United Jewish Community of Ukraine
Lay Jewish umbrella body in Ukraine, founded in 1999 by Vadim Rabinovich and led since 2008 by Ihor Kolomoisky; it includes the Chabad-run Dnipro community
| United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU)
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Lay (secular) umbrella body of Jewish communities and organisations |
| Founded | 5–6 April 1999, Kyiv (inaugural congress) |
| Founder(s) | Vadim Rabinovich |
| Key people | Ihor Kolomoisky (president since 2008); Vitalii Kamozin (chief executive officer); Oleksandr Feldman (head of the board of trustees, 1999) |
| Website | https://jew.org.ua |
The United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU; Ukrainian Об'єднана єврейська община України) is a lay umbrella body of Jewish communities and organisations in Ukraine. The businessman Vadim Rabinovich founded it at a congress in Kyiv on 5–6 April 1999 and led it until 2008.[1][2] Since 2008 its president has been Ihor Kolomoisky, a former co-owner of PrivatBank, and the main patron, with Gennadiy Bogolyubov, of the Chabad-run Dnipro community and its Menorah Centre.[3][4] The UJCU is not a rabbinic body. Its main link to the Chabad story is that in 2005, with Rabinovich's All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, it elected Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman "chief rabbi of Ukraine", against the opposition of the Chabad Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine.[5]
Founding, 1999
The Kyiv Post reported that Rabinovich, "who created the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress in 1997 and had led it ever since, dissolved that organization just before the congress to create a new one named the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, which promptly elected him its leader". It described the congress as "a defensive strike against a rival group of Jewish leaders and businessmen who are trying to sideline him", meaning the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, whose central figure was Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich and whose likely patron was Hryhoriy Surkis.[1] The paper reported:
- "more than 1,600 Jews from across Ukraine" attended; "the delegates – mostly pensioners – voted unanimously for the decisions suggested to them by the speaker";
- Bleich said Rabinovich "paid each delegate Hr 100 for participation", while delegates named Hr 70; Rabinovich "acknowledged he gave money to the delegates, but said 'it was Hr 50 given to people so that they can eat'";
- Rabinovich said the rival confederation was "a religious union" and "we are less religious".[1]
The Jamestown Foundation's Monitor reported "Nearly 1,500 delegates, representing Jewish groups throughout Ukraine with a total reported membership of 240,000". It said Rabinovych "is considered a political supporter of President Leonid Kuchma", and that Oleksandr Feldman of Kharkiv was elected head of the board of trustees. Rabinovich's keynote called for "building a strong and influential Jewish community which will work with the Ukrainian people for an independent, democratic and prosperous Ukraine".[2]
Rabinovich's US visa. The Kyiv Post reported in 1999 that Rabinovich "had his visa to the United States revoked in 1995 reportedly due to his links with Grigory Luchansky and Nordex". It added that "Rabinovich has said he has never been involved in anything but legitimate business".[1] This is a press report of a reported visa decision. No court finding against Rabinovich on this matter was found.
The names of Rabinovich's bodies are confusing in the sources. The Kyiv Post says he dissolved the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress in 1999, but JTA reported in 2005 and 2008 that he still headed a body of that name. Jamestown calls him head of the "Ukrainian-Jewish Congress" in 1999. Chabad.org called Gennadiy Bogolyubov "chairman of the Ukrainian Jewish Congress" in 2012, which seems to be a different body. The delegate figures for 1999 also differ (about 1,500 or more than 1,600).[1][2][5][3][6]
The 2005 chief rabbi election
On 11 September 2005 Moshe Reuven Azman was elected "chief rabbi of Ukraine". JTA reported that he "technically was elected as chief rabbi of only two Jewish organizations in Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Community of Ukraine. Both are headed by Rabinovich." "Three dozen Chabad rabbis representing the Federation of Jewish Communities" called the election "illegitimate".[5] Azman's office lists among his honours that he "is a knight of the highest awards of the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Community of Ukraine" (Chabad-side).[7] See Chabad and Ukraine for the wider dispute.
Kolomoisky's presidency, 2008–
In October 2008 UNIAN, carrying a JTA report, said Igor Kolomoisky "was the choice of some 2,400 delegates" at the UJCU congress. He succeeded Rabinovich, "who retired after 10 years leading the group". JTA called Kolomoisky "an active member and sponsor of the Jewish community of Dnepropetrovsk" who "has donated millions of dollars to Jewish causes". It noted that Rabinovich still headed the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, and that "There are as many as eight umbrella Jewish organizations in Ukraine."[3] In 2009 Chabad.org referred to "United Jewish Community of Ukraine president Igor Kolomoysky" as co-funder of the Menorah Centre (Chabad-side).[8]
On 30 October 2012 Kolomoisky was re-elected at the seventh congress: "264 of the 298 delegates attending the congress voted for him", with three candidates standing.[9] The Dnipro community's site says the UJCU "includes the Dnepropetrovsk Jewish Community" (Chabad-side).[10]
Current leadership. The UJCU's own site lists:
- Ihor Kolomoiskyi, president; "In 2010, he was elected head of the European Jewish Council"; "Patron of the world's largest Jewish centre, Menorah in Dnipro, and the 'Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine' museum".
- Vitalii Kamozin, chief executive officer, born 1996 and chief operating officer from 2018. The site says that under him "125 memorial markers have been installed at Jewish cemeteries and mass burial sites of Holocaust victims in Ukraine", that he organised security systems for more than 20 community buildings, and that "He originated the idea behind Ukraine's current law 'On Preventing and Combating Antisemitism in Ukraine'" (self-published).[4]
Legal status of the president
Kolomoisky's legal position must be described with each status kept separate:
- Civil liability (England). The High Court held Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov liable to PrivatBank for US$1,911,877,385, less the agreed value of assets transferred to the bank (a principal sum of US$1,761,957,792). The Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal on 22 May 2026. This is a civil judgment, not a criminal conviction.[11]
- Allegations (United States). The US Department of Justice's civil forfeiture complaints "allege" fraud and embezzlement; "A complaint is merely an allegation".[12]
- Executive designation (United States). In March 2021 the State Department designated him for "involvement in significant corruption"; this is not a court ruling.[13]
- Criminal charges (Ukraine). He has been held since September 2023 on suspicion of fraud and money laundering, and was later charged in a 2003 attempted-murder case. On 15 October 2026 a Kyiv court extended his detention to 13 December 2026. No conviction was found.[14][15]
None of these proceedings concerns the UJCU itself. Details are on Chabad and Ukraine.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Rabinovich creates the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress |
| 5–6 April 1999 | Inaugural congress of the UJCU in Kyiv; Rabinovich elected leader |
| April 1999 | Rival Jewish Confederation of Ukraine holds its founding congress |
| 11 September 2005 | UJCU and All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress elect Moshe Reuven Azman chief rabbi |
| October 2008 | Ihor Kolomoisky elected president, succeeding Rabinovich |
| 30 October 2012 | Kolomoisky re-elected at the seventh congress |
| September 2023 | Kolomoisky detained in Ukraine |
| May 2026 | Court of Appeal upholds civil judgment against Kolomoisky and Bogolyubov |
See also
- Chabad and Ukraine
- Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine
- Moshe Reuven Azman
- Menorah Centre (Dnipro)
- Chabad Lubavitch of Ukraine
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Katya Gorchinskaya, "Rabinovich rallies his supporters", Kyiv Post, 8 April 1999.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Jewish coalition founded in Ukraine", Monitor, Jamestown Foundation, 9 April 1999 (citing UNIAN and Fakty).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Billionaire takes helm of Ukraine umbrella", UNIAN, 7 October 2008 (JTA report).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "UJCU leaders", United Jewish Community of Ukraine, consulted 20 October 2026. Self-published.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "In Ukraine, dueling chief rabbis", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 24 October 2005.
- ↑ Tamar Runyan, "World's Largest Jewish Center Opens in Dnepropetrovsk", Chabad.org, 17 October 2012. Chabad-side.
- ↑ "Rabbi Moshe Azman", Office of the Chief Rabbi (Azman's office), consulted 20 October 2026. Chabad-side; self-published.
- ↑ Dini Harris, "Ukraine Community Transformed 20 Years After Leaders Arrive", Chabad.org, 19 October 2009. Chabad-side.
- ↑ "Ihor Kolomoisky elected president of United Jewish Community of Ukraine", Interfax-Ukraine, 31 October 2012.
- ↑ "Guideline", Dnipro Jewish Community, consulted 20 October 2026. Chabad-side; self-published.
- ↑ JSC Commercial Bank PrivatBank v Kolomoisky & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 658 (22 May 2026), paras 1–5. BAILII. Primary source.
- ↑ "Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture of Two Commercial Properties Purchased with Funds Misappropriated from PrivatBank in Ukraine", US Department of Justice, 6 August 2020. Primary source (allegations).
- ↑ Antony J. Blinken, "Public Designation of Oligarch and Former Ukrainian Public Official Ihor Kolomoyskyy Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption", US Department of State, 5 March 2021. Primary source.
- ↑ "Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky detained on suspicion of fraud and money laundering", The Guardian, 3 September 2023.
- ↑ Mariana Zinchenko, "Коломойському продовжили арешт у справі про замовне вбивство" (Kolomoisky's detention extended in contract-killing case), Hromadske Radio, 15 October 2026. In Ukrainian.