World Jewish News

Ukrainian population census did not take into account the "factor of fear".

The first national Ukrainian population census considered a lot of demographic factors except for one - the "factor of fear".
According to some observers this very factor explains discrepancy between the real number of Jews, making from 250 000 up to 500 000 persons, and 103 591 persons revealed as a result of population census in 2001. Census results were published in December, 2002.
"Many people are afraid of saying they are Jews", the Chief Rabbi of Kiev Moshe Reuven Asman considers. "Now we have democracy but nobody knows what will happen soon. We do not know the future but, having the certain data on our history, we are already quite intimidated."
The previous population census in Ukraine was carried out in 1989, when Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union. That time census officers have counted over 52 million persons, 487 300 Jews among them.
The next years emigration and low birth rate have led to the general population reduction in Ukraine almost in 3 million persons. Now less than 48,5 million people live in Ukraine.
Freedom of moving and worsening economy have pushed thousands of Ukrainian Jews to be repatriated to Israel or to emigrate to Germany and the United States.
Asman says that many Jews do not reveal their ethnic origin, preferring to join the majority from reasons of safety.
The doctor of the Kiev private clinic, Anna, says that documents of her parents have been lost during the World War II. After the war Anna's parents changed the nationality.
She added, a lot of friends of hers have the similar situation. Jewish traditions are transferred from generation to generation in these families but they do not identify themselves as Jews at the official level.
"My parents knew the life for Jews in Ukraine can become difficult, therefore they have changed the nationality", Anna specifies.
Alex Kuperstain, the Israeli citizen, the native of Lvov and the owner of a restaurant in Kiev, shares this point of view.
"I have many friends in Kiev whose parents still are afraid of saying they are Jews", Alex says.
Research of the Jewish "Sokhnut" agency shows that from 215 000 up to 220 000 Jews currently live in Ukraine. This data is informed by Alex Katz, the head of Sokhnut programs in Ukraine and Moldova.
"I hope that, at least, making research of large Ukrainian cities we shall achieve the greater success, and the number of Jews revealed by us will approach to the real as much as possible", Katz said.
Other Jewish leaders share this point of view.
According to the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Yaakov Dov Bleich, the real number of Jews makes about half-a-million persons. Joseph Zisels, the VAAD Chairman in Ukraine, has declared that according to the Jewish law determining nationality by mother, there are 150 000 Jews in Ukraine. Over 400 000 persons have the right to be repatriated to Israel according to the Law on Returning.

Источник: Jewish.ru