A Moving and Rare Achievement at Kyiv’s Kedem Community
Two young professionals without prior yeshiva background completed the entire Talmudic tractate of Makkot at Kyiv’s Kedem community, marking a significant milestone in Jewish learning in Ukraine. The achievement is particularly noteworthy given the ongoing challenges in the region. Under the guidance of the community Rabbi, Pinchas Vishedski, Chaim Buriak, and Shlomo Bublyniuk maintained a […]
Remembrance Day Ceremony Marks 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation
Russia’s main Holocaust remembrance ceremony was held at the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow, bringing together religious leaders, diplomats, and community members to honor the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The solemn ceremony, marking exactly eighty years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Red Army soldiers, took […]
YAHAD Torah Club Embarks on a Journey to the Holy Land
Over thirty young adults from Russia and Kazakhstan recently participated in a special educational and solidarity mission to Israel as part of the activities organized by YAHAD, operating under the Federation of Jewish Communities (FJC) and directed by Rabbi Mendy Wilansky. The journey, conducted in partnership with the “Onward” project of Taglit-Birthright, occurred from January […]
Camp Yeka Strengthens Jewish Youth in Ukraine
Aimed at creatively strengthening Jewish tradition among Ukrainian youth, dozens of boys from across Ukraine gathered at FJC’s ‘Or Avner’ Alumim Children’s Center in Zhytomyr, West Ukraine, for a transformative Yeka Winter Camp. The 10-day program, supported by donors from across the globe through the camp counselors’ fundraising efforts, provided a crucial opportunity for the […]
21,848 Lights of Hope: FSU Youth Answer the Call
FSU Jewish Youth Unite in Illuminating the World with the Lights of Chanukah while Supporting Children in Need. During the recently concluded festival of Chanukah, Jewish youth across the Former Soviet Union achieved a remarkable milestone in community engagement and charitable giving. Through a coordinated effort that spanned the region, participants collectively lit 21,848 Chanukah […]
STARS Ukraine Winter Seminar Draws Record Attendance Despite Regional Challenges
Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s snow-covered Carpathian Mountains, STARS Ukraine’s 19th annual winter seminar brought together sixty Jewish students from across the country, achieving its highest participation rate since the onset of regional tensions. The six-day program, hosted at a five-star resort, offered participants an enriching journey into Jewish tradition and heritage. Under the guidance […]
Moldova: Opening of Only Women’s Mikvah Marks New Chapter for Jewish Life in Chisinau
In an emotionally charged ceremony in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, the country’s only women’s Mikvah was excitedly inaugurated, bringing renewed spiritual vitality to the local Jewish community. The new facility, named “Mikvah Liel,” was completed in just seven months and serves as a living memorial to Liel Dina Namdar, a young teenager who tragically passed away […]
Unprecedented Scale: Humanitarian Winter Aid Reaches Jewish Communities in 250 Ukrainian Cities and Towns
As Chanukah and the new year approached, generous food packages and vouchers were distributed to thousands of Jewish families and their children, who were in dire need of humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. JRNU activists and volunteers, FJC’s operational arm in Ukraine, reached 250 cities and towns across Ukraine, including remote […]
Light Prevails: Kharkiv’s Chanukah Miracle Amid Missile Strikes
In a remarkable display of resilience, Kharkiv’s Jewish community celebrated Chanukah this year with unprecedented visibility and spirit, marking a significant return of Jewish life to the city’s public spaces after nearly three challenging years. Under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Moshe and Rebbitzin Miriam Moskovitz, the Jewish community of Kharkiv installed ten large menorahs […]
Jewish Chess Champion Makes History: FJC Or Avner Graduate Claims World Blitz Title
In a remarkable achievement that has brought pride to the Jewish community of Bryansk, Russia, Ian Nepomniachtchi, a graduate of FJC’s Or Avner Jewish School activity, has been crowned co-champion of the World Blitz Chess Championship alongside Magnus Carlsen. Photo by Etery Kublashvili and the Jewish Community of Bryansk The historic championship final, held this […]