On November 19th, 2013, a week prior to Chanukah, The Rogatchi Foundation and Inna and Michael Rogatchi conducted a new charitable action in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. A special The Rogatchi Foundation event called POWER OF LIGHT, has been organised in partnership with the leadership and many members of the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish community at the largest in the world Jewish Community Centre Menorah. The event consisted of three parts: awarding Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzki, the Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovsk and Dnepropetrovsk region, with The Rogatchi Foundation Recognition Award; the awarding of the Maija-Liisa Marton Personal stipend to student Rachel Rudosvky; and the opening of the charitable Zelig. Poetry Pages exhibition of works by Michael Rogatchi.
The Rogatchi Foundation Power of Light special charitable event at the biggest in the world Jewish Community Menorah Centre, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.
Part I. The Rogatchi Foundation’s Recognition Award to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki and special award to Ms Nella Gorinova
At the beginning of the ceremony, Inna & Michael Rogatchi awarded Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, the Chief Rabbi of the Dnepropetrovsk and the Dnepropetrovsk region with The Foundation Recognition Award, a symbolic piece of art – an original art collage on canvas Hurva Return authored by both Inna & Michael Rogatchi. The authors shared the story of that unique piece of art with the public.
Michael and Inna Rogatchi presenting their Foundation Recognition Award at the special event in Dnepropetrovsk in the presence of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, the Chairman of the Federation of the Jewish Communities of Ukraine, Artur Zolotarevsky, the member of the Trustees Board of the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community, and Igor Romanov, executive director of the Jewish communities of the Dnepropetrovsk region.
“In 1993, twenty years ago by now, after one of our visits in Jerusalem, I painted a particular work which I called My Stones. Jerusalem. The work is very special to me, and the place painted there is very dear to both of us. That place was the location of the ruins of the Hurva Synagogue. At the time, the only thing remaining there was that arch painted by myself on the original painting. More than a decade later, I had a major two-month retrospective exhibition there in Jerusalem, and it was that very painting which attracted a lot of attention during that memorable exhibition. I decided to present the work to the Municipality of Jerusalem Art Collection which is a unique art institution in the world, and which contains the personal gifts from major Jewish artists worldwide including Marc Chagall and many others. The vision of that lonely arch went into my heart once and forever; but never could I imagine that one day I would see the Hurva restored”, – said Michael Rogatchi.
“We believe that all of us gathered here tonight are aware of the dramatic history of Hurva, once the biggest Ashkenazi synagogue in the centre of Jerusalem, and a very important symbol for every Jewish person in the world. We remember that this symbol was bombed on purpose by the Chechen Legion of Jordan in 1948, and that despite all the plans for the Hurva restoration, it has happened only 62 years after the destruction, in 2010. When we have been in Jerusalem soon after that greatly significant achievement, in 2011, almost 20 years since my husband Michael has painted his well-known My Stones. Jersusalem painting, the first thing we did that time was to run to the place in the heart of Jerusalem where the restored Hurva was standing in all its glory. And we just could not believe that what we were seeing in front of us was true. I have made then my art photograph called Hurva Return. This work is in the collection of the Memory of Jewish People and Holocaust in Ukraine museum here in Dnenpropetrovsk. It was also on display at the European Parliament at the special event commemorating the Day of Jerusalem in May 2012. At the event, hundreds of high political representatives and public figures from all over the globe have sung the Jerusalem of Gold song in the front of that very photograph of restored Hurva.
“Very importantly, that extremely meaningful for the entire Jewish world achievement of the successful restoration of Hurva has become possible, to a very large extent, thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki who has put so many of his efforts, talent, persuasion, inventiveness, and devotion to make that miracle possible; to organise it and to finance it, to make it real. In order to match his talent, devotion and efforts with our deep appreciation for all of this, we have made this original art work which is unique and has been done specifically to award Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki, the outstanding leader of the modern Jewry, for his extraordinary efforts in developing and celebrating the Jewish heritage world-wide”, – said Inna Rogatchi accompanied by enthusiastic clapping of the gathered public.
More about the Hurva Return original art collage can also be read here, at the popular Eretz Israel site:
http://blog.eretzyisrael.org/post/65232040666/hurva-return-by-inna-michael-rogatchi-original
Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki and Inna Rogatchi in a discussion at The Rogatchi Foundation Power of Lightspecial event; Dr Alexander Fridkis, the head of the Jewish religious community of Dnepropetrovsk, the one of the community’s most senior members.
Applodisments were heard quite often during that happy, warm, interesting and special evening of November 19th, 2013. Accepting the award, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki did say that he ‘is sharing that precious art work with all the community of the city, following his principle: everything that I have is not mine, but it belongs to the people of this community’. Rabbi Kaminezki also very generously and friendly told the members of the community and the public gathered, of the international dimension of Inna & Michael Rogatchis’ art and philanthropy work and the high importance of it.
The Rogatchi Foundation also awarded Ms Nella Gorinova, the longest working special assistant to Rabbi Kaminetzki for her huge contribution to the community’s life, development and thriving for more than the last twenty years. The Rogatchi Foundation has awarded Nella with Jewish Melody, a recent work by Michael Rogatchi from his highly acclaimed Jewish Melody series exhibited in Vilnius, Lithuania during the special international events there in September 2013.
Ms Nella Gorinova and Michael Rogatchi during the award ceremony with the work of art Jewish Melody, as The Rogatchi Foundation special award for her valuable input into building and developing the Jewish life in the second largest Jewish community in Ukraine.
Part II – The MAIJA-LIISA MARTON Personal Stipend for Rachel Rudovsky
During the same ceremony, The Rogatchi Foundation awarded the Foundation special stipend, the Maija-Liisa Marton Personal stipend to student Rachel Rudovsky. As a member of The Rogatchi Foundation’s International Advisory Board, famous actress, director, and cultural figure Maija-Liisa Marton has established her Personal Stipend for the orphaned brilliant student Rachel Rudovsky, in order to help her to get the best possible education after her graduation from school in Ukraine. Rachel has been accepted to the famed school for girls in Jerusalem, and Maija-Liisa Marton has decided to help the talented girl by establishing the two-year stipend for her in memory of her parents, Toivo and Annikki Poutilainen.
Inna Rogatchi showing Maija-Liisa Marton‘s autographed portrait to the audience; awarding the Maija-Liisa Marton Special Stipend for student Rachel Rudovsky to Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzin Sara Glick.
At the ceremony, Michael Rogatchi told the audience in more detail about Maija-Liisa Marton, her career and her notable and special place in modern international culture. He also told about The Rogatchi Foundation and Maija-Liisa Marton’strong and fruitful friendship that has blossomed for more than two decades, joint ‘marathon’ of soul-mates that has always bore many special ‘fruits’ of various charities and good deeds.
Inna Rogatchi read to the gathered public Maija-Liisa Marton‘s personal address to Rachel and many people from the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community explaining the background of her decision to support Rachel, and telling the story on her being the first Finnish student who won the American Stipend for a year of continuing her education after school. This year became a turning point in the career and life of the now famous actress and director. She also sent her warm personal regards to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzki, Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzin Sara Glick who are responsible for the education of the Jewish children in Ukraine and other places in Eastern Europe, and to “all good people of the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community”.
Michael and Inna Rogatchi with Rebbetzin Sara and Rabbi Yossi Glick, the heads of the Tsivos Hashem organisation for Jewish education in Ukraine and in the countries of Eastern Europe.
Inna Rogatchi handed to Rebbetzin Sara Glick The Rogatchi Foundation special Diploma, the stipend, Maija-Liisa’s address, and her photograph autographed for Rachel Rudovsky.
In his word of gratitude, Rabbi Yossi Glick, head of the Tsivos Hashem in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries, cordially thanked Maija-Liisa Marton and The Rogatchi Foundation, and mentioned that he is ‘sure than in 50 years on from this moment, Rachel Rudovsky will feel and think as Maija-Liisa Marton did, and will continue the traditions of kindness and support to the kids in need’.
Part 3. The inauguration of the Michael Rogatchi’s Zelig. Poetry Pages exhibition
During this part of the special event, Inna Rogatchi emphasised a particular side of the exhibition of Michael Rogatchi’s new works: “This is the first time ever that the originals of Michael’s works are exhibited in Eastern Europe”. The co-founders of The Rogatchi Foundation chose both the special timing and the purpose for such a notable event. The exhibition was started a week before Chanukah, the Festival of Light which arrives at the darkest time of any year, and which has a very special charitable note and purpose in it. Michael and Inna Rogatchi and their Foundation decided to conduct the event in support of the orphaned children of the Jewish Community in Dnepropetrovsk.
Michael Rogatchi presenting his new Poetry Pages original art work series at the special event; Michael Rogatchi and Dr Igor Schupak, director of the Tkuma Institute for the Holocaust Studies in Ukraine and the Jewish People Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine Museum.
Michael Rogatchi told in his introductory remarks to his new series the ideas behind it. The artist has found special inspiration in modern poetry, and the main subject of the series has become one’s search for personal freedom, and the ways toward which this search could bring us. Michael also told the public that the poetry pages in his new series are closely connected, even infused, with music, and there is no coincidence in that. The music world is the one where he always finds inspiration, the sources for his new images, and new ideas. The charitable Poetry Pages exhibition will be on display at the Art Gallery of the biggest in the world Jewish Community Centre Menorah till the end of year 2013.
The public received the new original art series by Michael Rogatchi enthusiastically. Michael’s works appealed to people from all age groups and with different professional backgrounds. Both the public and art reviewers praised the works’ modernity and its originality.
Michael Rogatchi signing his Poetry Pages series brochures for members of the audience at the special event; Rabbi Yossi Glick and member of the Trustees Board of the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community Mr Alexander Larin.
The US Ambassador in Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt visited the exhibition and warmly congratulated Michael Rogatchi with his indisputable success in Ukraine during his visit to the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community the next day after the vernissage, on November 20th.
Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzki summed up the special The Rogatchi Foundation pre-Chanukkah charitable event in Dnepropetrovsk with his special thanks to the organisers:
“On their ongoing efforts to bring high-class European culture to Dnepropetrovsk, Inna and Michael Rogatchi are making their regular events here more and more engaging for us. They are always surprising us and bringing here light, gladness, world-class culture, and a lot of interest. This time, too, The Rogatchi Foundation has succeeded fully in their classy, elegant, top-quality event bringing the best of European culture and their charity to our people”.