its territory, on the paper it was just a labor camp. But the soil in the Death Valley where mass executions took place soaked with blood for one and a half meters deep.

History of Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day is learned from young childhood. Ceremonies, remembrance gatherings take place this day, and national flag is raised only to the half of the pole, television covers only shows devoted to European Jews during the World War the Second. In the area of "Warsaw Ghetto" at the "Yad Vashem" memorial in Jerusalem held a meeting, which is attended by those who survived the Holocaust. Specially for this day the prayers, psalms are performed and songs are sung. People who survived the Holocaust and their relatives in the second and third generation lit six torches in memory of six million victims.

Every year on Memorial Day in Chagall Hall at Knesset a ceremony "Every person has a name" takes place: the names of Jewish victims of the Holocaust (Shoah) are read. This year the theme of the ceremony will be "Everything is forbidden to us, but we do it all" that mark the spiritual resistance of the Jews during the Holocaust, the struggle at Jewish ghettoes and camps for human dignity and spiritual freedom, in the inhuman conditions of the Holocaust.

Memorial Day Celebrations end with a rally of young people passing near the monument erected in memory of Mordechai Anielewicz in Yad Mordechai Kibbutz. Also ceremonies are held around the world. From year 1988 “Marche of Life” takes place, from death camp in Auschwitz to death camp Bikaner in Poland.

I am sure, that more frightening than Holocaust itself can be only forgetting of this fact. Hundreds of thousand innocent victims must not be forgotten. Auschwitz, Treblinka, Babi Yar, Buchenwald, Yanovsky death camp – we should remember what happened there. This memory should be honored and passed to further generations to prevent the repeat of the history.

As I have repeatedly written, a large number of secret services work in Israel: more than 20 kinds of different special units are engaged in public safety protection, both in Israel and abroad.

That is, Israel has "its own" intelligence agency for each type of threat in return. All kinds of special forces, Israeli police and army work on the prevention of emergency situations: nine out of ten terrorists are detained even before carrying out terrorist attacks. When in September last year, a new wave of terror was reported in Israel and the criminals with knives went outside instead of "habitual" submachine guns or explosives, the government explained much why this kind of threat had not been prevented.
Ukrainians are well aware of what the "Mossad" is, but it is only one of the special services of Israel. Today I would like to talk about several more.

There is a unit that deals with the unique work among the Arab population in Israel. I'm talking about "Shabak", Israeli general security agency. Its unique feature is the training of staff, with deep knowledge of Arab culture, traditions and way of life, as well as its huge network of agents. The service is directly subordinated to the Prime Minister of the country. This service works as follows: for coordinating their work they use so-called "mashtapim" - Arab agents. They are volunteers or recruited Arabs. Israeli special services are interested in such close collaboration, and use ordinary agents as a source of information. Such informants often help to neutralize dozens of potential or actual suicide bombers, as well as orient special services to the very top terrorists. "Visiting card" of the Israeli special forces while eliminating terrorist leaders is a control shot in the right eye.

Other, even more unique unit, that fights terror in Israel is Yamas. This unit is recruited mostly from Israelis who look like Arab. They are taught to talk, communicate, and even think on Arabic, they are proficient in local Arabic traditions, and live a s simple Palestinians. Often, they even participate in mass disorders against the police, to have the opportunity to quickly stop terrorist at a given time.

Despite the fact that every day Israel faces terrorist threats, such tactics allows preventing most of them. And due to wide network of agents, Israel is well aware of Arab society mood. This all gives possibilities to react to any separatist initiatives, protecting the interests of country and its citizen. Of course such multinational tactics in Ukraine had to be implemented 25 years ago, and maybe its history would go the other way. Now when we received our expensive lesson, we can learn from Israel, how to provide our security and stand for ourselves in a right way.