ODESSA, Ukraine [FJC] — In April 2007, the Hebrew Economics and Finance University was founded at the initiative of the Chief Rabbi of Odessa, Avraham Wolf. Initially, classes were held at the Odessa Association for Jewish Culture which later became the Southern Jewish “Chabad-Odessa” University.
Jewish University Two Years Old
ODESSA, Ukraine [FJC] — In April 2007, the Hebrew Economics and Finance University was founded at the initiative of the Chief Rabbi of Odessa, Avraham Wolf. Initially, classes were held at the Odessa Association for Jewish Culture which later became the Southern Jewish “Chabad-Odessa” University.
The University’s dean, Yevgeniy Borinschtein, recently announced that the university in working in cooperation with the Ukrainian State University of International Trade and Finance and the Southern Ukrainian State Pedagogical University.
Students who are accepted into the Jewish University receive full-tuition scholarships as well as being provided with apartments in the city center and a kosher meal plan. The enables the students to focus solely on their studies without outside distractions. In addition to the typical curriculum found at public universities, students also have the opportunity to study Hebrew, Jewish tradition, and the Torah. They can also opt to study the Ukrainian language, as well as English, German, and Latin.
Instructors include professors from the city’s top educational institutions, such as cultural expert Mark Naydorf, political scientist Anna Muzychenko, and speech therapist Argentina Sermeyenko. Students studying economics and business also intern at the Pivdenny Bank. Currently, there are 35 students attending the university; the enrollment is expected to increase significantly in the new academic year.
Yevgeniy Borinschtein expressed deep gratitude to the Odessa City Council and especially to Natalia Saveleva and Mayor Eduard Gurvitz for their assistance in organizing this rich educational process.
