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Vladimir Ravchun outside his "home" at Nitzana. |
Youth Aliyah wishes Vladimir Ravchun the best of luck for the future. Eighteen in September 2002, he immigrated to Israel from Zhitomir, Ukraine and was one of the 50 students who recently completed the SELAH Science program. He was one of two students who was chosen as the course's most exemplary participant at the end of the program.
Ravchun followed in the footsteps of his older sister Alona who immigrated to Israel two years ago. He is proud of his Jewish heritage and stresses that he immigrated to Israel because of his strong Jewish identity rather than due to anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
Ravchun was for many years involved with Jewish Agency youth activities in Ukraine working as a counselor at summer and weekend camps and helping organize events to celebrate festivals. He chose the SELAH Science program because he was attracted by its high scholastic level and was drawn by course elements specific to Nitzana like desert ecology and solar energy.
Ravchun recounted that two of his grandparents were slaughtered by the Nazis and their Soviet sympathizers when the Germans occupied Zhitomir. To avoid Soviet anti-Semitism his mother changed her family name from Koenig to Keng.
"The staff here at Nitzana have been very warm and welcoming and the course work has been stimulating," stressed Ravchun.
In addition to Hebrew and Jewish studies, the SELAH course has involved computers, math, English, and desert science studies.
"I've especially enjoyed the chemistry, biology and math," he said, "but I think now I'd like a change of direction. My aim is to be accepted for the mechina program at Bar Ilan University to study Social Work. I enjoy being able to help people."
Nitzana News Bulletin: July 2003
The Nitzana Educational Community is Partnered with the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado.
Tamuz 5763 - July 2003