Tolerance Week in Russian cities

From November 9 to November 16, 2007, an international Tolerance Week was held in a number of Russian cities under the slogan “Kristallnacht - never again!”, timed to coincide with the 69th anniversary of the beginning of the Holocaust (November 9, 1938). This is not the first year that similar events have been held. The main events took place on November 16 - International Day of Tolerance.

In Moscow, as part of the International Week of Educational Action, the film festival “Come and See! - Cinema against Hate” was held. Organizers: Youth Human Rights Movement, Youth Network against Racism and Intolerance, Young Europe Movement. With the participation of the Museum. Andrei Sakharov, the Civic Assistance Committee, and the Russian National Committee “All are different - all are equal.” The festival included film screenings with discussions, feature films and documentaries dedicated to the problem of xenophobia and intolerance towards people of a different race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation.

In St. Petersburg, the annual youth festival “St. Petersburg is our common Home. House of Friendship, Peace and Love” was held at the Palace of Youth of St. Petersburg. The St. Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education hosted a scientific and practical conference “Cultural Tolerance as a Factor in Student Development” and a photo exhibition “Multinational Petersburg.” A presentation of the film “Ingrians: the choice of destiny” was held at the House of Nationalities, and at the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Red Cross there was a round table “Activities of government agencies and non-governmental organizations to create a tolerant environment and counter xenophobia in St. Petersburg.” In addition, a presentation of the book project of the writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya “Other. Others. About Others” took place at the House of Books. The celebration of Tolerance Day ended with a gala concert of national cultures of St. Petersburg and a concert of amateur groups of St. Petersburg NGOs for residents of the Central District.

In Kaliningrad, on November 16, at the site of a former synagogue burned by the Nazis in 1938, a memorial meeting was held - members of the Jewish community gathered to remember the Jews who died that night. Those gathered - among whom were WWII veterans and former ghetto prisoners - lit funeral candles, the Chief Rabbi of Kaliningrad David Shvedik spoke about Kristallnacht and read a funeral prayer. At the end of the meeting, a film about the beginning of the persecution of Jews after the Nazis came to power was shown in the community building.

On November 16 in Murmansk, on the square in front of the Atlantika cinema in the Pervomaisky district and in front of the Mir cinema in the Leninsky district, the city action “Tolerance and We” took place. The event was organized by the “Teenager” Association of Local Clubs. During the event, teenagers distributed leaflets and told city residents about the history of Tolerance Day.

In the Omsk region, on November 16, lectures for students dedicated to Tolerance Day were held in higher and secondary specialized educational institutions.

In Arkhangelsk these days, thematic exhibitions were organized in city libraries: “Tolerance is the road to peace”, “Tolerance: joining forces”, “We are different, but we are friends”, “Mercy on the bookshelf”, “If a friend suddenly appeared” , "Reason vs. Madness." On November 16, a lesson-discussion “On tolerance and understanding” and a conversation-dialogue “We have one planet, we have one family” were organized for schoolchildren.

In Samara, from November 9 to 16, open lessons and seminars on the topic of tolerance were held at the House of Peoples' Friendship.

In Belgorod, Tolerance Week started on November 16. As part of the event, libraries and universities will host a forum, an Internet conference, illustrated exhibitions, psychological trainings, etc.

Sources

• The film festival “Come and See! - Cinema against Hate” is taking place in Moscow // Jewish.ru. 2007. November 12.
• The youth of Krasnodar will watch a film about the suffering of Jews // Yuga.ru. 2007. November 13.
• The Day of Tolerance in St. Petersburg will be celebrated on an unprecedented scale // Rosbalt. 2007. November 15.
• In Kaliningrad they honored the memory of the victims of Kristallnacht // Jewish.ru. 2007. November 16.
• Today in Murmansk there will be a city action "Tolerance and We", dedicated to the Day of Tolerance // Murman.ru. 2007. November 16.
• International Day of Tolerance will be celebrated in Omsk // OmskInform. 2007. November 16.
• International Day of Tolerance will be celebrated in Arkhangelsk // Dvina-inform. 2007. November 16.
• Tolerance Week has begun in Belgorod // Bel.ru. 2007. November 16.