At the beginning of February, an educational and inspiring Taglit YAHAD trip brought 35 students and young Jewish professionals from across Russia to Israel for ten transformative days. Organized by FJC’s YAHAD organization, directed by Rabbi Mendy Wilansky, in collaboration with Birthright Israel, the journey offered participants an immersive encounter with the land, history, and living traditions of the Jewish people. For many, it was not only a first visit to Israel but also a profound step toward reconnecting with their heritage, roots, and identity.
Over the course of the program, the group traveled across the country, experiencing its diverse landscapes and historic sites. From the heights of the Golan to the ancient alleyways of Safed and Tiberias, from the timeless stones of Jerusalem to the vibrant streets of Tel Aviv and the historic port of Jaffa, each location added depth and context to their understanding of Jewish history. Participants also visited the Nova Festival Memorial, spent meaningful time in Kfar Chabad, floated in the Dead Sea, climbed Masada at sunrise, and concluded their journey in sunny Eilat.
A particularly meaningful highlight was a Shabbaton in Jerusalem. In an atmosphere of warmth and reflection, participants engaged in open conversations about faith, tradition, and personal growth. Throughout the trip, the group was accompanied by experienced travel guide David Weinstein and R’ Yakov Sominsky, who offered thoughtful insights into Jewish history and practice. For many, these discussions became the heart of the journey — creating space for questions, dialogue, and personal discovery.
The program in Israel was coordinated by Avigail Komarnitsky together with R’ Yakov Sominsky, ensuring that each day combined education, inspiration, and meaningful connection. During the ten days, many participants encountered Jewish religious practice in a new and personal way. Several put on tefillin for the first time in their lives — a powerful and emotional milestone.
Taglit YAHAD, a project of FJC’s YAHAD movement for Jewish youth across Russia and the FSU, seeks to provide young adults with opportunities to explore their identity through learning, travel, and community-building experiences. By bringing participants to Israel, the program allows them to see with their own eyes the places where Jewish history unfolded and continues to develop today.
“As young Jews from across the FSU come to Israel, they are not simply visiting historical sites,” said Rabbi Mendy Wilansky. “They are walking the same paths as their ancestors, seeing where our story began and how it continues to grow. When they experience this connection firsthand — not from books, but with their own eyes and hearts — it creates a bond that is deep, personal, and lasting.”
