From the Honey Factory to the Holiday Table: Ukraine’s Jews Prepare for Rosh Hashanah
In the heart of Kyiv, surrounded by major logistics centers, a production line is working at full pace, filling jars of pure honey that will soon be included in tens of thousands of Rosh Hashanah packages for Jews across Ukraine. “We are operating under complex circumstances, but the sweet tradition of Rosh Hashanah will not […]
Moscow Hosts SmartJ Summer Conference, Uniting a Professional Community Around a Shared Goal
Towards the end of August, a unique SmartJ summer conference was held in Moscow for project teams from Russia and Belarus, bringing together approximately 80 participants. The gathering united leading SmartJ staff from dozens of cities and created a shared space for learning, professional growth, connection, and inspiration. Over three days, participants took part in […]
YAHAD Announces Exciting Destination for 2027 Annual Student Journey
Thousands of Jewish students and young professionals across Russia and the FSU are being invited to join a new season of the YAHAD Jewish studies program, which will culminate in the organization’s much-anticipated 2027 annual journey—this time to Greece. The international trip has become one of the highlights of the YAHAD program. After completing the […]
Hundreds of Jewish Children Across Ukraine Receive New Backpacks
Ahead of the 2026–2027 academic year, the Jewish Relief Network Ukraine (JRNU) has once again launched its annual “Together to School” initiative, providing new school backpacks to hundreds of Jewish children from families facing financial hardship across Ukraine. The primary beneficiaries are children entering first grade, while older students with particularly urgent needs are also […]
New “Land of Memory” Memorial Planned in Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region
The Jewish community of Birobidzhan is taking part in a new initiative to create a permanent space for remembrance and reflection in Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region, further expanding its role as a source of support for local residents and families. The memorial space is being established as part of the federal “Land of Memory” project, […]
JFuture Staff Gathers in Uzhhorod to Prepare for a New Season
JFuture coordinators and counselors from across Ukraine recently gathered in Uzhhorod for JFuture Boost, a four-day seminar designed to review the past season, strengthen professional skills and prepare teams for the year ahead. JFuture is an international educational program for Jewish children ages 5 to 12, combining Jewish traditions with modern and interactive learning methods. […]
From Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region to Rosh Hashanah Tables: Kosher Honey Prepared for Large-Scale Distribution
Thousands of kilometers from Moscow, in Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region, preparations are already underway for a sweet new year—with locally produced kosher honey soon to make its way from the Far East to Jewish communities across Russia and additional FSU countries. The initiative comes as Jewish communities prepare for Rosh Hashanah, when families traditionally dip […]
History in Moldova: New Chief Rabbi Formally Inaugurated
In a historic ceremony attended by Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Kalman Ber, senior rabbis, Jewish community leaders and guests from several countries, Chabad emissary Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod was formally inaugurated as Chief Rabbi of Moldova. Rabbi Axelrod, who was born and raised in Atlit, Israel, is the grandson of the late Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, […]
Summer Humanitarian Aid Reaches Jewish Communities Across Ukraine
Thousands of vulnerable Jewish families with children, including families displaced from their homes, recently received generous food packages through a large-scale summer humanitarian initiative coordinated by JRNU across Ukraine in partnership with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. The distribution comes as continuing tension, economic uncertainty, and deepening financial hardship place growing pressure on families […]
YEKA Boys’ Jewish Summer Camp Marks Its Largest and Longest Season Yet
This year’s YEKA Jewish summer program for boys brought together more than 160 children from over 20 cities and villages across Ukraine for 21 days of learning, friendship and adventure in the Carpathian Mountains. The largest YEKA boys’ program to date, the camp was built around the theme of growth—encouraging every child to grow personally, […]