Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The Armenian Union of Israel “Ararat” reported on the opening of a night school for children from Armenia, where the Armenian language, the Armenian culture and history would be studied “for the preservation of ties with the historic homeland.” The school was founded due to the efforts of Mrs. Gevorkyan and the support of the Diaspora Ministry of Armenia. It is reported that this ministry will control the learning and teaching activity of the new school.
In recent times, this organization intensified its activity in Israel. For example, the Armenian Union of Israel conducts regular excursions for children to the Armenian district of Jerusalem and introduces them to the members of the local Armenian community and Armenian religious activists. Recently the Armenian Union of Israel has organized celebration of Armenian Easter.
Activities of the Armenian Union of Israel caused amazement of many natives of the former USSR and the CIS, who live in this country. On the one hand, the activity is legal as Israeli laws guarantee the freedom of conscience, development of national cultures to all ethnic groups. On the other hand, Israeli Law on Returning gives a right for repatriation to Jews and their families and the majority of repatriated people from the post-Soviet space identify themselves as Jews. Of course they try to maintain ties with their historic homelands and compatriots, and unions and communities are established for these purposes. But all of them present themselves as “Jews-natives” from Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and so on, emphasizing that all of them are Jews, first of all, citizens of Israel, and raising of children is provided, according to Jewish traditions. That is why appearance of the Armenian Union of Israel was a surprise.
