New Jewish School

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New Jewish School in Riga, Latvia
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Background
Jews have lived in the territory of Latvia since
the middle of the seventeenth century. They
arrived mostly from the areas of western Ukraine
and Belorussia which were controlled by Poland at
that time. Before the outbreak of the Second
World War, Latvian Jewry numbered over 90,000
people. About 85 percent of the community was
massacred by the Nazis and by their accomplices
among the native population. By the end of the
war only 320 Jews had survived in the territory
of Latvia. Today most of the Jewish community
consists of the migrants from various regions of
the former Soviet Union. Since the collapse of
the Soviet regime Jewish communities have been
re-established in all major population centers of
the country, but mainly in Riga. Size of Riga
Jewish community 10 000 Population of Riga
750 000 Population of
Latvia 2 300 000
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Riga Jewish school today
Shimon Dubnov Jewish School, Riga Number of
pupils 320 The Dubnov School was established in
1989 as the first national Jewish school in the
former Soviet Union. The school is run in
cooperation with The Israeli Government which
provides teaching of Jewish subjects at school.
It is a state school financed by the government
of Latvia. The present situation in Latvia and in
Riga in particular is marked by the fast
development of the local Jewish community and as
a result with rapidly growing interest in the
Jewish school as one of the most important parts
of life of the Jewish community. However, for
more than 10 years the school has received very
little financial support from the state and is
situated in premises which are absolutely
unsuitable for educational process, which are
scattered in different parts of the city. The
Dubnov School in its capacity today cannot
satisfy the increasing educational needs of the
Jewish community, and the school administration,
unfortunately, has to turn away many Jewish
parents who would like their children to enter
the school.
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Riga Jewish school tomorrow
Thus the Jewish Community of Riga has decided to
construct a new school building in the centre of
Riga. The building will be situated in the very
centre of Riga, 15 minutes walk from the Jewish
Community Centre. The total area allocated is
8806 m2. The downtown location will give an
opportunity to many people to enter the Jewish
school and also will make the school the centre
of Jewish education. The new school building of
school will meet all European standards, which
will make the educational process more convenient
as well as allowing to organize mass festive
events according to Jewish traditions without
restrictions.
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The new building

• The territory of the New School will include a
  3-block school building, a sports ground,
  underground car parking and a playground.
• The building is designed for 300 pupils and 55
  teachers and administrative staff. There is also
  place for a preparatory group of 25 children
  physically disabled children will also be able to
  attend the school.
• Special attention will be paid to computer
  classes and laboratories. The experience of our
  partner World ORT in the issues of technological
  education will help to make the school the
  exemplary educational institution.
• It is planned to place a synagogue in the
  library premises and a kosher restaurant in the
  school.

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Mission and programme of the New School

• Retaining Jewish identity
• The educational process at School promotes the
  retention of Jewish identity by introducing
  pupils to the cultural values of the Jewish
  people, Jewish traditions and history and also
  through kosher catering. Every pupil gets the
  fullest possible idea of the Jewish world and
  receives an opportunity to live in accordance
  with its laws.
• All Jewish holidays and Latvian holidays will be
  celebrated at School. The School will have its
  own kosher kitchen.
• Highly competitive
• The School will provide a competitive education
  on a level that is much higher than the average
  one in Riga. The School aims to be among the best
  schools in Riga providing high quality education
  in the following subjects English, Technical
  Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Computer
  Sciences.
• The New School
• - will provide an opportunity to receive a high
  quality secular Jewish education
• - will make Jewish education prestigious
• - will pass Jewish traditions and the
  fundamentals of the Torah more widely to the new
  generation
• - will stop the process of assimilation

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The construction of New Jewish school is in
progress
Currently the design of the future school has
been completed and accepted by authorities.
The general contractor tender has been
successfully finished we are planning to start
construction works in July 2008. Our goal is to
finish the construction by 2010 so that the
children currently studying in Dubnov scholl can
benefit from the improved facilities at the
earliest possible date.
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Please support The New Jewish School
Many members of the Latvian Jewish community as
well as several high profile banks like
Hansabanka and Parex bank have already
contributed the sum of USD 1 000 000 to the
project which has enabled its successful
commencement. Riga municipality showed huge
interest in the project granting a plot of land
(on the left) free of charge which has market
price of USD 2 000 000 for the construction of
the school. The total amount of EUR 10 million
is required for the construction and equipment of
the new school. To date we have received
guarantees and promises for the contribution of
EUR 3,7 million. We still need to raise up to
EUR 6,3 million. Every donation however small
- will make a difference as we build towards our
target, brick by brick and room by room. Please
support The School today! We offer the sponsors
the possibility to finance and name a particular
auditorium, classroom or other premises (the
library, laboratories, the sports hall,
reception, the synagogue). The name of the
sponsor or company name will be engraved on a
special plaque and mentioned on every official
school occasion. We also provide our sponsors
with quarterly financial and progress reports.
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Partners of the project

• Israeli Ministry of Education
• Department of Education of Riga City Council
•  

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Contact information
Inna Raihmane Consultant Keren Hayesod
Latvia United Israel Appeal 51 Elizabetes str.,
Riga LV-1010, Latvia ?el. 371 67019010 GSM
371 29103360 Fax [phone] inna.raihmane_at_kh-
uia.lv www.kh-uia.lv www.kh-uia.org.il -----------
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Bank account for donations Charity organization
SO PF Ceribu Bura Registration number
40008051679 Parex Bank IBAN LV71 PARX 0007 8561
1000 1 S.W.I.F.T. PARXLV22 Details for transfer
Donation for Jewish education