Talking of the NGO management I think that lately the civic sector is becoming to a large extent professionalized and the management (especially in the organizations that have a history of steady functioning) has improved significantly compared to previous years. However in their majority the NGOs are managed very poorly.

'Art and Judaism' by Eugeny Levin of the Lookstein Center for Jewish Education in Diaspora, Bar Ilan University is considering the popular idea of culture and art being alien to Judaism. According to the author, in his 'Guide for the Perplexed' Rambam has addressed to the reader, who, while believing in the divine truthfulness of Torah, does not refrain from comprehending philosophy. With culture staying on the margins of the Jewish religious tradition, relating to the world of culture has always been problematic for a religious Jews. However, according to Eugeny Levin, Judaism does not contain any prejudice against culture. Moreover, analyzing the text of Torah and the works of Rambam Eugeny Levin comes to the conclusion that the creative ability is the essence of a divine nature of a human being and that being in contact with culture can be an integral part of the Jewish traditional way of life.

'Culture and Society' by Elena Zelentsova of the Institute of Cultural Policy examines the new face of culture in the changing world. The last 10-15 years have dramatically affected the face of the Russian society, with the new social stratification emerging. The three main functions of culture - to teach, to entertain and to help, have also gone through a renewal. The teaching function is now serving not only the children, but adults as well, who use cultural institutions to discover their own potential, the entertainment function has now been supplemented with more commercial elements and the social function is fulfilled when the projects are devoted to socially problematic issues. In modern society, the author claims, culture should become 'client-oriented' thus serving the needs of the people

Rabbi Meir Shlezinger's material on education in Judaism opens this issue. There is no difference between a man and a beast without education. And studying Torah distinguishes the people of Israel, since Torah was always an integral part of Jewish culture and Jewish education, and the responsibility to study Torah remains with a person throughout his life

To be a Jew in a non-Jewish World. Rabbi Jonathan Porath's speculations on aspects of the current situation in the Diaspora. He reveals the hidden danger of assimilation that the Jew may face. How to make your Jewish choice? Will we succeed in preserving our identity in the non-Jewish world? In order to win the struggle the first danger to be vanquished is the danger within.

The JDC is an American charity organization that has been helping the Jewish communities of the world for more than 90 years. In the former Soviet Union it has decided to help the local Jews in recreating their communities. In the past the JDC has provided similar types of support to the Jews of Western Europe (after the end of World War II) and Israel (after the declaration of an independent state). For the JDC the renaissance of the Jewish communities is not only an aim but also a mean of returning the local Jews back to the body of the Jewish people.