Author: Toneyan Mark

The Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS (FJC), Russia
March 8 2004

Purim Celebrated Across the Former Soviet Union

On March 7th and 8th, Jews from 420 communities throughout the Former
Soviet Union, members of the Federation of Jewish Communities,
celebrated Purim.

The FJC and its member communities distributed over 200,000
‘Mishloach Manot’ gift packages throughout the CIS and Baltic States.

In fulfillment of a Purim mitzvah of helping those in need, the FJC
provided food packages and other assistance to more than 100,000
needy people. Volunteers from many Jewish communities are also
tending to the needs of homebound and disabled Jews for the holiday.

Thanks to the Rohr Family Foundation and the Ohr Avner Foundation,
more than 150,000 Jews attended ‘Megilat Esther’ readings and Purim
celebrations, involving more than 13,000 children from the Ohr Avner
Chabad school network.

This year, many Jewish communities and individuals celebrated Purim
for the first time. Yet other elderly members of the Jewish
community, still able to recall such celebrations from their
childhood, witnessed the revival of the Purim holiday in their
communities.

Many communities that don’t have a permanent rabbi celebrated Purim
with guidance from visiting Yeshiva students from Russia, Ukraine and
the USA. Students of the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Rostov-on-Don were
particularly active, visiting communities in both Ukraine and Russia.

The following is an overview of community events held for Purim-5764:

Jews in MOSCOW, Russia, enjoyed Purim at the Jewish Community Center
at Marina Roscha. After words from Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar,
participants were treated to a variety show, a youth party featuring
popular rock group, a fashion show and an art exhibition.

The Sunday School of VLADIKAVKAZ, Russia, held a joint event with one
of the state schools, where Jewish children told children of other
ethnic groups and religions about Purim and Jewish traditions and
then held a Purimspiel and concert for them.

Despite an avalanche, over 40 Jewish youth from IZHEVSK, Russia,
turned up for the Purim carnival and discoteque.

200 guests gathered in a local cafe for a kosher Purim feast in
RYAZAN, Russia. Over 20 women participated in the ‘Esther the
Beautiful” contest. Though only one girl won, all participants walked
away with a prize.

In BARNAUL, Russia, the Jewish community held a Purimspiel at the
puppet theater.

Over 200 people gathered in KEMEROVO, Russia, to hear
recently-arrived Rabbi Dovid de Bresser read from ‘Megilat Esther’.

Jews of KOSTROMA, Russia, enjoyed the Sholom Aleichem play “Bloody
Joke”, staged by the Kostroma Chamber Drama Theater. The performance
included traditional Jewish songs and original music, as well as
wonderful dances.

Purim events at Ohr Avner Chabad Elementary and High Schools in
NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia, culminated in a firework display.

In KHABAROVSK, Russia, the ‘Mizrach’ community celebrated a Youth
Purimspiel for the first time in Russia’s Far East region. Jewish
youth enjoyed music and dancing all evening, with an interweaving of
Jewish modern, classical, and Chassidic music. The Women’s Club also
celebrated, with a turnout of over 110 people. Participants enjoyed
Jewish melodies, sweets, and a fashion show.

A Purim celebration took place in brand new Jewish Community Center
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia.

About 4000 people in KHARKOV, Ukraine, turned out for Purimspiel
performances at the local circus. Due to extra demand, there were two
separate celebrations, involving two separate concerts and readings
from ‘Megilat Esther’.

In CHERNOVTSIY, Ukraine, over 200 people gathered for a Purimspiel. A
lottery was held and Jewish books were given as prizes.

Youth in MINSK, Belarus initiated this year’s Purim events by
bringing gifts and holiday greetings to the sick, elderly and
underprivileged children. On Sunday, over 500 people gathered at the
‘Profsoyuz’ Cultural Center to celebrate Purim.

The Purim concert in VILNIUS, Lithuania featured a concert by the
Jerusalem Boys’ Choir.

Over 100 people in YEREVAN, Armenia gathering in a restaurant for a
meal and performance – in Hebrew and Yiddish – by the children’s
vocal group ‘Keshet’ (Raduga). The Sunday School held a Purimspiel
with a concert, contests, lottery, high-profile guests and gifts.

More than 60 children from the Jewish Kindergarten of TBILISI,
Georgia celebrated Purim. The children impressed guests with songs in
Hebrew, Yiddish, Georgian, Russian and English. Israeli Ambassador to
Georgia Rivka Cohen presented the children ‘Mishloach Manot’.

Jews of TASHKENT, Uzbekistan celebrated Purim at the ‘Alladin’
Theater. Following words by Chief Rabbi of Uzbekistan David Gurevich,
children from the Jewish school put on a performance. The Women’s
Club celebrated Purim with a traditional tea ceremony.

The Jewish Community of BAKU, Azerbaijan held a ‘Megilat Esther’
reading with contests and candies, a dinner and a concert. The Jewish
community of Azerbaijan also received congratulations from both
Muslim and Russian Orthodox leaders.

The Jewish children in ALMATY, Kazakhstan performed a Purimspiel in
four different languages for members of the Jewish community.

Anadolu Agency
March 10 2004

Roth: Resolution of Cyprus Question is very important for Turkey

BERLIN – Claudia Roth, the chairwoman of the German government`s
human rights board and the Turkish-German Parliamentary Friendship
Group, has said that resolution of the Cyprus question was very
important for Turkey.

Roth had a meeting on Tuesday in Berlin with Parliamentary Commission
for Adjustment Into European Union (EU) members headed by former
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis.

Speaking at the meeting, Roth said that end of human rights
violations and removal of regional economic differences were
important for Turkey`s EU membership.

Although it was not among the Copenhagen criteria, resolution of the
Cyprus question was very important and if it was not resolved, Turkey
would have difficulties because those who were against Turkey`s
membership might show it as a pretext, she said.

Noting that she completely supported the German government`s attitude
toward opening of membership negotiations with Turkey in case of
fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria, Roth said that also German
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer believed that Turkey might play a
key role in securing peace and fight against terrorism.

Stressing that as the Green Party, they attributed great importance
especially to human rights, Roth said that she would have meetings in
Ankara, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Istanbul during her one-week visit to
Turkey in May.

Recalling that the Turkish press had harshly criticized her during
some periods, Roth said that criticism did not mean you were always
against something and her party believed in principle of equality
while other parties had concerns whether a Muslim country could
change them. Noting that there had been lobbying efforts in the
German assembly to bring so-called Armenian genocide onto the agenda,
Roth said she could not know how much those efforts would be
effective but Armenian issue might come to the agenda of the
assembly.

Defending that release of Leyla Zana would be positive for Turkey,
Roth added that Zana was well-known in international area.

Russia Journal, Russia
March 11 2004

Gazprom following Kremlin’s instructions

MOSCOW – Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has received instructions from his
friends in the Kremlin and has acted accordingly. This appears to be
the only plausible explanation for the steps taken by the Russian gas
giant this week.

Sibur, Gazprom’s largest petrochemical concern, on Wednesday inked a
deal with Beltransgas, the Belarussian state pipeline company, to
supply gas to Belarus. In line with the agreement Sibur will ship 1
billion cubic metres of gas to Belarus by the end of this year,
including 200 million cubic metres to be delivered in March. However,
the volume of 200 million cubic metres is unlikely to cover Minsk’s
monthly demand.

Gazprom holds a 90 per cent stake in Sibur, the Siberian-Urals
petrochemical company. Sibur runs Gazprom’s petrochemical plants in
the Volga region, the Urals and Siberia.

Gazprom halted supplies of its own gas to Belarus on 1 January 2004
amid a dispute over prices. The gas concern insists Belarus should
pay for Russian gas at international prices. On 18 February this year
Gazprom stopped gas deliveries to Minsk altogether and also halted
transit shipments to Europe via Belarus. The company said it wanted
to raise the price Belarus pays by 56 per cent to $50 per 1,000 cubic
metres and to receive payment for gas already supplied. In the
meantime, Belarus is receiving Russian gas from Russian suppliers
Trans Nafta and Itera.

Another 230 million cubic metres will be delivered to Belarus in
March by Trans Nafta, Russian media reports said on Thursday.
According to Gazprom’s press-service, the gas concern will only
provide the transit pipeline.

A Sibur official optimistically said that the price at which gas will
be supplied to Belarus is comparable to that of Nafta. However,
Belarus still has not repaid its debt to Trans Nafta for the volumes
already supplied in 2004.

The decision to supply gas via Sibur seems strange. The company has
never been involved in gas deliveries before. Moreover, unlike Itera,
a company formally independent of Gazprom, Sibur is fully controlled
by the concern.

Gazprom has also voiced its intention to halve its gas supplies to
Georgia as of 15 March 2004 because of debts owed by Tbilisi to
Gazexport, Gazprom’s export subsidiary. According to Gazexport,
Tbilisi’s debt now stands at $7.4 million. Russia also supplies gas
via Georgian territory to Armenia, where there are also problems with
payments.

Gazprom has been supplying gas to Georgia since 1 October 2003 via
Gazexport. Before that Itera was the sole supplier of Russian gas to
Georgia. Last year Gazprom also began to deliver gas to Azerbaijan.

Alexandra Vertlyugina, an analyst with AVK, believes it is possible
to assume that following Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller’s meeting with the
country’s top leadership Gazprom was given certain political
instructions concerning Belarus and the Transcaucasian countries,
through which the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline runs – an alternative
route to Russian pipelines – and began to incorporate them in the
company’s economic policy.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

March 11, 2004

BYZANTINE EXHIBITION OPENS AT
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM WITH
ARTIFACTS FROM CILICIAN SEE
The much awaited exhibit Byzantium: Power and Faith, (1261-1557), will
open to the public on March 23 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City. It will remain on view through July 4, 2004. The exhibit includes some
Armenian artifacts from that era-which is the Cilician period-that have been
loaned to the museum by the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
Included in the exhibit are two manuscripts, one of which is the famous
Gospel of Partserpert, and the reliquary of the right hand of St. Nicholas.
Archbishop Oshagan will attend a special preview opening and dinner on
Monday evening, March 15, in the presence of His All-Holiness Bartholomew,
Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch.
This exhibit, which is the museum’s third major exhibition on Byzantium,
brings together some 350 masterpieces from churches, monasteries and museums
around the world to demonstrate the great flowering of art and culture
within the Byzantine Empire and among its East Christian rivals during the
Empire’s last centuries. Included are icons, textiles, metalwork, and
manuscripts made primarily for the Orthodox Church and other East Christian
peoples as well as paintings, manuscripts, and metalwork of the Latin West
and the Islamic world.

THIRD LENTEN LECTURE
CONTINUES TO EXPLORE THE FAMILY
The third Lenten Lecture, delivered by V. Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian,
pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, last night continued to explore the
general theme of the Family.
Rev. Fr. Muron focused on the family as a school of religious formation.
Using biblical references from both the Old and New Testaments, Hayr Sourp
described the characteristics of a family and especially the Christian
family. He described how religious education can be transmitted within a
positive environment in a family. He also spoke about the difficult teen-age
years with the many negative influences in society.
A question and answer period followed the lecture. A time of fellowship
was enjoyed by all of the attendees as discussions continued over a
satisfying Lenten meal prepared by the Prelacy Ladies Guild.
The Lenten Lectures are sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education
Council and the Prelacy Ladies Guild.

FOURTH LENTEN LECTURE WILL BE PRESENTED BY
REV. FR. KHATCHADOUR BOGHOSSIAN
Rev. Fr. Khatchadour Boghossian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, will present the fourth lecture of the Lenten
Lecture series next Wednesday, March 17. Der Khatchadour will speak about
the Family as a Small Church.
The lectures take place at St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th
Street, New York City. Lenten service begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary,
followed by the lecture and fellowship in Pashalian Hall. All are welcome.

SEMINAR IN GRANITE CITY
SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 13
A seminar devoted to Badarak: Supreme Expression of our Communal
Spirituality will take place Saturday, March 13, at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois. Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director
of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), will lead the daylong
seminar.

PRELACY BIBLE STUDIES GROUP
WILL DISCUSS THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
The Bible Studies group that meets at the Prelacy every 1st and 3rd
Mondays of the month will discuss the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the
Christ, on March 22, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Deacon Shant Kazanjian leads the
discussions. The group plans to see the movie this Monday, March 15, in New
York City. For more information contact Deacon Shant, 212-689-7810.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT:
SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD
We have come to the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is the Sunday of the
Steward (Tntesi Kiraki). The reading on this day is from the Gospel of St.
Luke, chapter 16, verses 1 to 8, which relates the parable of The
Unrighteous Steward. This parable is about a shrewd rich and his steward.
The steward was one who looked out for his own personal benefit and through
his cunning arrangements made deals with those who were in debt to his
master. Jesus used this parable not to condone the behavior of the steward
but rather as an illustration of qualities that have a necessary place in
the life of true disciples. Since we are stewards of this world, we are
accountable to our Lord for the talents we have and that which has been
entrusted to us.
The Prelacy bookstore has several books on Armenian Church Feasts and on
the Lenten season leading to the Great Week. Visit the Prelacy web site,
for these and other books, or contact the
bookstore at 212-689-7810.

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