Letters to the Editor

To the Editors:

I enjoyed reading about the izba very much in the March/April edition. I especially enjoyed reading that “Erecting a house was a communal effort punctuated with feasts for all the helpers”.  It seems this tradition just might continue today with the beginning of Habitat for Humanity in Russia. HFH is operational in over 80 countries, but I can’t think of a better match than the Russian axe, its izba tradition, and HFH given the very real needs for housing in Russia today.

John Suh

Cambridge, MA

To the Editors:

Congratulations on your series of “100 Young Russians to Watch.”

A series like this gives us a perspective on where we see leaders today in, for example, sports, the arts and sciences.

A magazine named “Russian Life” I think should show us some of the glories and hard lessons from the past. It follows naturally to see some of the people responsible for life as we see it blossoming in Russia today.

I look forward to more of your special series.

Thank you very much.

David Furholmen

Roselle, IL

David:

Thank you for your kind words. As it turns out, our 100 Young Russians series is now ended. For those who missed part of the series, we hope to soon publish a single volume edition of all 100 biographies, either in print or online. We will also provide irregular updates about some of the individuals in our future issues.

— The Editors

To the Editors:

I’ve read, and enjoyed, your last several issues, and please understand that the following comment is neither a complaint nor an accusation, merely something that clinked oddly on my history student’s ear.

In your excellent article on Shostakovich, you describe his name as “Jewish sounding,” but inform us that he is actually of good Slavic stock.  Now, I grew up in an educated Jewish home, I studied my people’s history and culture up to an including the university level.  I can’t say either Dimitry or Shostakovich sounds the slightest bit likely to have been of a Jewish source. Now, I’m sure there are plenty of Jews named Dimitry in Russia, but the name itself, unless I miss my guess, is a Russian adoption of an originally Greek name.  It’s not that I wouldn’t like to claim a man of talent and integrity as a part of my community, but I can’t see where your comment even came from ...

Stuart Teich

by email

Stuart:

We asked Dmitry Feofanov, author of the Shostakovich article, to reply:

“Shostakovich sounded suspiciously (for the Soviet-era anti-Semites, that is), like Rabinovich, a quintessential Jewish name.  Plus DDS had an ‘inordinate’ interest in all things Jewish.  Hence, suspicion of his non-Russian origin that many entertained.”

—Dmitry Feofanov

Several readers have requested that we reprint the text of the new Russian National Anthem, approved on December 29, 2000. Here is a literal English translation (Music by Alexander Alexandrov, words by Sergei Mikhalkov):

Russia, our holy country! 

Russia, our beloved country! 

A mighty will, a great glory, 

Are your inheritance for all time! 

Refrain:

Be glorious, our free Fatherland! 

Eternal union of fraternal peoples, 

Common wisdom given by our forebears, 

Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you! 

From the southern seas to the polar region

Spread our forests and fields. 

You are unique in the world, inimitable, 

Native land protected by God! 

Repeat refrain

Wide spaces for dreams and for living 

Are opened for us by the coming years 

Faithfulness to our country gives us strength 

Thus it was, so it is and always will be!

Repeat refrain