EnerJew youth coordinators — the FJC’s Jewish youth movement across the FSU — from across Russia and Belarus gathered in Moscow for their second annual training seminar of the year. Held over four days and centered around an inspiring Shabbaton, the seminar provided participants with practical tools and renewed inspiration for their vital work with Jewish teens in their home cities.
Throughout the seminar, the devoted coordinators took part in workshops and discussions focused on strengthening recruitment efforts, creating welcoming and engaging club environments, and fostering a sense of belonging among Jewish youth.
Sessions also emphasized deepening the coordinators’ own Jewish knowledge and equipping them with effective methods to teach and transmit Jewish values and heritage to the younger generation.
The schedule included lectures, interactive classes, tours, social games, attractions, and uplifting Chassidic gatherings that enriched both the professional and spiritual dimensions of the event.
The seminar took place at the Marina Roscha Jewish Community Center in Moscow, offering participants an opportunity to experience firsthand the vibrancy of one of the largest and most active Jewish communities in the region. As part of the Shabbaton, the coordinators were warmly hosted for festive Chasidic gatherings in the homes of Rabbi Moshe Rokhlin, Rabbi Azarya Shaulov, and Rabbi Mendel Mondshine of the EnerJew leadership.
Throughout the seminar, the groups were accompanied by Rabbi Moshe Elkin and Rabbi Azarya Shaulov. Additional sessions were delivered by distinguished guests, including Rabbi Shlomo Neman, Director of the FJC Education Department, and Rabbi Moshe Rokhlin, alongside other dedicated members of the broader team who invested significant time and effort to ensure the success of the program.
The Shabbaton was made possible thanks to the support of the 770 Foundation, headed by Rabbi Yehuda Daviydov, who also participated in some of the programs and addressed the participants directly.
Since its founding in 2013, EnerJew — generously supported by the Finger Family Foundation — has become a transformative force in Jewish life across the FSU. By promoting Jewish identity, youth activism, and leadership, the movement has empowered more than 14,000 graduates to reconnect with their heritage. Today, EnerJew operates 73 branches in 10 countries, engaging thousands of Jewish teenagers and helping shape the next generation of FSU Jewish community leaders.
