FSU’s Purim Festivities Take to the Streets and the Internet
Ahead of the holiday of Purim later this week, FJC’s youth and educational programs throughout the FSU are actively working to raise the visibility of the holiday in the region, getting the Jewish population involved and connecting between communities. FJC’s Darkeinu educational curriculum is running one of its Mega campaigns for children. MegaPurim is a […]
Beyond the Hype: EuroStars Succeeds in Connecting Thousands of FSU Students to Jewish Identity
FJC’s EuroStars, ran by YAHAD young adults platform, has been in the spotlight recently, with everyone suddenly paying attention to the program that brings over a thousand FSU young adults to Europe every spring, connecting them to Jewish heritage during the visit. But there is more to EuroStars than meets the eye. This year, about […]
New Jewish Cemetery Inaugurated in Moscow
Hakafos, prayers, and shofar blowing by Chief Rabbi of Russia and Moscow’s Central Chevra Kadisha * Cemetery built according to highest halachic standards * Moscow Municipality invested ten years in development of the area After close to ten years of developing and investing in the area, the new Jewish cemetery of Moscow was inaugurated in […]
Tashkent, the Jewish Safe Heaven During Communism, Gets a New Mikvah
After years of expectations, planning and construction a Jewish Mikvah ritual bath was opened last week in FJC’s community of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Called “Mei Olga”, the mikvah attests to the revival of Jewish life in Uzbekistan, which has a long and prominent Jewish history. Its construction was funded by FJC’s President Mr. Lev Leviev and […]
New Jewish Home Opens in Moscow’s Center
A new welcoming home opened up for Jewish tourists and locals in Moscow recently, providing them with Shabbat hospitality and homey atmosphere in the huge capital of Russia. A large hotel in the city center, Azimut Olympic, offers meals, prayer services, and other accommodations to the Jewish population traveling, working and living in the city. […]
EnerJew Opens in Kiev, Keeps Momentum Going
At the end of January, FJC’s EnerJew youth movement, opened a branch in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, making it the 40th city in the project and bringing the number of participants to over 2,500. Now in its 4th year, EnerJew has become a powerful force on the region’s Jewish map. “We are happy to finally open up […]
Jewish Family Saved from Fate of Crashed Plane Near Moscow
Mrs. Talya Samanina and her adolescent daughter Malka, flew especially to Moscow from their city of Orsk in the Ural mountains region, in order to participate in the open doors orientation seminar at FJC’s Machon Chamesh Institute. They arrived with Saratov Airlines and planned to return home Sunday, on the only flight for that day. Rabbi […]
Odessa Women Come Together for Huge Challah Bake
Odessa’s Jewish community in Ukraine held last week a moving celebration for women, which included a huge challah bake, dancing, a children’s concert and more. Over 400 women participated, many together with their children, baking hundreds of challahs and enjoying the special warm community atmosphere of the event. “Baking challah, the bread for Shabbat, signifies […]
Eurostars, the Russian Answer To Birthright, Offers an Intriguing Alternative
Young Russian Jews who commit to regular study can attend European trips they could’ve only dreamed of. Might Birthright be able to learn something? By Jesse Bernstein | Tablet JTA published a really fantastic piece this week about Eurostars, a program started by the Chabad branch in Russia that subsidizes trips for young Jews to sites […]
Jewish Education ‘a Powerful Voice’ in the FSU
Jewish tradition teachers from over 40 schools in the FSU attended two educational seminars organized by FJC’s ‘Darkeinu’ Jewish studies curriculum and ‘Or Avner’ educational network in Dnieper, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia. Both seminars took place at campuses of Jewish higher education Institutes – Beit Chana in Ukraine and Machon Chamesh in Moscow. The teachers discussed […]