The Federation of Jewish Communities’ EnerJew youth movement began its 5786 season with vibrant opening events in dozens of cities across the former Soviet Union. Alongside a central theme provided by the project’s leadership, each local club added its own creative elements, combining Jewish tradition with modern culture to joyfully welcome the new year of activity.
To support the season’s launch, EnerJew’s central team prepared a special toolkit featuring themed games, decorations, and visuals. Local coordinators adapted these materials to match the spirit of their communities, resulting in colorful and personalized celebrations across the region.
In Russia, highlights included a memory-themed celebration in Kaliningrad inspired by computer game aesthetics; outdoor team-building and shared cooking in Novosibirsk; a superhero-themed opening in Ufa; and creative workshops in Bryansk, where teens made keychains and received mugs featuring the new EnerJew logo. In Perm, the opening became a true family event, with parents joining in the interactive games, while in Moscow, Rabbi Moshe Rokhlin marked the occasion by blowing the shofar, bringing the spiritual energy of Elul into the celebration.
Ukrainian clubs offered their own meaningful programs. Teens in Kropyvnytskyi wrote letters to their future selves, while participants in Kamianske enjoyed a Minecraft-inspired photo zone. In Dnipro, a quest activity was paired with baking pomegranate-shaped buns in honor of Rosh Hashanah. At Kyiv’s Simha Club, teens created fortune cookies and reflected on their messages.
Across Belarus and Estonia, EnerJew clubs opened the season with enthusiasm and innovation. Minsk and Gomel distributed new branded accessories, explored virtual reality, and encouraged mitzvot such as laying tefillin. In Tallinn, participants decorated the synagogue doors with their own artwork and explored the city by bicycle.
In nearly every community, the sound of the shofar resonated through the gatherings, symbolizing renewal and connecting teens across borders. Many new participants joined thanks to personal outreach by coordinators, reflecting EnerJew’s ongoing expansion and impact.
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 shaping the next generation of Jewish community leaders.
