YAHAD Yeshivacation Trip: a “Transformation”
Earlier this month a group of 40 young men from Russia and the FSU went on a learning trip to Israel organized by FJC’S YAHAD young adults programming platform. The trip, called Yeshivacation, combined a deeply serious learning part with an active excursions program to provide the group with a unique experience in exploring the […]
Chanukah Miracle Celebrated Widely Across the FSU * Special Gallery
Hundreds of Jewish communities across the former Soviet Union organized Chanukah celebrations during the 8 days of the festival of lights, with events and programs fitted for every age and taste. In Moscow, the festivities kicked off with candle lighting Tuesday night at the capital’s Revolution square, followed by fireworks and customary doughnut-eating. Similar ceremonies took […]
East Ukraine: First Ever EnerJew Seminar in Donetsk
A one-of-a-kind Shabbaton seminar for Jewish teenagers took place in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine last month, organized by the EnerJew youth movement. This was the first mass Jewish event for the region’s youth in the last four years, and the first Shabbaton ever in Donetsk. Teenagers from the city of Lugansk and the surrounding region also […]
Finalists Chosen in Darkeinu’s Olympics Contest in the FSU
Over 1,300 kids from Jewish schools across the FSU participated recently in the first rounds of FJC’s Darkeinu Olympics contest. 109 students have made it to the finals that will take place in the spring, one in Moscow, Russia and one in Dnepr, Ukraine. This is the fourth year the Jewish Olympics contest is running and […]
Darkeinu’s Mega-Chanukah Connects FSU Jewish Kids
Over 1,000 responses from 35 cities across the FSU were sent to Darkeinu’s Chanukah trivia contest last month and over two dozen winners were picked. FJC’s Darkeinu educational curriculum ran an internet trivia contest called Mega Chanukah last month, poised to motivate Jewish school students to read and find out more about the holiday. In […]
Tragedy: Moscow Jewish University Student Killed in Driving Accident; Another Critical
In a serious driving accident this Friday on the road between Rostov and Sochi in Russia, a student of the Moscow Jewish University, Shalom Shapira was killed. Another student, Shimon Nisanov was injured and remains in serious condition. Both of them attended FJC’s Or Avner school in Rostov. Chief Rabbi of Rostov Chaim Danziger says […]
“Fiddler on the Roof” Awards Hosted by FJC Russia
During the days of Chanukah, last week, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia hosted its 16th annual awards ceremony “Fiddler on the Roof”. The awards recognize individuals, who have made a lasting impact on the social and cultural life of the country. “It is a good tradition that during Chanukah we come together not […]
EnerJew Charity Fundraiser Exceeds Expectations
EnerJew youth movement participants raised over six thousand dollars this Chanukah to help a little girl from Nikolayev, Ukraine. 6,404 candles were lit by EnerJew members and their families, translating each candle into charity money under the fundraiser setup. The fundraiser exemplified EnerJew’s overall shift from consuming to giving this year. “We moved on from […]
‘I dedicate the award to the Jews who gave their lives’
Former Prisoner of Zion Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch receives “Jewish Heroism Award” from the Kremlin. ArutzSheva7 Former Prisoner of Zion Rabbi Yosef Mendelevitch received this week the “Jewish Heroism Award” from the Kremlin. He was handed the award by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, who gave him the award under the auspices […]
Third Chanukah Candle with Jewish Prisoners in World’s Oldest Prison
The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berl Lazar made a very unusual visit. He went to the Butirsky Prison in the center of Moscow in order to strengthen and encourage the Jewish prisoners who are serving time there amongst the three thousand prisoners of various degrees. The prison warden greeted him respectfully and escorted him […]