Behalt to host April 23 program on Russian Mennonites
Part of the presentation on the Russian Mennonite culture and history will be tied directly into the Heinz Gaugel painting “Behalt,” which depicts several scenes from the history of the Russian Mennonite people including the Bolshevik War.
There are Mennonite communities all over the world, and the local community can catch a glimpse into the lives of Mennonite people halfway around the globe during an upcoming event.
For decades Behalt, formerly known as the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center, has been renowned for exploring many facets of the history of the Amish and Mennonite people.
Each year the organization hosts its annual membership meeting, which will take place Tuesday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at Behalt, 5798 County Road 77, north of Berlin.
However, the event will be much more than just an evening designed to inform members about the past year and discuss the future plans of the center.
Following its business meeting, the public is invited to stop by beginning at 7 p.m. for a program that will focus on the history of the Russian Mennonite people and their impact in both Russia and later North and South America.
Historian and Behalt Executive Director Marcus Yoder and Atlee Raber will provide a short presentation on the current work among Russian Mennonites in Mexico, where they are educating the Mexican people on farming techniques.
“Over the last several years, there has been a lot of interest by our local community with the Russian Mennonites, partially because we know so little about their history,” Yoder said.
Yoder went on to discuss the wealth the Russian Mennonite community possessed at one time in their homeland, especially in the agricultural world. He said at one time they held 7% of the country’s agricultural output, a massive number considering the Russian Mennonite population wasn’t that large.
However, looking back into history, the group lost much of its wealth during the Bolshevik Revolution and World War I.
Yoder said the Russian Mennonites and today’s Holmes County Amish Mennonites have a great deal in common.
“There are many similar traits, and our people draw a lot of parallels with them,” Yoder said.
In addition to exploring the Russian Mennonites of the old world, there will be the presentation from Raber, who has extensive knowledge about the work the Russian Mennonites are providing the agricultural community in Mexico, where they are helping families learn how to grow crops in a quite arid land.
“They are sending Amish schoolteachers to Mexico to assist Russian Amish colonies there,” Yoder said. “We are excited to partner with that program, and it’s a fascinating story for those who haven’t had the chance to hear about it yet. It’s been a wonderful collaboration.”
To top it all off, the evening will take place in the “Behalt” mural hall, where Yoder said they will highlight some of Heinz Gaugel’s mural depictions portraying the Russian and Amish story.
“The visuals of Heinz’s mural really enhance the story as it is being told,” Yoder said.
Once the program is complete, the public is invited to explore the rest of the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center and “Behalt,” where a whole host of history surrounding the Amish and Mennonite people awaits.
Yoder said that alone will give people a chance to experience “Behalt” in a new and exciting way, especially if they haven’t been to “Behalt” for a while.
With new exhibits and the all-new lighting and sound system in place in the mural room, there have been many additions that make the experience much richer.