October 13-15 Kharkov hosted the seminar "Integration of local businessman and intellectuals into a community life: their influence and contribution" of the JDC Joint department on the activity in CIS countries. "Joint" also presented its SUT program.

The necessity of a wide and active participation of men of business and culture in a community life was realized long ago. They contribute to community's integrating into regional and city public, culture and business structures and to bringing together all community's organizations. This promotes developing national and spiritual forces of a community. The role of "Joint" in this process is difficult to overestimate.

The guests - there were over 20 people - acquainted themselves with the "Joint" activity in Kharkov region, with the Jewish culture center "Beit Dan", khesed "Shaare Tikva", visited the National Memorial complex "Drobitsky Yar, one of Kharkov enterprises. They also met with the members of Boards of Guardians of JCC "Beit Dan" and khesed "Shaare Tikva", attended a synagogue and khesed's "Daytime center" which building was presented by a Board of Guardians member Alexander Davtyan.

The meetings were centred on the questions of community life in general as well as on the activity and current problems of concrete organizations. The preference was given to problems of creating and developing the organizational structure of Jewish institutions, cooperating with local businessmen and intellectuals, fundraising for new programs, "Joint's" professional interacting with boards of guardians of Jewish organizations and may other things.

There is a hope the seminar shall become another bridge between "today" and "tomorrow" of the community and exert positive impact on its development. There exists confidence the Kharkov Jewish community and JCC "Beit Dan" is a good platform for developing creativity and partnership in business communication, for debating topical issues of the development of sponsor and charitable programs.