The 1st International scientific practical conference on tolerance problems.
On December, 15 “Tolerance and spirituality in Ukrainian society and modern understanding of anti-Semitism and xenophobia problem” the 1st International scientific practical conference took place in Donetsk state institute of artificial intellect. “The Ukrainian Registered Cossacks” All-Ukrainian social organization, the Federation of Jewish communities of Ukraine, The Chief Rabbi Board of Ukraine, the Association of national-cultural unions of Ukraine, Donetsk state institute of artificial intellect, the Department of religious knowledge of Skovoroda G.S. Philosophy Institute by Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) and Ukrainian Association of religion scientist organized the conference.
The scholars of Kyiv, Lutsk, Kharkov, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Jerusalem, Zhytomyr and other cities took part in the conference. This event awoke interest of both Ukrainian society and mass media. Leading Ukrainian TV channels and other mass media placed reports about the conference in news blocks.
Participation of Azriel Chaikin the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine made this event unique. He greeted the audience and thanked the organizers of the conference including the rector of Donetsk state institute of artificial intellect, the Hetman of the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks, professor Anatoliy Shevchenko, the doctor of theology, doctor of engineering, the Head of All-Ukrainian party of spirituality and patriotism, for touching upon such an important problem for the modern society and presented him with hanukia – the symbol of light and joy. Professor Shevchenko in his turn presented dear guest with cut-glass mace – the symbol of unity. The participants of the conference hope that it will initiate the wide discussion of the ethnic confessional relations in Ukrainian society on the principles of tolerance and spirituality.
Opening the conference the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine declared: ‘Talking about danger of anti-Semitism and xenophobia we mean first of all the danger for the whole society not only for those who directly run the hatred. Xenophobia is a tumor, spiritual tumor. It destroys those who bear it.”
This conference will help to realize and determine the problem. This step is necessary and important. Undoubtedly not a single meeting should be held to find out medicine for curing this disease, but you can’t follow the path without making the first step.
The conference has already got the serious resonance both in Ukraine and on the international arena. It showed that Ukrainian society is already ready to discuss openly the most important and difficult questions of the history and the present. Today in the hall we observe people of various nationalities and religions. I am greeting you and ask the God to bless us, because we are Ukrainian society – various, multicultural and multicolored. Our unity and tolerance towards each other is the guarantee of the force and prosperity of Ukraine. Our task is to encourage this unity beyond the borders of this hall, to our cities, schools, universities and teach it our children, pupils, parishioners”.
Participants of the conference gave their voice to crucial, sometimes polar points of view on the problem of tolerance in modern Ukrainian society. Especially polemical were statements of the representatives of different religious confessions. Nevertheless irrespective of the points of view both on history and on the modern international and interreligious relations, the participants of the conference agreed with Igor Shchupak, director of Tkuma Central Ukrainian Holocaust Foundation who stressed the necessity to condemn xenophobia and anti-Semitism propaganda promoted by infamous MAUP (Interregional Academy of Personnel Management) and organizations and political forces close to it. The participants of the conference called for resolute resistance to any attempts to inflame international enmity and demanded to call to account those who did such attempts. They also unanimously adopted the project of addressing to the Ukrainian people and political establishment. It is said:
“We are appealing to the broad range of the Ukrainian society to resist firmly to any attempts to destroy international peace and rapport in our country. We appeal to our colleges: scientists, culture workers, teachers of higher educational establishments, to all Ukrainian intelligentsia: it is our duty – not to admit future generation, our youth to catch the virus of hatred and xenophobia. We must resolutely repulse to any attempts to promote anti-Semitism at higher educational establishments, schools, scientific circles. We have no topics closed for discussion and our present conference is the evidence of the fact that we can openly discussed the most acute and painful topics of the history and the present.
We are appealing to all the branches of the Ukrainian authorities – legislative, executive and legal: it is necessary to provide effective defense of all national and religious groups of our country from any insulting. We are calling for stopping the destructive activity of those who under the mask of educational establishments or scientific activity encourage anti-Semitism and xenophobia. The authorities should defend Ukrainian society not only in words but in actions: it is necessary to pass from declarations to actions both legislative and executive. The priority task of the President, Government, Verkhovna Rada and authorities of all the levels is to take care for teaching tolerance, strengthening international peace and rapport in our country.
We should remember that only if we save and reliably provide the unity of our multinational, multiconfessional Ukrainian people, we will be able to build modern, democratic, free and prosperous society”.
Donetsk conference that hosted representatives of different religious confessions, research workers, and representatives of public, the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks, ecclesiastics and students had warm friendly atmosphere. It lasted one day and was extremely intense. Sixteen scientific reports ought to be performed on the conference. But because of the time limit not all of them sounded on the conference. With the support of the Association for national cultural unions of Ukraine reports will be soon edited as the scientific collection.
On December, 15 “Tolerance and spirituality in Ukrainian society and modern understanding of anti-Semitism and xenophobia problem” the 1st International scientific practical conference took place in Donetsk state institute of artificial intellect. “The Ukrainian Registered Cossacks” All-Ukrainian social organization, the Federation of Jewish communities of Ukraine, The Chief Rabbi Board of Ukraine, the Association of national-cultural unions of Ukraine, Donetsk state institute of artificial intellect, the Department of religious knowledge of Skovoroda G.S. Philosophy Institute by Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (UNAS) and Ukrainian Association of religion scientist organized the conference.