Emotional Bar and Bat Mitzvah Celebration in the Heart of the Carpathian Mountains
127 Jewish teenagers participated this last weekend in EnerJew’s unique unity seminar for club members from across Ukraine. In the climax of the event, a Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebration for 60 boys and girls from 15 youth clubs who had spent the year preparing for their big day as part of the FJC’s Bar […]
Leaders JUniversity Graduates Mark a Milestone in Odesa
In a heartfelt ceremony held in Odesa, South Ukraine, students of Leaders JUniversity marked the completion of their studies and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. More than just an academic conclusion, the graduation represented years of dedication, personal development, and community involvement. Leaders JUniversity, located in Odesa, has become a hub […]
New Torah Scroll Dedicated in Kyiv’s Kedem Community
On the eve of Shavuot, the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, dozens of members of the Kedem Jewish Community in Kyiv gathered for a moving Torah dedication ceremony. The event, which took place in the afternoon hours, welcomed community members alongside local rabbis, guests, and dignitaries. The new Torah scroll was donated by […]
SmartJ Celebrates Season Finale with ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’-Themed Festivities
The SmartJ educational initiative, active in dozens of Jewish communities throughout the FSU, concluded its activity season with a vibrant series of celebrations inspired by ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass.’ Thousands of Jewish children took part in these imaginative and engaging parties, held at each local SmartJ center. SmartJ, founded by the Federation of Jewish […]
Summer Camp 2025 Season Opens Across Jewish FSU
This summer, the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) has once again launched its beloved ‘Gan Israel’ JSummer Day Camp network, welcoming thousands of children from 58 cities across the former Soviet Union. More than a seasonal activity, the camp offers a joyful and meaningful experience that immerses participants in Jewish heritage, values, and community life. […]
EnerJew Unites Teens Across Russia for Inspiring Summer Seminar
In early June, 150 Jewish teenagers and counselors from across Russia gathered for a four-day regional EnerJew seminar, centered around a vibrant and inspiring Shabbaton. The event was held at the Jewish campus in Istra, near Moscow, and welcomed participants from over 15 cities. The seminar began in the heart of Moscow with a special […]
Azerbaijan: Minister of Aliyah and Integration Held Special Visit Interrupted by Outbreak of War
This past weekend, a unique seminar was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, by “Ofek Israeli,” a public organization operating on behalf of Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and The Jewish Agency, for all students of the Jewish schools in Azerbaijan, including students of the “Or Avner” educational network. Notable among the participants […]
Ukrainian Jewish Students Gather in Dnipro for Inspiring STARS Shabbaton
Forty-five Jewish university students from across Ukraine came together in Dnipro for a meaningful STARS Ukraine Shabbaton seminar, held in close proximity to the holiday of Shavuot and dedicated to the theme of Torah study and Jewish heritage. Despite the ongoing tension in various parts of the country, the students arrived in Dnipro with high […]
Phase One of Future Educational Town Inaugurated in Moscow Suburb
Sixty six kilometers from the city of Moscow lies the city of Istra, one of 39 sub-districts of the Moscow region, the capital of Russia, a region with a population of nearly nine million. The city of Istra itself is surrounded by picturesque villages and towns and is considered a place with good air quality […]
Three Years After Escaping Under Fire: Bar Mitzvah Celebration in Israel for the Children from Zhytomyr Children’s Home
Boys from the FJC Alumim Children’s Home in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, celebrated their Bar Mitzvah in Ashkelon, Israel—where they now live with their friends—three years after fleeing under fire at the outbreak of the crisis. Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, head of the Children’s home, remarked: “Seeing them here, speaking Hebrew, feeling at home and joyful—it’s nothing short […]